Best of 2012

I forget sometimes all that we make over the course of the year.  Making this list has certainly added to an ever expanding meal plan for the next few weeks.

Here are the top recipes by month for 2012. I hope you enjoy them! 

Happy New Year's 2012!

January: Crock Pot Coconut Curry Chicken

 

 February: Pretzel Rolls

March: Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

April: Mongolian Beef

 

May: Jumbo Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

 

June: Broccoli Girbiche 

 July: Bacon, Bleu Cheese, and Bibb Salad

August: Skillet Lasagna

September: Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

 

October: Slow Cooker Asian Beef Short Ribs

November:  Fudge-Topped Brownies with Sprinkles

 

December:  Honey Orange Pork Tenderloin

 

Weekend Edition: Goodbye 2012

Somewhere in all the craziness of the last few weeks my body gave up and I got sick.  The last few days have included little activity, lots of tea, and homemade soup.  Mr. J is adamant that tea cures all.  I think vitamin C does the trick.  Basically I am floating away on OJ and tea.  

I am hoping that my sniffles and sore throat will clear up and I can get back into the kitchen in time for New Year's treats.  

In case you missed last week in all of the Christmas celebrations, here is what I was up to:

• Coconut Hot Chocolate

• One Bowl Coconut Macaroons

• Christmas Morning Coffee Cake and WIAW

• Merry Christmas!

Coconut Hot Chocolate

The words to "Let it snow" are singing in my head.  Wednesday night a wintery storm blew through and cut our Maine Christmas stay short.  We didn't want to brave the roads on Thursday in the wind, ice, snow, and rain they were expecting. We sadly wished everyone a Merry Christmas and drove back to Connecticut.

We made it about one hour before the snow started coming down.  The time Thursday morning came it was just rain but very, very windy.  I stayed in pajamas, played with Christmas presents and made hot chocolate.

This hot chocolate was made with coconut milk and was delicious!  Just what I needed to keep me company on a cold, wet day.

Coconut Hot Chocolate

by Emily Morris

Prep Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients (serves 2)

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup whole milk
• 10 ounces good-quality milk chocolate, coarsely chopped

Instructions

Combine coconut milk and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until simmering, about 4 minutes.

Add chocolate and whisk until completely melted and well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

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One Bowl Coconut Macaroons

I have decided that holiday baking should continue right through New Year's Day.  I plan to keep on baking and cooking for as long as I can before work gets all hectic again.  Good thing too since it looks like the weather today is going to keep me inside.

One of my favorites and my mom's favorites are coconut macaroons.  No one else gets excited about these cookies but for some reason they always disappear very quickly.  Even when my mom and I are not eating them.

This is a super simple, one bowl recipe that is sure to please even those non-coconut lovers.  Don't listen if they say they won't eat them. Trust me, they will.

One Bowl Coconut Macaroons

by Emily Morris

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert coconut cookie

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Ingredients (12 cookies)

• 1 pkg. (14 oz.) flake Coconut (5-1/3 cups)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 6 Tbsp. flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Heat oven to 325°F.

Combine coconut, sugar, flour and salt in large bowl. Stir in egg whites and extract until blended.

Drop coconut mixture into 36 mounds, 2 inches apart, onto greased and lightly floured baking sheets, using about 1 Tbsp. coconut mixture for each.

Bake 20 min. or until edges are golden brown. Immediately remove from baking sheets to wire racks; cool completely.

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Christmas Morning Coffee Cake and WIAW

Christmas is all about tradition and family.  We woke up somewhat later than normal but still managed to beat my father out of bed.  Let's just say for a 4am riser, that never happens.  

Before we even go to the presents my brother video called us.  They live overseas so they were done with all their Christmas festivities.  My little nephew was all tuckered out from his first Christmas.


Once we said goodbye we wanted to get breakfast in the oven. Among other things we always have a coffee cake.  This is the recipe my mom always makes and it worked out perfectly for yesterday since it is quick and easy.

Quick Coffee Cake

by Emily Morris, Marjorie Standish

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Keywords: bake breakfast cinnamon

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Ingredients (serves 12)

For the Cake

• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup milk

For the Topping

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 stick margarine
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Cream shortening. Add salt and sugar gradually and mix together.

Add egg and beat well. Add milk and combine.

Sift dry ingredients and add to wet mixture gradually. Batter will be stiff.  Place into greased 9 by 9 pan.

Combine all of the topping ingredients together with a pastry blender. When it becomes a course mix, pour over batter.

Bake for 25 minutes.

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When the coffee cake went in the oven we started opening the stockings.  This is my favorite part of Christmas.  I really thing it is true when they say "good things come in small packages".

The coffee cake was done just as the stockings were emptied.  We added some bacon and eggs with the coffee cake. 

Breakfast was followed by the rest of the presents.  It is such fun seeing what everyone gets and their enjoyment.

The rest of the day was spent not doing too much.  We snacked on leftover pizza for lunch and then some chips and salsa later in the day.  We didn't want to eat too much since Christmas dinner was something special.  

