Foodie Fun: Choco-Banana Muffins for Brunch

I woke up to a late start, per usual. But really, can you blame me? It is summer after all.

Last night I felt inclined to bake something because I had two ripe bananas at my disposal and I had also spent most of my evening using power-tools. I needed to balance things out.

The recipe comes from The Frugal Foodie Cookbook by Alanna Kaufman and Alex Small.

Here's the recipe, with a few of my changes:

Banana-Chocolate Muffins (serves 12)

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 1/4 cups skim milk (I used vanilla almond milk)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I also used almond extract)

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup dark chocolate, very finely chopped (I used chips instead)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

1 very ripe banana, mashed

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tin with 12 paper liners. Combine oats, milk, and vanilla in a bowl; let oats soak. In the meantime, in a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Use fork to run through mixture and break up any clumps of sugar or flour. Stir in chocolate. To the oats mixture add eggs and butter. Add oat mixture and banana to large bowl; mix until just combined. Spoon batter into muffin tin; bake 18-20 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks for several minutes and serve (with cuties and a glass of vanilla almond milk)!

An excellent way to start off the day.

Until next time, ♥.

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Brain Food! Donaghey Scholars Bake Sale

Mediocre baking skills and minimal artistic talent were implemented for the semester's bake sale.

We have one each semester, the profit used towards upcoming projects, like last year's smARTS Benefit.

 I made a new dinky poster last night and baked up a messy storm.

The mess is fitting, considering there was apparently a mini-earthquake in the vicinity?

 I admit, I ate one of those cupcakes. (And a brownie.)

I was going to wait until I was back in my apartment in case the icing turned my teeth blue...

instead I ended up scarfing it down right at the bake sale table! SO good.

And! It's for a good cause. My teeth weren't even blue! 

Or so I was told...my source does seem to have a vendetta against me.

A playful vendetta, but a vendetta nonetheless.

 Flan! Looking back, I really regret not eating a slice.

It looks so yummy!

 I opted not to photograph my own cookies because they turned out incredibly wonky.

However, despite looking funny...they were still yummy! 

My only guess is the dough wasn't cold enough before baking? 

I will test my hypothesis tonight!

Bake Sales are my absolute favorite. 

I have a major sweet tooth and I love helping out a good cause!

Who says you can't have the best of both worlds?

Until next time, ♥.

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Foodie Fun: CHILE NIGHT

  [Warning: This post is laden with various appetizing photographs!]

I got together last night with a couple of my fellow Scholars for a classic dinner of Chilean goodness.

This entails the staples of Completos and Leche con Platano.

Completos are a jam-packed Chilean version of the average American hot dog. 

Leche con Platano is a typical Chilean dairy beverage fit for your favorite fun-loving primate!

Above you will see just some of the ingredients for a completo: avocados and tomatoes.

  The closest thing to the perfect bun sits atop a stack of wimpy hot dog buns.

 Beef franks! Prepared by my fellow Chilean Scholar.

Three bowls with mashed avocados, diced tomatoes, and sauerkraut.

The avocados have been mashed with some olive oil, salt, and lemon juice.

The diced tomatoes have lemon juice and salt.

Another fellow Scholar adding additional condiments.

"Practice safe eating, always use a condiment."

 A completed Completo! Ready to eat.

YUM! 

After taking this photo, I mentioned putting it on my blog.

Response: "Whoa, I've never been on a blog before."

All gone! In all, I had three. Terrible, yet so good!

However, we did have typical Chilean party music playing...

So I should have managed to burn off at least one of the completos, right?

Until next time, ♥.

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Foodie Fun: White-Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

The dried cranberries soaking in a bath of egg and 'nilla extract.

 So, I realize that the foods I post have been limited to cookies.

I also realize that you may be under the false impression that I subsist on cookies alone.

However, this is not the case...but, I do love me some cookies!

These are no exception.

You can find the original recipe for White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal cookies 

at Good Eats 'n' Sweet Treats.

 Mainly, I wanted an excuse to whip out my new mixer that I got for Christmas.

Though, I do not recommend trying new appliances and making dough an hour before your next class. 

Inevitably, you will either be really late or really out of breath.

My inner-dork compelled me to walk extra fast, arriving two minutes early.

 Hurrah! for new appliances that help make things a tad bit easier than normal.

 I altered the recipe some by throwing in coconut flakes and honey-roasted almonds.

Here they are just hanging out in my oven...making the whole apartment smell oh-so yummy!

Ta-da! The finished product. Let me tell you, they are NOMMY!

I think The Boy and I may concoct a quiche later...or maybe a Canela shake.

 I haven't decided yet. Either way, I'll try and remember to document it.

I would hate for you to think I eat cookies all of the time!

Until next time, ♥.

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Foodie Fun: Chocolate Nutella Cookies

 So, these cookies are probably the best thing ever invented.

They're a big hit with everyone and absolutely perfect if your lookin' to charm someone.

OM NOM NOM.

 This recipe for Chocolate Nutella Cookies can be found at Simplyrecipes.com.

I like to throw in the jumbo chocolate chips and the smaller ones.

I also add almond extract, but I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but it sure smells yummy!

I can easily give myself diabeeeetus with these. Seriously.

They are to die for!

Until next time, ♥.

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Foodie Fun: Banana Cookies

 I admit, it doesn't look so appetizing at first...

