Chocolate Donuts Puffs

I made these up the other morning, and the kids loved them! They taste like little cake donuts without all the work of rolling them out! I liked the chocolate and cinnamon flavors together.


Chocolate Donuts Puffs

2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat 3-4 inches of oil in a frying pan. Measure the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, cocoa and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk well. Add the oil, egg and milk and mix until just mixed.

Drop batter by teaspoonfuls (to large of puffs will not cook through) into hot fat. Fry four or five at a time about 3 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

Stir together the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll warm puffs in the sugar cinnamon mixture.

A Little Sewing Project and Health Bread

I recently added some more vitamins to my daily schedule, and I take them twice a day. I couldn't get them to fit in my regular pill box so I had all these bottles on my counter all the time. I didn't like looking at them on my counter all the time either. I couldn't figure out a way to have them out where I'd remember to take them, but not have the bottles sitting around. Then I found this little organizer idea out in blogland the other day so I thought I'd make one for my pills.


They used a potholder, but I didn't want to run to the store. Lazy, huh? So I got into my fabric stash and came up with my favorite red toile fabric. I cut two squares, put iron on fabric stabilizer on one (wrong side) then sewed them together with a little loop sticking out. Then I lined up 14 snack size baggies and overlapped them a little, then sewed down the middle.


Voila! A nice little organizer! This would also be great for jewelry, or little sewing or craft projects. I might be making more of these!



I came across this recipe in my whole wheat cookbook. I love a whole wheat bread recipe that is not a lot of work with a great outcome! This bread fit the bill! It only rises once in the pan but you do need a mixer that can knead bread, it's pretty easy. It tasted good too!

Health Bread

1 can canned milk -12oz
1 cup water, warm
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup wheat germ
9 cups whole wheat flour
1 potato, cooked & mashed in its own water
2 tablespoons yeast

Cube, cook and mash the potato, saving the cooking water.

Put the milk, water, salt, molasses,sugar, eggs, honey, wheat germ and 5 cups of whole wheat flour in a bread mixer fitted with a dough hook and blend. Add hot mashed potato and potato water and knead thoroughly. Add yeast and knead once more. Add more of the flour until you have a firm dough. I did not use all the flour. Knead for 10 minutes.

While it is kneading spray 3 loaf pans with Pam. Dip hands in water and pinch off a loaf size piece of dough and put into a loaf and put in pans. Let rise until double in bulk.

Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from pans and brush with butter. Let cool on wire racks.

There's a wonderful giveaway over at Recessionista, you could win your choice of 3 purses. Don't you just love a new purse!

The winner of my contest is-

This afternoon my giveaway ended! Chauncey drew the name for me.



And the winner is -


Congratulations Kris!



To all of us that didn't win, Jesse of Jesse Janes has a great sale going on.


She has these cute snowman tile hair pins


And tile key chains. And lots of pendants to choose from.

Thank you everyone for entering my first giveaway! It was so much fun I think I'll do it again real soon!

Work For Me Wednesday, My Contest and Chocolate Buttermallow Cake

I came up with this a while back and I thought I'd share it. It's my One More Thing rule I made up! Before I leave a room I try to do One More Thing, put something away, clean something. It is making a big difference, and sometimes it leads to several more things. I kind of think of it as a game! Give it a try! Now head on over to We Are That Family and see what everyone else is up to for Work For Me Wednesday!


Don't forget to enter my contest! It ends at 3pm today!

My First Giveaway! I'm so excited! Jesse from Jesse Janes Etsy store is offering a really cute Scrabble Tile Pendant to the lucky winner in my giveaway! This little pendant is adorable! Don't ya just want it? Jesse has lots of cute pendants and key chains in her shop. So if you can't wait and want to purchase some, Jesse even has a great special going, 5 Scrabble Tile Pendants plus 5 Ball Chains for $32. These would be perfect for party gifts or favors, or Christmas presents. Remember, Christmas is coming up fast. So if you don't win you can get a still get a really good deal.

Here's the rules- don't forget to leave an email address or a way for me to contact you!

