Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Day 92: Kit Kat Brownies

Okay, Halloween is tomorrow. I have three boys going trick-or-treating. If each boy collects 1 standard sized pillow case full of candy, yet we only allow them to keep one zip lock bag to actually eat, How much candy will be left???

ANSWER: Enough for mom to steal some to bake with!

Can you tell we have been working on math story problems lately?

But seriously, what better way to use some of that Halloween candy? Let your creativity flow. The baking options are endless when you have pillow cases full of supplies.

I decided to try meshing two of my favorites: Kit Kat bars and brownies.


1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Crushed Kit Kat Bars

 


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Stir together melted butter and sugars.
Stir in eggs and vanilla extract.
Mix in flour, dark cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
Pour into a greased brownie pan (11x7)
Press crushed Kit Kat Bars on top of brownie batter



Bake for 20-30 minutes until knife inserted midway from the edge of the pan comes out clean.
Let cool, slice and enjoy!




These were a BIG HIT with the boys.

Have a wonderful and Happy Halloween!!!

Below are some of the boys favorite costumes.

 
 
Dane was Britney Spears last year.
 

Noah was Bacon.
 
 
This year, Ian is The Flash.
 

 

 
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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Day 91: Peanut Butter Candy Bar Cookies for #SundaySupper

Halloween is officially upon us! The kids are super excited. Costumes are almost complete and the trick or treat plans are beginning to take shape. To kick off this fun week the #SundaySupper crew has put together a kickin' Trick-or-Treat Halloween Party. Our host, the talented Leslie from La Cocina de Leslie.

I decided to try and make a Halloween, peanut butter version of a twix bar candy bar. Other then the chocolate not looking perfect, they turned out fabulous!! I even found decided to add a mummy-like effect with some bright green chocolate.



1 stick plus 3 Tbs butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
White/Orange/Green Candy Melts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Line a 13x9 pan with foil, spray with cooking spray
Mix together butter and sugar
Slowly stir in flower and salt
Press cookie dough into pan
Bake for 18-20 minutes
Cool completely
Mix together peanut butter and powdered sugar
Spread over cookie base
Freeze overnight
Cut cookie into desired bar sizes
Melt 1/2 orange and 1/2 white chocolate in a double boiler
Dip each bar into chocolate and cover
Once covered, remove and place onto a piece of parchment paper
When finished covering bars melt green chocolate in a squeeze bottle
Drizzle over the orange covered bars.
Once chocolate is set move candy bars into the refrigerator


I made my candy bars into "mummies", the boys LOVED them!


 
 





Come join us tonight on Twitter to share and discover new friends and recipes. Just follow #SundaySupper on twitter, hope you can join us around the table!


On the menu for our Trick-or-Treat #SundaySupper Halloween Party:



Bewitching Brews:

Ghoulish Gruel:

Haunted Snacks:

Spooky Sweets:




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Monday, October 15, 2012

Day 90: White Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have mentioned before that I am coaching a high school dance team. These girls are so much fun! We are currently gearing up for our first competition (November 17th!). Lately, practices have been a little more difficult. Since last week was also the schools homecoming week I decided to reward their hard work with some cookies. They LOVE cookies :)



I made a simple White Chocolate Chip Cookie and everyone was happy.



White Chocolate Chip Cookies

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
by Stephanie Zielinski
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Keywords: bake white chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients (24 Cookies)
  • 1 stick of butter, softened
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp of Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp of baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp of baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup oatmeal
  • 2 cups of white chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cream together butter and sugar
Add egg and vanilla
In a separate bowl, sift together dry ingredients, then stir in oatmeal
Slowly stir in dry ingredients
Fold in white chocolate chips
Using a cookie scoop or a teaspoon, drop dollop of dough on cookie sheet
Bake for 10-12 minutes
Cool on cookie sheet for one minute
Remove to cooling rack to complete cooling
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Sunday, October 14, 2012

Day 89: Pistachio Cake Cookies for #SundaySupper

When I think about comfort food I immediately think about dinners at my Grandma and Grandpa Caponi's. My Grandma was a wonderful cook and an even better baker. She took such pride in feeding her family. She used fresh, simple ingredients. Everything she made was delicious. One of my absolute favorite things she would bake was Pistachio Cake.


