{Cinnamon Streusel Topped Pumpkin Bread}

I'd apologize for what I'm about to talk about, but I'm not sorry, so... No.

DID YOU HEAR??????????? THERE ARE GOING TO BE NEW HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE MOVIES! GAH. SIRIUSLY. I. CAN'T. EVEN.

Practically the second it was announced, my niece posted on my timeline and asked if it was true. So, OK. I love two things about this. 1. that I've made excellent nerd minions in my nieces and child and 2. I'm like the leading authority on all things nerddom to them.


I immediately started iMessaging Darla. She wasn't responding. I was losing my mind. FINALLY she responded (her iPad wasn't making alert noises! Dumb Apple, this is ALL CAPS IMPORTANT).

Yes, her iPad's name is the Marauder's Map. Mine is the Monster Book of Monsters. What?!


Any Potter fan will know that there have been rumors, "official" news, leaks, etc all saying there would be new Potter books, etc... never true. We've gotten our hopes up only to have them dashed far too many times. This, is ALL TRUE. A series of movies (with all the screenplays being penned by good ole JK Rowling herself) starring the character Newt Scamander will be an expansion of the Wizarding World. Not techinally Harry Potter movies at all... guess what? No one cares! Wizards, witches, magic, adventure, Fantastic Beasts... and where to find them! YESSSSSSSSS.

So, we continued to freak out. Then Darla said that she was weakened by the excitement and needed a snack. I thought that was an excellent idea.

This is her snack. She posted the photo on her instagram.


My snack? Well, it was also tea. And bread. Pumpkin bread. This bread in fact, but wait.. there's MORE.

Then SHE messaged ME with news

We are going to Orlando next September. We'll be doing Disney and, of course, Potter World (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Studios). There was always speculation that the new London part of WWoHP would be done in the summer. We were PRETTY SURE that we would be in the clear and able to see it, but honestly, NOT being there in time was a huge fear. Especially for Darla who is flying back from The Netherlands to go! So, confirmation that it will open Spring 2014 when we aren't going until Fall 2014? AWE-to the-SOME.

So, anyway, back to the bread... (Finally, right? Whatever.. POTTER!!!!!!!!).


What better thing to make for Potter than pumpkin....

This gorgeous, glorious, fall scented, flavor packed bread is a creation of none other than the crazed Potter fan above, Darla.

Just look at that wonderful streusel!

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuum.

This is a quick and easy recipe. It's also quite large. It makes 3 full sized loaves.

You'll want to give two away. Otherwise you'll eat it. ALL. It's that good.

Mine are definitely finding new homes today. I really want to still fit into the seat on the Forbidden Journey next year at Potter World!

So, um.. I promise not to talk about Harry Potter for a while. It'll be a struggle for me, but I know I've had an influx of Potter posts lately (sorry, not sorry).

Well.... it most likely won't be about Potter anyway ;)

Until then...

Tina (a very, very happy Potter fan)

P.S. (See all my Potter posts here)

P.P.S. If you haven’t already,  you can ‘like’ my Facebook page here, and follow me on twitter here, and you can follow me on instagram here.

Recipe:

Cinnamon Streusel Topped Pumpkin Bread

The only variations I made were:

I didn't use the pepitas & I sprinkled the loaves with a bit of brown sugar fresh from the oven. This gave them a most excellent crunch when cooled.

{ Streusel Topped Apple Muffins }

Last night, for the first time ever, the Bean went out with a teenage driver.

Now, my friend Lori's girls have driven him home from school on occasion, but we live under 5 minutes from there. This was an 'out all evening, drive 20 miles one way' type of deal.

Eep.

I know the guy he went with. I love him, he's a totally great, responsible kid. But still...

The fact that my own kid is now old enough to get his Learners Permit freaks me out.

They went to see "Here Comes The Boom". I told them, beware the TwiHards, but they went anyway. When he got home he told me that they had to park at the Kroger store 1/4 mile away walk a very busy road in the dark. 

I'm so glad I didn't know that until he was home safe!

After that, they went to Mickey D's, got some grub then headed home.

Good news? I survived! 

Even better news?

I made muffins.

These apple muffins would be excellent for Thanksgiving morning. Something light and tasty that won't fill you up for the big day ahead.

 This recipe features apples

and streusel

yum! yum!

 

yum!

Streusel Topped Apple Muffins

adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Muffins:

 1 1/2 cups sugar (you can use 2 cups for a sweeter muffin)
2 eggs
1 cup oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

pinch of ground ginger

pinch of ground cloves
3 cups peeled, cored, diced apples (around 3 apples)

Stresuel:

 1/2 stick (4 Tablespoons) cold butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup quick oats

1/2 cup flour

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with paper liners.
Cream together sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and mix well combined. This batter is very thick. Almost a dough. Add in the diced apple. Stir well to combine.

