Category Archives: Treats

by | April 16, 2012 · 7:35 am

Almond Poppyseed Quick Bread

My family has somewhat of an obsession with almond flavored foods. Breads, cheesecake, cookies…we find a way to sneak into all sorts of baked goods. This easy quick bread recipe lets almond be the star and can satisfy a morning sweet tooth or could even be served as a simple dessert. The mini loaves make a great gift for friends as well.

Almond Poppyseed Quick Bread
3 C flour
2 1/2 C sugar
1 1/2 C milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 C vegetable oil
1 1/2 Tbsp poppyseeds

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and poppyseeds with a whisk. Beat in milk, almond and vanilla. Beat in vegetable oil. Beat in eggs and mix well, for approximately 2 minutes. Pour batter into two greased loaf pans or 4-5 mini loaf pans. Bake regular loaves for 60-65 min or mini loaves for about 45 min. Let cool.

Glaze (optional)
1 C powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 C orange juice

In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Drizzle glaze over top of loaves and let set for at least 1 hour before cutting.

Loaves can be wrapped in foil and placed in a zipper freezer bag and frozen if you don’t plan on eating them within a day or so.

4 Comments

Filed under Breakfast, Treats

Tagged as ,

by | April 11, 2012 · 8:35 am

Apple Dumplings

If you have ever visited The Pioneer Woman’s webiste, then you know she whips up some pretty amazing and decadent dishes.  Her Apple Dumplings are one of my favorite recipes to make.  Then are so sweet, easy to make and use some surprising ingredients.  I like serving them for dessert with vanilla ice cream, but have been know to eat them for breakfast as well.

Apple Dumplings

2 sticks butter
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 tubes crescent rolls
2 granny smith apples
12 ounces of Mountain Dew
Dash of Cinnamon

Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside. Peel, core and slice the apples into 8 slices each. Unroll the crescent rolls and wrap each apple lice slice in a crescent dough triangle and place in the prepared pan.

In a bowl, melt your butter and stir in sugar and vanilla. Mixture will remain grainy. Pour over top of the crescent wrapped apples. Pour the can of Mountain Dew all around and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place in 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

I dare you to eat just one!

5 Comments

Filed under Breakfast, Cook, Treats

Tagged as ,

by | April 6, 2012 · 8:00 am

Peep S’mores

As I told you last year, my family has a strange obsession with Peeps. These sugary, marshmallowy creatures always make their way into our home around the Easter holiday. The problem: nobody likes to eat them. Last year, in efforts to continue the Peep tradition, I made my own. This year, I embarked upon a Peep journey to use them for something else besides eating them straight out of the box. I had grand visions of a Peep topiary centerpiece for my Easter table. It is half finished and a bit lack luster, not good enough to share. For those of you disappointed, rest assured, I will perfect and post it for next year’s Easter season.

I was left with a box of purple bunnies that I did not know what to do with. Looking for a little after dinner sweet, I rounded up some of the candy in the house, along with my son’s favorite “grahams” to make a microwavable Peep S’more. Surprisingly delicious and super quick, it is a great way to get rid of those fluffy critters that seem to invade your home and have a hard time making their way to the trash.

Microwave Peep S’Mores
Graham Crackers
Peeps
Hershey Chocolate Bar, Hershey Kisses or Hershey Hugs

Crack the graham cracker in half. Place two squares of chocolate or four Kisses/Hugs (I used the white chocolate raspberry Hugs) on the graham cracker. Top with one Peep chick or two Peep bunnies. Place in microwave. Cook on high for 15 seconds. Rest for a few seconds to make sure the Peep doesn’t explode (almost learned that the hard way), cook for 15 more seconds. Place graham cracker on top and allow to sit for at least 30 seconds to let the chocolate melt.

Smash down and enjoy!

Wishing you a very blessed Easter!

5 Comments

Filed under Easter, Quick & Easy, Treats

Tagged as , , ,

by | April 4, 2012 · 8:21 am

{Freezer Friendly Meals} Muffins and Treats

I have continued to make and freeze meals and treats in preparation for our little bundle of joy!  I know that Muffins aren’t necessarily the healthiest option for breakfast, but I wanted to have something prepared for those busy mornings or just for a quick treat.  I made 2 batches of my favorite muffins and froze them in storage bags for a breakfast on the go.  Almost any muffin recipe will work, but below are 2 of my favorite.