Grandma and the boys around the kitchen table. We miss her so much!




She got the recipe from her sister-in-law many years ago and often had one on hand to serve to surprise guests. I have such fond memories of sitting at her and Grandpa's kitchen table, eating pistachio cake, and just talking. The conversations shared and advise given over a slice of pistachio cake is the real reason why this is my go to comfort food.

When I first started this challenge, one of my goals was to turn Grandma's famous cake into a cookie. It wasn't easy. One of notable things about this cake was the swirl of the chocolate cake layer and pistachio layer. I really wanted to capture that in the cookie. After a few attempts, I think I finally produced a cookie worthy of note.

I am so happy to be participating in this weeks #SundaySupper. We are honored to have the fantastic Lee Woodruff joing us this week. During our Twitter chat this evening, #SundaySupper will be giving away 5 signed copied of Lee's book,  Those We Love Most, all you have to do is share your most memorable comfort food recipes. What a fun bonus to our already fab #SundaySupper chat!


1 box of french vanilla cake mix
1 box of pistachio pudding
1/4 cup of orange juice
2 eggs
1/2 cup of oil
1 cup of Hershey's Syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Mix together cake mix and pudding
Add orange juice, oil and eggs, mix well
Place 1 and 1/2 cups of the batter into a separate bowl.
In that separate bowl add Hershey's syrup.
On a parchment lined cookie sheet place a dollop of pistachio mix on cookie sheet
Top each dollop with chocolate batter
Swirl each cookie with a toothpick



Bake for 10-12 minutes
Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, remove to cooling rack to finish cooling.
Enjoy!!!


Now that you have checked out my comfort food recipe, come and see what my #SundaySupper friends have brought to the table.


This Week’s Sunday Supper Recipes:

#SundaySupper Comfort Food |Soups
#SundaySupper Comfort Food | Main Dish
#SundaySupper Comfort Food | Desserts
Pairing Wine with Sunday Supper Comfort Food Favorites! by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

 

We would be honored to have you join us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper. We’ll be meeting up at 7:00 pm(Eastern) for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat where we’ll talk about our favorite Comfort Food Recipes.
All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.
We’d also love to feature your easy go to recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them with all of our followers, too.
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Monday, October 8, 2012

Day 88: Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats

Sometimes 10 minutes is all I need to make the boys their COD. And honestly, sometimes 10 minutes is all I have.

This is a simple twist on the popular rice treat we all love. Hershey's has a wonderful cinnamon chip that is so versatile. Adding these cinnamon chips will give an extra boost of flavor to whatever you are making.


 
 
Printable Recipe
Zip List
 
3 Tbs Butter
1 bag of marshmallows
1 cup of Hershey's Cinnamon Chips
5-6 cups of Rice Krispies
 
In a large sauce pan over medium heat melt butter
While butter is melting, spray an 11x13 dish with cooking spray
Once butter is melted, add marshmallow
Once marshmallows are melted, add Hershey's Cinnamon Chips
Stir until chips are melted with the marshmallow
Remove from heat and add rice cereal
Spoon Rice cereal mixture into greased pan, press down with a a piece of waxed paper.
Sprinkle with multi-colored dots.
Cool, cut and enjoy!
 
 


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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Day 87: Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches for #SundaySupper

A couple weeks ago I mentioned bringing my Applesauce Walnut White Chocolate Chip Cookies to #SundaySupper. I had so much fun chatting and sharing recipes with this lovey group I decided to dive right in.

This week's theme is All Things Orange and our wonderful hostes  is Pam from The Meltaways. Orange...hmmm, for me that meant using one of my favorite ingredients...pumpkin! For some reason, I have it programed in my head that I can only bake with pumpkin in the fall. However, after making these, I think pumpkin may become a year round ingredient in our home!

I have used pumpkin when baking pies, but never cookies. So I searched my recipe database (the Internet) and found a great one from Very Best Baking. I made a soft pumpkin cookie (original recipe can be found here) and sandwiched a scoop of pumpkin ice cream in the middle. This was the first ice cream sandwich cookie I attempted since The Root Beer Float Ice Cream Cookie, and it was worth it!!!!


