Oven Baked Apple Donuts

Makes about 24 mini donuts

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup of lightly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup of white sugar
1 1/2 cups of bite size chunks of apple, peeled and cored
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup of cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 egg
1/4 cup of milk

COATING

Michael W. Smith - Above All and Majesty

Michael W. Smith

Saw him in Concert at Ocean Grove Great Auditorium in NJ
Was awesome and had GREAT seats!

My friend and i had such a GREAT time and the concert was awesome! I have never been to Ocean Grove, but been wanting to go. It was a beautiful night, which helped as the auditorium is open. He not only sang but he said a prayer and talked for a while about life's twists and turns, concerning the shooting in Colorado. I am so blessed and grateful that I was able to make this event and not sick from all the driving.

Peach Buttermilk Scones

This is my mom's recipe that I used before to make blueberry scones. They were a huge hit with hubby and dad and me of course. It is peach season now and I already made Peach Streusel Coffee Cake and dad kinda hinted that the store bought scones didn't taste good as the ones I made . He loves peaches , so I figured why not try peach scones. SO today I am food shopping and plan to stop by the local fruit & Veggie ,Sloan Boys Market on the way back. They have fresh grow veggie and fruit. So I hope to be making a batch this afternoon some time.

 ♥

☺~~HAPPY BAKING~~☺

Makes 12

INGREDIENTS
3 cup all-purpose is fine
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1 cup buttermilk
1  stick butter, melted in microwave
1 cup of  peach's, skinned and chopped into pieces* 

DIRECTIONS

Pizza Pepperoni Monkey Bread

I plan to make this next time my sons come and the girls. They will love this. They LOVE Pepperoni. You can use any meat you like. 

You can take the long route and make your favorite pizza dough and marinara sauce, or the short route and pick up your favorite pizza dough and red sauce from the store. 

I plan to make it with the 2 girls ( grand daughters) , they love to help me cook when they are here. So depends on how much time we have, if we make home made dough.

♥

☺~~HAPPY COOKING~~☺

INGREDIENTS


2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
4 Tbsp butter
2 lbs pizza dough ( my basic pizza dough recipe) you can use store bought
6 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes (you'll need ~48 pieces)
48 slices of pepperoni (from 1 package)
2-3 cups marinara sauce, warmed, for serving


DIRECTIONS

Basic Pizza Dough

I have tried a few different recipes for making Pizza Dough and this seems to be the best so far.

♥

☺~~HAPPY COOKING~~☺

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 package dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for kneading
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
2 teaspoons coarse salt

DIRECTIONS

Chicken Teriyaki Kabobs

I love grilling in the summer, even if it is hot out. The taste is just so worth it. Tonight I am making Chicken Kabobs. I found this recipe somewhere online a while ago . It is very simple, which I like on a day when i am just not feeling up to par . You can use any veggies you like. 

♥

☺~~HAPPY GRILLING~~☺

INGREDIENTS

1 chicken breast per person cut into 1" inch cubes

Teriyaki sauce ( bottled or home made )

skewers

mushrooms (whole)

1 onion cut into wedges

cherry tomatoes

1 large green pepper, cut into pieces

Skewers

DIRECTIONS

Peach Streusel Coffee Cake

Well fresh Jersey peaches are out and they are juicy and sweet. So I decided to make a peach coffee cake. I usually make  Peach Kuchen, a german cake past down from my grand mother.  I am sure with all the peaches that are out I will be making that next. I am bringing half this cake to dads tomorrow . He will be my taste tester. I am SURE it is Yummy

♥

☺~~HAPPY BAKING~~☺

INGREDIENTS


1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 egg
4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup milk
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
2-3 peaches, 1 lb. total, fresh or frozen, chopped into eighths


DIRECTIONS


Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9-inch round pan.


To make the cake, in a bowl, stir together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed or a wire whisk, beat the egg, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract until creamy, about 1 minute. Add to the flour mixture and beat just until evenly moistened. There should be no lumps or dry spots. Do not overmix.


Fold in chopped peaches.

 Spoon some of the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. 

Sprinkle with some of the streusel.( recipe below)  

Then pour in rest of batter and sprinkle rest of crumbs evenly

Bake until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Serve the cake warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.




INGREDIENTS OR STREUSEL

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

 In  a bowl, stir together the flour, brown and granulated sugars and cinnamon. Add the butter and, using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut or rub in the butter until coarse crumbs form. 

Garlic Chicken Kabobs

I love garlic and grilling as I've mentioned before. This came out so good and tender. 

INGREDIENTS
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro ( I used dried cilantro-- both cilantro and parsley work well  

so don't sweat if you dont have cilantro on hand )
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt
1 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/4  teaspoon olive oil
1 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes


DIRECTIONS
Place garlic and salt in a small bowl; crush with the back of a sturdy spoon. Add cilantro and coriander; crush together. Add the yogurt, lemon juice and oil; mix well. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag; add the chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours or over night.

Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill. Drain and discard marinade. Thread chicken on eight metal or soaked wooden skewers. Grill kabobs, covered, over medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until juices run clear, turning once. Serve with dipping sauce.

( you can bake these @ 175 degrees for 21minutes on side then flipped them over and baked them for 21minutes on the other side.) 

GARLIC DIPPING SAUCE
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt

For dipping sauce, place garlic and salt in a small bowl; crush with the back of a sturdy spoon. Mix in oil. Stir in yogurt. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Invisible Illness: When Others Can't See Your Pain

Life with a chronic condition like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome can be frustrating in many ways, including the fact that your physical pain isn't visible from the outside.People who break their arm, throw out their back, or experience another form of injury may be in rough shape, but others can see their injury and understand their limitations.

But for the millions of people who are living with arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other forms of pain that are "invisible illnesses," explaining what's wrong is another side effect of their condition. Not only do you have to put up with challenging, often painful, and sometimes debilitating conditions every day, but on top of that, you may have to face skepticism from people — friends, family, and co-workers, as well as strangers — who don't understand what's wrong with you.


The Challenges of Invisible Illnesses

Crescent Burgers

This is an easy recipe. You can add anything to it you like. I used ground chicken. I plan to make it with ground beef next time. Be careful to let cool a lil bit as not to burn your mouth.

I made mashed potatoes and corn to go with . It was Delicious...hubby said he will defiantly eat this again. 

♥

☺ ~~HAPPY COOKING~~ ☺

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound of ground beef ( or ground chicken or turkey)

Worcestershire sauce

1/3 packet of dry onion soup mix

1/2 tsp of black pepper

2/3 cup of shredded cheese ( any flavor you like)

1 roll of crescents

1 Egg

DIRECTIONS

Blueberry Lemon Bread

I just love summer fruit. I love having a bowl of cherries,watermelon, blueberries and juicy ripe strawberries in my fridge to snack on, or bake with. 

So here is another blueberry recipe, as I bought another container of fresh picked blueberries. YUM

♥

☺~~HAPPY BAKING~~☺

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
1/2 cup  milk
1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions

Amazing Egg Muffin Cups

My husband found this recipe and mentioned maybe I could make it. So he posted it on my Facebook page. My dad saw it and he wants the recipe so he can make it. SO I figured i would add it here so I can find it to make sometime this week. 

♥

☺~~HAPPY COOKING~~☺

Yield: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

3 cups refrigerated hash browns, or frozen thawed
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
12 breakfast sausage links
6 eggs
2 cups (8 ounces) Shredded Mexican blend cheese ( or cheese of your choice)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped or veggie of your choice
fresh chives or green onions, chopped , for garnish


PREPARATION

Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

Blueberries - delicious and healthy! They are naturally high in antioxidants for disease protection, they help to improve memory, and are heart healthy. They have been called "the power food".

I mentioned it is blueberry season, so here is another favorite of mine, Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins. The buttermilk give's it the perfect flavor and texture! Plus I add the crumb topping. It is your choice weather or not you want it.

♥

☺~~HAPPY BAKING~~☺

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
4 ounces butter ( melt in microwave)
1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

Directions

Preheat over to 350'f
Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
In another bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk and butter that has been melted.
Make a well in dry ingredients and pour in liquid ingredients, mixing quickly. Fold in the berries.
Spoon batter into greased muffin tin or use paper liners


Crumb Topping

Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake at for 20 -30 minutes. Recipe makes 24 blueberry muffins.

Grilled Chicken Packs

This is one that simple and easy and keeps the house cool on a hot day, as you cook it outside. I LOVE grilling as I have mentioned before. I am always looking for different things to cook outside. This is a meal all in one. OH and when done the clean is so easy, ☺ just throw the foil away lol

♥

☺~~HAPPY GRILLING~~☺

INGREDIENTS
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 to 5 oz each)
1/2 teaspoon salt-free garlic-herb blend
1/2 cup reduced-fat ranch dressing
1/4 cup water
2 cups quartered small red potatoes
1 cup ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
1/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese




DIRECTIONS

Pretzel Crusted Chicken

Here is a recipe I came across and plan to try this week. I am sure it is delicious as it has my favs pretzels and chicken.  You can use any dipping sauce you like. I use Honey mustard and hubby uses Hot mustard.

♥

☺~~HAPPY COOKING~~☺

Ingredients

4 chicken breast ( I cut them into strips)
1/2 bag pretzels
2 tablespoons paprika
Salt ( use your judgement) 

Pepper ( use your judgement) 
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Directions

Crispy Ranch Chicken

Some nights I am just to tired to cook anything that takes time.

