Heirloom Recipe Contest and Chocolate Chip Cookie Pies

I am not an early bird, but would tend in a world that was all about me, to be a night owl instead.  But since things are what they are, I often look forward to the weekends largely so I can sleep late in the mornings.  That is one of my favorite, favorite things!  And the good news is that all of my furry critters are happy to oblige me and sleep in with me as late as I want, which is usually 9:00 or 9:30...or so. 

This morning, I was awake at 5:30. 

Wide awake.

Feeling completely rested.

Hmphf.

At about 6:00, I gave up, crawled out of bed and made coffee.  And I started baking. 

I'm in muffin mode.  Don't try to stop me, you'll only get hurt.  Ok, maybe not - I'm not really that tough.  But, still, I'm just enjoying the muffin making process and how nicely they're turning out.  With full intentions of taking a car load of sweet goodness to Portland's Ronald McDonald House (which Bender and I did this afternoon!), I made two batches of Cinnamon Apple Muffins, and this time, I made them in my jumbo muffin tin (so I got six very large, beautiful muffins out of each batch) and I made two batches of  Blueberry Muffins also in the jumbo muffin tin, but instead of using only blueberries, I used blueberries and chopped up strawberries both.

This isn't the best picture ever, but it's the only one I took.  Dang it.

  
In addition to this, I also made two Chocolate Chip Cookie Pies.  The original recipe came from www.ourbestbites.com.  I can vouch that these taste gooood.  I can also vouch that it's pretty important to let it mostly cool before you cut it because otherwise you end up with a delicious gooey messy slice of pie.  The good news is that messy looking slices still taste fabulous!

Yes, the slice you see is topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce.  Yes, it's a bit sinful.  What can I say? 

I have one other thing to chat with you about this time.  There is a contest going on at the Just A Pinch website, and if you are interested in participating, I'm going to provide you with some information below. 

The Just A Pinch
Heirloom Recipe Contest Information

Just A Pinch is hosting an Heirloom Recipe Contest, and you can learn more about it and enter the contest by clicking here.  The hope is that participants will share family recipes and related stories.  The winner of the contest will get an all expense paid trip to Nashville to participate in the next Blue Ribbon Showcase, tickets to the Grand Ole Opry and a $1,000 Cook's Dream shopping spree at the Viking Store!

The contest has already started, but don't worry!  You still have plenty of time to enter, as it doesn't end until May 15th.

One other thing along this line.  I have something to give away, too, so keep reading!  You could win access to the interactive digital compilation of all the Blue Ribbon recipes from 2011 from the Just A Pinch site. With the download code, you will have easy access to the hundreds of recipes that were given a blue ribbon last year. To be eligible for this nice prize, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog indicating the name of your personal favorite family recipe.  That's it; it's that simple.  Keep in mind, though, that if you post a comment as "Anonymous" I won't be able to notify you if you win, so anonymous comments won't be considered.


I think that's it for now!  I hope you'll consider entering the Heirloom Recipe Contest, and I hope you'll also consider entering my fun giveaway, too. 

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!!

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

Doggie's A-Dashin'

Every year since Bender was born, he and I have participated in the Oregon Humane Society's Doggie Dash fundraising event.  It's always a lot of fun to see all the tons of different dogs and their people roaming about and participating in all of the different events that are available.  One year, Bender met a very cute Miniature American Eskimo female and he flat out refused to leave her.  When I tugged on his leash, he parked his rump right down and did what I call "the donkey" and refused to budge. 

The first year that we did it, Bender was going through a stubborn teenager phase where, in the middle of going on a walk, he'd just stop and park it and not go any further.  Done. That particular year I had to carry him for part of the distance of the dash.  He wasn't full grown then, but he still got quite heavy after a bit of time.  People that were walking with me thought it was funny and cute.  Hmphf. 

Since then, though, Bender has matured a little and is better behaved.  He's becoming an old pro at being a dasher and raising money for less fortunate animals.  We are a household that LOVES critters (I would be dangerous if I lived someplace with more space, like a farm... seriously!), so this is a fundraising event that I do every year without miss. 

If you would be interested in learning more about it or in donating to Bender and my team, you can do so by clicking here. 

Some pictures from previous events for your viewing pleasure.

First, I didn't realize I had a picture.  This is the cute little girl he met that I was talking about in the first paragraph above, and you can see he's already rebelling to my suggestion that we move on.  This was pre-donkey stance. (2009)

Lots of people and dogs!  This is the registration tent.  (2009)

Bender wanting me to pick him up and carry him.  Heaven help me... (2009)

In 2010, we participated in the No Bonz Team, the team made up of people from Bender's "school", all in red and representin'!

