Late Night Baking

I spent the evening testing out some lovely new pans we were given as a wedding present, and oh my are they perfect! Here is the newest addition to the cake batter cookies recipe, yellow cake batter with a chocolate kiss. Simply delicious! 

Cake Batter Cookies

This is a great recipe because there are so many options! I have made it so many ways! Last week, I rolled them in shimmer sugar, and this week I added M&Ms. Any cake mix works too, so the options are literally limitless! 

Cake Batter Cookies

Ingredients:

1 box cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1/4 cup flour

sprinkles, candies, or chocolate chips (optional)

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients. If the mixture is too sticky, at a little extra flour. Form tablespoon size balls and place on lined cookie sheets. Bake 9-12 minutes. Enjoy! 

Baked Mac & Cheese

Baked Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

3 cups milk

8 oz. Velveeta

3 cups shredded cheddar

16 oz. elbow macaroni

grated parmesan 

Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook the elbow macaroni in boiling water according to the directions on the box. For the best results, cook the noodles until they are al dente; make sure they are not completely cooked through because they will continue to cook. Strain the noodles and set aside. Combine the butter, milk, Velveeta, and cheddar in a large sauce pan. While constantly stirring, melt the cheese sauce over medium heat until fully combined. Remove the mixture from heat and stir in the noodles. Spread the mac & cheese in a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle the grated parmesan over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. 

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites

These are possibly the easiest dessert I have ever made & perfect for when you need to make lots of goodies for a party.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites

Ingredients: 

1 bag of mini pretzels (I prefer the waffle style)

1 Ghirardelli white chocolate baking bar

1 Ghirardelli chocolate baking bar

1 bag of caramel squares

 

Directions: Line pretzels on a microwave safe plate and place the caramels centered on each one. Microwave 30 to 45 seconds, just until they are soft. Gently place a pretzel on top of the caramels and slightly press down. Allow to cool completely. Line a baking sheet (or two) with wax paper.  Chop up the white chocolate into small pieces and place into a microwave safe bowl. In 15 second increments using the microwave, begin melting the white chocolate, stirring very well in between. Using a fork, dip the pretzels into the white chocolate and place on the lined cookie sheet. Allow to cool completely. Repeat the same melting process for the chocolate baking bar and dip the pretzels. Enjoy! 

Pumpkin Cake, Take Two

Remember my pumpkin cake? It got a little upgrade this week! With a little extra frosting and pecans I am pretty sure this is now a dessert Martha would be proud of...

Turkey Chili

I can't believe Thanksgiving is finally here! I am so beyond excited! I think it is so silly when people complain about splitting up their holidays between multiple families, because we honestly couldn't be happier about it! We get THREE dinner leftovers. Our first Thanksgiving dinner was celebrated at my dad's house. We had a very traditional Thanksgiving, it was fantastic...all of Grandma Denton's recipes! I contributed by bringing pumpkin cake. (Click here for the link.) Our family is all about getting creative, and so for Thanksgiving dinner at the Vance house, we are mixing it up and having turkey chili instead of a traditional turkey. As much as we love Thanksgiving leftovers, chili is something we can freeze for a while and wont be stuck having turkey everything for the next week. Don't worry though, all of our side dishes are sticking to Thanksgiving traditions!

Turkey Chili

Ingredients: 

2 lbs lean ground turkey

3 1/2 cups canned pinto beans

3 1/2 cups canned red kidney beans

3 1/4 cup tomato sauce

3 1/2 cups petite cut diced tomatoes

2 cups diced celery

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons pepper

2 cups water
(I suggest adding a cup of chopped onion to the chili, but Marc is very allergic to onions so I can't!) 

Additional Toppings:

sour cream

shredded cheese

tortilla chips 

Directions: In a skillet, brown the turkey and drain any access fat. Add the turkey and all ll remaining ingredients into the crock-pot. Cook on low for four hours. 

Additional Information:  

Based off of twelve servings per batch, there are 320 calories per serving. Along with being delicious, this recipe is very budget friendly, each serving costs about $1.10.

How cute are these bowls? I found them at Goodwill for 79 cents each! They are perfect for our shredded cheese and sour cream toppings!

The Easiest Pumpkin Cake Recipe Ever

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients: 

1 29oz can of pumpkin pure

2 boxes of Pillsbury moist supreme yellow cake mix

4 eggs

1 tub of cream cheese frosting

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350. Using an electric mixer, combine canned pumpkin, cake mix, and eggs. Pour the mixture into two greased pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Cool, ice, and enjoy!

Banana Bread

What do you do when your bananas all brown overnight and Halloween chocolate chips are on sale? Chocolate chip banana bread of course! 

Banana Bread:

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 medium bananas
2 eggs

1/2 cup butter

1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350. Mash bananas and cream with sugar, butter, and eggs. Once smooth, combine with flour and baking soda. If desired, fold in chocolate chips. Fill 2 greased bread pans about half way full. Bake for 40-45 minutes. If you don't plan on serving the banana bread right away, I'd bake it closer to 40 minutes to keep the inside moist. Enjoy! 

Owl Sugar Cookies

What do you do when you find pumpkin candy corn at the grocery store and an owl cookie cutter? Obviously make cookies! I feel like the pictures pretty much explain how to make them, but if you have any questions comment below! I cheated a bit and bought sugar cookie mix, but if you want to make them homemade, click here for my sugar cookie recipe. 

