Feb

Cookie Dough Truffles

Cookie Dough Truffles. Those words are heavenly, right? And this little sweet treat sums up Matt’s & my vacation for the last 10 days…sweet, something we craved, and it was gone a little too quickly. HOWEVER, in the moment (like these truffles), spending time with our family and friends was HEAVEN.

A lot happened, from a 6:00am flight on Wednesday the 5th, to picking up groceries and getting to my parents’ house at 4:30, to a party that was going to start at 7:00. Matt & I cooked furiously (and joyfully!) to get everything done and, in true Laurel style, I took on way too much, it was messy, and *in the end* the party was a success. My mom was surprised on her birthday with friends from childhood all the way up to new friends. She was thrilled! Every smushed lemon bar from jostling in the overhead bins on the plane and every bead of sweat on Matt & my rushed foreheads was totally worth the surprised/shocked/thrilled look on her face. Success.

Matt & me in Galveston!

Then we went to a wedding in Galveston, the beach I grew up on and have hundreds of fond and crazy memories of in my mind and heart. Matt has just as many memories (if not more), and I love that this one location stirs up the times we spent there as children, teenagers, adults and as a couple. Our friends Kate & Russell were wed in a beautiful church and we danced all night to a New Orleans band’s incredible sounds. We caught up with friends that are more like family to me, and a huge aching hole in my heart was filled after our time together. (I missed them!) I’m thankful to Russell & Kate, an awesome pair, for allowing us to be present on their special weekend.

We spent some time with my amazing cousin, Jeremy, before heading off to Kansas to see Matt’s family. He is the closest thing I have to a brother, and it’s always fun to hang out with him, roll our eyes at my parents’ corny jokes, and glutton-ize a bit with amazing Tex-Mex.

Pat (MIL), Abby (niece), me & Maura (sister-in-law)

Libby (niece), Matt & me

And then off to Kansas, to see the big family. Our nieces and nephews are growing up (the oldest niece, Abby, turned 14 while we were there!), and they are each such incredible people. Their parents are pretty awesome, too, and we got some good quality time with Maura & Jake, our favorite vinyl-loving, toy-collecting duo. My world traveler mother-in-law, Pat, spent several days with us before jet-setting to Peru for a medical mission trip. She’s always moving.

So on to cookie dough…eggless treats that it’s fun to indulge every once in a while. One is plenty…they’re rich!

Cookie Dough Truffles

Adapted from Annie’s Eats

8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
2¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk OR 2/3 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1 lb. semisweet (or bittersweet) chocolate, coarsely chopped
Mini chocolate chips (for garnish)

Step 1: In a mixer, blend utter and brown sugar for 3 minutes, or until creamy. Add flour, condensed milk, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips, cover bowl with plastic wrap and set in fridge for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Next, spoon 1 TB of dough and roll into balls. Set on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet, and set in the fridge for 30 minutes to harden (or the freezer for 15, if you’re in a rush, like I was).

Step 3: Melt the coarsely chopped chocolate in the microwave and stir in between 30-second increments until melted. Coat each dough ball in chocolate and set back on the parchment paper to cool. Add a few mini chips on top of the cooling truffles for garnish. Try not to eat them all! (Store in the fridge for up to a week.)

13 years ago Short URL

almond milk/cakeballs/chocolate/Surprise!

Jan

2 Apple Recipes

Happy Tuesday!

I have embarked on the 30 Before 30 adventure (see the tab to see my updates), and it’s been a great challenge to fit in these little goals in between a hectic season at work and in life. 🙂 But it’s happening!

And there’s nothing more comforting, home-y and delightful on cold winter days and nights than apple treats. I have 2 for you today, and they’re not my original recipes but * of course * I modified them a little for you. One is TOO EASY, a dessert, can be made with FOUR ingredients, and is great for your family or a last-minute dinner party. The second is hearty, healthy and really delicious (ignore the word BRAN, one of the ugliest words in the English language, ha). This can be a breakfast food, snack or dessert and freezes beautifully for keeping on hand. Let’s bake!

