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McCormick Vanilla Rich Chocolate Chip Cookies

April 18, 2012 By 2 Comments

vanilla chocolate chip cookiesMy daughter received an Easter basket from each set of grandparents, in addition to the one the Easter bunny brought.  Today I decided to transform the remaining chocolate into cookies, by using the Vanilla Rich Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe on the McCormick website.  I used the same quantity of chocolate as required in the recipe, but about a 3rd of it was cookies & creme white chocolate.  I also added 1/2 tsp of cinnamon & 1/4 tsp. of ginger, since I like both flavors with chocolate.

chopping chocolate

Look away people, the bunny is about to buy it.

I only had a few nibbles of cookie, since I am dropping a few pounds in preparation for summer, but they were delicious.  The extra vanilla used in this McCormick recipe was a nice touch, and seemed to sweeten them up a bit.  The recipe makes a lot of cookie dough, and it is just my daughter and I here, so I wrapped up several logs of the dough in plastic wrap and popped them in the freezer.  Now, I can easily whip up a batch of these yummy homemade cookies, with minimal clean-up whenever I like.

Easter chocolate cookies

McCormick Spring Baking Gift Basket Pinterest Contest

Contest is now over.

There are a wide array of great recipes on the McCormick website, why not stop over and try one out, and enter the McCormick Pin-spiration contest.  To enter to win a McCormick spring baking gift basket, set up a  “McCormick Pin-spiration” Pinterest board and try out one of the recipes (see contest rules here).  Their Pinterest page may give you a few extra ideas too.

Here is the board I created: http://pinterest.com/MomFoodie/mccormick-pin-spiration/

pin-spiration contestI participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for McCormick. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, Food Tagged With: , ,

Leprechaun Balls: A St. Patrick’s Day Dessert for Grown-Ups

March 6, 2012 By 10 Comments

leprechaun balls St. Patrick's Day DessertThis St. Patrick’s Day dessert is only for the grown-ups.  Leprechaun Balls have both Irish whiskey and Bailey’s in them. Four or five of these will roughly equal a shot, so overindulgence could certainly make you loopy.  Too many of these alcoholic dessert treats, and you might end out kissing more than a Blarney Stone, this Saint Patrick’s Day…lol.

Leprechaun Balls
5.0 from 3 reviews
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Recipe type: Dessert
Author: Robin Gagnon
Ingredients
  • box of vanilla wafers
  • 1/2 cup Baileys
  • 1/4 cup Irish Whiskey
  • 2 tsp. cocoa powder
  • white chocolate + green food coloring (or green candy melts)
  • *optional holiday candy sprinkles
Instructions
  1. Crush the vanilla wafers in food processor (or in a plastic bag)
  2. Separate the crushed wafers 2/3 in one bowl, 1/3 in another.
  3. Add cocoa powder to smaller portion.
  4. Pour Bailey’s into the larger portion of wafers, and mix thoroughly.
  5. Pour Irish whiskey into the cocoa & wafer mixture. Mix well.
  6. Make small (approx. 1/2 tsp size) balls from the whiskey blend.
  7. Take a scoop of the Bailey’s mixture into the palm of your hand and press with fingers of your other hand to flatten out.
  8. Put a whiskey ball in center, and wrap the flattened Bailey’s mix around it. Top with a little more of the Bailey’s mix to cover, then roll between palms to form a ball. Repeat.
  9. Melt the candy melts or white chocolate (add a few drops of green food coloring if you like).
  10. Use chopsticks (or pop sticks) to dip the balls to coat. (Roll in sprinkles while still a bit warm if you choose)
  11. Allow to cool on the sticks, or place on waxed paper.
Notes

Approx 4-5 of these will equal a shot.

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St Patricks Day cocktail balls

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Leprechaun Poke Cakes: St. Patrick’s Day Trick to Play on Your Kids

March 3, 2012 By 6 Comments
leprechaun poke cakes recipeLeprechaun Poke Cupcakes are sort of a culinary fairy tale to mess with your kids. I thought it make a good addition to your St. Patrick’s Day bag of tricks.

Leprechaun Green Poke Cupcakes: St. Patrick’s Day Trick to Play on Your Kids
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Recipe type: Dessert
Author: Robin Gagnon
Ingredients
  • gold foil cupcake wrappers
  • white cake mix (made according to directions)
  • lime gelatine
  • frosting* (optional)
Instructions
  1. Make a batch of white cupcakes, in gold foil wrappers (we all know leprechauns love gold right).
  2. Tell the kids that Leprechauns love gold, and won’t be able to resist poking at all of them to check out the gold. Show them that you are leaving the pristine white set cupcakes out on St.Patrick’s Eve.
  3. Once the kids have gone to bed, mix 3/4 of a cup of hot water into a package of lime gelatine.
  4. Take a chopstick, and poke a couple holes into the cupcakes.
  5. Pour the gelatine, over the holes, until it seeps in.
  6. Present the cupcakes to your kids either frosted or not, but they will see the green spots where the greedy little leprechauns poked in their fingers.
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St Patrick's day Trick Leprechaun poke cakes

