Lemon Dream Cookies

Prepare to fall in love.

Do you adore lemon deserts as I do? Does that light, zingy taste make you swoon and salivate? Then look no further for that perfect fix, because these cookies are IT. And by IT, I mean that you will think of these every time you are wanting to satisfy your lemon craving. 

To put it simply-- They. Are. Amazing.

I have never before attempted to make a batch of cookies, without at least going off of another recipe. Baking is precise, and fickle. You need to measure everything to an exact amount, and, well it's just complicated. Although I consider myself to be a pretty good cook, my baking is more, er... experimental, than spectacular, if you know what I mean. Well today, when Magoo came home from her very first school field trip (she had a BLAST by the way!!), I knew I wanted to continue with her fun day, and thought we could "wing it" and concoct our own cookie recipe, as I told her. That way, even if the cookies turned out terrible, we at least had a good time making them!

Magoo loves being in the kitchen with me, and I admit, I really enjoyed seeing her creative juices flowing!

Working hard...

  All I can say about this decision, is I am SO glad we did "wing it", because for once, our experiment went well! Really well!! These cookies are fantastic! The dough is the consistency of a very thick frosting, and after baked, they are similar to a light, moist, brownie-like texture! Mmmm...... I think I need to go grab another! 

Anyways, upon throwing this creation together, we came up with a few great additions. In the past I've made several batches of cookies with different flavors of pudding mix in them, and always loved how they turned out. So naturally, after coming across a box of instant lemon pudding in the cupboard, I was inspired. Rummaging around, I discovered a lowly bag of craisins, that so desperately needed to be eaten and enjoyed. These cookies were already sounding delicious in my head, they just needed one more thing. White chocolate. Yes. Now doesn't that sound yummy? I sure thought so! 

Alas! After a quick run to the store for some white chocolate chips (and more milk, of course!), we were ready to start baking! 

Yes, I have resorted to Instagram for photos at the moment, but  you have to admit, it's better than no pictures! 

Once we had stirred and mixed it all together, and gave them a quick taste, Magoo and I both agreed that the lemon flavoring in the pudding simply wasn't enough. Good thing I had some real ones on hand! A couple tablespoons and all the zest from one lemon, and it was perfect! Oh the dough was wonderful..... we could hardly keep our fingers out of it. I'm sure if I had let her, she would have licked the entire bowl clean! I am so happy that I didn't, because even though I didn't think it was possible, these were even BETTER baked!!

Oh I can't wait until you all try them--

Here they are in all of their lemony glory!!

Preheat the oven to 350.

1. In mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until unified. Add in eggs, each one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl every so often. Pour in pudding mix, and blend for 2 minutes. It will "fluff" up, almost doubling in size. Add in the lemon juice and zest. 
2. In separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients (flour, baking soda/powder, salt, etc). Slowly add dry mixture into wet mixture, mixing and then scraping down sides until fully incorporated. 
3. Pour in craisins and white chocolate chips, and mix with a spoon. 
4. Scoop tablespoons of the dough, 2-3 inches apart onto a baking sheet.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on how soft/doughy you like them. (I baked mine for 15, and they were perfectly moist and soft!)

This batch made 48 cookies for me. I used my small ice cream scoop. 

Enjoy!!

Jump-start Blueberry Muffins

Bites of sunshine. 

Today I woke with a fresh perspective. Through the unavoidable rain and murky gray clouds, I saw the splendor of a new day. I wanted to make the best of my lazy Saturday, and decided to test out a new blueberry muffin recipe I’ve been working on. I thought, “What better way to brighten this shut-in of a day, then by indulging with some warm, moist, delicious muffins!?”

I could find no other way.

So there I went into the kitchen, scanning the cupboards as if I were searching for that perfect component to compliment my secret basket ingredients [like on Chopped. Ooh do I love that show!!]. I saw this recipe on Pinterest the other day that uses Greek yogurt for the majority of the wet ingredients, and was really intrigued. I immediately thought of ways I could adjust and tweak it to suit my household, and taste buds, of course. Another goal I had, was to make them even more packed with protein, without adding protein powder. I have found that Marc can detect that stuff from a mile away, and not in a good way….

