Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

This morning I woke up with no intentions of baking. Until the idea of pumpkin snickerdoodles hit me!

 I went online and surprisingly there are no recipes for it on allrecipes.com (confused look). I found another recipe on google and it was the same I had but with pumpkin added!

Ingredients

For the cookie:

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

all spice

nutmeg

cinnamon

3/4cup softened butter

1 1/3 cup white granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

 dash of salt

For the sugar coating:

white granulated sugar

cinnamon

nutmeg

all spice

For those who know me, I never measure my spices whether in baking or cooking. Just do what you like so it tastes how YOU like it.

In a bowl, beat your pumpkin, spices, butter, sugar and eggs.

In separate bowl, mix your flour, baking powder and salt.

Now mix both and prepare your coating bowl. Roll a small spoonful of dough in your hands into a ball and then roll into the sugary sweetness. Place on cookie sheet or baking paper about 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake at 200C for 8 minutes.

Final verdict: this was my first time making these and probably could have done with more spices like cinnamon but addicting anyways! Couldn't resist test tasting each batch out of the oven! 

Ethan approved! :)

Ruffled Apron Made from Swedish Fabric!

Hello!

It has been a while but with everything going on I managed to cram in a sewing project. It was delightfully easy! It was actually my first time making an apron and I love how it turned out!

What you'll need:

1 Yard Fabric

Thread

Scissors

Pins

Cotton tape.

I ended up with loads of extra pieces. After it was finished I realised I could have done 2 aprons with 1 yard but my brain has been mush lately!

This fabric was thick and did not need ironed (which was perfect because I sold mine at a boot sale last month!)

Here is what I did:

1. I didn't have a pattern so I used another apron and cut. 

2. I cut off a wide strip off the bottom for the ruffles later on.

3. The first thing I tend to do is tidy my edges. I started with the outside seams first. Then the bottom. Pin and sew.

4. Next the waistline. I wanted it to be a bit wide and measured each side to make sure they were even. Pin and sew. Now there should be a tunnel to thread the cotton tape through later.

5. One could stop here, thread the cotton tape through and have a super simple and cute apron! But I wanted to add a pocket and some ruffles.

6. This is also the part where I realised the apron was going to be too big! So I cut it smaller. Re-did the edges on the side I cut off. Note to self: pay attention to size!! ;)

7. Okay, on to the ruffles. Because the apron is now smaller, the strip for the ruffle was perfect! (note to self for the future: add a shorter layer of lace with a very feminine fabric.)

Pin the edges, sew. 

8. Then pin the bottom hem and sew.

9. With clean edges except for the top, we are ready to make the ruffle. I simply folded it and pinned vertically.

10. Once it was all pinned, I sewed both edges down before sewing across. (Sorry for how dark this picture was! It was one of those days here in England where the sun kept peeking in and out of the clouds and I had to keep turning my lights off and on!)

Cute!

11. With ruffles done, the pocket was next! I wanted the pocket to match the fabric underneath to keep the lovely pattern of the fabric. I chose the turquoise tree.

Cut the size you want, sew the edges, then the top and then onto the apron.

Love how it turned out!

12. Last thing: cotton tape waist tie. Measure how long you'll need it to be to tie around the waist. Thread it through with a safety pin and sew it in place as close to the top as you can.

All finished!

She loved it! (Apologies again for the poor lighting!) 

Happy cooking and baking in your new apron! x

Saturday Morning Super Smoothie

Yes! Another smoothie recipe!

This one is packed with goodness.

2 Bananas

2 Kiwis

2 Peaches

A handful of frozen Strawberries

A handful of frozen Blueberries

A handful of Spinach

A few spoonfuls of Natural Greek Yogurt

Pour in some Organic Honey

Pour in some milled Flaxseeds

A sprinkle of Cinnamon

A handful of Wholegrain Almonds

Sometimes the almonds don't blend all the way, I enjoy the occasional surprise crunch!

Enjoy your weekend! x

Summer Dinner Ideas: Salmon Salad

Years ago, a friend of mine had introduced me to the "raw food diet". It is exactly what it's called. You just eat raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. 

I didn't follow it exactly but I did have salads everyday for lunch and I snacked on fruits all the time. I noticed a drastic difference in my appearance and in my energy levels. I should say that at the time I was also running and swimming almost daily. I felt so good!