(But the dough is especially yummy!)

Find this recipe for banana cookies at simplyrecipes.com

 Herro, sticky blobs o' banana goodness!

 Gettin' toasty! Banana smells begin to fill the air.

Puffy, fluffy banana pillows...I mean, cookies!

These are super delicious, ripe 'naners are no longer confined to becoming Banana Bread.

Om nom nom!

Until next time, ♥.

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Foodie Fun: Pumpkin Cookies

 For my contribution to the Turkey Day grubbin', I decided to bake some cookies.

I turned to Simply Recipes and found this recipe for Pumpkin Cookies.

I decided to top them off with some cream cheese icing.

Needless to say, they are incredibly delicious.

OM NOM NOM.

Until next time, ♥.

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This Ain't Digiorno.

I love love love buying premade personal pizza crusts.

I don't eat them regularly, but there's just something special in throwing together this delectable nonsense.

This particular pizza features:

Hawaiian-Style Barbecue Sauce instead of the usual pizza sauce,

a base sprinkling of shredded cheese,

strips of chicken breast (lovingly precooked by mi madre),

a heaping helping of baby spinach leaves,

pieces of fresh pineapple to accent the sauce,

and another sprinkling of cheese to top it all off.

Seriously NOM. 

I nommed so hard.

Om nom nom.

Until next time, ♥. 

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CoOoOokies.

Chocolate Hazelnut Oatmeal Cookies from Frame>by>Frame Baking.

Can you tell that I buy my groceries from Kroger? Generic brands, for the win!

The day my shopping ban was lifted, I forced my lil' sister to go with me to TJ Maxx.

 Why TJ Maxx? I don't know, I just wanted to take a look around. 

Anyways, I found this cookbook for only a dollar!

The pages are filled with the most delicious-looking food pornography! 

I am such a fatty.

I was invited to a potluck for the declared Art History majors,

(Though I am undeclared. No pressure, right?)

and figured that I could follow one of the recipes easily enough. 

This particular recipe called for minimal ingredients and sounded pretty darn appetizing.

Here I am, not exactly sure how to begin. 

Oh, and the best part? One of my roommates walked in as the timer was going off.

 We had a good laugh after I explained myself. 

Note to self: Find someone with a good eye that likes me enough to snap my photographs.

Aren't the pictures great?

The mixture of goodness, ready to be balled up and placed in the oven.

Cookies, post-baking. 

I had some difficulties removing them from the cookie sheet. 

I think I ended up eating what was left on the pan. 

Again, I am such a fatty, but in my defense...

I needed to determine that they were edible...

which they were, especially with a glass of milk.

Cookies! Placed on a plate and ready to be devoured by my fellow pot-luckers.

Until next time, ♥.

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Spanish Noms

Okay. I have a confession to make. I love food. Spain has not disappointed me food-wise. I haven't eaten out much here, simple because I get 3 meals a day where I'm staying and I'd rather spend the money on something else (like clothes, durr!). But, there have been occasions where I've met up with friends to grab a coffee...or some sweets...or ice cream...or even McDonald's. Call me fat, I don't mind, but prepare to drool.

This is a cafe cortado. It is served in the tiniest of cups. Too precious! It is straight coffee with a splash of cream. The perfect pick-me-up after severe jet-lag.

You know, I'm not exactly sure what this is...I just see mariscos (shellfish) which are my favorite. I should've tried it, but instead I had the nastiest cup of wine known to man.

Most bars will give you free tapas to eat with your drink (or, this case, your disgusting wine). Tapas are like little snack sandwiches and I'm pretty sure there are a million variations. This particular tapa wasn't that great...but then again, it could've been the taste of the disgusting wine lingering on my taste-buds.

In case you were wondering, this is what Mickey D's looks like in Spain. They have special buns! This burger is called the California Grill. I kept seeing commercials for it and my Swedish friend convinced us to have dinner with her on her last day in Spain. It was delicious. It was expensive. It made me sick. My tummy can't really handle fast-food. Oh well, no more Spanish Mickey D's for me! (Or ever for that matter)

This was some cappuccino frappe drink from a Spanish chain restaurant. That is an entire waffle cone in my drink and loads of whipped cream. Oh, the calories! At least I do loads of walking here, no worries!

We finally found a place that sold churros con chocolate after breakfast time. Now, these are different from the Mexican Churros. It's basically just fried sweet dough with a coffee cup filled with straight chocolate. I liked it, however, I like Mexican churros much better! I also had a granizado de fresa, basically grainy strawberries...a slushie, quite different from what you'd find here in the states. I have no idea how one would get the ice so finely grained. It complemented my churros nicely.

Something I purchased for myself. I hope to recreate some of the many delicious dishes once I get home. This one is specifically geared towards students, "Facil, barata, y deliciosa:" Three words I like to hear when it comes to food (easy, cheap, and delicious). I'm sold!

For Your Viewing Pleasure: Straight Nineties, Yo

Something about this feels so nineties. It may be the denim jacket. Or the floral. Or the polka dots.

->Child's Denim Jacket, Thrifted

->Floral Bodysuit, Thrifted

->Polka-Dot Skirt, ZARA

->Cognac Leather Strappy Sandals, Mary Paz

->Dorky Sunnies, Ale-Hop

->Locket, Thrifted

Until next time! ♥

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