Green Smoothie

I enjoy smoothies and I was particularly intrigued when green smoothies became popular. I soon discovered that I loved them too. They are perfect for breakfast (or any other meal), and I also like them after a hard workout. Not only do they taste good, they start your day off with some healthy ingredients. Through a little trial and error I have created my own delicious version. The best part of this smoothie is that anything goes...have fun experimenting on your own or just enjoy mine!

Green Smoothie

1 cup kale (or spinach)

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup almond milk

1 banana

3 frozen strawberries

Due to having a small blender, I mix the banana, kale, and milk first. 

This allows the kale to blend better, and keeps it from making the smoothie gritty. 

Blend away!

 Add the yogurt and strawberries and you are good to go!

So yummy!

Enjoy!

The Best Banana Bread

I'll admit I'm a bit of a carb fan...I mean how could you not be? It comes in so many delicious forms! One of my favorite recipes to make is banana bread. There are so many ways to create it, I am pretty sure I've never made it the same way. However, after much trial and error, I think I've finally found my favorite
way to create this classic recipe. Now it's your turn to try it!

Banana Bread

4 ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups flour

Mix the melted butter in with the bananas. Add the sugar, egg, vanilla and spices. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into a bread pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

Eat and enjoy!

            

                       

Peach Shortcake

September this year came with that rush of fall. Cool weather, jeans and sweaters, and of course fall scented candles were burning away. However, just like weather in upstate New York does every year, we were hit with a few days of 90 degrees. Somehow fall candles do not have the same appeal when the air conditioning is blowing away :). Like summer, I seem to be having a hard time letting go too. Part of me still wants warm summer nights, campfires, and of course summer food. Lucky for me, September gave me a few extra days to enjoy my "summer" food before I delve into the soups and casseroles that seem to always define the fall season.

One of my favorite fruits has always been peaches. Sweet, messy and delicious. Besides eating them whole, my other favorite way to eat them is with shortcake. Here's my go to recipe...I promise you won't be able to get enough!

Shortcake

4 Cups flour

1/2 Cup sugar

1 1/2 Cup Milk

2 Tablespoons melted butter

1 1/2 teaspoons almond flavoring

Bake 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes

Peaches

6-8 Chopped
1/4 Cup sugar

Start by mixing the shortcake

 Plop a portion of your choice on your baking tin. I also use my trusty Silpat!

             

Bake at 350 for around 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your shortcake

 Wash your peaches

 Dice them up

Add your sugar

Mix it all together!

 Now add it to your freshly cooked shortcake and you are good to go!

 Whip cream or vanilla ice-cream always adds a nice touch as well

Happy Eating!

SIPIDI Saturday: Downton Abbey Edition

There is something special about new beginnings, particularly when they involve a new year! Of course what could be better to start the new year then a new season of Downton Abbey! Oh yes! That fantastic show that has captured the hearts of so many. In some ways I feel like a 15-year-old girl squealing about her favorite boy band, and not a 24 year old gushing about her favorite TV show on PBS. Sounds silly I know, but there is something so delightful about a decent TV show and this one has certainly got me hooked. Now if I could just get my husband to name a future child Sybil…hmmm…;)

Now with the first episode on tomorrow evening I knew I had to get creative and make something to celebrate. My mom (an equally enthusiastic fan) and sister are going to be joining me for an evening of fun and British accents. So what to make to celebrate? Well cake of course! It couldn't be a party without cake. I found this delicious looking recipe on Pinterest and was sold. Time to get baking and pull out the china and lace doilies. Check back soon for all the delicious goodness!


Vanilla Cake

Cake Mix
- 5 large egg whites
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2-1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- 1-3/4 cups sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into cubes

Whipped Vanilla Bean Frosting
- 3 sticks + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes
- 3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 vanilla bean, scraped
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt

Instructions

Cake:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease, line with parchment, and flour two round 8-inch pans.
2. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine and stir the egg whites, 1/4 cup of milk, and the vanilla. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients together on low speed for 30 seconds.
4. Add the butter and remaining milk, and mix on low speed until just moistened. Increase to medium speed and mix for 1-1/2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and begin to add the egg mixture in 3 separate batches; beat on medium speed for 20 seconds after each addition.
5. Divide the batter into two, spreading it evenly.
6. Bake 25-35 minutes or until a cake tester comes clean when inserted into the center.

Frosting
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter for 8 minutes on medium speed.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix for 7 minutes. Frosting will be light, creamy, and fluffy.

SIPIDI Saturday: Best Apple Pie!

Nothing screams fall and Thanksgiving more then a perfect apple pie. Something about the idea of biting into gooey apples, a flaky crust, and crumbly topping is just divine. Now to be perfectly honest I do not eat apple pie for the apples. They are nice add on, but the real delicious goodness comes from the crumble topping and caramel that layers on top. I know I know...so bad...but oh so good! My Mom used to make this in the past and after finding this pin, I knew I had to do it myself! The result was a combination of what my Mom has used and my own creation. Try it yourself, I promise it won't disappoint!

 Apple Pie Recipe

1 Pie Crust
6 Tablespoons butter melted
1/4 Cup packed brown sugar
1 1/4 Cups white flour
6 apples, peeled, cored and cut into slices
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 Teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a medium mixing bowl combine butter, brown sugar and 1 cup flour. Pinch with fingers until large crumbs form. Place in freezer.

In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and remaining 1/4 cup flour. Stir until everything is dissolved and scrape mixture into pie crust, arranging apples as compactly as possible. Bake for 35 minutes 350 degrees.

Pull pie out and spread crumb topping over apples and bake 30-40 minutes longer until topping is golden brown.

Caramel Recipe 

1/2 Cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons butter
1 Teaspoon vanilla
1 Can sweet and condensed milk

Boil for 3-5 minutes in the microwave stirring occasionally until thick. Let sit for awhile before pouring over the pie. There have been times when I've added a bit of flour to make it thicker as well.

Okay I will admit I cheated with a store bought crust :)

I like using a variety of apples, makes the flavor more interesting. 

If you even get to the flavor through the crumbs and caramel ;)

My fabulous apple peeler. Found mine at a garage sale, such a great invention!

Even convinced my husband to operate the machinery 

Perfect slices!

Getting ready to mix

All ready to go!

The crumbs have been added and baked.

Now for the caramel

Done!

Oh yummm!!! The smell alone is to die for. Happy eating!

A Tasty Treat

Forget tricks, I'm all about treats! What could be better then a tasty treat for Halloween? An old co-worker of mine introduced to me to these scrumptious goodies awhile ago. Since I'm a fan of pumpkin and cookies, the combination is just about perfect. Give them a try them and I am sure you will agree!

Pumpkin Cookies

by: Noelle H.

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup solid packed pumpkin (I just used the whole can)

1 egg

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

Cream butter, sugar and pumpkin and then add the egg. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Place rounded teaspoon size cookies on ungreased cookie sheet or your silpat if you have one.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen depending on how big you make them.

Brown Sugar Icing

3 tbls butter

4 tsp milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup confectioner sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

Cook butter, milk and brown sugar until dissolved. Cool a few minutes and add vanilla and confectioner sugar. Keep over low heat while stirring to be able to drizzle icing. Icing will thicken quickly once it starts to cool. It may take more than one batch of icing to frost one batch of cookies. I tend to be more "eat the frosting, who needs the cookie?" kind of girl, so doubling is a must :)

Happy eating!