Cocoa Buttermilk Biscuits

When I saw this recipe of cocoa biscuits, I had to make it!
It was a very delicious breakfast with strawberry Kefir!!!

1. First I have prepared the buttermilk, by adding one teaspoon of lemon juice to one cup of milk and let it stand for 10 minutes. Since the recipe said 1 1/4 cups of buttermilk, I have used a little bit more of lemon juice.
2. Mix all the dry ingredients such as: flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda. Whisk until combined.
3. Here is the 1 stick of unsalted butter cut in cubes.
4. Drop it in the bowl with the rest of the dry ingredients. I have used my hands to brake the butter into the flour mix, until it looked like crumbles.

Drop in the buttermilk with vanilla, mix it with a spatula until just combined.

I have used the two wax sheets to roll the dough out. Less mess.

Cut the dough in the round shapes.

And here is the result.

The original recipe here had brown sugar cinnamon butter for the spread, I was out of organic butter.... so next time! You can either make the spread, very easy, or use the jam and any other available spread.

Cocoa Buttermilk Breakfast Biscuits with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Butter

makes 12-15 biscuits

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup brown sugar + 2 tablespoons

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold butter, cut into pieces

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda, and whisk until combined. Using a fork, pastry blender or your hands, add butter pieces to the flour and mix until coarse little crumbles remain. Add buttermilk and vanilla, stirring with a spoon until just combined, not overmixing. Use your hands if needed to bring the dough together.

Use  1/4 cup measure to drop batter onto a nonstick baking sheet, or press dough on a sheet of parchment paper or cutting board, then using a biscuit cutter to shape the dough into rounds. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until biscuits are set and slightly golden on the edges. 

Easter Egg Nests

Last weekend Andre helped me make these cute egg nests. The idea is similar to the rice krispy treats, but instead we have used cereal with rice noodles in it. Here are the directions, from here.

I have also came across THIS article today. It has confirmed a lot of right thoughts that I had and concerns. Motivating yourself everyday and appreciating every moment of today's day, is the Life. Sometimes I get lost in my future plans which are not even a reality yet, instead of focusing on  what can I do today to get where I want to be! :-)))

First Signs of Spring!

It is a March break for kids, and the very first week of some gorgeous sunshine, which brings fantastic weather to hang out outdoors. It feels like we were hibernating.... for some time with the nature together.

We have found today these purple flowers picking from underneath the dry leafs.

Here is the sunshine.... makes me smile! Warm us up, please!

Happy 39th Birthday to Andres! I have made Fruit Tarts to celebrate on Tuesday!

Silly monkeys, and me spending Wednesday in the park.

Home Made Bread

On Friday I was trying to make Ricotta... don't ask! It turned out to be a great butter milk, oups.... Now I have a big glass jar full of it, which is great too. Because I have made bread, called "Favorite Herb Bread". Here I have used some of that butter milk.

Ingredients
2 packages dry yeast
2 tspns sugar
4 cups bread flour, approx. (I have used 2 cups unbleached fl. and 2 cups whole wheat)
1 tspn salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup buttermilk
black pepper, flax seeds, chia seeds, mixed dried herbs (optional) ... anything.
In the electric mixer bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water using the mixing paddle. Add 2 cups of flour and the salt and oil and mix gently. Slowly add the rest of the flour alternating with the buttermilk.
Add the optional flavorings at this time, Adjust the amount of flour to produce a dough that is not sticky. Change to the dough hook and kneed  the dough for about 5 minutes.
Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover; put the bowl in a warm place to rise for about 1 1/2 hrs.
Punch down the dough and put it back into the mixer bowl to knead for another 2  mins.
Take the dough and divide it to form 4 elongated loaves. Put the loaves on a baking sheet. Let the dough rise again at room temperature for about 1 hr until it doubled in volume.
Preheat the over to 400 degrees and bake for about 30 min. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a rack.

Oatmeal Blueberry / Raspberry Muffins

I run out of butter and a lot of other things. It's snowy and windy outside, and I don't feel like going to a store or digging the car out of the snow.
Here is a muffin recipe with no butter or fat. One of these deserts, which won't make you feel bad about yourslef. Enjoy with tea!!!

Makes 12-15 muffins
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tbsp canola oil
1 large egg
3/4 cup blueberries or mixed with raspberries
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Line 12 cup muffin tin with paper cases or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine flour, oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil and egg. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in the fruit.

Bake for 16-18 mins.

Celebrating LOVE

Our Valentines celebration was all about making our bellies happy!
After the kids came back from school, I have surprised them with a home made / heart shaped cheese pizza....following by a broccoli soup (they were less surprised :-)).

After all our evening activities we enjoyed my updated recipe cupcakes with milk.

Personally I have an issue eating a cupcake icing full of butter. Here is perfect way to make it a bit more healthier.

Cream Cheese Frosting (no butter)

3 8-ounce block of cold cream cheese
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons of milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the cupcakes, I have used my previous recipe but I have reduced the amount of oil to 1 cup, instead of 1 1/2 cups.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tspn baking soda
1 tspn. kosher salt
1 tspn. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup vegetable oil (I have used canola oil)
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large organic eggs, room temperature
1 tspn. white distilled vinegar
1 tspn. vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pan with cupcake papers.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting. 

And here is Leon enjoying his huge bone. At first he didn't know where to start and now there is almost nothing left. Amazing skill! :-))))

Corn Dog Muffins

"Andre, what are those hot dogs called? The once on the stick, and you are always asking for it!", I couldn't remember...

"It is Pogo, mom!", Andre got all excited.

Last week I found this recipe that looked very similar and much healthier option, right here.
The kids liked the idea!

Besides baking, I experiment a lot with Quinoa lately, bought this organic quinoa in Costco some time ago... and I kind of like it now, it is so easy on the stomach and you can add anything to it. Plus the BENEFITS of eating this nutritious seeds!

Salad ingredient:

Tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and a feta cheese on top. 

For the dressing: 

1 tbsp. of olive oil and Balsamic vinegar with some salt and pepper.