Printable Recipe
Zip List

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup pumpkin puree (I used Libby's)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pumpkin Ice Cream (or Caramel Ice Cream)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a separate bowl sift together dry ingredients through nutmeg
Cream together butter and sugar
Mix in pumpkin, egg and vanilla
Slowly stir in dry ingredients
Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet
Spoon dollops of dough onto cookie sheet
Bake for 10-12 minutes
Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes
While cookies are cooling, take the pumpkin ice cream out of the freezer to soften
Once cookies cool match them according to size
Place a scoop of ice cream on the bottom of one cookie and place the second on top
Repeat until the cookies are gone.
Place Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches on a cookie sheet
Cover and re-freeze until ready to serve.



These are the perfect combination of pumpkin and spice, fantastic flavor combination for fall.

Our #SundaySupper crew has come up with some out of this world recipes this week! Please take a look at what everyone brought to the table. And don't forget to join us tonight for the #SundaySupper twitter chat starting at 7:00pm EST. Bring your "orange" recipes and get ready for a great time!

Sunrise (Breakfast and Brunch)
Paula from Vintage Kitchen Notes is bringing her Orange Ricotta Pancakes
Erin from Dinners Dishes and Desserts is baking up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Heather from Girlichef is bringing Pumpkin Doughnuts with Spiced Buttermilk Glaze
Nicole from Daily Dish Recipes is making Pumpkin Donut Puffs
Patti from Comfy Cuisine is bringing Classic Orange Marmalade
Sunithi from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz is making Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Muffins with Craisins and Walnuts
Wendy from The Weekend Gourmet is cooking up some Pumpkin Maple Oatmeal
Jamie from Mama Mommy Mom is bringing Butternut Squash Butter
Chelsea from Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence is bringing Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Chai Icing
Kris from In The Kitchen With Audrey and Maureen made Sweet Potato Pancakes

High Noon (Soups, Salads and Sandwiches)
Renee from Magnolia Days is serving up some Butternut Squash Soup
Beate from Galactopdx is bringing her Carrot Ginger Soup
Jen from Juanita’s Cocina is making some Curried Sweet Potato Salad With Cranberries and Pecans
Megan from I Run For Wine is making Skinny Roasted Butternut Squash and Italian Sausage Soup
Sarah from What Smells So Good is filling our bowls with some Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
Alice from Hip Foodie Mom is coming with her Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad
Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian is making Cider – Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
Tora from Tora’s Real Food is bringing Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup
Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food is making Monty’s Pumpkin Soup
Lyn from The Lovely Pantry is bringing Roasted Pumpkin & Coconut Soup
Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic is whipping up some Mandarin Chicken Salad

Sunset (Dinner and Main Dishes)
Sarah from Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends is offering up some Pumpkin Ravioli
Shelia from Pippis In The Kitchen Again is serving her Roasted Squash and Ricotta with Honey
Pam from The Meltaways is making Spooky Stuffed Peppers
Patsy from Famfriendsfood is bringing her Carrot Souffle
Laura from Small Wallet Big Appetite is bringing Chicken and Sweet Potato Fritters
Mehereen from Chattering Kitchen is making Sichuan Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Sesame Seeds
Tammi from Momma’s Meals is making Hearty Pork Stew
Kristin from Kwistin’s Favorites is making Orange Chicken
Soni from Soni’s Food For Thought is cooking up some Rigatoni with Pumpkin Ricotta Sauce
Shelby from Diabetic Foodie is cooking up some Moroccan Vegetable Stew
Dara from Generation Y Foodie is bringing Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Brandie from Home Cooking Memories is sharing a DIY Baked Sweet Potato Bar
Amber from Mama’s Blissful Bites is bringing Rice and Fig Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
Valerie from Val’s Food and Or Art made Double Stuffed Roasted Acorn Squash

