Maple Dijon Chicken

Maple Syrup, with Dijon Mustard, on Chicken?

That sounds weird you say?

It's SO good. :)

You seriously have to try it, it's such a delicious explosion in your mouth.

I love this recipe because it was easy to prepare and then I had plenty of time

to start on dessert, shower, and make a salad while it cooked. :)

INGREDIENTS

4  boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts

1/2 cup Dijon Mustard

1/4 cup Maple Syrup

1 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar

Salt & Pepper

Rosemary

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix together Dijon Mustard, Maple Syrup, and Red Wine Vinegar.

STEP 2

Place Chicken Breasts in greased 9x13 pan.

Season with salt, and Lots of Pepper.

Pour Mustard mixture over chicken.

Make sure it coats each Breast

STEP 3

Put in oven and bake 30-40 minutes

Season with Rosemary as soon as you take it out of the oven.

ENJOY!

(but seriously)

Adapted From: Inspired Dreamer

Cache Valley in the Rain

I just thought this was so funny. I Bison living amongst Cows. Who owns a Bison?!?

Key Lime Pie Bars

The weather is warming up, kind of.

Okay, I just was in some serious need of a sweet citrusy yummy creamy treat.

Also a lot more simple then I expected.

But, I'm kind of a lazy cook, so that's perfect.

KEY LIME PIE BARS

INGREDIENTS

CRUST

1 1/2 C crushed Graham Crackers

2 Tbs Sugar

1/3 C Butter, melted

FILLING

3 C Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 C Sour Cream

3/4 C Key Lime Juice

1 Tbs grated Lime Zest (about one lime)

STEP 1

Make the Crust:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl: combine Graham Cracker and Sugar. 

Add Butter and blend well. Press onto the bottom of a nine-inch pan.

Bake for 8 minutes. Cool.

STEP 2

Make the Filling:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl: combine Condensed Milk, Sour Cream, Lime Juice, and Rind.

Mix well. Pour onto Graham Cracker Crust

STEP 3

Bake in Oven for 5-8 minutes. Do Not Brown!

Chill completely before serving.

Cut into bars, and top with a strawberry and whipped cream if desired!

Loves!

Adapted from: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/key-lime-pie-bars/

Edible Egg-less Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Okay, so Taylor left on a little work trip, which happened to go over a weekend.

I always just want to eat sugar, and cookies, and all of that 

when I don't have him to persuade me not to. :P

I was going to make brownies but I didn't have enough cocoa

I was going to make cookies but I didn't have eggs.

I really didn't want to go to the store, but I also really wanted a yummy homemade treat.

So.... that's when I remembered this egg-less cookie dough craze I have seen 

floating around Pinterest. So I thought hey, perfect!

And it was.... :)

INGREDIENTS

1 stick Butter, softened

3/4 C packed Brown Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Salt

1 C Flour

2 Tbs Milk

3/4-1 C Chocolate Chips (depending on preference)

STEP 1

In a mixer: cream together Butter and Brown Sugar

Add in Vanilla and Salt

STEP 2

Add in flour(will be crumbly)

Add in Milk.

STEP 3

Fold in Chocolate Chips

ENJOY!!!

Remember, you still need to refrigerate or freeze the leftovers. :)

Recipe Adapted From: http://centercutcook.com/edible-egg-less-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough/

Homemade Layered Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

It has been too long...

But, I got out cooking again, and I was especially enjoying the new mixer I got for my birthday!

Well, tomorrow is my brothers birthday. A whole quarter century old!

Well, I made him a cake since the family decided to stop in Logan instead of meeting in Layton.

I made his request Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting.

It turned out really really yummy, and it was actually really easy!

It was also my first homemade cake, and also my first layered cake.

Yellow Cake

INGREDIENTS

1 C Butter

1 1/2 C White Sugar

8 Egg Yolks

3/4 C Milk

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 C Cake Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

Okay, if you don't have cake flour like I don't. Take out 4 tablespoons of the normal flour and add in 4 tablespoons of Cornstarch. (replace 2 tablespoons flour with cornstarch per cup.)

