Blueberry Muffins

These are so good, and that is saying A LOT coming from me.  I am not a fan of cooked fruit, I do not eat apple pie because of the cooked apples.  There is something about these muffins, though. I have already eaten a couple of them.  This batch did not get the topping, I was trying to be a "little" healthy by avoiding the extra sugar.


Blueberry Muffins
1 1/2 cup AP Flour
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
1 Egg, beaten
1/3 cup Milk
1 cup Berries (you can substitute cranberries, strawberries, etc.)


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
Line muffin tin with cupcake liners
Combine 1st four ingredients & set aside.
Place oil in a measuring cup & add the beaten egg.  Then, add enough milk to fill the cup.
Add to dry ingredients & mix until combined.
Fold in berries.
Fill to the top & sprinkle with crumb topping (optional).
Bake 20 minutes.

Crumb Topping
1/2 cup Sugar
1/3 cup AP Flour
1/4 cup Butter, cubed
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients &, using your fingers, mix until looks like sand. Sprinkle over the muffins just before baking.

Chipotle Cheeseburgers

I originally found this on the Food Network site & changed it up a bit.  They can be spicy, so be careful.

 

Start with 1 1/2lbs of ground beef & sprinkle with Tex-Mex chili seasoning.  Add the chopped Chipotle Peppers, salt & pepper and beer.  Combine gently.  I hate touching raw meat, so I am gloved up during this process.

Divide into 4 even portions and let sit while the griddle is getting warm. I heat mine up to 350/360 degrees.

 

The delicious finished product.  I used American cheese this time around.  I have added notes at the bottom if you want to make them spicier.

1 1/2lbs Lean Ground Beef

2 Tbls Tex Mex Chili Seasoning (I use McCormick's)

2 tsp Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

1/4 cup Beer (your choice)

Salt & Pepper

Pepper Jack Cheese

Chipotle Mayonnaise, see recipe below

In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, chili seasoning, chopped chipotle peppers and beer.  Shape into 4 even portions & set aside.  Heat the griddle pan to 350 degrees, or grill outside.  Season the patties with salt & pepper & cook until done the way you like (4-5 minutes per side for medium)  2-3 minutes before they are done, add the cheese.

Chipotle Mayonnaise

1 1/2 teaspoons Chipotle Peppers

3/4 cup Mayonnaise

Slit open the peppers & remove seeds (leave in for spicy)

Finely chop the peppers.

Stir the mayo & peppers together and put in the fridge until ready to use.

NOTE: You can control the heat by reducing or increasing the amount of peppers in the burgers.  Remember, if you remove the seeds, they are likely to be a little less spicy.  

Special K Cookies

After spending time with Grandma & family last week, I was feeling a little homesick. So, I decided it was time to make Grandma's Special K cookies.  I believe I heard she got the recipe off a Special K cereal box many, many years ago.  The original recipe I had called for 5 sticks of butter.  I only use 4 & they are still delicious.  And, you can substitute cornflakes. :-) 

 4 sticks Unsalted Butter
3 cups Flour
1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup White Sugar
2 cups Special K cereal
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Almond Extract

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.  Cream the butter & white sugar together. Add the extracts.
3.  Sift the flour, powdered sugar & baking soda & add to the mixture.
4.  Once mixed, add the cereal.
 5.  Drop by tablespoon onto baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

They are a little soft when they first come out.  I leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to the cooling rack.

Kale Chips

 A healthy alternative to potato chips & super easy to make.

 Take one bunch of Kale, rinse & dry thoroughly.  Tear into bite size pieces & drizzle with olive oil.  Then, sprinkle with salt & pepper.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes & you will have crispy & delicious Kale chips.