Tuesdays At The Table - Lemon Poppy Muffins

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a fabulous Easter!  Mine was....well....interesting. More details later in the week.

Those of you that follow me on Twitter know that I went a little nuts ordering plants last week.  I can't wait until they all arrive - especially my Meyer Lemon Trees!!  I'm so excited to make this recipe with my own lemons.  :-)

Lemon Poppy Muffins

2/3 cup granulated sugar
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick (8 Tablespoons) butter, melted
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for topping the batter before baking)

Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar whisked together with 2 or 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice

In a large bowl, mash the granulated sugar with the lemon zest until the sugar is lightly colored and scented with lemon. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a medium sized bowl whisk together the eggs, or sour cream, vanilla extract, melted butter and lemon juice.


Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together. When almost thoroughly mixed, add the poppy seeds. Divide batter between muffin cups. Sprinkle each would be muffing with granulated sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes (until the tops are golden and a skewer inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean). Let cook on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes before glazing.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a fabulous Easter!  Mine was....well....interesting. More details later in the week.

Those of you that follow me on Twitter know that I went a little nuts ordering plants last week.  I can't wait until they all arrive - especially my Meyer Lemon Trees!!  I'm so excited to make this recipe with my own lemons.  :-)

Lemon Poppy Muffins

2/3 cup granulated sugar
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick (8 Tablespoons) butter, melted
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for topping the batter before baking)

Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar whisked together with 2 or 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice

In a large bowl, mash the granulated sugar with the lemon zest until the sugar is lightly colored and scented with lemon. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a medium sized bowl whisk together the eggs, or sour cream, vanilla extract, melted butter and lemon juice.


Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together. When almost thoroughly mixed, add the poppy seeds. Divide batter between muffin cups. Sprinkle each would be muffing with granulated sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes (until the tops are golden and a skewer inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean). Let cook on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes before glazing.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Pochachoes

Friday night's dinner of pochachoes was so terribly low-brow that I wasn't even going to post about it. Of course I took pictures of it, but then felt that no-one would possibly be interested and decided not to blog it. But after I mentioned it in my previous post, and on Facebook, people kept asking me, "What are pochachoes?"

So here goes. Let's just not tell the cool kids, ok?

Drumroll please....

Pochachoes = NACHOES + but with POTATO WEDGES instead of corn chips.

*Ta Dah!*

I got the idea when Sandra & I went for dinner at Taco Bill a couple of months ago, (again, let's not tell the cool kids!), and I saw "Pochachoes" on the menu. I was most intrigued, but it seemed just a bit too heavy as a starter, especially with enchiladas to follow!

Finally on Friday night I satisfied my pochacho curiosity.

Oven-baked wedges... covered in grated cheese...


And on the side... sour cream, hot salsa and 1/2 a muushed up avocado.

It was really, really delicious. Pocha....choes!

Friday night's dinner of pochachoes was so terribly low-brow that I wasn't even going to post about it. Of course I took pictures of it, but then felt that no-one would possibly be interested and decided not to blog it. But after I mentioned it in my previous post, and on Facebook, people kept asking me, "What are pochachoes?"

So here goes. Let's just not tell the cool kids, ok?

Drumroll please....

Pochachoes = NACHOES + but with POTATO WEDGES instead of corn chips.

*Ta Dah!*

I got the idea when Sandra & I went for dinner at Taco Bill a couple of months ago, (again, let's not tell the cool kids!), and I saw "Pochachoes" on the menu. I was most intrigued, but it seemed just a bit too heavy as a starter, especially with enchiladas to follow!

Finally on Friday night I satisfied my pochacho curiosity.

Oven-baked wedges... covered in grated cheese...


And on the side... sour cream, hot salsa and 1/2 a muushed up avocado.

It was really, really delicious. Pocha....choes!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

*sweet* Bird's Nests

Do you remember eating these chow mein noodle bird's nests when you were a kid? I do and they're one of my favorite things to make for Easter!

I found a recipe for them in the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. They are really, really simple, too!