So this recipe is one I use as it is so easy to make and taste very flavorful.

I usually make mashed potato's or baked potato and sweet potato ( hubby eats reg. baked i eat sweet) and a veggie with it.

♥

~~HAPPY COOKING~~

INGREDIENTS
2 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 envelope (1oz.) ranch salad dressing mix
1 egg, beaten
4 chicken breast

Blueberry Buckle

It's Blueberry time again. Well it has been for a while here in south jersey. We have a blueberry farm around the comer from us. we have yet to go pick our own but we do buy them from the farm market. So I've been making some goodies with them. I made blueberry scones and blueberry pancakes and cookies. Now i am going to make this recipe next.

♥

~~ HAPPY BAKING ~~

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
2 cups fresh blueberries

1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup softened butter

Directions

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies

They're soft and chewy, like a sugar cookie, but with all the flavor of a raspberry cheesecake. And they taste exactly like the ones from Subway. Maybe even a little bit better.

And even though they're made with muffin mix and the dough is super soft and, yeah, they kind of look like fat, fluffy pancakes while they're baking, they really are the same texture as a regular bakery-style cookie.

♥

~~HAPPY BAKING~~

2 (7-ounce) boxes Jiffy raspberry muffin mix
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 tablespoons butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

In the bowl beat together the cream cheese, butter, shortening, and brown sugar, until just combined . Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies

And even though they're made with muffin mix and the dough is super soft and, yeah, they kind of look like fat, fluffy pancakes while they're baking, they really are the same texture as a regular bakery-style cookie. There's also a Raspberry Cheesecake White Chocolate Cookie too, Just like subways.

There are such yummy cookies

♥

~~ HAPPY BAKING ~~

4 oz. cream cheese
1 stick butter
1/2 C. light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
2 boxes Jiffy Blueberry Muffin mix
1 1/2 C. white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Grilled potatoes in foil packets

☺~~HAPPY GRILLING~~♥

Build a medium fire in an outside grill, if gas grill heat to med.

Ingredients

4 nice sized white or yellow fleshed potatoes, peeled and sliced
8 teaspoons butter total (using 4 teaspoons each on two layers)
1 packet onion soup mix
salt & pepper to season
2 sheets heavy duty aluminum foil approx. 24" long each

Directions

Peel and slice the potatoes about 1/4" thick

Here's how to make leak-proof foil packets:

lay 2 sheets of 24" foil on top of each other so the shiny sides are facing each other,
along one long edge begin folding the edge over on itself 5 or 6 times, this makes your main seam,
open the two sheets so their laying flat on the counter with the shiny sides up - spray this surface with Pam spray.

Place 1/2 the sliced potatoes on the foil in the center.

Place 4 teaspoons of butter over the potatoes.

Cover with 1/2 the packet of onion soup mix. 

Cover with the remaining potatoes, 

4 more teaspoons of butter and the rest of the onion soup mix. 

Begin bringing up the two long ends so the meet.
Fold these long edges over themselves as many times as it takes until you have reached the potatoes.
Begin folding the small ends over themselves until you reach the potatoes.
You should now have a leak-proof foil packet for grilled potatoes.


Place the grilled potatoes on the top warming rack if you have it, if not place on grill rack.

Flip several times during cooking to keep the butter and juices distributed - Use pot holder , and if u use tongs be very careful not to puncture the foil.

Serve immediately after cooking.

Honey Barbecue Grilled Chicken

I love honey and I love Chicken and I LOVE Barbecue on the grill.

So I am always in search of different recipes and this is the one I found tonight.

Which I will be trying this week. I am sure it is delicious. This is even especially good as i can make it in the morning and put in fridge for the day. I plan on making Grilled potatoes in foil packets with this since it is all cooked on the grill. Notice it is GRILLED lol I cook a lot on the grill from spring into fall.
 I grab my chair, my book and cook my dinner out in the fresh air. OH and the bug spray those mosquito's love me, giggles.

☺~~HAPPY GRILLING~~♥

  

INGREDIENTS
8 chicken drumsticks ,thighs or boneless breasts
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp whole grain mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS
Make 2 or 3 cuts into each drumstick ,thighs or breasts.
Whisk the ketchup, orange juice, vinegar, olive oil, mustard, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper together in a large Ziploc baggie. Add the chicken and mix to coat well. Refrigerate, occasionally turning the chicken to coat, for at least 4 to 6 and up to 24 hours.

Build a medium fire in an outside grill. if gas grill heat to med-high.
Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the marinade for basting. Spray Pam on the grill grate. Place the chicken on the grill and cover. Grill for 20 minutes, turning and basting frequently with the marinade. Make a cut to make sure juice runs clear if using legs and thighs.