Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Bacon-and-Egg Muffins

I saw this recipe in my Better Homes and Garden magazine and few weeks ago, and they just look so scrumptious to me, so I decided to make them tonight for dinner. The boys started complaining about them as soon as they saw the picture in the magazine. Winston "helped" me mix the muffins since Malcolm and Quinn were doing homework, and I think it helped warm him up to them. In the end, they all loved them. Well I have some weird children and Quinn and Winston both pulled the bacon off, but other then that, they all raved about them. It is a super plus when the kids will eat them. Both Quinn and Winston gave me a thumbs up while they were eating them, and they both moaned while eating them, which they both do when they really like food. Ha! I'm sure dipping them in maple syrup sure helped. We talked about freezing them and trying them for breakfast on other days too, so we'll see how that goes, or how they go as leftovers. 


Bacon-and-Egg Muffins

Ingredients
4 slices bacon, cut in thirds
5 eggs
Salt and ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil or butter, melted
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Maple or cane syrup (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet cook bacon just until it begins to crisp. Drain and reserve drippings. Return 2 tsp. drippings to skillet. For scrambled eggs, in a small bowl beat 3 of the eggs, 2 Tbsp. water, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cook eggs in hot skillet over medium heat without stirring until eggs begin to set on bottom and around edges. With a large spatula, lift and fold for uncooked portion to flow underneath. Cook until set yet still moist. Transfer to bowl; set aside.

Brush twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with some of the remaining bacon drippings. Set muffin cups aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt. In a separate bowl combine milk, oil, and remaining 2 eggs; stir into flour mixture. Fold in scrambled eggs and cheese. Spoon into muffin cups (cups will be full).

Place one bacon piece on each muffin. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, until light brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. To loosen muffins from pan, run a small metal spatula or table knife around edges of muffins; remove from pans. Serve warm with maple syrup.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Sugar Cookie Bars

Do you love Sugar Cookies but hate the work of mixing the dough, letting it chill, rolling it out, cutting it out, rolling it out, cutting it out, repeat? And then after all that, you have to frost them? I love a good sugar cookie but they are so time consuming! You have to have a whole day dedicated to making a batch.

I came across this recipe on Pinterest and all my hours spent on that website have finally been worth it. These are wonderful, easy, and everyone loves them!! I made them for work and they were gone in seconds. Here is the easy recipe:

Sugar Cookies:

1 C. Butter, Softened
2 C. Sugar
4 Eggs
2 t. Vanilla or Almond Extract (I used Almond)
5 C. Flour
1 t. Salt
1/2 t. Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer or kitchen aid until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla or almond extract. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to butter/sugar mixture and stir until combined. Spread dough onto a greased 13x18 baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until light golden brown or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For soft cookies, do not overbake. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

1/2 C. Butter, Room Temperature
4 oz. Cream Cheese, Softened
1 t. Vanilla or Almond Extract (I Used Almond)
4 C. Powdered Sugar
5 T. Milk
1/4 t. Salt

To make frosting, combine the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Stir in vanilla or almond extract and salt. Add powdered sugar in a 1-2 cup increments, until combined, then add milk on Tablespoon at a time until frosting is desired spreading consistency. You may not use all the milk. Spread frosting over the cooled cookie bars and cut into squares.