Seriously, it'll take you less than an hour (unless you are going to blog about them, then it will take FOUR), assuming you have chow mein noodles, marshmallows and Easter candy on hand. And who doesn't? ;)

Bird's Nests
{adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion}

3 c. mini marshmallows
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 c. dry chow mein noodles
small candies, jelly beans, m & m's, etc.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan.

Once melted, stir in the vanilla, then the chow mein noodles.

Coat your hands liberally with shortening, (butter doesn't work as well) and have some nearby for re-coating.

{Your hands will feel so soft all day. :) Hmmm...maybe I should carry a little tub of Crisco in my purse?}

Grab a clump of noodles smaller than a tennis ball and larger than a golf ball. Form into a ball while pressed your thumbs into the middle, forming a nest.

Allow the nests to cool, then fill with with the candy of your choice....

{I used mini Robin's Egg Whoppers.}

{And maybe a mama bird, or Peep, watching over!}

OK...so while I was taking pictures, I thought..."wouldn't these be cute placecards?!?"

Of course, you can probably find a better pen than a ballpoint and cut out construction paper a little neater, but they ARE cute, aren't they?

{I used a toothpick to attach the Peep to the nest.}

---

Remember to link up your Easter goodies and crafts here. Or, just go check them out...I am blown-away with all of the CUTE ideas!!! You guys are so fun! I'm stealing ALL of your ideas next year!

Related Posts:

• Good Eggs
• Fluffy Easter Chicks
• Here Comes Peter CottonTail

Do you remember eating these chow mein noodle bird's nests when you were a kid? I do and they're one of my favorite things to make for Easter!

I found a recipe for them in the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. They are really, really simple, too!

Seriously, it'll take you less than an hour (unless you are going to blog about them, then it will take FOUR), assuming you have chow mein noodles, marshmallows and Easter candy on hand. And who doesn't? ;)

Bird's Nests
{adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion}

3 c. mini marshmallows
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 c. dry chow mein noodles
small candies, jelly beans, m & m's, etc.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan.

Once melted, stir in the vanilla, then the chow mein noodles.

Coat your hands liberally with shortening, (butter doesn't work as well) and have some nearby for re-coating.

{Your hands will feel so soft all day. :) Hmmm...maybe I should carry a little tub of Crisco in my purse?}

Grab a clump of noodles smaller than a tennis ball and larger than a golf ball. Form into a ball while pressed your thumbs into the middle, forming a nest.

Allow the nests to cool, then fill with with the candy of your choice....

{I used mini Robin's Egg Whoppers.}

{And maybe a mama bird, or Peep, watching over!}

OK...so while I was taking pictures, I thought..."wouldn't these be cute placecards?!?"

Of course, you can probably find a better pen than a ballpoint and cut out construction paper a little neater, but they ARE cute, aren't they?

{I used a toothpick to attach the Peep to the nest.}

---

Remember to link up your Easter goodies and crafts here. Or, just go check them out...I am blown-away with all of the CUTE ideas!!! You guys are so fun! I'm stealing ALL of your ideas next year!

Related Posts:

• Good Eggs
• Fluffy Easter Chicks
• Here Comes Peter CottonTail

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

It's Funnier Now That It's Over....

Ladies, it's been a long week.  It rained in Massachusetts almost the entire month of March.  We got about 15 inches of rain - not to speak of the flooding that left many of us without heat, hot water and power for days at a time & the poor folks that have had to get evacuated by the Coast Guard, National Guard or local fire/police departments.  But, it's over now and I can appreciate the resilience of New Englanders.

Below are a few quotes from Boston.com (aka Boston Globe) this week.

CITY/TOWN: Lakeville

TIME: 10:57 AM
NAME: D.Smith
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD: Lakeside Ave
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: I just saw Noah's Ark float by
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: 7 to 9 inches
DETAILS: I now live on an island-surrounded by the lakes. Hard to leave town because of the flooded streets and both Routes 18 and 140 closed. National Guard at the end of the street. These lakes are not receding any time soon.

