Lemon Crinkle Cookies

To make these last remnants of a lollygagging winter a little brighter, you need a cookie with some spring in its step.

lemonsHow about lemon cookies?

Don’t be underwhelmed by their simplicity!

cookie

They’re sweet-tart sweethearts.  Both flavors are gentle.

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They’re assertively citrus without smacking you upside the head, and they have just enough sweetness to balance without making your teeth hurt.

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No ooey gooey chocolate peanut butter caramel marshmallow madness here.

readyInstead we have an irresistibly delicate sugar crust.  It gives way to a bright citrus center that literally melts in your mouth.  I think I’m ok with that trade, thanks.

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It doesn’t actually matter what the weather is like. Every kind of weather is cookie weather, amiright??

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Not to worry, though!  These are perfectly light enough to welcome warm sunshine (if you’re lucky enough to have that guy around!)

((Say hi for me.  Tell him to come visit.))

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Happy May!

Enjoy!

<3 Ellen

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Recipe adapted slightly from Lemon Crinkle Cookies-US Masala

1/4 cup butter, softened1/4 cup coconut oil, room temperature1 cup sugar1 large eggzest and juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla1 1/2 cup flour (MINUS 1 TABLESPOON)1 tablespoon corn starch1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon baking powderpowdered sugar for rolling

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  2. In a large bowl, cream butter, coconut oil and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add vanilla, egg, lemon zest and juice and beat until thoroughly combined
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and baking soda.  Slowly add dry ingredients to wet and stir until just combined.  The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
  5. **For best results, (and easiest handling!), chill for at least 1 hour and preferably over night!
  6. Pour some powdered sugar into a bowl.  When the dough is chilled, form approximately one inch balls of dough and roll in powdered sugar to completely coat.  Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the bottoms just barely begin to brown and the tops are just barely set.
  8. Let cool for a couple of minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to a cooling rack.  They’re very easy to handle once they’re cool so be patient!  Once cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar and store in a sealed container.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies
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Snack Attack Cookies

Buttered popcorn.

popcorn

Peanuts.

peanuts

Pretzels.

pretzels

M&Ms.

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Well gee…I like all of those things..

powerscombined

Why don’t I shove it all in a cookie?

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Crispy edges.  Chewy middles.  Sweet.  Salty.  Brilliant.

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Enjoy!

bite

Snack Attack Cookies

Base recipe from the Smitten Kitchen cookbook…I just added everything but the kitchen sink

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups popped popcorn (salted and buttered!)1/2 cup M&M candies
1/4 cup roasted peanuts1/4 cup crushed pretzels

  1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light, fluffy and smooth
  2. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well combined.  The mixture should be smooth and pale
  3. In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking soda and salt until well incorporated
  4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until a smooth dough forms and all flour is incorporated.  Fold in the M&Ms, peanut and pretzels just until evenly distributed.
  5. Fold the popped popcorn in last.  It will break down a bit as you stir.  I think it’s best if you can see some popcorn in the cookie so try not to stir too much!
  6. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
  7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  For pretty, round cookies roll 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball and place on the baking sheet with enough space between for spreading (about 2 inches).  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to brown and the middles just barely begin to set.  Do not overbake!
  8. Makes about 24 cookies

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Stuffed Sweet Potatoes-Indian Inspiration

Yesterday

snowdayz

Today

spring

Erm…happy spring?

Let it snow (or not).   I’m eatin’ good.

top

That sweet potato is overflowing because it just can’t contain the FLAVOR!

Flavor blasted, Indian inspired, sweet and spicy, creamy and crunchy, oh and HEALTHY!?  I’ll take two.

nom

This blog post brought to you by: roasting.

I can’t stop, won’t stop roasting allll of the things.

Garlic?

garlic

Bam. Roasted.

roasted2

Jalapeno?

jalapeno

Roast city.

jalroast

Chickpeas?

chickpea

Roastalicious.

RCProasted

Sweet potato?

sweetpotato

Obviously roasted.

sproasted

Cauliflower?

cauli

Yes.  The cauliflower too.

cauliroasted

Nothing is safe.