Owl Sugar Cookies:

Ingredients: 

1 batch of sugar cookie dough (boxed or homemade)

1 owl cookie cutter 

1 bag of candy corn

1 bag of M&Ms 

1 can of frosting (I used cream cheese frosting)

a bit of cinnamon and sugar for dusting

Blackberry Muffins

FINALLY! Blackberry season is here! Maisy (our shih tzu) and I spent the morning picking blackberries, unfortunately it has been so hot that selection wasn't too great...most had dried and shriveled up before they were even ready. But I was able to pick just enough to make a batch of muffins! Enjoy! 

Blackberry Muffins

makes 12 muffins

250 calories each

Ingredients:

              

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 cups fresh blackberries

Directions: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar. Add eggs, mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder salt, and almond milk. Fold in blackberries. Fill greased muffins cups two-thirds full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. 

Fudge Brownie Cookies

Fudge Brownie Cookies:

makes 30 cookies

150 calories per cookie

Ingredients: 

1 package of Duncan Hines chewy fudge brownies (mix only)

1 12oz package Nestle Toll House semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 large egg

1/3 c. vegetable oil

2 tbsp. water

Directions: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, egg, vegetable oil, and water. Once combined, the mixture should have a cookie dough consistency. Fold in chocolate chips. Place slightly flattened tablespoons of dough onto a lined cookie sheet, they do not spread much so there isn't a need for much space in between cookies. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely before removing from the cookie sheet. Enjoy!

These are not only delicious, they are great when you are on a budget. I made this batch for under $5! 

Game Day Prep

To say I am obsessed with everything blue and orange would be an understatement! I have my game day outfit, my broncos bow, and delicious heart shaped cookies. These cookies were fantastic, super soft and the perfect amount of sweetness so obviously I have to share the recipe! 

Sugar Cookies:

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup softened butter 

3/4 cups sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 can cream cheese icing 

sprinkles (optional)

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add the egg and beat until fluffy, about two to three minutes. Add vanilla. Gradually add in dry mix. Shape into a ball and refrigerate for an hour. Once chilled, roll dough to a 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. Using a cookie cutter, create your desired shapes. Bake until cookies are just slightly golden brown around the edges, about 10-13 minutes. Remove from heat, cool completely, and decorate.

-4/365 New Year's Resolution

I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I tell myself every year that I am going to eat healthier, lose weight, read more, etc. and obviously, according to my size 7 jeans and dusty bookshelf, I never follow through. So this year, I refuse to make any figure changing goals. My only attempt at a resolution is to capture a little more time; take notes on my life. This year has gone by way too fast and I wish I would have stopped and taken a little more time to enjoy it. So hopefully, by reflecting as often as possible, I will learn to appreciate the little things a tiny bit more. 2013 has been one hell of a year. I learned that I have the power to change my life. I have learned that life is way too short to be unhappy. I have learned that you only have one lifetime to live, so you may as well spend it how you’d like and stop caring what anyone else thinks. I have learned that sometimes, mom and dad aren't always right. Sometimes they are, but you have to make your own mistakes; mistakes are quite often the fun part of growing up. I have learned that life may throw you a curve ball, and that is okay. How boring and unadventurous would life be if it was a one way road, all highway, with no beautiful and winding back roads?

Tonight, I kicked off my resolution and documented our delicious dinner. I have been on a baking spree due to my new KitchenAid so today, we decided to make homemade pizza for dinner. I would love to share my Grandmother's dough recipe, but it is on strict lock-down for Denton family members only. However, here is a link to one of my favorites from All Recipes. Ours was simply topped with tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, olives, and turkey pepperoni. I never realized how much money we were wasting on frozen pizzas, even buying the cheap kinds. We made two HUGE pizzas for under $5. However, we had most of the ingredients in our kitchen and only had to buy vegetables and pepperoni. We also had enough dough left over to make honey bread for breakfast tomorrow. As a couple, we are trying to cook at home more to save money and keep our food simple and a little healthier...

Cowboy Cookies

Pardon my language, but bloody hell I am addicted. By request from the boyfriend, I whipped up a batch of cowboy cookies this evening  and I can't stop eating them! Did I mention I made them with my new KITCHENAID!!! My parents were wonderful and surprised me with one! I never thought I would own one, and might I say, it looks beautiful in our kitchen! As delicious as this recipe is, I should probably keep it top secret. But it is the season of giving, so merry Christmas!

Cowboy Cookies:

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon 

1 teaspoon salt

3 sticks softened butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 (7oz) bag sweetened coconut flakes

6 packets instant maple and brown sugar oatmeal

(I forgot to pick up oats at the store and I wasn't about to head out the day before Christmas eve to get more, so I made it work!)

4 cups chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups pecan pieces 

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Using an electric mixer, cream butter for approx. one minute. Slowly add white and brown sugar to the butter. Once thoroughly combined, add in eggs and vanilla. Slowly add dry mix to wet mix. Once combined, using the electric mixer, add coconut flakes and oatmeal. Using your hands, fold in chocolate chips and pecan pieces. (I attempted to use the Kitchenaid for this, but it got way too thick.) Create balls using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, do not flatten. Leave a good distance between cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet because they flatten quite a bit. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!