Heart Shaped Waffles

 

I love waffles and so does my family.  Unfortunately, I don't own a waffle maker.

It would be such a delight to have one and make homemade fluffy goodness for all to 

enjoy.  Have you seen this Heart Shaped Waffle Maker?  I love the idea of a waffle 

on a stick.  Do you own a particular kind of Heart Waffle Maker?  Do you like it? 

I'm just wondering if maybe I should get one or stick to cookie cutters.

I'm preparing for Valentine's Day, by starting off the day with golden goodness.

Imagine the faces of your loved ones, when they step into the dining area and

laid out before them are these delicious, heart shaped waffles.

I remember last year when I surprised them with the pancakes and they were thrilled.

It's so much fun bringing a theme to a meal and sharing it with the family.

The way that I made these waffles, was super easy, the kids can make these 

themselves.  All you need are frozen waffles sold in the breakfast frozen section 

of your grocery store and a Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter.

Didn't I say easy?  Surprise your loved ones with a loving breakfast or 

just have fun with the kiddos with the cookie cutter.  The ideas are endless, 

make your kids heart shaped toast or sandwiches shaped in a heart and 

stick a note with it; from mom with love.  Visit this post for more ideas.

They'll enjoy it!

Hot Apple Cider & a Case of the Sniffles

It's November and cold weather has set in, time for some delicious hot apple cider.

I grabbed what I had on hand for this recipe.  

• 2 cups of apple cider
• 1 teaspoon of whole allspice
• 2 whole cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon of whole cloves
• 3 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 2 star-shaped anises optional (garnish)
• apple optional (garnish)

 As I poured the cider into a small saucepan, I turned on the heat to high.
I added the spices first, the whole allspice, cinnamon sticks,
whole cloves and then the brown sugar.

You do have the option to wrap the allspice and cloves in a cheesecloth and then
add it to the pot.  I simply strained everything instead.
Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat and keep it warm.
Pour it into a cup and add garnish if you wish, then serve.
I added my anise star and cinnamon stick.
You can also add an apple slice as I did below to impress guests.  

Enjoy!

Best Pumpkin Cookies

Do you remember when I mentioned autumn spices in this post?

I finally baked some pumpkin cookies yesterday and their amazing fragrance 

has been lingering in our home since.  Ah, the warm scent of cinnamon and other
spices fills my mind with cozy images of flannel blankets, falling leaves and a warm
beverage at hand on a cool fall day.  These cookies are so delicious!

While I removed the freshly baked cookies from the oven, Mr. M and little man followed
the autumn aroma to the kitchen, and let me just say a few cookies were already
missing from the batch on the baking sheet. 
After the cookies were completely done, the boys enjoyed a few more, and so did I.
They were completely scrumptious!

I have added the recipe to the end of this post for those who wish to try it.
To make these delicious cookies, you need to do a few simple things.
First preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare two ungreased baking sheets.

•  Step 1. In a large mixing bowl add cream butter, white sugar, & brown sugar then mix it until fluffy.
•  Step 2. Add pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract and mix. 

• Step 3. In a separate bowl, stir in together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and salt.
• Step 4. Combine flour mixture & butter-sugar mixture together & mix well.  Then, add tablespoons 3 inches apart on the ungreased baking sheets.

• 5. Bake cookies for 10-15 minutes until golden around the edges.
• 6. Remove warm cookies and transfer to racks.

• 7. Let the cookies cool completely for at least one half hour, then frost with glaze.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup can pumpkin puree (for those who prefer fresh pumpkin puree, click here for puree recipe)
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

      Glaze

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2- 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Direction for Glaze

In a medium saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium heat until bubbly.

Cook, stirring constantly, for one minute or until slightly thickened.

   Beat in the milk, blend in confectioners' sugar until the glaze is smooth and spreadable.

Using a brush or butter knife, spread the glaze on the cookies.

NOTE: The glaze will harden fairly quickly, it is recommended that you keep the saucepan

over the lowest setting heat possible to prevent it from hardening.

Another way to make this glaze is by mixing all the ingredients before heating.
Then pour your mix into a saucepan and heat.
This prevents it from getting too hard in your pan,

but make sure to rinse it immediately in very hot water to remove left over glaze.
Enjoy your cookies, I know I will.

Happy Baking!

Linked to:
Sew Chatty
I Should be Mopping the Floor 40
The 36th Avenue
I Gotta Create
Lil Luna100
The Trendy Tree House
Someday Crafts
Take it Form Me

Pumpkin Pie Frappe

Drink your pumpkin pie!

This morning I felt a cool, crisp breeze brush against my face.  

It was Fall saying hello and I knew that it was time to whip up some pumpkin dishes.  

I can already smell the distinctive scent that comes from an oven filled with autumn spices. 

It was still early and I didn't have all the ingredients that I needed for some baked goods, 

so I decided to make something else.  

How would you like to drink your pumpkin pie?

This is truly a pumpkin pie in a cup, creamy and ice cold.

I love all things fall, especially this time of the year, so I whipped up this fun frappe.

What's neat is that you can share this beverage with other pumpkin pie lovers and make it presentable by adding a mini pie on the side or inside as a garnish, oh the possibilities!

Here is the recipe to make your own:

• 1/2 cup premade coffee
• 2 cups of ice
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 3 Tablespoons of pumpkin puree (can)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice
• 1 cup of half and half or your milk preference
• 1/3 cup vanilla ice cream
• whip cream + caramel for rim
• sprinkles

You may adjust the amount of each ingredient to meet your taste preference.  