In 2011, we were on the No Bonz Team again, and bender is wearing his No Bonz bandana.  This is us on the drive into Portland - Bender's got his game face on!

So, hopefully the pictures haven't been too much, but it's a fun event that goes to a great cause.  Feel free to ask me questions, visit my Doggie Dash site, or the site of the Oregon Humane Society. 

Thanks in advance for reading this special blog and for any donation, small or large, that you might be able to make towards our efforts.

Valentines Day March of Dimes Muffin Mania

I'm driving my little dog crazy tonight.  He goes crazy for the smell of cinnamon, and it's definitely in the air at the homestead right now!

I'm making three different muffins tonight.  Yeah, I know what you're thinking... tomorrow is Valentine's Day and instead of sexy chocolate recipes and goodies, I'm making very un-romantic muffins.  I just don't have a good solid answer for that other than muffins do give off a warm and cozy feel, right?  They're kinda a little bit cuddly, I think. 

ANYWAY... the real point is that at work tomorrow, several folks are bringing in baked goods and we're having a bake sale to raise money for the March of Dimes.  I work with great people who have amazing ideas and do wonderful things.  They make me proud! 

First, I made a beautiful, cinnamony, fabulous batch of Cinnamon Apple Muffins  in the large muffin pan - so it made a total of 6.  These muffins are the kind that, to me, never really sound as tempting as blueberry or several other flavors, but when I make them and eat them, I can't remember why they didn't sound good to start with.  They are SO good.  Super moist and just down right good. 

It has finely diced apple bits (skin and all!) which adds moisture and texture.  And makes my mouth water.

I also made Jumbo Blueberry Muffins that always turn out perfectly!  Here's a picture from last time I made them - I didn't take any new pictures tonight because I'm a little busy (or is it lazy?).  The only thing I did different this time was add about a teaspoon of lemon extract to the batter for a little extra somethin'. 

I think upside down muffins are so pretty!  See...  here's some more.

The ones above are Cranberry Orange Muffins.  I don't have a link to the recipe anywhere like I do for the ones above, but here's the quick recipe for them:

Cream together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 cup sugar.  Add two eggs and vanilla and mix well. 
Add zest of 1 orange and about 2 Tbsp of orange juice.
In bowl, combine 2 tsp baking powder and 2 cups flour.
Alternate adding 1/2 cup of milk and the flour mixture into the sugar mix ending with the flour mix. 
Stir in 2 1/2 cups cranberries, thawed and drained. 

Bake in 375 degree oven in greased muffin tins (or use paper lines) for about 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the size of the muffin tins you use) or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  

Easy. Easy. Easy.

So here's a little tidbit tip that I learned tonight.  I used frozen cranberries.  Taste fine (just sampled a muffin and it was tart and tasty!), but I didn't defrost the cranberries and it caused the batter to get thick, the muffins had to cook longer because the batter was so cold and they didn't end up with big puffy tops like they usually do.  The tops puffed, but just not as big and pretty as usual.  So it's important to thaw and drain the berries.  Now I know.

Also, the orange flavor was very mild, so next time I might would add just a teaspoon of orange extract.  If I was in the mood to do so, that is.

Welp.  Early meetings in the morning, so gonna wrap up the muffins and hit the hay! 

I hope you have a fabulous Valentine's Day tomorrow!

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

A Special Birthday Peanut Butter Chip Brownie Recipe

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

A special day, for sure!  And to kick off such an event, I tried a new twist on brownies by adding peanut butter chips in them.  My personal opinion is that chocolate is divine, but if you throw peanut butter in the mix... well, it's just hard to beat.  And add a cold glass of milk to the mix, and that'll get you a big ol' "Holy Snap!"  Who needs birthday cake when you have a good ol' brownie?? 

The simple scratch recipe goes like this:

1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 bag of peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine the butter and sugar.  Add vanilla and eggs, incorporating well.  Add flour, cocoa and powder, mixing well.  Stir in chips.  Pour into greased 9x13 baking dish and bake 30 - 35 minutes or until toothpick entered into center comes out clean. 

The bad news is that I didn't take prep pictures! So that means you'll have to use your imagination this time!

So, here's to you, Mom!  I hope Dad holds up his part of the birthday celebration by taking you out to dinner to use your gift certificate! 

Enjoy! 

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

Hunter's Stew (aka Chicken Cacciatore) for Two

Although I feel like I should be posting some fabulous Super Bowl party snacks tonight, I just ain't feeling it.  Sorry for that, but I hope that my topic will hit your palate in a good enough way that you'll forgive me being a party pooper. 

