A New Year Around the Corner-Top 5 Recipes from 2011

Wow, it is Thursday already, and the new year is right around the corner!  Where did 2011 go?  When I look back at 2011 there are several big moments that stick out to me.  But you will have to wait and read about those BIG moments tomorrow, because today I am sharing my top 5 all time favorite recipes (cooking moments) from 2011!  After all Happily Ever Healthy did start out as a cooking blog!

Enjoy!

I have to say I kinda enjoyed looking through some of the older cooking posts.  I am happy with where my blog has gone, lets just say the blog has improved a bit with time!  But as promised here are my top 5 recipes (in nor particular order) from 2011!

Lets start with breakfast.  A meal I use to detest but now wouldn't dream of missing!
1. Oatmeal Pancakes!
Delicious any time of the day, and even better when you add banana!

If you like a pumpkin version check out Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes
2. Pumpkin Coffee Cake
A little experiment that turned out fabulous!

Perfect for any festive brunch, or when you want something sweet!

3. BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls (Remade)

One of Marks All time Favorites... along with
Stir Fry!

4. What is a year without a little chocolate!
My Mom's Chocolate Sheet Cake!

5. And last but not least... my Tzaziki CousCous Salad!
The remake, with so much more flavor.  This was the first recipe to be featured on a website!

Well there you have it... my top 5 recipes from 2011!
Have you ever gone back and looked at where your blog started?

Friday Calls for Cookies!

On Wednesday I got an unexpected day off from work.  Along with getting some much needed relaxing/reading in I decided that I wanted to do some baking.  I made cookies and a new pumpkin muffin.  I cannot say that I was that impressed with the pumpkin muffins, they just were not that pumpkiny (is that a word)!  Anyone have a good pumpkin recipe?

But the Snickerdoodle cookies I made I took the cake.  They were crispy on the edges and soft in the middle.  Not to mention snickerdoodles leave your kitchen smelling heavenly, nothing beets the smell of fresh baked cookies and cinnamon!  Snickerdoodle cookies rank right up there with chocolate chip cookies, and of course  peanut butter cookies.  

This particular snickerdoodle recipe comes from Cooking Light, I do love Cooking Lights online archive of recipes!

Lets get baking.

What you will need:

1 3/4 Cups Flour 

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda 

1/2 Teaspoon Cream of Tarter 

1 Cup Sugar 

1/4 Cup Butter Softened

1 Tablespoon Corn Syrup 

1 Teaspoon Canilla 

1 Large Egg 

3 Tablespoons Sugar 

2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon 

Cooking Spray

Here is what you do :

Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tarter.  Stir to combine.

In a mixing bowl combine butter and sugar until well blended.  

Then add your corn syrup, egg and vanilla.  Mix well. 

Slowly add your four mixture and mix until well combined.

Now sit your cookie dough in the fridge for 10 min.

While the cookie dough is in the fridge combine 3 Tablespoons Sugar and your 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon.

After 10 minutes in the fridge pull your cookie dough out.  Roll cookie dough into 42-1 inch balls.

Roll the cookie dough balls into the sugar and cinnamon mixture. 

Once your cookie dough balls have been rolled in the cinnamon sugar, place them on a cookie sheet.

Now flatten the cookie dough balls with a water glass.

Bake the cookies for 5 minutes, and allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet!

Next step, grab a big glass of milk and enjoy a nice warm, fresh snickerdoodle cookie!

Enjoy, and Happy Friday

A bit of inspiration!

Remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

Spaghetti Pie

Hello Thursday.  

At this time tomorrow I will be heading up to the cities to catch a flight to Indy. I take off at 9:45 AM and Mark will be there to pick me up and take me back to Dayton!

I have a great recipe for you today, one that I thought would be a little tricky at first and came together way better then expected!  I should have made soup last night because oooh my gosh did Minnesota get cold!  I mean we are talking cold here people, I had on multiple layers!  Hooray for fall weather, now I just need to find my boots!  Ok, back to dinner... I made something along the lines of a spaghetti pie.  However dinner didn't start out in the direction of spaghetti pie.  I got started on sesame noodles only to find out mid recipe that I did not have all the ingredients!  Oops!  Note to self check cabinets before you start cooking!  However I think the lack of ingredients was really a blessing in disguise, because the spaghetti pie turned out to be more of a dish I was craving!

She's Home!

My sister finally made it home tonight!  And we had a wonderful dinner in the works to celebrate her birthday and gather with friends.  My sister and I are five years apart, but if you saw us you would totally think she is older!  

Sisters!

On the menu:

My Undone Caprese Salad (this turned out way better then last time!)  I omitted the Balsamic Vinegar this time!

Bruchetta:

1 Tomato, Fresh Basil, 1 Small Onion, 2 Teaspoons Olive Oil, 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Recipe to Come)

Mashed Cauliflower

Asparagus

Steak, and Fish

And for Dessert the Famous Strawberry Dumplings complete with homemade ice cream. I am going to leave you with a photo montage of the evening.  As it is very late and I am meeting Katie for an early AM run!  Think 6:15!

 The Pie Crust for Strawberry Dumplings

 Yum Strawberries

 You can tell we make Strawberry Dumplings A LOT!

Fresh From the Oven

The beginning of Bruchetta

Way better then the last undone Caprese Salad

Crispy Olive Oil Bread for Bruchetta! Easy to do cut a baguette brush each side with garlic and olive oil.  Bake in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes or until crispy and golden!

My little sister growing up!  She got a cook book and is actually cooking!

Goodnight Everyone, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!