I first made and froze batch of Blueberry Muffins. I found the recipe off The Brown Eyed Baker’s blog and it has become a staple recipe in our family. They are truly one of the most amazing muffins you will ever make. You can find the recipe here.

Next, I whipped up a batch of my favorite basic banana muffins.  They are quick and easy to make and are moist and delicious.

Basic Banana Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe banana
1/3 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a muffin tin with liners–you will make about 16 muffins.

Mix together the first 3 ingredients in a medium sized bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, mixing after each addition until just combined. Finally, add the mashed bananas, yogurt and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Divide the batter evenly among 16 muffin tins (about 2/3 full). Bake for 23-28 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then remove onto a cooling rack.

Let them cool completely then package in freezer bags.

I also like to make a batch of my favorite cookie dough and scoop it into a heavy duty freezer bag (I have found this recipe to be the best).  That way I can have homemade cookies in about 15 minutes without any of the mess.

Leave a comment

Filed under Breakfast, Cook, Treats

Tagged as ,

by | March 21, 2012 · 8:37 am

Lemon and Vanilla Bunt Cake

I came across this recipe for Magnolia Bakery’s Lemon and Vanilla Bunt Cake and was instantly intrigued because of the unusual ingredient list. The list was short and simple and didn’t use any form of baking powder or baking soda.  Instead, it used club soda.  The cake turned out to be incredibly delicious with a dense but moist texture.

Lemon and Vanilla Bunt Cake

1 ½ cups butter, softened
3 cups sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup club soda
2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
1 ½ tablespoons grated lemon zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a bunt pan.  In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs, one at a time and beating after each addition.  Finally add the flour in three parts, alternating with the club soda. Lastly, add the vanilla and lemon zest, stirring just to combine.

Pour the batter into the prepared bunt pan and bake for 70 to 80 minutes.  Remove when a cake tester comes out clean.  Let cool for 20 minutes then invert onto plate.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh fruit.

3 Comments

Filed under Cook, Treats

Tagged as ,

by | March 16, 2012 · 8:00 am

Homemade Shamrock Shake

I don’t care for McDonald’s…with one exception. Every year, when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, I get very excited to pull through the McDonald’s drive-thru and order myself a shamrock shake. This year, I decided to attempt this minty frozen treat all on my own for a little homemade St. Patty’s Day celebration (with an adult kick).

Homemade Shamrock Shake
1 C vanilla bean ice cream, softened
1/4 C 2% milk
1 oz Creme de Menthe

Add ice cream and milk to blender. Blend until smooth. Add Creme de Menthe and blend. If desired, top with whipped cream and a cherry.

Here are some great Irish-inspired recipes from HAP days past:
Irish Car Bomb Ice Cream
Chocolate Guinness Cake with Bailey’s Cream Cheese Frosting
Guinness Float
Slow Cooker Corned Beef Sandwiches
Irish Pasties

Slainte!

1 Comment

Filed under Holidays, Treats

Tagged as , ,

by | March 14, 2012 · 7:44 am

Frozen Lemonade Pie

Over the weekend, the hubs and I decided last minute to invite his family over for Sunday dinner of jambalaya made with some homemade smoked andouille sausage – a collaboration between he and his dad. Since I hadn’t planned on entertaining, I needed a quick dessert that would go well with the spicy jambalaya.

I chose this quick recipe for Frozen Lemonade Pie from the Food Network’s Gina & Pat Neely, which I adapted to my tastes. I swapped in Nilla wafers for their recommended graham cracker crust and also snuck in some flaxseed, because, well, why not. The flavors are reminiscent in flavor and texture to a key lime pie and a great closure to a spicy meal. For me it turned out more creamy than frozen but just as delicious.
Lemonade Pie

Frozen Lemonade Pie
adapted from Food Network
Crust
2 C Nilla wafers, ground
3 tsp ground flaxseed*
7 Tbsp butter, melted

Filling
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tub Cool Whip
9 oz frozen lemonade concentrate, slightly thawed

*optional

Preheat oven to 350. Using a food processor or blender, pulse wafers until finely ground and sand-like. Transfer wafer crumbs to a 9″ pie plate. Dust on ground flaxseed, if desired. Pour melted butter evenly over crumbs and use a fork or whisk to mix wafers and butter together until mixture is moist and crumbly. Use your fingers to pat down the crumbs along the bottom and sides of the pie plate until crust is even and smooth. Bake for 7 minutes and let cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping by gently folding together. Gradually fold in the lemonade, taking care to not overmix so that the mixture doesn’t get runny. Transfer mixture to the cool crust. Freeze overnight.