Apple Pie Pull-Apart Bread with Vanilla Glaze
From The Comfort of Cooking

Yield: Makes 1 loaf (serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

For Apple Pie Pull Apart Bread:
Nonstick cooking spray
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
1 (16 oz.) tube Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Biscuits
1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced

For Vanilla Glaze: (optional)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons milk, any kind
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Mix sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a shallow dish and set aside.

Step 2: Remove biscuits from tube and slice each in half, creating 16 rounds. Coat each round and each apple slice with the cinnamon-sugar mixture and layer in the loaf pan, alternating biscuit rounds with apple slices. Begin and end with the biscuit rounds on the ends.

Step 3: Bake for 40 minutes, or until bread is fully baked throughout.

For Vanilla Glaze:
Step 4: Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl and drizzle over warm bread.

Eat with vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of glaze on top!

Apple Almond {Bran} Muffins
From The New Laurel’s Kitchen

Bran. The word just sounds like eating cardboard. But these muffins are so not cardboard. You’ll want to grab a piece of cardboard to make a big, colorful sign proclaiming your love for these {bran?} muffins. They’re just that tasty…with a surprising orange flavor and filled with lots of apple-y goodness, these muffins will be a hit with all haters of bran. Serve for breakfast, a snack or as dessert.
Makes 12 muffins, easily doubles

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the following using a fork:

1 cup whole wheat flour

So many apple bits inside!
3/4 cup wheat bran
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons grated orange rind (or 1 orange)
About 1 cup chopped apple (1 medium apple)
1/4 cup chopped almonds (or other nut)

No, I did not write a cookbook. But this is a fun one. 🙂

1/4 cup raisins (optional)

Step 2: In a second bowl, combine the following:

Juice of 1/2 orange (eat the other half!)
7/8 cup buttermilk or sour milk (skim milk + 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar did the trick)
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or 1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon oil

Step 3: Stir the “wet bowl” into the “dry bowl” with a few swift strokes. Pour into greased muffin cups (at least 2/3 full cups) and bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy the bran.

Happy apple-ing!
Laurel

~Laurel~

13 years ago Short URL

apples/breakfast/dessert/muffins/pie

Jan

Happy New Year!

My sister-in-law, Maura, & me on Mt. Hood (new place in Oregon…check!); Jake (bro in law) the “bear” in the background

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it’s 2014? It’s a big birthday year for me so, to get ready for it, I’ve decided to step out and try some new things. I’m going to be brave, messy, and pack in some adventure before turning 30. To do such, I’ll do 30 things before 30…

30 Before 30

1. Read 30 classic children’s books
2. Bake 30 breads/pastries/new recipes.
3. Write a letter/note to 5 great people.
4. Write a song…and share it.
5. Assemble a model of something (car?).
6.–10. Watch 5 children’s movies I’ve never seen.
11.–15. Visit 5 new places in Portland.
16.–20. Visit 5 new places in the U.S.
21.–22. Make some plans for the next 5 years.
22.–26. Read 4 books.
27.–30. Workout 3X a week for 6 weeks.

So, as you can see from the list, there are more than 30 things total here; however, I tried to break it down into 30 manageable tasks to accomplish. Sure, it’s a little scary, and I’m not known for taking on “too little.” 🙂 But I’ll do my absolute best to finish these in the next 50 days (I started on Sunday.). Wish me luck!

Do you have any goals that you’ve been working on? Is it time to set some? If we’re not moving, we’ve chosen to sit still, and there’s too much research and evidence to show that setting goals is important for mental/physical/emotional/spiritual/relational health. Why not try to set some reasonable goals for yourself? And please check in with me here on Memoir Munchies to see how I’m doing (the “30 Before 30” tab at the top).

Much love, peace and baking! And safe travels for my MIL and her friends, going to Hawaii for a yoga retreat today (How do you spell j-e-a-l-o-u-s??). I hope it’s relaxing and amazing for her soul. 🙂

-Laurel

~Laurel~

13 years ago Short URL

Surprise!