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2- 8 inch round pans

In a bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set Aside

STEP 2

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the egg yolks ONE AT A TIME

Then Stir in the Vanilla

STEP 3

Beat in the flour and mixture and milk alternately

mix until just barely incorporated.

Pour batter into pans

STEP 4

Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes

As I learned, you stop when the top springs back when lightly tapped.

Cool for about 15 minutes before turning onto cooling racks.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

INGREDIENTS

3 Sticks Butter, at room temperature

1/2 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

8 C Powdered Sugar (confectioners' sugar)

1/2 C Milk (more if needed)

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

STEP 1

Using an electric mixer, beat the Butter and Unsweetened Cocoa Powder until smooth.

STEP 2

Gradually beat in 2 cups of Powdered Sugar until blended.

Gradually beat in Milk and Vanilla until well blended.

STEP 3

Gradually beat in remaining 6 cups of Powdered Sugar.

STEP 4

If desired for spreading add in more milk 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency.

Assembly

Place Bottom layer on plate, or serving dish. Spread about 1/2 C frosting evenly over the layer.

Place on the top later and frost the top and sides with remaining frosting.

And then I went Cray-Cray with the sprinkles. 

Enjoy!!!!!

Homemade Corn Dogs

One of my guilty pleasures is

CORN DOGS

There is something about going back to  your childhood days.

yummy crunchy warm

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 C Yellow Cornmeal

1 1/4 C Flour

1/4 C Sugar

1 Tbs Baking Powder 

1/4 tsp Salt

1 egg, Beaten

1 1/2 C buttermilk or regular milk

1 Tbs Vegetable Oil

1 Tbs Honey

1(10 count) package Hot Dogs

10 wooden skewers of chopsticks 

1 1/2 - 2 quarts Vegetable Oil, for frying

STEP 1

In a medium pot, add the oil, heat to medium/medium-high 

Heat it to 350 degrees F

It takes a little while

(make sure it's hot enough, but not too hot, I found this out the hard way)

STEP 2

In a large bowl, mix together

cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Then mix in beaten egg, milk, oil, and honey.

(Should be a little thicker than pancake batter)

STEP 3

Remove hot dogs from package.

Wipe dry with paper towel so the batter sticks better.

Then insert one skewer into each hot dog.

(about 3/4 of the way through)

STEP 4

Pour some batter into a tall cup.

Holding the skewer dip hotdog into the batter covering it fully.
Slowly remove from the batter.
(I found a medium-slow pace was the best with a little jiggling while pulling it out)

Let a little excess batter drip back into the cup.

STEP 5
Place immediately into the oil and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
Rotating it as it cooks so all sides brown evenly.
You want a deep golden brown.

Taylor helping out :)

STEP 6
Remove from oil and place on paper towels to soak up grease.
Repeat with all hot dogs.

Done!
And it's pretty simple once you get the hang of it.
My first two dogs were not the best, but after that it was good. :)

So Yummy.
I think it tasted better than store bought.

Eggnog Holiday Cookies

I love Eggnog

It reminds me of the Holidays

These are the perfect Holiday Cookie

People who don't like Egg Nog like these.

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 C Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 1/4 C Sugar

3/4 C Butter, slightly softened

2 Egg Yolks

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 C Eggnog

ICING

1 1/4 C Powdered Sugar

3 Tbs Eggnot

Ground Nutmeg (for garnish)

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350* F

In a Medium Bowl whisk together Flour, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg.

Set Aside. 

STEP 2

In a Large Bowl cream Butter and Sugar together. 

Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla to mixture and beat until Smooth.

Add Eggnog and mix until smooth and creamy.

Slowly add Flour mixture into the eggnog mixture.

Stir until combined.

Chill for about 20 minutes.

STEP 3

Line Baking Sheet and drop spoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheet.

(I used a tbs for each cookie)

Bake for 18-22 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.

(mine took closer to 16)

Do not over cook. Remove from pan and cool.

STEP 4

Prepare icing by mixing Powdered Sugar and Egg Nog together.

Add more of either for desired consistency.

STEP 5 

Drizzle icing on cooled cookies and sprinkle with Nutmeg.

Done and oh so Yum!

Peace&Love

From: I Heart Nap Time