 

My mom made a big beef rib roast, asparagus, cranberry salad, and mashed potatoes. Everything came out so good.

We ended the day at the movies seeing Parental Guidance. It was cute and funny.  A great way to close out Christmas 2012.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:1

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, and the virgin's name was Mary. Luke 1:26-27

And coming to her,he said "Hail favored one! The Lord is with you."  Luke 1:28

Then the angel said to her. "Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favored with God." Luke 1:30

"Behold, you will conceived in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus." Luke 1:31

"The holy spirit will come upon you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of Good." Luke 1:33

Shout joyfully to God, all you on Earth; sing his glorious name; give him glorious praise." Psalms 66:2 

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. Luke 2:1

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. Luke 2:3

And Joseph too went up from Galilee to Bethlehem, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:4-5

And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Luke 2:7

Now there were shepherds living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock.  Luke 2:8

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace. Luke 2:13-14 

The shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place."  Luke 2:4-5

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Luke 2:20

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.  Matthew 2:1 

"Where is the new born king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising." Matthew 2:2

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  Matthew 2:3

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the where the child was. Matthew 2:9

And on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Matthew 2:11

Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:11

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; worship the Lord with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song. Psalms 100: 1-2

Give thanks to God, bless his name, good indeed is the Lord, where love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.  Psalms 100: 4-5

For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.  They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:5

Weekend Edition: It's Christmas time in Maine!

We finally made it to Maine.  Presents are bought, wrapped and waiting under the tree. We are relaxing with friends and family. Baking up a storm.  Eating great home cooked food and sipping on wine. Can you think of anything better?

I hope you all are able to do the same.

In case you missed it here is what I was up to this week:

• Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookie

• Cranberry and Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

• Life on Food Holiday Gift Guide 2012


• WIAW from Claremont, CA


• Spicy Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

• Chicken and Rice with Squash

Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

Christmas has begun.  I am incredibly persuasive when it comes to presents. I was able to convince my parents that they had to open one present early.  It was a good one and I couldn't wait to see their reaction.

My mom and I spent the morning baking some cookies. These were a batch I meant to bring home but due to the travel craziness and lack of sleep they didn't get made. 

My mom was more than willing to add them to our traditional list of Christmas cookies.  She is a sucker for peppermint bark.

These are a bit tricky to bake. It is imperative not to over bake these cookies.  10 minutes and they are done regardless of how gooey they might seem.  You let them sit on the cookie sheet to cool and finish baking.

The end result is fudge cookies with a hint of peppermint.  After today I am pretty sure they were added to the list of annual Christmas cookies we will be baking next year.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

by Emily Morris

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert Christmas cookie winter

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Ingredients (30 cookies)

• 1 cup of butter
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup of white granulated sugar
• 2 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup of peppermint bark, broken into little chip size pieces

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Cream the butter and sugars together for about two minutes at medium speed or until well incorporated and light in color.

Add the egg and the vanilla extract until well incorporated, about a minute. Be sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl halfway through.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Add to the butter mixture slowly, and beating at medium speed, stopping once all of it is incorporated.

Fold in the peppermint bark chips.

Take small spoonfuls of the dough and roll into one inch sized balls and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Cranberry and Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

I needed some cookies today. Our trip home had delays, missed layovers, and road closures. We didn't crawl into bed until 2am.  This morning was rough.

We were heading up to Maine for the holidays.  I had big plans of cookie baking, granola making and present wrapping all before our noon departure time.  2am did not help these plans.

I did manage one batch of cookies. I am glad I picked this recipe.  Not only are they delicious but incredibly festive too.  Red and green.  Perfect for Christmas.

Now hopefully Mr. J and I don't snack on them all during the drive home.

I plan to be posting a few more last minute cookies recipes in the next couple of days.  Being without a kitchen last week has me itching to do some baking.

Cranberry and Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

by Emily Morris

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: bake dessert Christmas cookie winter

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Ingredients (24 cookies)

• 1/2 cup butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup dried pistachios

Instructions

Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until well combined.

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.

Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl.

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.

Mix in the rolled oats, cranberries, and pistachios.

Place the dough onto a cookie sheet one table spoon at a time.

Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.

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Life on Food Holiday Gift Guide 2012

It is almost Christmas time. Are you done with all of your Christmas shopping? In case you needed a few more suggestions, here are some things I have had my eyes on this year.

• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens has been on my list for a while. It is a bit pricy but it is a great next step lens for newbie photographer.

• Warm beverages make me happy.  Lattes are my favorite and I can see plenty of good days ahead with this milk frother.

• King Arthur Flour has all sorts of cute gift boxes any food would love.  Lots of spices, flours, and extracts. Oh my! 

• I love giving baked goods all year round. For me the perfect gift for me would be these cute  King Arthur Flour Custom ribbon and gift tags.

• I really want this Smitten Kitchen cookbook. I read this blog on a regular basis. The photos are amazing I can see this also playing as coffee table book.