For the stresuel:

Cut the dry ingredients into the butter with a pastry cutter or fork (or you can use a food processor), until the mixture resembles peas. 

Fill your cupcake liners almost to the top with the batter, about 3/4 full. Then sprinkle stresuel over the tops.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes (check at 20). 

The original recipe says this will make 18 muffins, but I got 24. This recipe doesn't rise much, so I could have filled my liners a little fuller to get nicely domed muffins.

Doesn't matter though, they still taste delish!

 *

So, I made it through this milestone with the Bean.

However, when HE is the one behind the wheel I will definitely need chocolate.

Sorry apples!

Tina

{ Egg In A Frame & Stories About My Mamma }

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Have I told you about my Mamma yet?

I know there are about 100 different ways to spell this word, but this is how we've always spelled it.
There's also Mama, Mamaw, Mammaw, and then the variations like MeMa, MeMaw, MawMaw.
In any case, this post is about my Grandmother. Specifically, my Mom's mother.

She's a dynamo.

In April, she will be 92 years young.

She can work circles around people 1/4 of her age. She loves to wash dishes and do laundry. She REALLY loves to organize.

No grass ever grows under her feet.

She's still very active in the community. If the church doors are open, she's there. Every summer, she works the snack station at our Vacation Bible School. She still a member of the Hospital Auxiliary as well as the American Legion Auxiliary. She goes to Card Parties at the local Grange Halls and American Legion Posts three times a month. She plays Chair Volleyball (and is dang good at it) at the Senior Center each Thursday.

She'd do anything for anyone who needed it.

Need a shirt? Because she'd give you the one off her back.

Everyone loves my Mamma!

When I grow up, I want to be just like her.

As a kid, there was nothing better than going to Mamma's house and spending the night. We'd build puzzles, go on nature walks, play dominos, walk to town (about a mile) and get ice cream, she'd tell me stories, and we'd just have the best time ever.

In the morning, she'd make me my very favorite breakfast. Egg in a Frame. Oh, and coffee. Yes, I was like 8 years old and drinking coffee. Well 1/2 milk, 1/2 coffee, and a whole lotta sugar.

Yes, my Mamma made me lattes long before they were popular here in the USA!

I just love, love, loved Egg in a Frame.

I know this is a simple recipe, and most of you have probably had it, or made it, but eating this always reminds me of sitting on the counter in her teeny, tiny kitchen, sipping my 'coffee', while she fried me up an egg in a frame.

Here's the deal.

For one Egg in a Frame you'll need:

Egg in a Frame

1 slice of bread
1 egg
butter
salt
pepper

Most any bread should work. When I was a kid, it was always white, yum. Now, it’s wheat… Still delicious though!

I've seen a lot of people plop the butter in the in the pan, Mamma did not do this. She buttered the bread on both sides.

Then, she cut a hole in the center

and popped it into a pan. I spray mine with cooking spray first.

Keep your pan no higher than Medium.

Crack the egg into the hole you made in the center. You can break your yolk, if you are the type that likes hard yolk. Me? I’m all about the runny stuff.

Liquid Gold. YUS!

Salt and Pepper to your liking.

Toast on one side until nice and brown, then flip

Cook until the other side is browned and delicious looking.

Oh! It’s not in these photos, but I did toast the little circle. My pan was too small to do it all at once.

BE SURE YOU TOAST THAT CIRCLE. It’s The Circle of Deliciousness!

In the end, what you get is a toasty, buttery, eggy dish.

For me though, I get memories on a plate.

Do you have a food that brings back memories for you?

Share with me!

One last thing, I really think you need to see this. Last Christmas my Mamma was in the play at church. She played a teenager.

Yes, I said a teenager!

Our minister's 20-something daughter put her up to it. She also made this shirt for Mamma.

To which Mamma said to me, “I’m Bieber’s biggest fan! I don’t know who that is, but I think he’s a singer or something!”.

Man, I squishy heart love that lady.

Isn’t she cute!

Tina



Shared at:
Miz Helen's
Gooseberry Patch

{ Delicious 15 Minute Dessert }

It’s the Holiday Season. That’s a news flash, in case you didn’t know.

Consider yourself warned. You are welcome.

When this time of year rolls around, life gets a little hectic. 

So, if you are hosting a Christmas party and need a quick and easy and.. well, sinfully delicious dessert, give this a try.

I first thought of this 10+ years ago. I was having a party, had done all my shopping, and then realized I had NOTHING for sweeties.

What’s a girl to do? 

*rumble through cabients*

nada. 

*rumble through freezer*

zero. 

*rumble through fridge*

zilch.

Wait, a tube of Cinnamon Rolls? But, that’s lame, right?? 

That’s for breakfast, not dessert.

Hang on, I saw vanilla ice cream in freezer.

*DING*

Sweet Baby Ray, I just had a LIGHT BULB MOMENT!

I now offer you a bowl of gooey, cinnamony deliciousness, brought to you in 15 minutes.

How’s that for a Christmas gift?

All ya need is this

A tube of Cinnamon Rolls (shh… don’t tell, but we actually prefer the store brand over Pillsbury, but this is what I bought last night).

A cinnamon/sugar mixture. 

I used about 1/4 cup sugar to 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Add to your cinnamon preference.

I also threw a bit of white sugar crystals (like for topping cookies/cupcakes/etc) in there to make it prettier.

Then, bake rolls, and immediately put into serving dishes, add a scoop (or 2!) of ice cream. 

Sprinkle your cinnamon sugar mix over the ice cream, and…

that’s it! 

Yummness.

You can also top with whipped cream.

If you want to take it a step further, add a little apple pie filling to the bowl. 

My friend, Stephanie, was with me when I purchased the cinnamon rolls last night. 

 

When I told her what I was doing with them, I think she was a bit skeptical. 

Let me just tell you, she’s a convert.

Try it sometime… you won’t be sorry.

And you'll wonder why you didn't think of this earlier!

Tina

{ Cookie Mixes... and other stuff too}

I posted this last year, but since the Christmas Season is upon us, I thought I'd throw it out there again.

Also works for bread mixes, pancake mixes* (which can make Christmas breakfast smoother), cake mixes, etc!

Good stuff.

Give 'er a try sometime.

Bagged Mixes Post

Tina

*That's for you, Margie ;)

Shared at:


Everyday Mom's Meals

{Pizza Bread}

My friend, Melissa, showed me this recipe the other day.

I knew I had to make it tonight, because my friend Stephanie is coming over to play board games. 

That's board games. Contrary to our husbands' opinions, they are NOT bored games. We are fans.

They? Not so much.

Anyway, this is a modification of the recipe by The Girl Who Ate Everything's Blooming Pizza Bread.

I'll be making this, and chocolate fondue (shown below). Yes, Imma good friend ;)

Melissa, because she is evil, told me to double the butter and garlic.

I also added powdered Ranch Dressing Mix, and instead of Italian seasoning, I used dried Italian Dressing Mix.

For cheese, I used sliced Colby Jack & then also added shredded Mozzarella. 

Oh..my..sweet...Mother Mary.

You'll want to "dice" the bread without cutting the bottom crust, so it stays intact, but is easy to pull apart.

Mix the butter and seasonings in a bowl. Stick the slices of cheese (I cut mine in 1/2 first) & pepperoni between the cuts.

 Pour the butter mix over, evenly.

Wrap in foil and bake for 15 mins. Remove foil, and bake another 10.

Then... well...

Try not to drool, but dive in.

Nosh.

Yes, please.

Tina

Pizza Bread

adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Here's the breakdown of my version:

1 unsliced round loaf sourdough bread

4 ounces Colby Jack, thinly sliced

1 Cup Shredded Mozzerella
1 (3.5 ounce) package pepperoni, halved
6 Tablespoons butter/margarine, melted
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian Dressing mix

1 teaspoon dried Ranch Dressing Mix
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
pizza/marinara sauce for dipping

Preheat oven to 350
"Dice" the bread without cutting the bottom crust, so it stays intact, but is easy to pull apart.

Mix the butter and seasonings in a bowl. Stick the slices of cheese (I cut mine in 1/2 first) & pepperoni between the cuts.  Pour the butter mix over, evenly. Wrap in foil and bake for 15 mins. Remove foil, and bake another 10.

Enjoy!

Shared on EMM's Church Supper for 9/4/11
Shared on Hugs & Cookies Wonka Wednesday for 9/14/11

{Oh My…Holy Rolls!}

So, since forever ago, I’ve been wanting to make The Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls.

Problem is, I have a family of three, and this makes seven pans. Yes, I said seven PANS. Even at my hungriest, I can’t eat that much.

No, really, I can’t.

I planned to make them at Christmas and give them as gifts. However, I used a packet of yeast and forgot to buy another until… well, last week. Actually I bought a jar, but – semantics, folks.

I wondered who I could dole all these out to. Then it hit me.

Church people.

I don’t know if you realize this, but church people are always hungry.

It’s a fact of life.

I set (sat?) about my task last night at 8pm.

By 9 pm I was crying.

Real tears.

Ok, so I wasn’t, but I like to be dramatic. I can’t help it. It’s who I is.

1. I ran out of flour.

2. these things are sticky and messy, and they looked really ugly.

3. I thought no one would ever eat them.

4. I was COVERED in flour. I mean it. I looked like the dough boy- and not just cuz I’m chubby.

5. I ran out of powdered sugar.

SERIOULSY? yes, seriously.

First crisis averted when I ran to the store to get more flour.

But when it came time to go back out for the sugar, I was not excited. 

And, um.. covered in flour, remember?

My parents live 2 houses down. They weren’t home. They gave me a key. That was their first mistake. 

So, I rumbled through their cabinets and found said sugar.

And I left this note:

I have taken your powdered sugar.

If you wish to see it alive again call 000-000-0000 when you arrive home.

They never called.

R.I.P Powdered Sugar.

Meanwhile back at the ranch….

I mean that literally, Pioneer Woman lives on a ranch. I was tweeting my frustrations when, lo and behold, PW replied to me.

Our tweeted conversation:

ME: I'm making @thepioneerwoman 's cinnamon rolls for the 1st time. Pray they come out. because if they do, they're going to church tomorrow :)

 

Me: this is not going well @thepioneerwoman 

 

PW: @DSPTina Tell me what's up! I'll walk you through it. 

 

ME: @thepioneerwoman thanks, hon, but they are rising now. i'm covered in flour and a little dogtrodden, lol. They are just small and stickeeey 

 

PW: @DSPTina Very normal! They're a total mess...but worth it. (Next time, refrigerate the dough; easier to work with!) 

 

ME: @thepioneerwoman Oh, thanks, great tip! :) 

 

ME: @thepioneerwoman did I say dogtrodden. haha.. I meant downtrodden. Or maybe I didn't. :) 
 

PW: @DSPTina I thought I had learned a new word tonight! 

 

ME: @thepioneerwoman sure, let's go with that! 

 

(this is where she becomes bored with me and goes off to brush her long red hair, or herd cattle, I know not. Ree? Ree??? Are you home? *knocks on computer screen*). 

 

ME: @thepioneerwoman BTW, the rolls went in looking a HOT stinkin mess, and came out brown and beautiful. I didn't know you had magic recipes! 

 

ME: just so you all know @thepioneerwoman 's cinnamon rolls are WORTH THE EFFORT. I may never love again after these! 

 

Anyway, I took only one preparation photo and it's from my phone, because I’m linking you to her site, and she has photos that are more tasty than her food. Or, almost.

I never planned to share it here, but what the hey- I have no pride.

This is the roll before I started slicing. FYI, my bar is 4 foot long. And this is the SECOND roll. Did I mention this recipe makes a TON?

And yes, my kitchen was a HOT MESS after.

They went in the pan looking sad and pathetic, that’s not how them came out of the oven though.

and.. the “lots” that it makes- I counted 74 rolls.

So, enough with the yapping and get on with the recipe givin’, you say?

OK, but promise me that you’ll not go off, get lost in her huge, massive, wonderful, stupendous recipe collection and never come back to my teeny corner of the interwebs, ok?

OK????????

Just remember, you promised!

The Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls**

With a whisk and a dream and a whole lotta cinnamon rolls*, Tina

*not really, those church people… they took care of ‘em!

**Oh, note #2, She says in that link to use 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups of butter each time you roll out. I only used 1/2 cup on each for 1 cup total. I apparently fail at reading directions, but I cannot imagine what it would have been like with that much butter. I don’t think I could have sliced mine!

{Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Clone }

The Bean is insane for Red Lobster.

 Since the time he could toddle, it has been his favorite place to eat.

Here’s the rub… He doesn’t go for the entrees.

No, he loves the biscuits.

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(and the cheesesticks, but that’s another story).

He loves the cheesy, garlicy flavor and the soft, chewy texture.

He’s just bonkers for them.

I don’t know if you realize this or not, but Red Lobster is not the cheapest place on the planet. We can easy spend $50 on three people.

And for us, it’s an hour away.

What’s a girl to do?

Improvise!

I scoured the net and found a lot of recipes, many starting with Bisquick. If you want that- just google.

I’m old schooling it here.

I combined several recipes and added my own touches to come up with this.

So.. alas…

The “best biscuits in the world” (at least according to my teenager):

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

biscuits

1 Cup Flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 Tablespoon sugar (or 1 Tablespoon if you like sweeter)

1/8-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

1/4 cup solid shortening (aka Crisco)

1/2 cup milk (aka moo juice)

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

(I used 1/3 cup because I was feeling sassy)

topping

2 Tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon dried parsley

Preheat oven to 425 F

In a medium mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, sugar, garlic powder, and Old Bay.

Cut in the shortening, then add milk.

After well mixed, pour in the cheese. Stir until well distributed.

Drop by large spoonfuls unto greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

For the topping melt the butter, then add the garlic and parsley.

Brush over biscuits as soon as you remove them from the oven.

Serve piping hot with soup, pasta, seafood (duh), or just about any meal!

mmm… Did I mention this is much, much, much cheaper than going to Red Lobster??

Amen.

With a whisk and a dream (and a non depleted checkbook) ~Tina

Shared at Gooseberry Patch 10/13/11