I digress.

So as I was forming these muffins in my head, I remembered that I had picked up a box of quinoa flower a few weeks ago, and I have been wanting to experiment with it for a while. Oh I was so excited, and ready to start mixing up the goods!

With quinoa flour for the base, along with whole wheat flour (since I hadn’t really used the QF that much), and some oats for good measure, I knew I couldn’t go wrong. And since I was already improving the health benefits of this recipe, I was trying to continue down that road, by cutting out the butter, and replacing it with applesauce. Which by the way, made these oh so very moist!!

Needless to say, the end result of these muffins was by far, one of the best I have ever made. I was pleasantly surprised by how I could not tell they were very low in gluten, fat, AND sugar! Although we did sort of destroy that aspect by slathering them with butter while they were fresh out of the oven……. Oh my, they were yummy!!

So, after much tinkering and anticipation, here is my recipe for protein packed, blueberry muffins!

This batch makes approximately 24 muffins (in a regular cupcake tin).

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In one bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Such as quinoa flour, whole wheat flour, oats, sugar, baking powder and soda, flax meal, salt, and lemon zest. Toss in berries so they are coated with flour mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together all wet ingredients (I.e. yogurt, applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and milk.) until fully combined.
4. Pour wet ingredient mixture into dry ingredient mixture, and fold until fully incorporated.
5. Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray, and fill each slot 2/3rds full. Place into oven, and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and springy to the touch. Make sure you alternate top and bottom racks about 10 minutes into cooking time, to ensure all the muffins cook the same.
6. Remove from muffin tin immediately, or they might get soggy (since there is so much moisture in them). Serve hot, or wrap and refrigerate for up to a week. 

Enjoy!! 

I wanted to add that I really wanted to post photos of these little stud muffins (yeah, I just said that!), but my camera seems to be out of commission. So, I will be working on that indefinitely!  =)

New Beginnings on the Horizon

Life. She's a curious thing.

If you would have asked me five years ago where I'd be today, I'm nearly positive that I couldn't have answered you accurately. This is not a good thing, nor a bad thing, just the truth. I have found myself in fantastic ups, and horribly woeful downs. I have laughed, and cried, rested, and ran. I have shouted to the mountain tops, and whispered to myself. I have shared many a joyous endeavors with loved ones alike, as I have introverted for days, plugged into my headphones, locked quietly inside myself. Through these inevitable roller coasters I have learned so many things. However, I still find myself at times, fighting the same battles I have been all along. Always coming to the agonizing conclusion that I am, most definitely, my worst enemy. 

Maybe I’m too open. Too trusting. Too stubborn to see what is actually right in front of my face. I’d like to think of myself as an optimist. Other’s refer to me as a fool. Either way, I’m just another hopeless romantic, waiting for the life’s pages to read the words Happily Ever After. Could you really blame me though? Could anyone, for that matter? After all, isn’t that what everyone wants in the end?? Since birth, we have all been exposed to the idea that everyone gets their happy ending, only to find out as we grow older, that this idea is more of a fantasy than a reality. Leaving hearts broken, left in tattered trails all along the life paths we have chosen. Maybe leaving us incapable of putting the fragments back together, and becoming someone who we never thought we would be.

Life is funny that way, and that is where I am. Asking myself the question of, “Can I put it all back together, or do I just need to go forward from what I am today?”

Just as I have typed that last sentence, I am sure of where I am going with this--

Forward.

I could never put the pieces back together. Even if that were possible, I am a different person today than I was five years ago. An improved person. I may be an optimist, a dreamer, a hopeless romantic, and most unquestionably a fool. But one thing I am not, is unsure of myself. For once in my life, I know what I want. It’s figuring out how to get it, is where I get lost. I am sure that the answers will come to me, just as more queries do.

Discovering how to heal from the wounds of my past, and take in everything I've encountered, as a journey to new beginnings; these are the lessons I am considering at this moment.