Meals with Maria & Friends

Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake

Erin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:14:37 +0000

I really enjoy lemon treats. To me, there is something refreshing about the lemon flavor. I have a few favorite lemon desserts, but this pound cake is one of my favorites. I honestly cannot remember where I got the recipe from, so although I would like to give credit where credit is due, I am going to blame the forgetfulness on my Mommy brain.

Ingredients
2 ½ cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon lemon extract
5 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk or evaporated milk
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1/4 cup poppy seeds
Powdered sugar, if desired

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and side of angel food cake pan, 10×4-inches, 12-cup bundt cake pan or 2 loaf pans, 9x5x3-inches, with shortening; lightly flour.
2. Beat sugar, butter, lemon extract and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Beta flour mixture into sugar mixture alternately with milk on low speed, beating just until smooth after each addition. Fold in lemon peel and poppy seeds. Pour into pan(s).
3. Bake angel food or bundt cake pan 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, loaf pans 55 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes; remove form pan(s) to wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

I have now posted here every month for the last year and really enjoyed doing it. It got me to think more about the fact that I do like cooking (more than I thought I did). And also to see that I have come quite a ways since my first cooking experiences. Of course, I am still far from calling myself a “cook”, but I am getting closer the more I try out Maria’s recipes! I am going to go back to just posting recipes occasionally on my own blog now for this season of life. I really appreciate Maria giving me the opportunity to do this and encourage her other friends to join in and share your recipes as well!

All the best,

Spaghetti Squash with Marinara Sauce

Maria — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:05:15 +0000

This past fall, we received some spaghetti squash in our CSA basket. I honestly was not sure what to do with it, though I figured I could bake it. Right? Fortunately, about the same time, Emily posted about how to cook it. I was very relieved and jumped right in. I went a little light on the garlic for TB’s sake, but if I were making it for myself, I would have loaded up. I topped ours off with some pasta sauce I had canned.

Chewy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Maria — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:52:20 +0000

After four years, I will say my son has developed himself quite the sweet tooth. He enjoys having a cookie or dessert, and I can not say I blame him. We are working with him on enjoying a little bit each day, but in the mean time, it gives me an excuse to bake. I found this recipe for Chewy Vegan Chocolate Chip cookies on Daily Garnish, one of my favorite cooking websites, because Emily posts relatively easy to make recipes.

Dutch Apple Pie

Erin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:13:46 +0000

Apple pie is probably my favorite kind of pie, but when it comes to rolling out a crust, I am not always up for it (ie. I am lazy). That is why I discovered this delicious Dutch Apple Pie from All Recipes. The crust is made with butter, flour, brown sugar and oats and is simply pressed into the pie plate. The filling is pretty simple then. And the end result is delicious.

Enjoy,

Menu Plan Monday: 5 December 2011

Maria — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:54:07 +0000

Like most weeks, I mess up the menu plan at least one day…or don’t plan for all of the existing leftovers. As such, some items this week are repeats of last week simply because I didn’t make them when I said I would or decided to do something crazy like make ham and scalloped potatoes instead of lentil soup. Ha ha!

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Book club! Oh goodness! I need to bake cookies!

Wednesday: Sandwiches and the town square Christmas Tree lighting ceremony! (Yes, I had the weeks mixed up, so this one is a do-over!)

Thursday: Work party, so the guys are on their own.

Friday: Lentil Soup (subbing vegetable broth for chicken to make it vegan)

Saturday: Brunch at my place, so Quinoa Quiche, Pumpkin donuts, Meatballs and more!

Sunday: Leftovers

Pop on over to OrgJunkie and plan with us!

Berry-Good Smoothie

Maria — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:51:00 +0000

This smoothie was so simple and easy, I am hesitant to post anything but the photo. I love the vibrant color, which I think added to my enjoyment.

Players

Strawberries

Raspberries

Pomegranate Juice

Roasted whole flax seed

Menu Plan Monday: 28 Nov 2011

Maria — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:32:44 +0000

I’m back in town for a few weeks, so it’s time for me to menu plan again. Last week I focused on making turkey and ham and a few smaller things for Thanksgiving (pictures to come!), but this week, I want to try to get us back on track. While generally I do want to keep following my menu formula, I need to make a few adjustments this week, because if I have to eat Turkey or ham today, I will scream!