CITY/TOWN: Burlington

TIME: 1:15 PM
NAME: Noah
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD:
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: I just saw Noah's Ark float by
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: It's just damp
DETAILS: I am launching the Ark I've built in the garage momentarily. The neighbors are coming in two by two. Unlike before, I've got no extra room for nature's creatures.

CITY/TOWN: Hingham

TIME: 9:41 PM
NAME: Captain Cook
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD: Neptune's Garden
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: I just saw Noah's Ark float by
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: 1 to 3 inches
DETAILS: Ahoy matey, launch the lifeboats and prepare to abandon ship!!! We going down by the stern!!!
CITY/TOWN: Haverhill

TIME: 9:05 PM
NAME: Huckleberry Finn
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD: Byron
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: We're soggy, but not flooded
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: Less than an inch
DETAILS: A duck just knocked on my door and asked if he could spend the night....
I saw this video today too.  This guy is a freaking genius!

Ladies, it's been a long week.  It rained in Massachusetts almost the entire month of March.  We got about 15 inches of rain - not to speak of the flooding that left many of us without heat, hot water and power for days at a time & the poor folks that have had to get evacuated by the Coast Guard, National Guard or local fire/police departments.  But, it's over now and I can appreciate the resilience of New Englanders.

Below are a few quotes from Boston.com (aka Boston Globe) this week.

CITY/TOWN: Lakeville

TIME: 10:57 AM
NAME: D.Smith
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD: Lakeside Ave
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: I just saw Noah's Ark float by
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: 7 to 9 inches
DETAILS: I now live on an island-surrounded by the lakes. Hard to leave town because of the flooded streets and both Routes 18 and 140 closed. National Guard at the end of the street. These lakes are not receding any time soon.

CITY/TOWN: Burlington

TIME: 1:15 PM
NAME: Noah
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD:
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: I just saw Noah's Ark float by
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: It's just damp
DETAILS: I am launching the Ark I've built in the garage momentarily. The neighbors are coming in two by two. Unlike before, I've got no extra room for nature's creatures.

CITY/TOWN: Hingham

TIME: 9:41 PM
NAME: Captain Cook
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD: Neptune's Garden
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: I just saw Noah's Ark float by
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: 1 to 3 inches
DETAILS: Ahoy matey, launch the lifeboats and prepare to abandon ship!!! We going down by the stern!!!
CITY/TOWN: Haverhill

TIME: 9:05 PM
NAME: Huckleberry Finn
STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD: Byron
HOW HAS YOUR STREET FARED?: We're soggy, but not flooded
IS YOUR BASEMENT FLOODED?: Less than an inch
DETAILS: A duck just knocked on my door and asked if he could spend the night....
I saw this video today too.  This guy is a freaking genius!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Hot Cross Buns

So, who hasn't done some Easter baking this year? This year I haven't had a single Easter egg, but I sure have eaten a lot of hot cross buns! In the past few weeks I've been wolfing down the Bakers' Delight choc chip ones, and we got some free no-name brand hot cross buns at work yesterday. Score!

Of course, there is nothing like HCB's fresh out of the oven, and what better time to bake your own HCB's than on the first day of a 4-day weekend? (Is there a sweeter phrase in the English language?) For some reason, last year I only made a half-batch, but this year I went all out and made 2 batches - one regular, one choc chip. Again, I stuck to the fab, classic recipe from Cookery the Australian Way.

Kneading the dough...


Kneading the chocolate dough...

Shaping the dough into buns before the 2nd proving...

Shaping the chocolate dough into buns before the 2nd proving...

Piping crosses on the dough with a flour-water mix.

Piping melted chocolate onto the buns with melted dark chocolate. (And yes I may have melted slightly too much chocolate which meant I had to eat the rest. Muahahaha. And BTW, salty pretzels dipped in melted dark chocolate are AWESOME).

As you can see, I baked the normal HCB's in a rectangular tray, and the chocolate ones in a 25cm round cake pan.

They only take 15 minutes to bake! But I gave them an extra 10 because it was a double batch and the plain HCB's weren't browning enough for my liking.
(The crosses kinda melted off, I possibly mis-measured the flour, whoops).