1. Visit Jesse Janes Etsy Store and leave me a comment telling me what your favorite item is -You get 1 entry

2. Become a follower of my blog, let me know in one comment - You get 5 entries

3. Make Jesse Janes Etsy Store a favorite, let me know in a comment -You get 1 entry

4. Blog about my giveaway, let me know in one comment and leave me the link to your blog - You get 5 entries

This contest will end Wednesday, November 4 at 3pm.

This is my favorite chocolate cake recipe, it always turns out well. I thought it would be fun to have a butterscotch layer and the marshmallow frosting is just like 7 minute frosting, but is super easy to make. Just make sure your mixer has no trace of oil in it. I thought this ended up being a good combination!

Chocolate Buttermallow Cake

Cake

1 3/4 cup flour (If you live at a lower altitude use 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour, you can use all white flour if you want
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk, I soured skim milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs, If you want to make it lower fat use 4 egg whites
6 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with Pam.

In a mixer measure all the dry ingredients. Cover bowl with a towel and mix. Add the other ingredients and beat on high for 3 minutes.

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Make the filling while the cake is cooling and spread on cooled cake.

Filling

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch, I know it sounds like a lot, but you want this part thick
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter

In a saucepan whisk the dry ingredients. Add the milk and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and mix in butter. Let cool and spread on cooled cake.

Marshmallow Frosting

2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
dash of salt
1/2 cup boiling warer
2 teaspoons vanilla

In a mixer put the egg whites, sugar, salt and cream of tartar, add the boiling water and beat on high for 3-5 minutes until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla and spread over filling.


There's a contest over at Seedlings!

I was given the Kreativ Blogger Award! Overnight Sticky Buns

Jacey over at One Man's Trash is My Treasure gave me an award! It is the Kreativ Blogger Award. I love the comment she gave about my blog! Here's what she said - "I never knew it was possible to gain 10 lbs just by reading a blog...but this girl makes it possible! Her blog looks so yummy I'm surprised my computer screen doesn't have bite marks in it ha ha! Go check out her yummy recipes!"

Thank you Jacey for visiting my blog and drooling! I always enjoy seeing what projects you are doing! Here's one of her projects that I can't wait to try.
On to the rules!
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each.

♥ HERE WE GO! ♥

"7 Things You Never Knew and Probably Never Even Considered Wanting To Know" about me.

1. I have this insane desire to run up mountain trails, even in the snow and rain. I've found it's my favorite way to start the day.

2. I'm a morning person. I don't like to stay up real late, I'd rather get up at 4:30 in the morning and get things done.

3. I'm like Jacey, I never watch anything that's not recorded on my DVR, I hate commercials too.

4. I just had a toenail fall off from running a marathon in August. It's o.k. though, because the new one has already grown in under it.

5. I actually like loading and unloading my dishwasher. I never use to, it's a new thing for me.

6. I lost over 200 pounds a few years ago by diet and exercise.


7. I'm afraid of heights, and things moving under my feet, like roller skates, and skateboards.

Now on to my nominee's

1. Jennie at Tuffet, my wonderfully talented daughter! Her posts make me laugh and cry. She is such a good writer! She shares wonderful recipes, crafts and her adorable kiddo's on her blog.

2. Ashley at Veater Family Adventures. She always has wonderful giveaways and I love seeing pictures of her kiddo's! They remind me of my grandkids!

3. Jan at Bobbypins Boardwalk. Jan is always sharing her great crafts and decorating.

4. Tricia at This Is Our Life At The Zoo. I love her decorating projects.

5. Lori at Wildflowers. Lori has the best pictures! I love her posts! Here's a favorite - Make Mine Chocolate.

6. Maize from Maize in Montana. Maize always has some neat projects like this one and this one.

7. Mary Beth at Cupcakes And Crinoline has some very creative projects! I can't wait to make this and this!

I found this recipe in a Country Woman's Christmas Book and decided to give it a try. I've made lots of cinnamon rolls, but I've never made sticky buns. I love this recipe, because you do all the work the day or night before, then just let them rise for 30 minutes in the morning, and bake them for 20-25 minutes. They turned out wonderful with a great gooey caramel on the bottom.



Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway, it ends tomorrow at 3pm. You can find the rules here!

