Cookies

Okay so who can resist a moist, melt in your mouth cookie? I know I can't especially with a cup of tea or coffee. 
Every week I try and make a batch of cookies this doesn't always happen but I try.
Here are some of the cookie recipes that I've made recently.

Raspberry-almond shortbread cookies

yield: 36 cookies

 

prep time: 30 minutes, chill 1 hr

 

cook time: 10 minutes per batch

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup seedless red raspberry jam
sugar for sprinkling
1 cup powdered sugar
3 to 4 teaspoons water
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl beat butter medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add the the 2/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Beat until well combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with electric mixer and then using a wooden spoon stir in any remaining flour. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Using your thumb, press an indentation into the center of each ball. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the jam into each indentation and then sprinkle with sugar. Bake about 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to wire racks to finish cooling.

3. For icing, in a medium bowl combine powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon water and 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract. Add enough of the remaining water to make a drizzling consistency. Drizzle cookies with icing.

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

This recipe is amazing! I have yet to find a peanut butter cookie I like better!

ingredients

• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 bag chocolate kisses

instructions

1. Cream Butter and sugars together in a large bowl.
2. Add peanut butter and mix well.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
4. Add baking soda, salt, and flour and mix until well incorporated.
5. Roll into 1 inch balls and then roll each bowl into sugar.
6. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes.
7. Immediately when done baking, gently press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.
8. Place on a cooling rack and let cool completely.
9. 
   

The Ultimate Healthy Soft & Chewy
Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are so thick and buttery that no one will believe they’re light! They’ll stay soft for a week if stored in an airtight container.

2 c all-purpose flour (measured correctly)

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 ½ tsp cornstarch

¼ tsp salt

6 tbsp butter, melted

2 egg whites, at room temperature

1 tbsp skim milk

4 tsp vanilla extract

1 c light brown sugar

¼ c regular semisweet chocolate chips

2 tbsp mini semisweet chocolate chips, divided

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. In a separate bowl,

whisk together the melted butter and egg whites until fluffy. Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Stir

in the brown sugar, smearing out any clumps along the side of the bowl. Add in the flour mixture,

stirring just until incorporated. Fold in the regular chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of mini

chocolate chips. Cover the top with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes. 

2. Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line two baking sheets with  parchment paper.

3. Roll the chilled cookie dough into 24 balls, and place on the prepared baking sheets. Press 5 or 6

mini chocolate chips into the top of each. Flatten slightly to about ¾” thick. Bake at 350°F for 10-12

minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to sit on the warm baking sheet for 10

minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Notes: I highly recommend chilling for 2 hours or more, preferably 4 hours. If you’re running short on

time, remove the cookie dough from the bowl, and place between two sheets of plastic wrap. Gently

press to 1” thick, and freeze for 20 minutes. (With more surface area and a colder temperature, it’ll be

similar to chilling for 4 hours in the refrigerator.) 

Do NOT over bake these cookies! After 10-12 minutes in the oven, they’ll still look and feel slightly

underdone, but they’ll continue to bake and set on the warm baking sheet for the 10 minutes after. 

Snickerdoodles Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs room temperature
• 1 TB vanila
• 1 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 tsp. cinnamon
• 4 TB sugar

Instructions

1. Cream butter, shortening and sugar by hand in a mixing bowl. 
2. Add eggs and vanilla and cream together.
3. In a separate bowl combine, cream of tartar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until well combined.
4. Refrigerate for 30 - 45 minutes.
5. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Form dough into small balls, roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture and then place on a greased cookie sheet. 
6. Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.

These cookies are amazing! Please let me know if you try them how you like them. I would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

Meal Plan Week 2

Meal Plan Week 2 

Sunday 1/12:

Beef roast with Roasted Onion, Potatoes, Carrots, Artisan Bread, Salad and Coconut Cream Pie

Monday 1/13:

Kielbasa, with onions, fennel bulb, mixed peppers over rice and Brownies

Tuesday 1/14:

Italian Homemade Pizza

Wednesday 1/15:

Japanese Beef Curry

Thursday 1/16:

Meatball-Tortellini Soup 

Friday 1/17:

Steamed Shrimp Dumpling and Steamed vegetables 

Saturday 1/18:

Penne with Butternut Squash.

I have been trying to find new and healthy recipes each week so far its been so much fun. I bought the Food Network Magazine for Jan/Feb and they had some amazing recipes so I had to include them in my menu this week. 

Later today I will be posting Part 2 to the Meal Planning post last week. 

The main thing to remember is to be flexible and learn to substitute. This week I substituted the sausage in one of my recipes for kielbasa because kielbasa was on sale and sausage was not. The recipes for this week are posted below, enjoy and let me know what you think. 

Kielbasa and Peppers:

2 lbs Kielbasa

2 tlbsp olive oil

3 assorted bell peppers

1 fennel chopped

1 lg onion

3 cloves garlic

½ tsp hot pepper flakes

½  tsp fennel seeds

15 oz diced tomatoes

1 tlbsp Basil

1.      Pierce Kielbasa link all over and place in pan, sire until golden brown on each side about 5 mins. Remove from pan and let cool.

2.      Heat oil in the pan over medium heat, Add bell peppers, onions, fennel  cook for 3 mins. Add seasonings and cook for 1 min.

3.      Stir in ½ cup of water, tomatoes and basil. Reduce heat to medium ; cover and cook till vegetables are tender about 5 mins.