I was talking to my Mom tonight and learned that she and my family had gone out to eat Italian food earlier today.  My Dad ordered and had for the first time ever the Chicken Cacciatore - and he really enjoyed it.  It was interesting timing, because I had just gotten back from the butcher store down the street and had bought a couple of chicken breasts, and as luck would have it, I had been to the grocery store and had purchased mushrooms and peppers.  This is particularly interesting because I never hardly ever buy peppers.  Apparently I was picking up Dad's happy vibes from across the Oklahoma to Washington airwaves!  Yay that I did!

I think it turned out fabulous!  I don't know what classifies a dish as "real" Chicken Cacciatore but this is what my final looked like:

And then, I decided that it needed more sauce...

Oh yeah!!

Now, I have to say that I've never made this before, but I looked online for a recipe and couldn't find one that struck my fancy completely, either with ingredients or with preparation, so I just got a good feel for what it should be and winged it the best I could.  So this recipe is mine with a fair amount of influence from a couple of different recipes I found on foodnetwork.com. 

Before we get started, though according to one of the websites I ran across (I now wish I had made note of it) when doing my recipe research, Chicken Cacciatore is also known as Hunter's Stew.  Supposedly, Cacciatore means "hunter" in Italian, and when a hunter would come home without a catch, his wife would kill a chicken for the night's meal and make something like what I'm presenting to you in this blog episode.  That's what I read, but how true it is, I just have to admit that I have no idea.  I just thought it was a funny little ditty since my Padre is a fierce hunter that works hard to put food on the family table.  He's good like that.  But I'm surprised we didn't eat Chicken Cacciatore more often as children if this story is true...  (hehe)

I started this dish by heating up my dutch oven on the stove top on medium-high heat.  You can use a regular skillet for this - I just love my dutch oven. 

While that was heating, I took a baggie and put about 1/4 cup of flour in it and dropped the chicken breasts inside and tossed it around to coat the chicken with the flour.  I drizzled a little bit of olive oil into the heated pan and browned the chicken on both sides.

Once just browned (not cooked thoroughly - just brown 'em!), I removed them from the pan.  I then added a pat of butter and about 1/3 cup of chicken broth to the hot pan.  To that, I added diced onion, bell peppers, minced garlic and sliced baby portabella mushrooms.  Oh, and don't forget the salt and pepper, too!

The peppers I used were these cute little sweetened on the vine peppers that came in a bag.  They were so pretty.  I like bell peppers, but I prefer them when they have a more mild flavor than the typical full sized green ones.

Once the veggies cooked down, I added another 1/2 cup of chicken broth, a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies (with juice) and about 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and about 1 scant teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning. 

It made a beautiful sauce!

I reduced the heat down to about medium, and I placed the browned chicken breasts back into the pan into the sauce. 

Put the lid on the pan and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  It was at this point that I put my water on the stove for the pasta.  I used thin spaghetti noodles. 

Once the pasta was done and the chicken was thoroughly cooked, I plated it up and chowed down!  It was hearty and had such a great flavor.  I enjoyed this as much, and maybe even a little more, than the traditional spaghetti meat sauce.

So here's the recipe break down:

• Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 large boneless and skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tsp butter
• 1/3 cup chicken broth (you can use a dry white wine instead of broth if you'd like; I was using what I had on hand)
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup chopped bell pepper (I used every color but green, and I used little ones, but you can use regular sized bell peppers - whatever is your preference is what you should do!)
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 8 oz container of fresh sliced mushrooms (I used baby portabello mushrooms, but regular button mushrooms would work just fine)
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 can Ro-tel diced tomatoes with chilies plus the juice (you can use regular canned diced tomatoes if you don't want the extra spice of the chilies)
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1 scant tsp of dried Italian seasoning
• Thin spaghetti noodles, prepared per package instructions

Heat olive oil in skillet.  Coat chicken breasts with flour.  Over medium-high heat, brown chicken breasts on both sides in skillet and then remove from pan and set aside.  Add butter and chicken broth to pan and then add onion, bell pepper, garlic, salt and pepper.  Saute until veggies soften.  Add additional 1/2 cup chicken broth, canned diced tomatoes with juice, and tomato sauce.  Stir and reduce heat to medium.  Add chicken back into pan; cover with lid and let simmer 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Sauce will thicken slightly as it cooks.  Serve with hot cooked pasta, putting sauce over the chicken and noodles. 

This dish was surprisingly quick and simple to make.  I think the bell peppers and the Ro-Tel tomatoes did it for me in terms of adding nice flavor and spice. 

This recipe can easily be expanded to create more servings if needed, too.

I am hoping that my Dad gives this a try and lets me know what he thinks! 

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child