There's a great contest at Just for Me and You for a gift certificate to Tabeez!

Overnight Sticky Buns

5 1/2 to 6 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup

Filling

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon cinnamon

In a mixer fitted with a bread hook, combine 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat milk, water and 3 tablespoons butter to 120-130 degrees. Add to the flour mixture. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes; beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Kneed for 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium low heat until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted. Pour into two 9x13 pans that have been greased.

For Filling

Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Punch dough down. Divide in half. Roll each half out on a floured surface to within 1/2 inch thick. Spread with 1/4 cup of melted butter and half of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll up like a jellyroll and cut with dental floss. Place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight.

Next morning, remove rolls from the refrigerator and let rise for 30-45 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees 20-25 minutes. Invert rolls onto a serving platter.

My Saturday Morning Run, Low Fat Black Bottom Muffins and 4 contests!

Don't forget to sign up for my contest, you can find the rules here.

There's another contest over at Melissa's Heart and Home.

And one more at Blue Cricket Design.

One more at Room To Inspire!

This is where we started our run, not much snow.


A little further up we found more snow.


Lots of snow and evergreen trees!


There's lots of evergreen trees once you get up high in the mountains in Utah!


And this time of year, there's more snow!


This part was really steep with about a foot of snow, we had to practically crawl up it!
This is the view from the top, Mantua.

Another view, Perry




A view from the other side, Eden


Going down the other side of the mountain.





We had to go up again when we got to Williard Peak Road. Then we had some downhill.




I found this recipe in a cookbook I got from the library. They turned out really good, but I think I'll use cupcake liners next time. You'd never know they were low fat!


Low Fat Black Bottom Cupcakes

1 cup flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon soda
3/4 cup buttermilk, I soured milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar
1/3 cup applesauce
2 egg whites, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

Filling

8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 egg whites, beaten
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin plus one large custard cup or 2 small.

Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl.

Beat the egg whites, applesauce, buttermilk and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients. Scoop muffin tins half full.

Filling

Beat all the ingredients except the chips. Fold in the chips. Put a heaping tablespoon over chocolate batter. Cover with another tablespoon of chocolate batter. Bake for 30 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes, then remove to a plate.

A Poem For You and No Peeking Beef Stew

I found this over at The Wise Old Owl and had to share it!



Ladies!!!


Remember... a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.

'A house becomes a home' when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture.'

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect - 'in case someone came over'.

Finally I realized one day that no-one came over;

they were all out living life and having fun!

NOW, when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home

They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing...how I was living life and having fun.

If you haven't figured this out yet,

....please heed this advice.

Life is short. Enjoy it!

Dust if you must .......

.....but wouldn't it be better

.....to paint a picture or write a letter,

.....bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon

.....or, plant a seed,

....ponder the difference between want and need?


Dust if you must, but there's not much time ....

.....rivers to swim and mountains to climb,

......music to hear and books to read,

.....friends to cherish and life to lead....

Dust if you must, but the world's out there

with the sun in your eyes,

the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.

This day will not come around, again.


Dust if you must , but bear in mind,

old age will come and it's not kind.

And when you go - and go you must

- you, yourself will make more dust!


It's not what you gather, but what you scatter

that tells what kind of life you have lived.


Don't forget to sign up for my first giveaway! You can find the rules here.



My mother gave me this recipe years ago and it's one of my favorite ways to make stew. You can use any vegetables you like in it. I love the way the flour turns into a nice gravy, kind of by magic, that was my addition. It never seems to lump and always turns out just right.

No Peeking Beef Stew

1 pound beef stew meat, I used a round steak cubed
3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 carrot, cubed
4 potatoes, cubed
1 onion, chopped
4 cups water
oil for frying

Whisk the flour and seasonings in a bowl. Dredge the meat and fry in batches in a dutch oven, removing to a plate when just brown. After it's all be browned, put it all into the dutch oven, add the vegetables, sprinkle the flour mixture (that you dredged the meat in) over everything, then pour the water over the whole thing. Cover and bake at 250 degrees for 5 hours. Don't peek, it will cook just fine.