It's important to remember the glaze! This glaze includes water, sugar, mixed spice and gelatine, which you whisk together and boil over a high heat.


Brushing the glaze over the buns gives them an irresistible sheen.

Let's all take a moment: Ooooooh.... Aaaah...

Freshly baked hot cross buns with tea. What a fabulous afternoon treat!

I know I've been baking with yeast for a while, but every time it anything turns out that looks like proper bread I'm always surprised, and super proud of myself!

I served the fruit HCB's thickly with Lescure unsalted butter. Mmmmm yum yum.

The rest of the day has been devoted to some serious relaxing: a How I Met Your Mother marathon (Barney rules!), cracking open a bottle of pinot noir, and a big bowl of pochachoes. Wooo!

Hope y'all are having a fabulous Easter weekend!

So, who hasn't done some Easter baking this year? This year I haven't had a single Easter egg, but I sure have eaten a lot of hot cross buns! In the past few weeks I've been wolfing down the Bakers' Delight choc chip ones, and we got some free no-name brand hot cross buns at work yesterday. Score!

Of course, there is nothing like HCB's fresh out of the oven, and what better time to bake your own HCB's than on the first day of a 4-day weekend? (Is there a sweeter phrase in the English language?) For some reason, last year I only made a half-batch, but this year I went all out and made 2 batches - one regular, one choc chip. Again, I stuck to the fab, classic recipe from Cookery the Australian Way.

Kneading the dough...


Kneading the chocolate dough...

Shaping the dough into buns before the 2nd proving...

Shaping the chocolate dough into buns before the 2nd proving...

Piping crosses on the dough with a flour-water mix.

Piping melted chocolate onto the buns with melted dark chocolate. (And yes I may have melted slightly too much chocolate which meant I had to eat the rest. Muahahaha. And BTW, salty pretzels dipped in melted dark chocolate are AWESOME).

As you can see, I baked the normal HCB's in a rectangular tray, and the chocolate ones in a 25cm round cake pan.

They only take 15 minutes to bake! But I gave them an extra 10 because it was a double batch and the plain HCB's weren't browning enough for my liking.
(The crosses kinda melted off, I possibly mis-measured the flour, whoops).


It's important to remember the glaze! This glaze includes water, sugar, mixed spice and gelatine, which you whisk together and boil over a high heat.


Brushing the glaze over the buns gives them an irresistible sheen.

Let's all take a moment: Ooooooh.... Aaaah...

Freshly baked hot cross buns with tea. What a fabulous afternoon treat!

I know I've been baking with yeast for a while, but every time it anything turns out that looks like proper bread I'm always surprised, and super proud of myself!

I served the fruit HCB's thickly with Lescure unsalted butter. Mmmmm yum yum.

The rest of the day has been devoted to some serious relaxing: a How I Met Your Mother marathon (Barney rules!), cracking open a bottle of pinot noir, and a big bowl of pochachoes. Wooo!

Hope y'all are having a fabulous Easter weekend!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Spaghetti & Meatballs . . .April Fools!

Ready to dig into a big bowl of Spaghetti & Meatballs?

How about Spaghetti & Meatball cupcakes?!?

I had no intention of doing anything special for April Fools' Day this year. (Last year, I made these.)

It's Easter week and I was busy with cookie orders, excuses, excuses. Last night, kiddo says, "so, what are you doing for April Fools' Day this year?"

Well, the guilt hit me like a ton of bricks. Shouldn't I do something special? Are these the things he will (hopefully) remember 7 years from now when he's away at college (sob!)? I'm hoping the sugar will drown out memories of all of my griping & nagging.

{That and I'm Catholic, so guilt comes pretty easily for me.}

These spaghetti & meatball cupcakes come right out of the book Hello, Cupcake! They're super easy, too...especially when you use boxed cake mix and canned frosting. (Shh, don't tell.)