I added extra cinnamon and nutmeg to my drink and oh yes, a little extra ice cream.

Place all the ingredients in a blender, while your drink is mixing, grab a cup and line the 

rim with caramel.  Place the sprinkles in a flat dish and holding your cup upside down, 

press it unto the sprinkles.

The caramel acts as a glue to make the sprinkles stick to the cup, and tasty too.

Once your mix is well blended, pour it in the cup, add whip cream if desired and garnish with cinnamon or 

pumpkin spice.  You may also add a swirl of caramel on top.  Serve.

For fun, add faces or other artwork!

Makes about 2 servings.

Enjoy!

Linking to:
Craftberry Bush
Cherished Bliss
Lil Luna 100
The Trendy Tree House
30 Handmade Days 110
The 36th Avenue
Salt Tree
Home Stories A to Z
Tutus &Tea Parties
TheThriftynessMiss
I Should be Mopping the Floor 38-
IronChefMom
It's Overflowing 10/13
Happy Hour Projects
Sew Chatty
I Gotta Create
Create with Joy
Horrific Knits
Fresh Eggs Daily

White Hot Chocolate

 We had guests arrive by surprise a couple of days ago, but it was much to their surprise that we had our roof replaced during their stay.  I wish we had known that they were coming, then we could have changed the repair date.  Can you imagine the chaos that was going on at our house, mostly outdoors?
Oh it was musical with the bang, bang here, and the cong, cong there, magical I tell ya,
I thought that the ceiling was going to fall on our heads.

Our guests were staying over for two nights, so I tried to make their stay as comfortable as possible.  I managed to make everything comfy & cozy to make them feel at home.  I also decided to make a decadent drink for us all and since we all love chocolate, I made it extra special. I decided to make my hot chocolate "white chocolate"  instead of dark chocolate and boy was it ever good.   

If something in this big wide world can be referred to as 'perfection in a glass', then it must be this white hot chocolate drink.

Oh the thoughts of a crackling fire on a cool breezy night holding this warm and delicious delight.
Oh cool air come soon!

Ingredients:

3 cups half & half or light cream

2/3 cup white baking pieces or chopped white chocolate baking squares.

1 3 inch piece of cinnamon stick

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Ground cinnamon (optional)

Whipped cream (optional)

This drink is so easy to make, but I must warn you, it is rich.  If you are looking for something that is not as rich, I would add less white chocolate to the recipe and for those who prefer slim and skinny drinks, I would substitute the half & half with fat free half and half or skim milk.  So are you ready?  Here is what you do:

In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup of the half and half, the baking pieces of chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Stir over low heat until baking pieces are melted.  Add remaining half & half.  Cook and stir until heated through.  Remove from heat.  Remove and discard cinnamon stick.  Stir in vanilla and almond extract.  If desired add whipped cream and cinnamon to top it off.  Enjoy!

Linking to:
Craftberry Bush
Home Stories A 2 Z
Tip Junkie 10/2
The 36th Avenue 9/27
SITS Girls
Crystal and Co.#63
Crazy for Crust
I Should be Mopping the Floors #35 

Blackberry Cobbler

 This is the easiest blackberry cobbler ever!  This is truly delicious!
I found this recipe in Southern Living a few of years ago and I've been making this dessert ever since. Share this dessert with your family and friends the next time you want to entertain.

I'm all about simple, so this is a lovely fit to my simple lifestyle, fresh fruit and 5 easy ingredients. 

Ingredients:

4 cups of fresh blackberries

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 large egg

1 cup of sugar (if you like it extra sweet, add more sugar)

1 cup of all-purpose flour

7-8 tablespoons of butter

Whip cream (optional)

Garnish: fresh mint sprig

Preparation:

Preheat oven 375 degrees.  Place blackberries in a slightly greased 8-inch square baking dish, sprinkle with lemon juice.  Stir together egg, sugar, and flour in a medium bowl until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Sprinkle over fruit.  

Drizzle melted butter over topping.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.  Let stand 10 minutes. 

Serve warm with whip cream and garnish with fresh mint sprig, if desired.

{TIP}For a cute presentation, bake for the same amount of time 6 (8oz.) ramekins
on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet as I did above and serve cute individual servings.

Serves 6
Enjoy!

Madeleine Sandwich Cookies Dipped in Chocolate & Sprinkles

Have you tried a Madeleine cookie? 

These shell shaped cookies are rich, and cake-like in texture.   

They're often flavored with lemon, orange, chocolate, or almonds.  

If you have never had one, you must, they are delicious! 

You may acquire these at your supermarket, bakery or bake them yourself.

There are many recipes online that you can try.  I purchased my cookies from

my local supermarket and I wanted to add some richness to them.

I sliced them in half and layered some with raspberry jam and the others with 

cream cheese frosting.

I closed them up again.

I melted plain milk chocolate and dipped the cookies only half way 

covering only half of the cookies.

Then I added sprinkles for color, texture and extra flavor.  Oh, the goodness!

Voila!

They are so good; I just can't get enough of these.

To make your own, you will need:  

Madeleine Cookies. 

Chocolate for dipping (Hershey's Milk Chocolate)

Sprinkles Raspberry jam (or your favorite flavor), or cream cheese frosting.

A Knife for cutting in half.

If you make your own, you will need a Madeleine Pan.

Hope you enjoy!