Pudding Cookies!

Yup! Added some pudding mix to a homemade cookie recipe! Makes for some deliciously soft cookies!

It has been a while since I've really baked, the gluten-free cake doesn't count! With the holiday season upon us (first draft was published 11/2016) guess there is no time than now to get back to it! First up, pudding cookies! M&Ms were on sale at Target this past week so thought I'd make some chocolate & chocolate candy cookies.

You'll Need:
1 stick of unsalted butter
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
1/4 cup of granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup of all purpose flour 

1/4 cup of instant vanilla pudding mix (I use the natural jello one)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of M&Ms (I use dark chocolate)

1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix together the butter, sugars, egg and vanilla - beat on medium about 4 minutes until mixed and creamed together. 

Add the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt and beat on low until combined about 1 minute. 

Add the M&Ms and the chocolate chips and beat on low about 30 seconds. 

Using a large scoop or 1/4 measure cup or hands form approximately 11 - 15 mounds of dough into balls. 

Can place some additional M&Ms / chocolate chips on top for a nice top. 

Cover and place in fridge for at least 3 hours. 

Preheat oven at 350 and bake about 11 - 13 minutes. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cook a little more on the cookie sheet before taking them off to cool. You don't want the cookies to brown, once the edges have set and top is set they are done. 

Enjoy!

Some Spring / Easter Cookies

It's a simple Yellow Cake w/ Figs & Honey!

Need a simple yet delicious treat? You must try this Yellow cake with Figs and drizzled honey!

Was heading to a friends for a pumpkin carving gathering and knew the host had a preference for something gluten free, so I decided I was going to make a gluten free cake with fruit. Worked ended up being crazy that week so I wasn't sure I'd have time to make a cake from scratch... I ran to Target to see what I could find to my surprise I found Pillsbury makes a gluten free yellow cake mix - I must say I haven't been in the baking isle in quite some time so I am sure this isn't a new product. Either way, I felt in luck! Baked the cake and added the Fig and drizzled with my Farmer's Market honey and turned out delicious! Super simple, fresh and just enough sweetness!


I adjusted the instructions as I usually do not use veggie oil nor have any on hand... I suggest using applesauce!






Super simple instructions:

Pour the boxed cake mix into a bowl.
Add a 4 oz single serve of Applesauce, 3 eggs and 1 cup of water.
Mix.
Divide batter in half and pout into 2 9-inch cake pans.
Bake @ 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Place single layer baked cake on a plate.
Cut Figs in quarters and place on top of cake.
Drizzle with honey.

Enjoy!

Purple People Eater... or Purple Food Eater!?!

Do not let your eyes fool you, all the food... okay not the meat... is purple! Yes, purple!! My favorite color!

I happen to go to the farmers market the week before Easter and saw the prettiest colorful brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. My first thoughts was not to make all in one meal, I mean when do you see purple brussel sprouts?!? This was a first for me. Purple cauliflower was also new to me when I first moved to the LA area,  in Florida we've only ever been exposed to the usual white cauliflower, but here in LA there are many more. There is cauliflower that is orange in color, also there is romanesco which looks like cauliflower that is green with spikes... so cool and delicious! Anyways, I digress. 

How to cook purple veggies for an all purple, again minus the meat, meal? This is how...

Cauliflower Horseradish Mash, grilled Buttered Rosemary Carrots, and grilled Brussel Sprouts and of course some added protein dry-rub Steak!

For mash cauliflower you basically follow the same recipe you do for mashed potatoes.

You will need:

1 Head of Cauliflower
Pot filled with water or stock
Garlic
additional ~ horseradish, onions, milk/non-dairy milk

Wash and cut the cauliflower into medium sized pieces and place in water or stock to boil until tender. Once cauliflower is tender remove and drain (if used water, if used stock drain and set aside the stock) and place in blender. First blend the cauliflower until finely chopped. Next, add liquid of choice - I normally use chicken stock, you can use milk or non-dairy milk even can use some of the liquid from boiling cauliflower. Then add in seasoning: garlic, horseradish, salt & pepper, cayenne pepper, or whatever your heart desires. Top with some chopped green onions.

That is all... super simple and delicious!

Roasted Vegetables are super simple and deliciously fresh tasting as well. For this meal I placed carrots on foil and grilled them with lemon, butter and rosemary. The brussel sprouts were grilled and drizzled with olive oil and salt & pepper. Viola!

What colorful meal can I make next?

xoxo Enjoy!

It's a Holiday Boat Parade!

 It's a Holiday Boat Parade!

Arrrr!!! My Favorite!

Back in 1963, twenty of the hundred boats docked in the Marina participated in the first boat parade and today more than six thousand boats docked and many entries into the parade. This year the Holiday Boat Parade celebrated its 50th parade around the Marina. I am lucky enough to live right behind the Marina and walked over to the Parade Route. 

The celebration began around 5:55pm (strange but ok) with Fireworks, I was not at the Marina in time for the beginning :( However, I was able to hear the fireworks burst in the sky behind me. I then hurried over to the water, where the Parade was on its way. The lights, the people with cheery smiles, and the music made it such a delightful experience. I love LA for bringing in the Holidays its own way, especially with some live and bright holiday entertainment by the water! 

The Boats that are entered into the Parade are then judged and can win Best Overall, Best Sail, Best Yacht Club, Best Character, Band, Music and many more categories.  To me at a first at the Parade, all were amazing!! To view the finalist: http://www.mdrboatparade.org/home.htm. Here are some of my photos of the night: 

Hope y'all had some Holiday fun this year! xoxo

Happy Los Angeles Kind of Christmas!

I was able to spend the holiday weekend in Los Angeles, CA.

What a gorgeous Christmas Day it was! Weather 70 degrees and sunny, oh so lovely!!! No matter where you are on this holiday (or any) as long as you have Family and Friends around, it is bound to be a wonderful day!

This year, my brother and I spent the holiday together. We started this day with a fun hike, when you live in LA hiking is the thing to do besides the beach! :) I brought my brother to the Los Liones Hike, I love this hike because of the amazing Pacific Ocean Views! Also, as noted before this hike is not a crazy all day hike and can be done within hours. After the hike we headed back to our apartment to relax and play some new video games! Just Dance 3 is the game I got, I love dance offs!!!  If you have Kinect I recommend this game. It is such fun and you can play multiple players all at once, no more waiting turns. However, to warn you gentlemen some of the dances are more of the feminine sort. Makes for a good laugh though! Since, my parents and younger brothers were in Florida for the holiday we all played Kinect Live games. If you aren't familiar, basically Live allows one to play others through the internet at the same time on Xbox. My mother and I played each other in skiing and darts, FUN!

As a tradition, my family usually gets a big HoneyBaked Ham. To keep some of the tradition my brother and I did so, thanks to my amazing parents. Along with the Ham I baked some of the usual Christmas side dishes, like sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole. Yum!! For dessert I made s'mores!!! As the saying goes, merrier the more, by the end of the night we had friends who were also in-town for the holiday join us. It was definitely a different holiday celebration than the ones of my past, but it was just as special!!

Happy Christmas!!! xoxo