By The Bonfire (Sweets, Snacks and Sips)
Brie from Brie’s Bites is making Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bites
Carla from Chocolate Moosey is making Pumpkin Tiramisu with Pumpkin Butter Caramel Sauce
Heather from Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks is offering up some Pumpkin Cake Truffles
Shelia from Cooking Underwriter is bringing Sweet Potato Bacon Beet Salsa
Anne from Webicurean is making some Drunken Pumpkin Bread
Karen from In The Kitchen With KP is making Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Leslie La Cocina De Leslie is making Sweet Potato Atole
Seet Fei from My Trials in The Kitchen is bringing Sweet Potatoes Mini Balls
Tara from Noshing With The Nolands is bringing Oranges En Suprise
Susan from The Girl in The Red Kitchen is making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone with Pumpkin Glaze
Conni from Mrs. Mama Hen is making Orange Glazed Poundcake
Isabel from Family Foodie is baking up Moist Pumpkin Bread
Cindy from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings is baking up a Vegan Pumpkin Orange Cake
Brenda from Meal Planning Magic is whipping up some Creamy Pumpkin Dip
Laura from Family Spice is making some Unprocessed and Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
Kathya from Basic and Delicious is baking up Butternut Squash and Carrot Bread
Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake is serving up Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
Stephanie from The Cookie A Day Challenge is whipping up some Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches
Katie from She Like Ruffles, He Likes Truffles is bringing Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
Nancy from Gotta Get Baked is baking up some Orange Macadamia Dark Chocolate Cookies
Angie from Big Bear’s Wife is bringing Orange Soda Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
Katy from Happy Baking Days is bringing Carrot Cake with Orange Glaze
Sandra from Midlife Road Trip is bringing Orange ya glad it’s fall! Hungarian Apricot/Walnut pastries




Don't forget to join us as we chat about all things orange tonight starting at 7:00EST. Just follow #SundaySupper on twitter.

You can also follow the #SundaySupper Pintrest board.

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Friday, October 5, 2012

Day 86: Toffee Pumpkin Cookies for Fall Fun and Howling Halloween Link Party



Welcome to the 

Fall Fun and Howling Halloween Link Party!


Fall is here and Halloween is right around the corner so that means it is time to share all your fun Fall-themed dishes and decor, scary costumes and terror-able treats.



Claiming Our Space has joined up with The Chic Geek, Second Chance to Dream, Makin My Apt a Home, Condo Blues, The Cookie a Day Challenge and Domestic Randomness to bring you our Fall and Halloween projects!  Make sure to visit each of the hosts to see what they have created for the party.

Each year, I try to think of something different to send in for the boys' Halloween parties at school. They only have a short time to have the party, so most of the thing that are sent in get put into bags to take home.

This year, I decided to make cookies...big surprise!! I put the cookies in an individual bag, and tied it with an orange ribbon. Make these treats, and your teachers will be sure to thank you later.  Passing out treats will be simple and they are already pre-packaged to go home! I adapted this recipe from Nestles Very Best Baking Old-Fashion Soft Pumpkin Cookies.


Toffee Pumpkin Cookies
 

 
Printable Recipe
Zip List

1 1/4 cups of bread flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice (or pumpkin pie spice)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 stick of butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup of Libby's 100% pure pumpkin
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 cup of toffee pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a separate bowl, sift dry ingredients together and set aside
Cream butter and sugar together
Add pumpkin egg and vanilla mix well
Slowly mix in dry ingredients
Stir in toffee pieces
Place dough in the refrigerator for 10 minutes
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
Roll teaspoon size dollop of dough into a ball, place on cookie sheet
Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are brown
Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, transfer to a cooling rack to complete cooling.

Once cookies are completely cooled, place in treat bag and tie with ribbon.

This recipe made about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.
 


 
 





Now that you have seem my project it is time for you to share with us your projects, crafts, recipes, whatever you have come up with that is Fall or Halloween related.  Your project will show up on all the host's blogs so you only need to link up once but, remember, of us have different projects we are sharing. So make sure to stop by The Chic Geek, Second Chance to Dream, Makin My Apt a Home, Condo Blues, The Cookie a Day Challenge, Domestic Randomness and Claiming Our Space to check them all out.



The party will be up until Thursday, October 18 and then on Friday, October 19, each host will pick their favorite links. So mark your calendar to check back to see if one of your link ups was featured.



Just a few guidelines



1. It would be great if you would follow all the hosts

2. Link ups should be Fall or Halloween related. (No shops or other link parties please)

3. Try to visit some of the other link ups and leave a comment. Everyone loves visitors!

3. You don't need to link back but we would appreciate it if you would display the button on your blog or in your post. 



<a href="http://www.claimingourspace.com/2012/10/fall-fun-howling-halloween-party.html/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg186/gooch100/OctoberPartyButton_zpsbe486aa3.jpg"/></a>

With that, it is time to party!!






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