I honestly don't remember why I stopped? I do remember noticing that when I ate one can of processed food a week (it was a Wednesday at work) the weight started to pack back on. One can! Anyhow,

We are trying to eat more healthy here at the Larson residence. I am trying to remember how to make those delicious salads I used to eat.

Here is a yummy combination for a Salmon salad:

Iceberg lettuce

Romaine lettuce

Packaged crunchy salad (with purple tipped lettuces)

Baby spinach leaves

Avocado

Cucumber

Peas

Tomatoes

Fresh Dill (I freeze mine and then snip it into my salads)

Baked smoked salmon (I season it with salt and pepper before baking)

Drizzle with Olive oil and some herb salt. 

This combination is also good with tuna and try to resist the mayo. It's good without it.

Not only is eating salads beneficial to our overall health, but it's also nice to not cook over the stove on a hot day and I have noticed less dishes in the sink! Perfect!

Enjoy! x

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was Axel's first birthday! 

He might have been pretty excited because he woke up at 2am and wouldn't go back to sleep! Two hours later, Ethan joined in! Poor Axel has been sick with a runny nose and irritability, but we tried to make it as enjoyable as possible!

I made this cute banner. I had seen a similar one on Pinterest.

Sorry these pictures are a bit blurry. Both boys kept pulling on my leg!

Was hoping to make frog cupcakes like these:

I got the food colouring, red decorating icing and MnMs. But mine turned out completely different.

HA!

My frosting was all wrong! It was too thin to hold anything!

Every year so far I have failed at birthday cake. On a non-occasion day they turn out good but on birthdays? Flop! I have officially learned my lesson! For birthdays, go to the store.

Here is a video on my husband's Facebook page where Axel "blows out the candle". Poor baby would  not stop crying and did not even have any of his own cupcake!

Axel got lots of cute presents! Ethan was close by to test all of them!

The biggest hit was the balloon from grandma! (wish I had taken more pictures! why do babies always have to cry for mommy???)

Update: Today Axel got his cupcake! What a funny way he is eating it! Ethan had done the same thing when he turned one!

Love you Axel! x

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Smoothies!

Are so good and good for you! Here is one of my favourite easy recipes to do:

2 bananas

2 nectarines

2 apples (peeled and cored)

a handful of strawberries

a handful of blueberries

a handful of spinach

some almond milk

Blend and drink!  

Have a lovely weekend! x

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Fresh, warm, homemade banana nut muffins is one of my favourites, smothered in butter! 

Here's my super easy fool proof recipe:

3dl plain flour

1 1/14 white sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

a sprinkle of cinnamon

2 eggs

6 TBS milk

6 TBS oil

a handful of crushed walnuts 

2-3 very ripe, blackened, mashed bananas

Mix all the dry ingredients first. Then the wet. Adding the nuts and bananas last. 

I fill the muffin cups almost to the top.

Bake on 175'C for about 15 minutes.

Wait a few minutes before taking them out and onto a cooling rack. 

Best eaten fresh with some butter alongside a well balanced breakfast. 

Enjoy! x

Homemade Chocolate Pudding Desserts

Homemade is Best!

(photo via)

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate!

I prefer cooking and baking from scratch. Simply because I like knowing exactly what I am eating. I came across this recipe when I lived in Sweden and I've altered it a bit to make it the way I like it. You need:

800ml milk (semi skimmed or whole)

1 1/2dl cornflour (cornstarch)

1dl white granulated sugar

1 egg

1dl cocoa powder

vanilla and icing sugar (powdered sugar)

In a big pot pour in the milk, then add one ingredient at a time and mix in the given order. Then turn on the stove and cook on medium/low stirring constantly until it thickens. About 10-15 minutes. Do not let it boil! Set aside to cool. 

When it is cool, add as much vanilla and powdered sugar as you want to sweeten it. I never measure. Just a splash and dash of this and that.

Variations:

Add crushed oreos and whipped cream for yummy scrummy dessert.

Add cinnamon and brownies for a treat that is sweet.

Add cake, mousse, and whipped cream for a lovely layered trifle- I add oreos too!

Or just plain with some whipped cream is a dish that is delish!

Enjoy x