Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Since school is important to us, we decided not to pull the kids from school until they were ready to transfer. So, I have been living in North Carolina for the last week alone while the family were preparing to move from Maine. This is what I've been doing since I'm alone. Yes, I've had cereal a lot lately for supper. I've been washing what few dishes I have and been using the dishwasher as my drying rack. Since I'm suppose to look professional, I've been using the counter with a towel to iron my clothes. It will be nice once the household items arrive but I'm just glad my family is here now.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins aka skeleton pieces muffins
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten 
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup applesauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 apples, peeled and chopped into small pieces
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until incorporated.
4. Add the eggs, oil, apple juice, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix until incorporated.
5. Fold in the apples.
6. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full.
7. Bake the muffins for 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
8. Remove from pan and allow to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker. 


One year ago.......................I made Pirate Cookies.
Two years ago.....................I made Alien Cupcakes.
Three years ago...................I made Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes.

Did you already know..........
-About 17% of Americans move each year.
-Married couples with children tend to be the typical Americans moving.
-Almost half the reason for people to move is job related.

Cheeseburger Soup

When it becomes colder, I like to make soups. They are easy to make besides all the chopping. The other reason is all the vegetables I add to the soup. My son was watching me and even commented how many vegetables I was adding to this soup. Good thing he likes vegetables. I asked him if we should mention it to Dad and he agreed that we better not. The thing with this recipe is my husband asked me to make a cheeseburger soup recipe years ago. The recipes I found weren't what he wanted. When I saw this recipe, I knew this must be the one he would like. It is delicious! What a great meal. I did add a kohlrabi but it was because I had one on hand. My husband said the soup tasted better the next day. Good to know.

Cheeseburger Soup aka hidden lake water
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup julienne carrots
3 celery stocks, diced
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. In a large pot, add the olive oil.
2. Add the hamburger and brown.
3. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and parsley flakes. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add the butter and allow to melt. 
5. Sprinkle the flour on top and stir. Cook for 1 minute. 
6. Stir in the chicken broth and stir well to prevent lumps.
7. Add the potatoes. 
8. Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to simmer for 2 minutes.
9. Reduce the heat to low and add the milk, salt, and pepper.
10. Stir in the cheddar cheese. Allow the cheese to melt.
11. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the sour cream. 
12. Serve warm.

Recipe adapted from The recipe critic.

One year ago........................I made Chili Mac.
Two years ago......................I made PB Cookies.
Three years ago....................I made Onion Dip.

Did you already know.........
-Woman are more likely to order soup in a restaurant than a man.
-The original Campbell soup cans were orange and blue. 
-There are 32 cans of soup in the famous Andy Warhals Campbell's Soup Cans painting.

Halloween

My favorite time of year is right now. I love Fall. I love Halloween. I love trying new foods and try to come up with some scary names. This move has really disrupted my Halloween cooking. So, I wanted to give you a list of some of the dishes we have named with some spooky names. Enjoy and cook something for me. Just maybe don't mail it to me unless you want me to be scared once I opened it.

Mummy Cake Pops
Chicken Enchiladas with scared face
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Crazy Face Sloppy Joes
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies aka Mouse Cookies
Stromboli, Mummy style
Black Forest Cherry Torte with spiders
Hamburger with pumpkin face
Alien Cupcakes
PB Cookies with Honey-Roasted Peanuts aka Spike Cookies
 Pretzel Buns with Bratwurst aka Mummy Dogs
Crab Rangoon aka Witch's pouches
Fried Sausage Dumplings aka Red Goblin Noses
Chocolate Cookies aka Funny Face Cookies
Roasted Vegetable Panini (aka Scary Claw Sandwich)
Pumpkin Juice
Pirate Cookies
Zombie Brains aka Chili Mac
Doggie Cupcakes
Snail Cookies aka Sugar Cookies
Witch Dunk Brew
Two Tone Halloween Cookies
Scary Soup aka Roasted Tomato and Pepper Soup
Grave Dirt aka Apple Crisp
Shark's Teeth aka Homemade Croutons
Meringue Ghosts
Asparagus Soup aka Swamp Alien Soup
Even Zombies would eat these biscuits
Cheese and Intestines aka Mac and Cheese

No Boil, One Pot Mac and Cheese

The kids have been asking for macaroni and cheese. So, I caved. I haven't been cooking lately so I thought this would make them happy. I decided to try this one pot mac and cheese so I would have less dishes. I would say the best part of this dish was the one pot but actually it was the creamy and cheese pasta. I used the large elbow noodles to make it appear to be scary for Halloween.

Cheese and Intestines aka Mac and Cheese
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup flour
6 cups milk
3/4 lb. large elbow noodles
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup Fontina cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to broil. 
2. In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil and butter over medium heat.
3. Once the butter has melted, add the onion. Saute for 5 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the flour on top and whisk. Cook for 1 minute.
5. Add 1 cup of milk and whisk to dissolve the lumps.
6. Add the remaining 5 cups of milk. Bring to a simmer.
7. Add the elbow noodles and stir. Cook for 6 minutes.
8. Remove the pot from the oven and stir in the cheddar and Fontina cheeses.
9. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.
10. Place in the oven and broil for 1 minute or golden on top.
11. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from Yahoo.com.

One year ago...........................I made Snail Cookies.
Two years ago.........................I made Crab Rangoon.
Three years ago.......................I made Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

Did you already know...............
-The small intestines are 20 feet long.
-The small intestines absorbs the nutrients for most of the food we eat. 
-The large intestines are 5 feet long.

Move

So, we finally found a place to live. What a relief! We will be moving in this weekend. The kids approved. The husband is happy. Soon I will be able to cook again. I do not mind eating out once in awhile but every day is just crazy. My sister will be heading down to North Carolina to help with the move. Through this move, my sister has been the greatest. She has been over to our house almost everyday to help with the prep. To get a house ready for sale is a lot especially since we have kids. Kids love to leave hand prints and yes feet prints on walls. My son feels he needs to practice climbing walls for his future career as Spider-man. The walls have been painted. Our stuff has been packed. The warmer weather will be greatly appreciated.