Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup AP flour (unbleached)
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda

Combine all these ingredients in a large bowl, then add:

4 large eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 lb fresh strawberries, or 1 16oz bag frozen strawberries, pureed

Fill 24 muffin cups and bake at 350F degrees for about 20-25 min, or until toothpick comes out clean. When cooled, dip tops into Lemon Glaze (recipe below)

Lemon Glaze:

Juice 1 large lemon into a small saucepan, and add 2 cups powdered sugar.  Heat over low heat until bubbly and well combined.  Cool a bit before using.

Valentine's day morning waffles!

Happy Valentine's day!  Since the holiday fell on a weekday this year, I didn't have much time to make a big breakfast- but that didn't stop me! :) I made some red-velvety waffles quickly, courtesy of my fav go-to trader joe's multigrain baking mix!

Red Velvety Waffles:

2 cups TJ's multigrain mix
2 egg whites
1 cup vanilla soy milk (or reg milk)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp red food coloring
1/8 cup sifted cocoa

Combine above while waffle iron heats up, and let it sit for a minute or two.

Cook in waffle iron and serve with syrup, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries! Enjoy! Xoxo

Yummy hearts!

I had to snap this pic quickly before my 2-year old got at the goodies!

Pre-Valentine's Day baking!

Oh yeah, I'm gettin my BAKING on today!  I really don't need any excuse to bake, as most of you already know.  I am having fun making some Valentine's-themed goodies today :)
In the oven now, I have my standard brownies...baking in heart-shaped molds! :)  I am defrosting some Trader Joe's strawberries to make two things: heart-shaped strawberry muffins with a lemon glaze, and my strawberry cupcakes in pretty "hearts and love" cupcake wrappers.  Not sure who all of these goodies will be going to, but I am baking them anyway :) might bring some to my daughter's kindergarten party, which I am helping with tomorrow, but I don't know yet if that would be ok. When I was in school, home-baked goodies were a standard on birthdays and holidays, but they are so much more cautious now- not only because of food allergies, but because of the worry that some poor kid could get food poisoning, or something. Seriously, how did we all survive! :P
Back to baking- thinking about making a heart-shaped red-velvet cake for my husband and kids tomorrow...either that, or small chocolate heart cake filled with warm ganache.  My sweet 2-year old just ran in requesting brownies. I guess I know who is getting at least on of them :) xoxo

first post

okay, i have no idea what i am doing, so bear with me. I am up in lake geneva having a lovely weekend with my family.  not doing much of any cooking while i am here, but i am planning out the menu for my dear friend's baby shower next week. i decided what the main food and dessert would be a while ago, but i am having a hard time deciding on appetizers.  I am serving my curried chicken salad, mixed greens with blackberries, toasted walnuts, fried goat cheese, and blackberry vinegarette, and pumpkin soup for the meal.  Dessert will be a layered almond cake with blueberry-marscapone filling and vanilla buttercream topped with blueberries and slivered almonds.  for appetizers, i am thinking about making fried wonton wrappers filled with brie and pepper jam, and my go-to of endive leaves filled with boursin cheese topped with pecans......but i am not sure. i am open to suggestions, if anyone is reading :-)