Cherry Muffins

We went camping this past weekend. We cooked supper over the camp fire and swam in a lake. We even took the kids kayaking. Most of us slept in a tent with sleeping bags. My husband gave up in the middle night and slept in the truck. He said it was more comfortable. Don't worry about the children since my sister and I were the children's pillow. We both woke up a little sore. To make breakfast easy, I made cherry muffins. They were easy to transport and the kids liked them. Since cherries are in season, I thought this would perfect for our trip.

Cherry Muffins
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar plus additional for the top
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, gently toss the cherries with 1/2 cup of flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add the milk and butter to the flour mixture. Stir until just incorporated.
6. Add the two eggs and mix until just incorporated.
7. Gently fold in the cherries.
8. Evenly fill the 12 muffin tins about 3/4 full.
9. Sprinkle a little sugar over the tops of the batter. 
10. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
11. Remove from the pan and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago...........................I made Blueberry Pie Bars.

Did you already know.............
-The first known kayaks were built over 2,000 years ago by North American Indians and Eskimos.
-If kayaking in navigating waters, the U.S. Coast Guard requires life preservers and noise making devices like a whistle.
-There are tandem kayaks. (It doesn't guarantee both kayakers will paddle.)

Kohlrobi Spring Rolls

Have you ever heard of kohlrobi? It is a vegetable. I think it taste like cabbage and a turnip. I added it to my coleslaw recipe without cooking it. My husband ate it and didn't realize I had added another vegetable. My children think it looks like an alien creature or creepy claws. Since I have received several in my weekly produce, I have been trying to make new things. It does give a nice crunch to our meals. My son loved these spring rolls.

Kohlrobi Spring Rolls
1 Kohlrabi, peeled and shredded
1 carrot, shredded
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
2 cup mixed salad greens with spinach
2 cup cooked rice
8 Spring Roll Wrappers

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, place about 5 pieces of the shredded kohlabi and carrots.
2. Add 1/8 cup of the cooked chicken and 1/8 cup of the salad greens.
3. Place a plate on the counter next to the small bowl.
4. While working with only one spring roll at a time, run 1 spring roll under warm water quickly and flip it over and wet the other side.*
5. Place the spring roll onto the plate and scope 1/4 cup of rice into the middle of the wrap.
6. Place the vegetables from the bowl with the chicken on top of the rice.
7. Working quickly, fold over the top over then both sides towards the middle like an envelope. Then roll the folded sides towards you to wrap the rest of the fillings.
8. Serve immediately with a dip like this one here.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.
*Tip: Don't over saturate or the roll will become unmanageable or tear.

One year ago........................I made Blueberry Coffee Cake.

My Supergirl capturing the alien creatures.

Did you already know..........
-Kohlrabi has a tough outer skin which needs to be peeled.
-Kohlrabi can be eaten raw or cooked just like cabbage.
-Kohlrabi comes in light green or purple but the inside of both are white.

Chinese Chicken Salad

I don't want to brag or anything but it has been in the high 80s in Maine lately. I know the rest of the country have probably reached these temperatures months ago but it has been hot here. It has been too hot to cook. It has been so hot that some of us have even entered the ocean waters. Since it is hot in the house, I have not been cooking lately. Even the thought of standing in front of a stove makes me hot. However, the refrigerator is another story. The freezer and I are more than acquaintances. Salads are what we have been eating a lot of lately.

Chinese Chicken Salad
1 head of romaine lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 cup cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, shredded
1 cup snow peas
1 cup chow mein noodles
1 cup cooked chicken
1/2 cup peanut dressing (following) 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with the spinach, cabbage, carrots, and snow peas.
2. Top with the chow mein noodles and chicken.
3. Drizzle a little dressing on top and serve immediately.

Peanut Dressing:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar
1/8 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/8 cup water

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, hoisin sauce and peanut butter.
2. Add a little water until the desired consistency has been reached.

Recipe inspired by the package of China Boy Chow Mein Noodles.

One year ago...................I made Fresh Strawberry Jam.

Did you already know......
-Chinese Chicken Salads originated in America.
-Chinese Chicken Salads were popular as early as the 1930s.
-Early versions contained gelatine and whipping cream.

Monkey Tree Cake

My oldest daughter volunteered to make a cake for her friend which would have monkeys on it. My oldest daughter doesn't bake so this translated for me to help her. Now, I enjoy making cupcakes but I only make cakes for special occasions. I have never taken a cake decorating class. I really am not confident in making cakes. I agreed to help her but she had to bake the cakes. This was the first time I worked with fondant and it was fun. What do you think? Would you be happy to have a monkey tree cake?

Monkey Tree Cake
3 rectangle cakes
1 box of fondant
3 servings of this frosting

Assemble:

1. Take one rectangle cake and shape a slight curve in it. Round off the corners to make the trunk of the cake.
2. Take the two other rectangle cakes and shape into leaves. (I make a stencil out of paper so each leaf was similar in size.)
3. The remaining pieces of cake need to be placed at the top of the tree.
4. Place the leaf shape pieces shapes apart on top of the pieces of cake.
5. Take the frosting and half it.
6. Color half of the frosting green and the other half brown.
7. Take one cup of the brown frosting and add a little more brown with a drop of black to make a darker shade of brown. Set aside.
8. Frost the leaves and extra pieces of cake green for the foliage.
9. Frost the trunk of the cake brown.
10. Add a little of the darker brown in different areas of the trunk and frost only in up and down strokes. 
11. With the fondant, die pieces brown, yellow, green, and a small amount black.
12. Shape the monkeys with the brown fondant and add two pieces of the black fondant in the shape of balls for the eyes.
13. Shape the yellow pieces into bananas. Mix a tiny bit of yellow with brown fondant then add to the top of the bananas for the area the bananas are attached to each other.
14. Shape the green pieces into long strips and line the leaves for texture.
15. Any remaining green pieces shape into leaves.
16. Add the monkeys, leaves, and bananas throughout the tree.

Monkey Tree Cake created by Allie and Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago........................Tostadas with Chicken and Parsley.

Did you already know...........
-Monkeys are classified either by Old World (Africa and Asia) and New World (Americas).
-In 1949, Albert II became the first monkey to fly in space.
-Most monkeys do have a tail.

Nutella Rice Krispies Treats

I think Rice Krispies treats are one of the easiest treats to make for the kids. I probably make them a few times a year since they are a perfect dessert snack for the kids. My husband likes the peanut butter ones the best. So, I figured I would try adding Nutella but I didn't want Nutella all through it so I frosted the top of the treats with Nutella. Since I prefer my treats with a little more marshmallow, I decrease the cereal by a little. I wasn't sure how the kids would like this change but by the end of the day the majority of the treats were gone. I think that is always the best sign.

Nutella Rice Krispies Treats

3 Tbsp unsalted butter

4 cups mini marshmallows

5 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

1 cup Nutella spread

Directions:

1. Spray a 13x9 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large pan, melt the butter over low heat.
3. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
4. Fold in the cereal until well coated.
5. Spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan and press lightly.
6. On top, evenly spread the Nutella over the cereal mixture.
7. Allow to cool before serving.

Recipe adapted from Kellogg's. 

One year ago.................................I made Chocolate Cookie Cutouts.

Did you already know...................

-In 1939, Troop leader Mildred Day came up with the idea of Rice Krispies Treats while discussing a funraiser with Malitta Jensen for their Campfire Girls.

-Mildred Day was an employee of Kellogg's.

-Also, Mildred Day  used Campfire marshmallows in the recipe.