Monday: Southwest taco soup with gluten free (and vegan) cornbread

Tuesday: Sweet potato and black bean enchiladas (A variation of this recipe)

Wednesday: Sandwiches and the town square Christmas Tree lighting ceremony!

Thursday: Stir-Fry Quinoa

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Lentil Soup (subbing vegetable broth for chicken to make it vegan)

Sunday: Quinoa Quiche (running group is coming over, so I might have to make something else too. )

Pop on over to OrgJunkie and plan with us!

Christmas Cookie Baking

Erin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:12:04 +0000

My all-time favorite family tradition is cooking baking with my mom’s side of the family the Friday after Thanksgiving. While others are out fighting crowds in shopping malls, we women (me, when I am home, my grandma, my mom, my two aunts, my sister-in-law, my mom’s cousin and my cousin’s wife) are pumping out hundreds of dozens of Christmas cookies in a day. We have been doing this for almost 2 decades now and have gone through a lot of cookie recipes. Today I am going to share with you a few of the recipes that have stood the test of time and are some favorites for our family.

Peanut Blossoms
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter chips
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/3 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup finely shopped nuts (optional)
granulated sugar
1 bag (9 ounces) Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In saucepan over low heat, place butter and peanut butter chips; heat; stirring constantly, until melted.
3. Pour mixture into large mixer bowl; add brown sugar, eggs and vanilla, beating until well-blended.
4. Stir in flour, baking soda and nuts, blending well.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately place unwrapped chocolate piece on top of each cookie, pressing down so cookie cracks around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to cool.

Cowboy Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup sifted flour
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 6 ounce bag of chocolate chips (almost 3 cups)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
1. Cream both sugars, shortening and eggs.
2. Mix in remaining ingredients.
3. Bake 13 minutes at 350 degrees

Chocolate Amaretto Balls
Ingredients
3 (6 ounces) packages chocolate morsels
1 (14 ounces) can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Finely chopped almonds (nuts)

Directions
1. In heavy saucepan over low heat, melt morsels with condensed milk.
2. Remove from heat. Stir in amaretto and almond extract.
3. Chill two hours. Shape into ¾ inch balls. Roll in nuts. Chill until firm.
4. Store at room temperature in tightly covered container.

Peanut Butter Temptations
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
10 ounces of mini peanut butter cups.
mini muffin cups

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream butter, peanut butter and both sugars.
3. Beat in egg and vanilla.
4. Blend in flour and baking soda.
5. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place in ungreased 1½ inch muffin tins with mini muffin cups.
6. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes or until slightly browned.
7. Immediately after removing from oven, press a mini peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie, until only the top of the peanut butter cup shows. Let cool in pan.

Those are just a few of the selections. Here is a plate with some of the final products. If you see something there you would like the recipe for, let me know in the comments and I will send you the recipe.

Enjoy,

Stovetop Granola

Erin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:11:07 +0000

A few years ago, I went in search of an easy and delicious granola recipe. This Stovetop Granola from All Recipes won out for me. The ingredients are very basic, the process is simple and the result is delicious. This is always a big hit at snack times around our house.

Enjoy,

Seasonal Vegetable and Quinoa: Eggplant, Tomato, Zuccini

Maria — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:22:25 +0000

When I switched to a “menu formula,” I wrote that on Thursdays we would have a stir fry or saute. While generally, I am sure this sounds boring, I assure you, it can be quite the treat. I also thought I should share some of our combinations in order to help spark some ideas for you.

I made this version about a month ago by sauteing eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes (all came with our CSA) and then adding edamame. I kept the seasoning VERY simple in order to allow the fresh from the garden (ok, CSA) taste shine through. In other words, I used salt and pepper. I dished it up over quinoa. Unfortunately, I failed to get a pretty photo of that, so the one of it mixed up for my son will have to do.