4 Comments

Filed under Quick & Easy, Treats

Tagged as , ,

by | March 12, 2012 · 9:33 am

Sticky Buns

It is no secret that the ladies of HAP love pinterest.  It is such an amazing place to find inspiration, recipes and fashion.  The moment I saw these sticky buns posted on the site, I knew I had to make them.  I am not 100% sure where this recipe origniated, however it appears to be from the blog All Things Delicious.  And let me tell you, these truly are delicious.

Sticky Buns

1 tube Pillsbury Grands buttermilk biscuits
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 cup syrup, any brand is fine
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped pecans, optional
1/4 cup chopped almonds, optional

Start by greasing a fluted pan.  In a bowl, combine the melted butter and syrup and set aside.  In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts if you plan on using them.  (I didn’t use the nuts because my husband and daughter usually pick them out, but I do think they would make this recipe even more amazing.)  Pour about 1/2 the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan followed by a sprinkle of about 1/2 the brown sugar mixture.

Dip each biscuit in the remaining syrup mixture and place in the bottom of the pan, slightly overlapping to form a ring.

Top with the remaining syrup and sugar mixtures.  Bake at 375 for about 20-25 minutes.  Let cool for a minute or so and then invert onto a plate.  Serve warm.

2 Comments

Filed under Breakfast, Cook, Treats

Tagged as ,

by | March 9, 2012 · 7:30 am

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows for Cocoa

Since we served at hot chocolate bar at our recent baby celebration for Anne, Stef and I thought it would be fun to have a variety of ways for people to gussy up their cocoa. One of the garnishes I made was these oversized, chocolate dipped marshmallows. Not only do they look pretty but you can let the chocolate melt into your drink for some extra richness.

I made them with my sister, which made it easier since you have to work fast. Adding sprinkles would be a fun task for little helpers – just have them be careful not to touch the hot, melted chocolate.

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
1 bag of marshmallows (I used the jumbo size)
1 bag of chocolate chips
OR
1/2 bag of chocolate chips and 1/2 bag of white chocolate chips
assorted sprinkles or sanding sugars
parchment paper

Melt chocolate over medium heat using a double boiler or make your own faux double boiler by placing a glass mixing bowl on a sauce pan so that the bottom of the bowl hangs about 1″ above your water. This will only work if your bowl fits securely into your pan. You could also melt the chocolate in the microwave, however I find I get more control with a double boiler since you don’t want to overheat the chocolate – especially the white chocolate.

As soon as the chips have all just melted, reduce the heat to medium low. If you’re using white chocolate, add any food coloring you wish now and quickly stir it in.

Working quickly, dunk and twirl the top of each marshmallow into the chocolate until the top is coated.

Set the dipped marshmallow chocolate side up on your parchment paper. Dust with sprinkles or sugar. Let set until chocolate has solidified.

1 Comment

Filed under Kid Friendly, Treats

Tagged as , ,

by | March 5, 2012 · 8:00 am

Lovely Little Lady Baby Celebration

Maybe it is the second child in me, but I feel like every baby deserves a celebration. So when we found out our very own Anne was expecting her second little girl this spring, we just had to throw a little soiree. We called this a baby celebration, rather than a shower. We gathered on a Sunday afternoon for some sweet treats and hot drinks in celebration of the newest lovely little lady!

Guests were invited with the bunting flag invites which set the scene for the pink sweets table (for sale in my Etsy shop here!).

 

We set up a sweets table in the basement that included thumbprint cookies, cherry chip cookies, fruit and fluff dip and a snickerdoodle cake. Little pink touches were added throughout with plates, napkins, ribbons and flowers. Homemade pink and white tissue pom poms hung from the ceiling. Guests were also treated to a hot chocolate & coffee bar with lots of fun mix-ins, including Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, Amaretto liquor, vanilla syrup, infused whipped creams, and hand-dipped marshmallows.

A Snickerdoodle Cake with Brown Sugar Buttercream was served. It was topped with a little bunting flag printed on scrapbook paper, threaded and tied to bamboo skewers. The recipe for the cake can be found on Foodie with Family.

We had a great time chatting, eating, drinking and celebrating the upcoming birth of what we know we will be a lovely little lady! February was quite the month for parties and I was thrilled to end the month on such a bright cheery note! We wish Anne and her family the very best as they anticipate the arrival of baby number two!

3 Comments

Filed under Baby Shower, Decorate, DIY, Entertain, Treats

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,