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Rockin’ Elvis Biscotti

February 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

peanut butter banana biscotti Everybody knows Elvis’ favorite food was peanut butter & banana sandwiches, well this is my Italian cookie version of his favorite treat.  Why not rock your own Peanut Butter and Banana Biscotti this weekend, and shake things up.  If your kids love them as much as my daughter did, you will quickly escalate to in-home-rock-star status… well, at least for a few fleeting minute ;

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Peanut Butter Banana Biscotti (Rockin’ Elvis Biscotti)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Yield: 18-24

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 large mashed banana
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1⁄2 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 2 ¾ cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • Peanut Butter Glaze
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup confectionery sugar
  • 2-3 tbs. water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Beat the eggs, in large mixing bowl.
  3. Add banana, vanilla & peanut butter, and beat on high, until well mixed.
  4. In a separate bowl mix the remaining (dry) ingredients.
  5. Add the dry mix slowly to the wet mix, while beating.
  6. Dough will be sticky, dump onto well floured surface, and form into log approx. a foot long.
  7. Transfer to baking sheet, and form the log to about 3 inch wide, and an inch or two from pan ends.
  8. Bake for 30-35 mins., until golden brown around edges and semi-firm in middle.
  9. Place the log on rack to cool, for about 10 mins, and reduce oven temp to 300°.
  10. Once cool enough to comfortably handle, cut 3/4 inch slices.
  11. Place slices on parchment lined baking sheet and bake for approx 25 mins.
    12. Glazing
  12. After the slices are cool, whisk together creamy peanut butter, confectionery sugar and water, to make glaze.
  13. Drizzle over the biscotti ( I used a squeeze bottle for this). Let set a few hours until the glaze is firm, before serving.
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http://blommi.com/peanut-butter-banana-biscotti/

 

peanut butter banana biscotti cookies

Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, Food Tagged With: ,

Orange-Walnut Oatmeal Mini Muffins

February 22, 2012 By 6 Comments

This Orange-Walnut Oatmeal Mini Muffin recipe is a marriage of the Orange Cake my grandmother had in her handwritten cookbook (with notes that it was my grandfather’s favorite), and an Oatmeal Muffin Recipe I found in a vintage McCall’s cookbook.  The “zippy” flavor of the orange zest used in this recipe, along with the richness of the plenitude of walnuts, seemed perfect for mini-muffins.  Enjoy!

Orange Walnut Oatmeal Muffin Recipe
5.0 from 3 reviews
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Recipe type: Dessert – Muffins
Author: Robin Gagnon
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 12
Orange Walnut Oatmeal Mini Muffins with Orange Glaze.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup orange juice (plus approx. a tbs. for glaze)
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp group cinnamon
  • zest of a large orange
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup oil (canola or vegetable)
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbs. baking powder
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (make sure pieces are small)
  • 1/2 cup confectionery sugar (for glaze)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and flour the mini-muffin pan.
  2. Put oats, buttermilk, orange juice, salt, vanilla & cinnamon in large mixing bowl, stir and set aside, while doing other prep work, so oatmeal can absorb some of the liquid.
  3. Zest the entire orange, make sure the pieces are not too long, chop if necessary. Add to oatmeal mixture.
  4. Add egg and oil to mixture and beat well.
  5. Mix the flour and baking powder in separate bowl, them add to oatmeal mixture.
  6. Add the chopped walnuts last. Stir well to make sure they are evenly distributed.
  7. Scoop up 1 tbs. of mixture, and place in each muffin tin.
  8. Bake 14-16 minutes, until pick pulls clean from center, and edges are starting to show a little color.
  9. Once cooled. Mix the confectionery sugar, and about a tbs of orange juice ( a little more will likely be needed). Brush over the muffins.
Notes

This recipe makes approx. 36 mini-muffins. Serving size 3 pieces.

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Filed Under: Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, Food, muffins, Recipes

Low Fat Chocolate “Cheesecake” Pie (105 calories!)

February 19, 2012 By 3 Comments
low fat chocolate cheesecake pieLow Fat Chocolate “Cheesecake” Pie (105 calories!)
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Recipe type: Dessert
Author: Robin Gagnon
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 25 mins
Serves: 16
At 105 calories there is no need to skip dessert!
Ingredients
  • (Chocolate Filling)
  • 2 packages of lite silken tofu
  • 1 package fat free cream cheese
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tbs. sugar
  • 3 tbs. cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 1 packet of gelatine
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 8 individual packets of Equal
  • (Peanut Butter Crust)
  • 6 low fat graham crackers
  • 2 tbs. Peanut Butter
  • 2 tbs water (plus more if needed)
Instructions
  1. (To Make Crust)
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Finely grind the graham crackers in food processor.
  4. Pulse in peanut butter.
  5. Add 2 tbs. water. Pulse. Add another tsp. if small wad of mixture will not loosely hold together.
  6. Dump mixture into spring-form pan, spread out and press lightly until bottom is evenly covered. (you may need to use the back of a spoon, which has been coated with cooking spray)
  7. Bake at 350 for 10 mins.
  8. (To Make Filling)
  9. Put the drained tofu, cream cheese & vanilla in mixing bowl and mix on med-high until smoothly combined.
  10. Add cinnamon and cocoa. Beat well.
  11. Measure the chocolate chips and set aside.
  12. In mixing cup, add gelatine to boiling water, stir, then immediately add the chocolate chips. Mix well.
  13. Pour the chocolate mixture into the tofu/cream cheese, Mix well.
  14. Add 6 packets of the Equal beat well, taste. It will probably need 2 more packets, but suit to your taste.
  15. The mixture should be light, from all the air incorporated in mixing.
  16. Pour into spring-form pan over Peanut Butter Crust.
  17. Refrigerate overnight.
Serving size: 1/16th of pie Calories: 105 Fat: 4 Protein: 7
Notes