GINGER!?

ginger2

Ok…not roasted.  Just grated.

gingergroundPeas, please!  Leave them alone.  They stay fresh.

peas

Scoop the middle of your potatoes into a large bowl

peel

Get your act together

setup

Aaaaand go

readymixitreadytobroil

DO NOT leave out the crispy chickpeas!  The crunch is a must.

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I also highly recommend you stir some roasted garlic into some plain yogurt.  It’s a flavorful way to tame some of that heat.  It really made the meal.

yogurt

By the way you don’t actually have to roast all of the things.  This could be a super super quick meal.  If you microwave your sweet potatoes and saute all the filling this whole thing could be done in 20 minutes.

stuffed

A word of warning, however: never ever ever ever ever saute jalapeno seeds ever never ever.

I accidentally did that once.  I actually thought I might die.  My lungs were on FIRE and the oils in the air wouldn’t go away.  Daniel and I were crying and gasping and laughing and opening windows in the middle of winter and crying.  Learn from us.

And with that….

enjoy

Enjoy!

<3 Ellen

Indian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Recipe slightly adapted from Culinary Colleen

**NOTE: This meal could take ages (roasting each individual thing) or it could be ready in 20 minutes.  You could microwave the sweet potato, saute all the other ingredients together, mix them up, stuff the potatoes and broil.  OR you could roast each individual ingredient and it’ll take hours.  Another option is to prepare ahead of time.  Roasted garlic is a good thing to have on hand.  Sweet potatoes and jalapenos and be roasted a day or two before which leaves just quick assembly.  Choose your own adventure!

You’ll need:

3 small-medium sweet potatoes
about 1 1/2 cups chopped cauliflower florets (about 1/3 of a head)
Salt, to taste
2 teaspoons coconut oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, roasted, minced (I left all the seeds in and it was very spicy.  Remove seeds for less heat!)
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons ground cumin
small squeeze of lime juice
3/4 cup peas, (defrosted if frozen)
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 15 oz. can chickpeas

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.  Pierce your scrubbed sweet potatoes with a fork a couple of times and place on a foil lined baking sheet.  Bake until the sweet potatoes are completely soft inside and are easily pierced with a fork.  Mine took 1 hour and 10 minutes.  The time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes.  (OPTION: you could poke some holes in your potato, wrap it in a paper towel and microwave for about 4-5 minutes.  Time varies with size)
  2. While the potatoes bake, prepare the cauliflower to roast.  Roughly chop the florets and toss with a couple of teaspoons of olive oil and about a teaspoon of salt.  Spread evenly on a foil lined baking sheet.
  3. While the potatoes and other veggies roast, roughly chop and saute the onion in coconut oil until they get soft and start to brown.  Add grated ginger to the pan and cook about 1 minute. Add the coriander, cumin and garam masala, let toast for about a minute and remove from heat.
  4. When the potatoes are soft, remove from the oven and set aside to cool.  Place the prepared cauliflower in the 400 degree oven and roast until it is soft and starts to brown (about 15 minutes for me).
  5. When it is finished, remove the cauliflower from the oven, set aside to cool and place the whole jalapeno on a baking sheet.  Roast at 400 degrees until soft and slightly charred, turning at least once during cooking (about   15 minutes for me).
  6. While the jalapeno roasts, drain, rinse and thoroughly dry chickpeas.  Spray with a light coat of olive oil, sprinkle with salt and maybe some cumin if you’d like and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Roast for 15-20 minutes or until as crunchy as you want (longer=crunchier..they could be just like corn nuts).  More detailed directions for roasting chickpeas can be found here.
  7. Slice the cooled sweet potatoes in half lengthwise.  Scoop the filling out and place it in a large bowl.  Mix and mash the sweet potato with the cooked onions, spices, cooked cauliflower, peas, cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice and more salt (to taste…you’ll need it)
  8. Evenly distribute the sweet potato mixture among the empty skins, place on a baking sheet and broil until the tops just barely start to brown.
  9. Top with crispy chickpeas, more cilantro and either plain yogurt, sour cream or garlic yogurt (directions for roasting garlic here.  Mix a few roasted cloves with a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt to taste.  Amazing.)

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