Author: Ashley

Dark Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

It doesn’t take much to motivate me to bake.  I made these to celebrate one of my good friends birthdays shortly before Christmas.  I knew all of my teaching friends would benefit from a caffeine and chocolate boost to help us make it to Christmas 

Cajun Chicken Alfredo

Cajun Chicken Alfredo

I often eat leftovers for lunch, and I was thrilled there was enough to eat this again the following day.  This pasta was packed with flavor and is a recipe I will make again.  I made this in a rush on a night when I 

Gingerbread Granola

Gingerbread Granola

I was a little unsure when I read this recipe, but I decided to try it anyway.  These granola bars really do taste like gingerbread cookies, but they are so much healthier.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

½ cup dark brown sugar

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

4 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons molasses

2 cups old fashioned oats

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 cup pecans toasted and chopped

½ cup silvered almonds

½ cup roasted salted cashews

¼ cup pepitas

½ cup dried cranberries

3 tablespoons candied ginger

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ cup whole wheat flour

¼ cup wheat germ

1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 rimmed baking sheet with parchment and spray with nonstick spray.
  2. Combine the brown sugar, applesauce, honey, and molasses in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Toss together the oats, nuts, pepitas, cranberries, ginger, spices, wheat flour, wheat germ, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl.
  4. Pour the honey mixture on top and toss to coat.
  5. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheet. Press down gently.
  6. Bake until golden 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely before removing from baking sheet and cutting into squares.
  7. Store in an air-tight container.
  8. Enjoy!
Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies

Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies

My third son devours anything with mints.  My mother in-law found these mint chips at a little shop and I knew they would be perfect with a chocolate cookie.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 4 ounces baking chocolate 2 cups granulated sugar 2 sticks 

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

My son loves pineapple so he requested a pineapple upside-down cake for his birthday, so I made him one from scratch. Then we topped his cake with tiny marvel characters.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Caramel- 3 tablespoons butter ½ cup light brown sugar 

Citrus Bars

Citrus Bars

I’ll be honest these bars take awhile to prep, but they are worth the effort.  The citrus mixed with sour cherry jam make for a unique dessert you will want to eat all day.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Crust-

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons cornstarch

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter softened

1/3 cup sugar

6-8 tablespoons sour cherry jam (or other jelly)

Filling-

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

½ cup sugar

½ cup sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1 cup orange juice

1 lemon juiced (4-5 tablespoons)

2 clementine zested

1 lemon zested

Directions:

  1. Spray a 9×13 dish with nonstick spray.
  2. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl.
  3. In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter and sugar on medium for 4 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
  4. Turn the speed to low and add in the dry ingredients until just combined.
  5. Transfer the dough to the pan and spread it out in an even layer.
  6. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
  7. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  8. Prick the dough with a fork.  Then bake until just golden 25-30 minutes.
  9. Melt the jelly in the microwave so it is easy to spread.  Spread the jelly out in an even layer. 
  10. Return to the oven and cook for 10 more minutes.
  11. Let cool on a wire rack for an hour.
  12. Whisk the eggs, yolks, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, flour, and salt in a medium bowl.  Beat until thick and pale. Stir in the citrus zest and juice and blend.
  13. Pour the filling over the crust and bake until the filling is firm but still wobbly in the center. Bake 20-30 minutes.
  14. Cool to room temperature. Then chill in the refrigerator for an hour before cutting.
  15. Optional serve topped with a slice of clementine on each square or topped with powdered sugar.
Candied Bacon

Candied Bacon

My sons love bacon cooked just about anyway, so when I saw this recipe I had to try it.  I don’t normally eat bacon but even I couldn’t resist this breakfast treat. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 1 12 ounce can soda ¾ cup 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

My kids favorite cookie is chocolate chip cookies so they went crazy over these truffles.  The recipe suggested microwaving the flour for 2 minutes to reduce the risk of food borne illness.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 2/3 cup (1 1/3 sticks) butter room 

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

If you love cranberry as much as I do then you need to try this cake.  This cake is easy to make and utterly delicious.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Caramel Topping

¾ cup sugar

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

3 cups fresh cranberries

Cake-

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking poweder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

Pinch ground cloves

4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

½ cup truvia or 1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon orange zest

2 large eggs

½ cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

¼ cup fat free or almond milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Butter the sides of a 9 inch cake pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Add sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.  Stop stirring and allow to cook until the mixture is amber colored in 6-8 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter. Be careful it sometimes bubbles.
  4. Pour the caramel sauce in the base of the cake pan. Allow it to cover the whole pan.
  5. Spread out the cranberries on top of the sauce.
  6. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in a medium bowl.
  7. Add the butter and sugar to a stand mixer and mix on medium until light and fluffy about 4 minutes.
  8. Add the eggs 1 at a time scraping down the sides as needed.
  9. Mix the yogurt and milk. 
  10. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk mixture until fully incorporated.
  11. Add the orange zest and mix in.
  12. Spread the cake batter gently over the cranberries.
  13. I placed my cake pan on a rimmed sheet pan to bake in case it bubbled over.
  14. Bake 60-75 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  15. Cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. 
  16. Use a knife to gently loose the sides on the cake.
  17. Then place a 9 inch pie plate on the cake and gently flip the cake over.  It should slide right into the pie pan or onto the platter.
  18. Enjoy! I topped mine with whipped cream.
Zucchini Cake Muffins with Candied Pecan Topping

Zucchini Cake Muffins with Candied Pecan Topping

I make a different kind of muffin every week and I have to say these are one of my all time favorites.  The grated zucchini and carrot make them healthy, the pecans add a lovely crunch, and the spices make these burst with flavor.  Ingredients: