Carrot cake is one of the most satisfying desserts out there! It's also lighter than most cakes since there's no butter and not too much sugar. I'm not saying it's healthy, but it sure is a great way to get your kids to eat some carrots ;-) Pair this cake with the homemade cream cheese frosting, and you'll have one special treat!
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 1/2 Cups Grated Carrot
- 1/2 Cup of Walnuts, chopped
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
Directions:
1. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
2. Grate your carrots, or you can cheat like I always do and buy them pre-grated. I mean, really, who wants to grate carrots all day long when they're already done it for you? I place the grated carrots on my cutting board and run my knife through them a bit more. It makes smaller bits of carrot, which our family prefers. Set aside your carrots.
3. In a separate bowl, combine your sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Slowly begin combining your wet and dry ingredients, blending well. Measure out your walnuts and toss them and the carrots into the mixture. Mix well, folding in the carrots and nuts.
5. Grab your cake pan and spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking later. If you don't have cooking spray, butter and flour will work well here too. Spread your cake batter into your pan. Place in a 325 degree oven for about 32 minutes.
6. Remove your cake and allow to cool until you're ready to frost it.
Now, onto the frosting........
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. Cream Cheese at room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons Butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Powdered Sugar (taste for the right amount!)
- Milk if needed
Directions:
1. Combine butter, vanilla and cream cheese until fluffy and light.
2. Gradually add in sugar, beating until fluffy. Taste to see if any more sugar is needed.
3. If your frosting gets too tight, you can loosen it with a drop of milk. I did not require any this time.
4. Use frosting to frost your carrot cake!
Once your carrot cake is frosted, top it with some sprinkling of the leftover walnuts.
Here's the final product.....
So moist, so flavorful, and you don't even have to feel guilty about eating a nice slice of it! Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Vanilla Pound Cake
Nothing satisfies like carbs and sweets! And in a pound cake, you really have the best of both worlds! This was tasty, yet still light enough. Pairing it with fruit takes it over the top!
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon of Nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 2 sticks of butter, softened
- 1 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 6 teaspoons Vanilla
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
2. Whisk together Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, soften butter (if you need to, you can use the microwave, but don't melt it completely!) and pour in sugar. Beat together until fluffy.
4. Crack your eggs in a separate bowl. Begin adding eggs to your wet mixture, one at a time, making sure they blend in completely before adding another egg.
5. Add in half of your dry mixture to your wet. Mix well. Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the wet and add in your Vanilla. Mix well until all is combined.
6. Grab your loaf pan and spray with either cooking spray or butter/flour your pan to prevent the cake from sticking.
7. Bake 60 to 65 minutes until golden and a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
8. Allow the pound cake to cool for about 20 minutes before removing. Remove the cake by tipping the loaf pan upside and gently allowing it to slide out. Place pound cake on cutting board and slice.
Here's the final product....
So delicious and pretty! I served mine with some frozen fruit that I defrosted in the microwave that gave off a sweet sauce that the pound cake just soaked right up! It was sweet, savory, and tart (thanks to the fruit!) all at once and made for a perfect dessert! Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon of Nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 2 sticks of butter, softened
- 1 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 6 teaspoons Vanilla
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
2. Whisk together Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, soften butter (if you need to, you can use the microwave, but don't melt it completely!) and pour in sugar. Beat together until fluffy.
4. Crack your eggs in a separate bowl. Begin adding eggs to your wet mixture, one at a time, making sure they blend in completely before adding another egg.
5. Add in half of your dry mixture to your wet. Mix well. Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the wet and add in your Vanilla. Mix well until all is combined.
6. Grab your loaf pan and spray with either cooking spray or butter/flour your pan to prevent the cake from sticking.
7. Bake 60 to 65 minutes until golden and a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
8. Allow the pound cake to cool for about 20 minutes before removing. Remove the cake by tipping the loaf pan upside and gently allowing it to slide out. Place pound cake on cutting board and slice.
Here's the final product....
So delicious and pretty! I served mine with some frozen fruit that I defrosted in the microwave that gave off a sweet sauce that the pound cake just soaked right up! It was sweet, savory, and tart (thanks to the fruit!) all at once and made for a perfect dessert! Enjoy!
Meal Plan Monday 7/30 thru 8/5
Another week, another meal plan! Let us hope that we can stick to this one a bit better than the last two weeks.....
MONDAY
- Leftovers
TUESDAY
- Chicken Wraps
- Side Salad
- Kettle Chips
WEDNESDAY
- Fried Fish Fillets
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Brussel Sprouts
- Side Salad
THURSDAY
- Leftovers
FRIDAY
*I'm working late so it's whatever my husband tosses together*
SATURDAY
*We're working late so the kids will eat at my parents...we'll pick something up for us*
SUNDAY
- Spaghetti with Semi-Homeade Meat sauce
- French Bread w/garlic butter
- Salad
- Dessert...not sure what yet!
MONDAY
- Leftovers
TUESDAY
- Chicken Wraps
- Side Salad
- Kettle Chips
WEDNESDAY
- Fried Fish Fillets
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Brussel Sprouts
- Side Salad
THURSDAY
- Leftovers
FRIDAY
*I'm working late so it's whatever my husband tosses together*
SATURDAY
*We're working late so the kids will eat at my parents...we'll pick something up for us*
SUNDAY
- Spaghetti with Semi-Homeade Meat sauce
- French Bread w/garlic butter
- Salad
- Dessert...not sure what yet!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
3 Bean Salad
A 3 Bean Salad is a classic picnic dish. It's just like a potato salad or macaroni salad, but with beans. It holds up well to the heat and can last a bit in your fridge as well. It goes perfectly with some BBQ chicken or some burgers and dogs on the grill! Mine wavers a bit from the "traditional" 3 Bean Salad because like everything, I had to add some heat! ;-)
Ingredients:
- 1 can of wax beans, drained
- 1 can of green beans, drained
- 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 or 2 stalks of celery, finely minced
- 1 medium onion, finely minced
- 1 small jalapeno, finely minced and seeded (optional)
- 1/2 Cup of Vegetable or Olive Oil
- 3/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- Salt and Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, and Parsley to taste
Directions:
1. Drain your beans (making sure to rinse your kidney beans!) and toss into a large bowl.
2. Chop your celery, your onion, and your jalapeno. Toss those into the bowl as well.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together your oil, sugar, vinegar, and seasoning. Whisk well until all of the sugar has dissolved.
4. Pour the sauce over the beans and veggies and mix well with a spoon. Refrigerate for AT LEAST 1 hour before serving, but it's even better if it's left overnight!
Here's the final product....
Turns out, I'm the only one in my family who likes 3 Bean Salad, lol. The others aren't too keen on beans. But that isn't going to stop me from making this dish again, because lemme tell you...it's SOOO good and absolutely perfect on a hot day! Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 can of wax beans, drained
- 1 can of green beans, drained
- 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 or 2 stalks of celery, finely minced
- 1 medium onion, finely minced
- 1 small jalapeno, finely minced and seeded (optional)
- 1/2 Cup of Vegetable or Olive Oil
- 3/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3/4 Cup Sugar
- Salt and Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, and Parsley to taste
Directions:
1. Drain your beans (making sure to rinse your kidney beans!) and toss into a large bowl.
2. Chop your celery, your onion, and your jalapeno. Toss those into the bowl as well.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together your oil, sugar, vinegar, and seasoning. Whisk well until all of the sugar has dissolved.
4. Pour the sauce over the beans and veggies and mix well with a spoon. Refrigerate for AT LEAST 1 hour before serving, but it's even better if it's left overnight!
Here's the final product....
Turns out, I'm the only one in my family who likes 3 Bean Salad, lol. The others aren't too keen on beans. But that isn't going to stop me from making this dish again, because lemme tell you...it's SOOO good and absolutely perfect on a hot day! Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Bonnie's Best Brownies
I know what you're thinking..."Wow! She really thinks a lot of herself, naming brownies after herself and all!" Well, no, that's not it. I don't necessarily think a lot of myself, but I DO think a whole lot about these brownies! They are, simply, in a word, amazing! It's my husband's favorite dessert that I make. He requests them for his birthday almost every year. So, yes, they ARE Bonnie's Best Brownies. And I hope you'll make these real soon for yourself! That way, you'll know I was RIGHT! ;-)
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 Cup Flour
- 3/4 Cup Cocoa
- 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
- 1/4 Tsp. Salt
- 1 1/2 Sticks Butter
- 1 2/3 Cup Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Water
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 Tsp. Vanilla (or imitation Vanilla....I can't afford the "real" stuff!)
- 1 bag of chocolate chips/peanut butter chips or a half a bag or walnuts; optional
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, toss in your sticks of butter. I melt mine in the microwave. It gives the same result as melting on the stove, but faster.
4. Once your butter is melted, toss in your sugar and water and stir together. The mixture will be a bit thick.
5. Add in your eggs and vanilla. Stir well, making sure all the wet ingredients are well combined.
6. Now, incorporate your dry ingredients to your wet ingredients. You can use a mixer here, but I think doing it by hand makes for a moister brownie. To each their own!
7. Once the mixture is mixed well, you will have a fugdy looking mixture. Spray your 13X9inch baking pan with some cooking spray. This is important! They will stick if you do not do this!! Spread your fudgey mixture into the pan evenly as possibly.
8. Now bake for 18-25 minutes. Mine usually run 22 minutes, but ovens vary. Remove, check your brownies by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out a bit messy, that's okay! Gooey brownies are NOT a bad thing! But, you don't want super gooey, so use your best judgement here.
9. Let cool, cut and ENJOY!
Here's the final product.....
Everyone couldn't get enough of these brownies! Also, this recipe is simple enough to let your kids get in on the fun....especially licking the spoon! ;-) Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 Cup Flour
- 3/4 Cup Cocoa
- 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
- 1/4 Tsp. Salt
- 1 1/2 Sticks Butter
- 1 2/3 Cup Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Water
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 Tsp. Vanilla (or imitation Vanilla....I can't afford the "real" stuff!)
- 1 bag of chocolate chips/peanut butter chips or a half a bag or walnuts; optional
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, toss in your sticks of butter. I melt mine in the microwave. It gives the same result as melting on the stove, but faster.
4. Once your butter is melted, toss in your sugar and water and stir together. The mixture will be a bit thick.
5. Add in your eggs and vanilla. Stir well, making sure all the wet ingredients are well combined.
6. Now, incorporate your dry ingredients to your wet ingredients. You can use a mixer here, but I think doing it by hand makes for a moister brownie. To each their own!
7. Once the mixture is mixed well, you will have a fugdy looking mixture. Spray your 13X9inch baking pan with some cooking spray. This is important! They will stick if you do not do this!! Spread your fudgey mixture into the pan evenly as possibly.
8. Now bake for 18-25 minutes. Mine usually run 22 minutes, but ovens vary. Remove, check your brownies by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out a bit messy, that's okay! Gooey brownies are NOT a bad thing! But, you don't want super gooey, so use your best judgement here.
9. Let cool, cut and ENJOY!
Here's the final product.....
Everyone couldn't get enough of these brownies! Also, this recipe is simple enough to let your kids get in on the fun....especially licking the spoon! ;-) Enjoy!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Meal Plan Monday 7/23 thru 7/29
Another week is here!
MONDAY
-Leftovers
TUESDAY
-Corn Dogs
-Mac N Cheese
-Side Salad
WEDNESDAY
*We're going to the fair!*
THURSDAY
-BBQ Chicken
-Fried Potatoes
-3 Bean Salad
-Side Salad
FRIDAY
-Daddy's Choice! (I'm working late!)
SATURDAY
Leftovers
SUNDAY
-Breakfast for dinner
**Life's been so stressful lately! Hence why the menu is really lack luster:-(
MONDAY
-Leftovers
TUESDAY
-Corn Dogs
-Mac N Cheese
-Side Salad
WEDNESDAY
*We're going to the fair!*
THURSDAY
-BBQ Chicken
-Fried Potatoes
-3 Bean Salad
-Side Salad
FRIDAY
-Daddy's Choice! (I'm working late!)
SATURDAY
Leftovers
SUNDAY
-Breakfast for dinner
**Life's been so stressful lately! Hence why the menu is really lack luster:-(
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