4.      Cut Kielbasa into wedges and add to pot and cook for 5 mins. Add water if the sauce is to thick.

Japanese Beef Curry

4 tblsp unsalted butter

1 lg turnip

2 potatoes diced

1 onion

Kosher salt

3 tblsp flour

2 tblsp curry powder

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup frozen carrots and peas

12 oz of beef cubes

Cooked Rice

1.      Melt 1 tblsp butter in a large pan add turnips, potatoes, all but 2 tlbsp of onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3 mins and remove to a plate.

2.      Melt 2 tblsp butter sprinkle in flour and curry powder stir for 1 min. Gradually whisk in broth until smooth. Return potato mixture to the pot; add peas and carrots. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium , cover and let simmer for 10 mins; uncover and let simmer for 5 mins more.

3.      Season the steak with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tblsp of butter over medium heat; cook for 4 mins on each side. Let rest for 5 mins, then slice against the grain.

Then Serve.

Meatball- Tortellini Soup

8 oz ground beef

¼ cup Parmesan cheese plus more for topping

1 lg egg

1 clove garlic

2 tlbsp olive oil

2 carrots diced

1 stalk celery

1 qt chicken broth

8 oz tortellini

4 cups spinach

1 .Combine beef, Parmesan cheese, lg egg garlic ½ tsp salt and pepper mix until all combine. 

Make into small meatballs.

2. Heat oil in a pot and cook meatballs  for 5 mins. Remove to plate. Add carrots and celery cook til tender takes 5 mins. Add the broth and 3 cups of water; bring to a boil, return meatballs to pot. 

3. Add tortellini and cook  till they float to the top . Add spinach and cook. Top with Parmesan.

Enjoy!

End of the Week!

Since it is Friday I have a list of things I would like to complete before my weekend starts. I find that when I complete or at least check off a few things on my list I feel like I can relax a little bit more on the weekend. Here is my list for Friday.

1. Work on my meal plan and print out recipes.
2. Write out Shopping list.
3. Complete my household chore list.

• Sweep and wash floors
• Dust 
• Vacuum
• Clean Bathroom
• Strip beds
• Wash Ethan's Cloth Diapers

My general rule of thumb is to make my weekends lighter so I have extra time to spend with my Family and if we want to go on a day trip I don't end up feeling guilty when I get home for not having it all done. Lets be realistic who want a ton of chores looming over your head while you're out and about, I know I don't. This also frees up my weekends so that I can work on my hobbies.

So tell me, What are your weekend routines? I am interested to see what everyone does to prep for the weekend.

Watch out for tomorrows blog posts 1.) Topic will be Meal Planning Part 2: Flexibility and 2.) My Meal Plan for Next Week.

Have a great Friday Night!!!

Meal Planning Part One

My steps to create a budget friendly meal plan.

1. Pick up your local Supermarket sale ad. 
2. Look  for recipes that coincide with the sale items. 
3. Write out your meal plan.
4. Print or save  your recipes that you will be using for the week.
5. Write out your shopping list.
6. Shop!

I normally find my ideas for recipes on Pinterest. If you don't have pinterest I highly recommend it. I am on there constantly for diy project, recipes and just in general. It can be very addicting, you have been warned :-) 

When I am planning my meals for the week, I plan th

em around the sale in my local supermarket for me its Shoprite because they double my coupons so it is a win for me. My normal strategy for meal planning is 4 meat proteins and 2 vegetarian proteins, this doesn't always happen but I try. And in the Fall - Early Spring I make a soup per week and freeze the rest for my husband's lunches during the week. Here is my meal plan for this week.

~Monday~  

Pollock Fish with Wild Rice and Salad

~Tuesday~

Tom Ka Soup

I added tofu to the soup to add some protein.

~Wednesday~

Stuffed Pepper with Ground Beef and a Side Side of Pasta in a Garlic Butter Sauce.

~Thursday~

One Skillet White Bean and Keilbasa Stew.

~Friday~

Beef Pot Roast with Carrots, Onions and Potatoes.

~Saturday~

One Pan Pasta

~Sunday~

Leftovers!!!

I normally make dessert during the week but I don't plan them unless I want to make something really special that calls for something that I don't normally have in my kitchen.

Links to recipes

One Skillet White Bean Sausage Stew

Tom Ka Soup

One Pan Pasta

Hope you enjoyed this post and that you find it helpful. 

Please feel free to leave a comment.

Have a Good night

Katie

Oh the dreaded phrase....Meal planning

How many of you have wanted to meal plan but just the thought seems a bit overwhelming?
Well you have come to the right place. I started meal planning a few months ago and I am already seeing the benefits of it.
Here are a few helpful tips and goals to help you get started.
1. Try and have 2 meals that are meatless yet have protein.
2. Try to keep the meal to under an hour in total prep and cooking time.
3. Less is more.
4. Keep to your budget and if you don't have one make one.
Meal planning may seem overwhelming in the beginning so start with one goal at a time and work up to it.
Tomorrow I will share my meal plan for next week and how I did step by step.

Goodnight Everyone.

Greetings

Hello Everyone!
Thank you for stopping by my blog, I hope you enjoy your time here.
As this new year had begun I have set some goals for myself for this coming year, one which was start a blog. 

I'll start of with telling you a bit about myself. I am homemaker and a stay at home Mom to a wonderful little 16 month old boy name Ethan.
I live in Northern New Jersey not to far from NYC. 
I love to bake, sew, garden, read, needle work and most importantly be a wife/ mother. 
My goals for this blog is to cover all areas that wives and mothers face on a daily basis. 
I hope you still enjoy my blog, please feel free to comment.

Sincerely,
Katie