Archive for January, 2010
Fabulous Oatmeal-Bran Muffins
Moist, Light, Delicious & Bakes Up In 15 Minutes!
I am a big bran lover. Some of my friends associate bran as being a “necessary” dietary ingredient, but to me, bran is deliciously flavourful and it’s only a bonus that it’s healthy for me too. I found this recipe for Fabulous Oatmeal-Bran Muffins years ago on Allrecipes.com and instantly fell in love. While the original recipe is for cake, the batter can easily translate into muffins. And this dessert is easy and quick to pull together and amazingly moist and sweet when they’re done. It’s not uncommon for me to gobble up three in a row right out of the oven. Of course, I never make this recipe without adding raisins (which isn’t in the original recipe) and substituting butter for shortening. If you’re a bran lover too, you’re gonna thank me for this one! Enjoy!
FABULOUS OATMEAL-BRAN MUFFINS
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup whole bran cereal
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening (or butter)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup raisins or nuts (optional)
Pour boiling water over oats and bran cereal, and let stand 10 minutes.
Combine the remaining ingredients, and add oat mixture to them. Pour into muffin tins or to make cake, use two 8 or 9 inch pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C) for 15 minutes for muffins and 30 to 40 minutes for cake or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Easy Addictive Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
It Only Takes 15 Minutes To Prep These Amazing Cookies!
Last week my friend Melanie at work gave me her favourite cookie recipe. I think she was hoping that since I love trying new recipes, I’d make some for her. Well, she was right. I was curious to try the Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies that she had found on Allrecipes.com. Back in July I posted my favourite Oatmeal Cookie recipe, but I must admit that these cookies are fantastic as well. It’s a lighter cookie and of course the chocolate chips give it an added sweetness. Best of all, this dessert is easy and quick to make and I had all the ingredients on hand. Me and Melanie devoured these at work and I’m sure you and your friends will too. Enjoy!
CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Creamy Caramel Flan
It Only Takes 15 Minutes To Prep This Cream Cheesy Dessert!
Growing up, I refused to try flan. I assumed it had a jello-like texture which didn’t appeal to me. Then, a few years ago, I decided to try this recipe with cream cheese. I don’t know why I was being adventurous, but I’m so glad I was. This recipe for Creamy Caramel Flan from Allrecipes.com is absolutely fabulous! Not only is this dessert easy and quick, taking only 15 minutes to prepare and requiring 6 ingredients, but it’s not jello-like at all. In fact, it has a smooth, creamy texture…hence the name…and the flavour is outstanding! It tastes like a caramel cheesecake. If you’re like me and feel unsure about flan, give this recipe a try. I’m confident you’ll love it. Enjoy!
CREAMY CARAMEL FLAN
3/4 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
5 eggs
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a small, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook sugar, stirring, until golden. Pour into a 10 inch round baking dish, tilting to coat bottom and sides. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated. Beat in condensed and evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour into caramel coated pan. Line a roasting pan
with a damp kitchen towel. Place baking dish on towel, inside roasting pan, and place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven 50 to 60 minutes, until center is just set. Cool one hour on wire rack, then chill in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight. To unmold, run a knife around edges of pan and invert on a rimmed serving platter.
Low Fat Warm Chocolate Pudding
You Only Need 20 Minutes To Make This Low Fat Treat!
I have friends that are trying to lose weight this New Year, but don’t want to cut out sweet treats, so I’m happy to have found this low fat recipe for Warm Chocolate Pudding on RealAge.com. Even better, is that this dessert is both easy and quick, only taking 20 minutes to make and requiring 7 simple ingredients. I’ve always loved chocolate pudding better than any other flavour. Strangely, I’ve never had warm pudding before but I can imagine a creamy, smooth, soothing dessert for a cozy winter’s night inside. And the fact that it’s low in fat, doesn’t hurt either…just remember to skip the whipped cream on top. Enjoy!
LOW FAT WARM CHOCOLATE PUDDING
1 large egg
2 1/4 cup(s) nonfat or low-fat milk, divided
2/3 cup(s) sugar, divided
1/8 teaspoon(s) salt
2/3 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoon(s) cornstarch
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
Lightly beat egg with a fork in a medium bowl.
Combine 1 1/2 cups milk, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Whisk in the remaining 3/4 cup milk until blended. Whisk the simmering milk mixture into the cocoa mixture. Pour the mixture back into the pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and glossy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Whisk about 1 cup of the hot cocoa mixture into the beaten egg. Return the egg mixture to the pan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until steaming and thickened, about 2 minutes. (Do not boil.) Whisk in vanilla. Serve warm.
Fudgy Chocolate Pie
This Warm, Chocolaty Pie Only Requires 6 Ingredients!
Happy New Year! As many of you were probably up late last night, and may not be in the mood to bake, I wanted to share a warm, delicious recipe that will take little effort. This 6-ingredient dessert is both easy and quick, and best of all, you can eat it almost right out of the oven because it’s best served warm. It’s called Fudgy Chocolate Pie and it’s more cake-like than pie, but it is fudgy and chocolaty and has the heavenly flavour of vanilla. It’s the perfect comfort treat on a lazy day. If you’re a nut fan like I am, adding chopped walnuts and serving with vanilla ice cream will only make this dessert better. Enjoy and have a sweet and scrumptious 2010!
FUDGY CHOCOLATE PIE
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch pie plate and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, cocoa and flour. Beat in the eggs and vanilla (stir in walnuts if you desire). Pour batter into pie plate and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are firm to the touch but the middle is still soft.
Cool for 5 to 10 minutes or until the centre firms up, then serve warm.