{Will you think less of me if I tell you that I LIKE canned frosting? No? Oh, good.}

And the parmesan, it's supposed to be grated white chocolate, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy it just for a few little sprinkles. I used grated white candy melts. :)

I wasn't sure about how I would like the sauce on the cupcakes, but it was really good with the frosting and chocolate, uh, meatball!

We dropped some off for my 3-year-old nephew who said, "Oh, spaghetti & meatballs are so GOOD for me!" Smart guy!

---

Don't forget to link up your Easter goodies and crafts here!

Related post:

• cupcakes for dinner and mashed potatoes for dessert?

I'm linking this post to TidyMom's: I'm Lovin' It!

Ready to dig into a big bowl of Spaghetti & Meatballs?

How about Spaghetti & Meatball cupcakes?!?

I had no intention of doing anything special for April Fools' Day this year. (Last year, I made these.)

It's Easter week and I was busy with cookie orders, excuses, excuses. Last night, kiddo says, "so, what are you doing for April Fools' Day this year?"

Well, the guilt hit me like a ton of bricks. Shouldn't I do something special? Are these the things he will (hopefully) remember 7 years from now when he's away at college (sob!)? I'm hoping the sugar will drown out memories of all of my griping & nagging.

{That and I'm Catholic, so guilt comes pretty easily for me.}

These spaghetti & meatball cupcakes come right out of the book Hello, Cupcake! They're super easy, too...especially when you use boxed cake mix and canned frosting. (Shh, don't tell.)

{Will you think less of me if I tell you that I LIKE canned frosting? No? Oh, good.}

And the parmesan, it's supposed to be grated white chocolate, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy it just for a few little sprinkles. I used grated white candy melts. :)

I wasn't sure about how I would like the sauce on the cupcakes, but it was really good with the frosting and chocolate, uh, meatball!

We dropped some off for my 3-year-old nephew who said, "Oh, spaghetti & meatballs are so GOOD for me!" Smart guy!

---

Don't forget to link up your Easter goodies and crafts here!

Related post:

• cupcakes for dinner and mashed potatoes for dessert?

I'm linking this post to TidyMom's: I'm Lovin' It!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Here comes Peter CottonTail . . .

....hoppin' down the bunny trail,
hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way!

I take no credit for this design; it comes straight out of last year's Williams-Sonoma catalog. (Well, their bunnies were cuter.)

They gave me an excuse to break out the sanding sugar...and I like a cookie with sanding sugar. And, really, something about SPRING just screams sanding sugar to me. You, too?

Here's how I add sanding sugar once a cookie is complete:

• Let the cookies dry overnight.

• Mix together equal amounts of meringue powder and water, just stir it together with a spoon. (I used 1/2 tsp. each here.)

• Using a small (food-only) paintbrush, brush the mixture along the edge and tail of the bunnies.

• Sprinkle on the sanding sugar. Shake off the excess. (I use a coffee filter to catch the excess and funnel it back into the container. Read more about how I set up a "sanding sugar station" here.)

That's it!

I want to see what YOU are making for Easter! Cookies, cupcakes, crafts? Link them up below!

{Please link to your blog POST URL, not just your blog main page. Thanks!}

....hoppin' down the bunny trail,
hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way!

I take no credit for this design; it comes straight out of last year's Williams-Sonoma catalog. (Well, their bunnies were cuter.)

They gave me an excuse to break out the sanding sugar...and I like a cookie with sanding sugar. And, really, something about SPRING just screams sanding sugar to me. You, too?

Here's how I add sanding sugar once a cookie is complete:

• Let the cookies dry overnight.

• Mix together equal amounts of meringue powder and water, just stir it together with a spoon. (I used 1/2 tsp. each here.)

• Using a small (food-only) paintbrush, brush the mixture along the edge and tail of the bunnies.

• Sprinkle on the sanding sugar. Shake off the excess. (I use a coffee filter to catch the excess and funnel it back into the container. Read more about how I set up a "sanding sugar station" here.)

That's it!

I want to see what YOU are making for Easter! Cookies, cupcakes, crafts? Link them up below!

{Please link to your blog POST URL, not just your blog main page. Thanks!}

reade more... Résuméabuiyad