Crazy Crumbly Coffee Cakes

I got this recipe from one of my Hungry Girl cookbooks, which I might add, is the GREATEST cookbook I've ever known. She writes recipes for everything you could possibly need a meal idea for (snacks, drinks, and treats included) And if it can get any better, all of her recipes use alternative/healthier ingredients to keep our waists up to par! You can check her out on Facebook and buy a book or two: 

http://www.facebook.com/HungryGirl

Before going into the oven :)

And Wah Lah! 

Yummy. I burned my tongue because I couldnt wait for these bad boys to cool before I sunk my teeth into them. They are delicious (and only 120 calories each)!

For the cake:

2 cups yellow cake mix

3/4 cup fat-free sour cream

1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute 

(its egg whites that come in a milk carton)

1/4 cup sugar free hazelnut syrup

1 tsp. cinnamon

For the crumb topping:

1 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original)

2 tbsp + 2 tsp fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tbsp. + 2 tsp applesauce

2 tbsp. Splenda

2 tsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the cake. Stir out as many of the lumps as you can. Line 12 cupcake muffin pan or spray them with nonstick. Evenly distribute the cake mixture.

To make the crumb topping, grind the Fiber One in a food processor or blender into a bread crumb consistency (we have a magic bullet at the house.. so thats what I used!) Transfer the crumbs to a mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, stirring with a fork. 

Evenly top each cupcake with the crumb mixture using your fingers.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and your yummy cupcakes are ready to eat (after a few minutes of cooling..which I was too impatient wait for!)

 Hope everyone has a great week this week. 

Do something special for someone

"I'll huff.. and I'll PUFF.."

Pepperoni Pizza PUFFS

(or any type of pizza.. let your creativity shine!)

3/4 cup flour

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 cup milk (I use skim)

1 egg, lightly beaten

4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

4 oz. pepperoni, diced (about 1 cup)

1/2 cup pizza sauce

2 Tbsp. fresh basil

Preheat oven to 375^o.  Grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan.  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and oregano; whisk in the milk and egg.  Stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.

Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups.  Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

Warm the pizza sauce, then stir in 1 tablespoon basil.  Sprinkle the puffs with the remaining 1 tablespoon basil.  Serve the puffs with the pizza sauce for dipping.

These are perfect little snack poppers (or puffers.. haha) or theyre a great party food.

ENJOY!

Monday Madness

Yet another Monday... but on a better note, 2 weeks until SPRING BREAK!! Can I get a whoop whoop?? WHOOP WHOOP! This spring break I am doing something SO fun.. studying. Nursing school really consumes your entire life, which I'm just now figuring out. First round of test were uh... "rough" I guess is the appropriate adjective. Now that I know how to study I hopefully will conquer the next ones a little better.

I got to spend the entire weekend with my favorite 4 legged baby. Mom and Dad headed to Austin for a couple days, which gave Cobe and I some quality hang out time. I never realize how much I miss him until I see his furry face. He is the greatest!! If any of y'all don't have a dog.. get one. 

Not a cat, get a dog! :)

I feel like we all have our doubts and fears in life. Last night- this verse practically fell into my lap. 

“Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray." Phil 4:6

I hope this brings everyone the encouragement it brought me!

Anyone who has been to my house or know me at all can tell you about my obsession with Nutella (and marshmallows!). The bad for you, chocolately, gooey, delicious, closest thing to heaven  jar has me sticking my spoon it in all day!  If  you're anything like me, this recipe will have you on the edge of your seat! I haven't got the chance to make it yet, but this week it'll be in the works!

Nutella-Mallow Pillow Pockets

You will need:

1 package puff pastry, 2 pastry sheets thawed
1 Cup Nutella spread 
(I'll probably use 2 cups.. I love it THAT much)
1 Cup mini marshmallows
Egg white wash
(1 egg white whisked with 1 Tbs water)
Powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Cut each square of pastry into 4 equal size pieces. 
Spread a couple tablespoons of Nutella spread onto the center of each pastry leaving 1/2 inch border around edges.  Top each with about 12-15 mini marshmallows and fold over to form a little triangle.  Crimp edges firmly with the tines of a fork.  Brush with egg white wash then sprinkle with granulated sugar.  Bake for 22-25 minutes or until pastry just turns golden.  Remove and let cool for 5 minutes, sprinkle with powdered sugar then dig in!

Makes 8 pockets

Ponder.

Blessings come in all different ways and disguises. Sometimes its the small child that smiles and waves at the grocery store or the short encouraging emails from friends. God's timing is perfect and planned, whether we see it now or later. What has blessed you today?

Monkey See, Monkey Do.

Banana Bread Muffins!

(iPhones take pretty decent pictures, huh?)

3 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar (I used spelnda!)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

Small pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups flour (I used whole wheat flour)

No need for a mixer for this recipe. 

Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

With a spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. 

Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. 

Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. 

Add the flour last, mix. 

Pour mixture into a sprayed muffin pan (12 muffins). 

*I sprinkled some chocolate chips on top of mine at this point.*

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan.

Go bananas!

70 to 17 in 24 hours!

Ok.. hello crazy Texas weather! Friends were laying out on Sunday, and the next thing you know- Monday night the grounds are covered in ice and we didn't have school the entire week. THE ENTIRE WEEK! Thats 4 ice days, people. Its insane (even though I am enjoying the down time) but this never ever happens in Texas, at least in all 21 yrs of my life. 

Soo.. with 96 hours of unplanned down time- Cabin Fever set it. Caley, my awesome room mate, and I cooked every night, snuggled on the couch, did minimal homework, and managed to watch Titanic 3 times. We finally went outside today to study at the nursing school, and had a little fun in the snow with some other friends!

This ADORABLE puppy (well full-grown dog, but hes smaller than Cobe- so I call him a puppy) is our neighbors dog. His name is Gus Gus. We invited him out to play in the snow today, and his willing owner let us borrow him for an hour or so. Isn't he cute?

I love his coloring. I will have to take all of my loving and missing of Cobe out on this dog. Prepare yourself, Gus! 

Speaking of Cobe- here was his first snow day last year! Wow- he has grown so much since then!

Caley and I threw together a yummy dinner last night. Chicken, onion, bell pepper, and cream of chicken soup. Throw it all together in a baking dish and pop it in the oven, 375 for 45 minutes and you've got yourself a meal! (We made some rice as a side) Delicioso! 

Our rice exploded in the microwave.. guess thats what we get for going the easy route haha. 

We didn't get a chance to make this dessert- but its on the 'to do' list!

3 Minute Microwave Fudge

Here's the recipe:
2 packages (11.5 or 12 oz package) of choc chips (1 milk chocolate, 1 dark or semi sweet chocolate)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14oz)
3 tables spoons of butter

Combine all three ingredients in a microwaveable bowl.
Microwave on high for 3 minutes.
Stir everything up.

Pour into a 9 by 13 pan (for thinner fudge) or a 9 by 9 pan (for thicker)

Enjoy making your jeans tighter ;)