Pie was originally cut into 8 pieces, but the consensus was that it was too filling (more like a meal). 1/16th is the perfect after dinner dessert portion.

Serve some sliced strawberries or banana with this low fat dessert, if you want a little more color on the plate.

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I love cheesecake, but very rarely have it.  Who can afford the calories, never mind the mind-boggling amounts of fat, in most cheesecakes.  After a good deal of investigation, and a couple failed attempts, I’ve come up with a low fat chocolate cheesecake, with yummy peanut butter crust. It has only 105 calories per serving, so there is no need to skip dessert.  The texture, and flavor ended out being about half-way between cheesecake and chocolate pudding pie, hence the addition of the word pie to the name.

 

low fat cheesecake - chocolate pie

Filed Under: Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, light recipes, Recipes

Sweets for My Sweet

January 26, 2012 By 5 Comments
This afternoon, shortly after I had just finished working on a new vegetarian dish, my daughter gave the cookie card to her ABA therapist*.  When I told her we didn’t have any, she went back through her book and found the card for animal crackers.  I didn’t really feel like cooking more, but couldn’t leave the house to buy cookies, and it is important to reinforce her proper use of the cards, so I decided to whip up a batch of cookies on the fly.  As I was mixing the ingredients, I was thinking about the struggle my daughter has each day, trying to communicate her basic needs, so I went with pink heart cookies, for my little sweetheart.

*Due to M’s autism a good portion of her communication is relayed through the use of picture cards.

Pink Heart Cookies
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Recipe type: Cookies
Author: Robin Gagnon
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 25 mins
Serves: approx. 3 dozen
Quick pink heart cookies.
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 oz. cream cheese
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 drops red food coloring
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups flour
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar.
  3. Add remaining ingredients, and mix thoroughly.
  4. Form dough into ball, then roll out on floured or sugared surface.
  5. Cut out hearts with cookie cutter.
  6. Place on parchment lined baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
  7. Serve.
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Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, Food, Recipes Tagged With: ,

Lemon Walnut Biscotti Recipe

December 13, 2011 By 4 Comments

lemon walnut biscotti recipeI have been making Lemon Walnut Biscotti, as one of my holiday cookies for several years now.  It is a bright note in a cookie platter, and goes wonderfully with tea.  This is the latest version of my recipe, which has evolved over the years.

Lemon Walnut Biscotti Recipe
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Recipe type: Cookies
Author: Robin Gagnon
Ingredients
  • zest of one lemon
  • 2 tbs lemon juice
  • 1/2 c sugar
  • 1/3 c. confectionery sugar
  • 1 lg. egg
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 1/4 c. flour
  • 1 c. chopped walnuts
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugar. (with whisk)
  3. Add egg, baking powder, salt and lemon juice. Mix well.
  4. Switch to beater attachment- Add the zest, mix, then add flour slowly while mixing.
  5. When well mixed, add the walnuts and mix until evenly distributed.
  6. Split the dough in half, and roll each into a log. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Press and mold with your hands, until approx. 3″ wide and 1″ thick.
  7. Bake logs for 30 min. Remove and reduce oven temp. to 325°.
  8. Allow the logs to cool, then slice into 1/2″ thick cookies.
  9. Place the cookies back on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
  10. Store the Lemon-Walnut Biscotti in an airtight container.
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lemon walnut biscotti cookie recipe

Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, Food, Recipes Tagged With: , , ,

Shining Star Cookies

December 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

shining star cookiesThese semi-sweet Shining Star cookies are similar in taste to animal crackers, but just a little softer.  The turbinado sugar on the top rounds out the sweetness.  Tiny cookie cutters make these just the right size for young children, or to snack on while you sip your coffee or tea.

Semi-Sweet Cookie Dough

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1/2 c sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

pinch salt

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 c flour

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

Turbinado sugar ( raw cane sugar)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugar.
  3. Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.
  4. Place dough on floured rolling surface, form a uniform ball & roll out dough.
  5. Cut stars or shape of choice, preferably with small cookie cutters an inch or less.
  6. Place cut cookies on parchment lined baking sheet.
  7. Sprinkle tops with Turbinado sugar.
  8. Bake for approx. 9-10 minutes.
  9. Serve in small containers for children, or right on the saucer when served with tea/coffee.
Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts & Sweet Baked Goods, Food, Recipes Tagged With: , ,
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