Saturday, July 27, 2013

Liebster Award answers

My friend Amy Copperman nominated me for this award, and i have to answer some questions.
Here goes.

Why do you blog?: 

 I blog because I like sharing amazing recipes with my friends and other people.

What is your favorite vegetable?: 

My favorite vegetable is the potato because i absolutely love mashed potatoes, gnocchi (amy taught me how to make this!), and a ton of other potatoey things.

What is your favorite utensil in the kitchen?: 

I'm not sure if a kitchen aid stand mixer counts. i wanted one so much i asked for target gift cards for my bat mitzvah to get one. It's green and amazing. If it doesn't count, i have whisk with a purple rubber gorilla (Jim) inside hanging onto the bars. i love him.

What's your closest grocery store?:

There's an indian grocery store down the street called Not Just Spices, but the closest real grocery store is stop & shop.

What were the last three things you cooked?:

Sugar cookies, banana chocolate chip muffins and peanut butter cookies.

Are you a baker or more of a savory cook?:

I'm a baker but i cook sometimes.

Chocolate desserts vs. fruit desserts, discuss.:

Ooh, hard. I'm a total choclaholic, but sometimes all you want is something like banana cream pie. I'd have to go with chocolate though. between smores pie, chocolate roll cake, banana chocolate chip muffins, and mint chocolate cupcakes (I could go on), chocolate just has too much going for it.

Where is your favorite place to visit?:

New York City. There is just so many amazing foods there. Last time i was there i went on a food tour of the lower east side. it was amazing. Also, there are inch-tall cupcakes that are super cute and super amazing at Baked by Melissa's there too.

If money were no object, what restaurant would you most like to try?:

Sweet Leaf Cupcake Company in Seattle, Washington.

Best Food Movie?: 

Kings of Pastry

Last meal, what would it be?:

Home-ade gnocchi with my dad's roasted brussel sprouts and garlic bread on a durum stick from Seven Stars Bakery. And Chocolate roll cake for dessert.


Thanks so much for nominating me!










Peanut Butter cookies!

I needed to bake for my counselors at camp, and one is lactose intolerant. these cookies are amazing because they are dairy free, gluten free and they only have 5 ingredients!


om nom nom :)


Really Easy peanut butter cookies

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
preheat oven to 350. grease a cookie sheet. mix everything together in a bowl. use a cookie scoop to place dough balls 1 1/12 inches apart. bake for 12 minutes. let cool. eat or store in sealed tupperware or gallon bag.


Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins!

I've been wanting to make these for my blog because all my friends are begging me to post the recipe. These muffins are seriously good; a recipe my mom clipped out of a penzey's magazine and has been making for as long as i can remember. A couple years ago, she decided to make them healthier. She has added awesome substitutions so they are dairy free and whole wheat. They taste exactly the same.

                                                           Instead of butter, we use:                                          


Sunsweet Butter/Oil Replacement (dried plum and apple preserves)

 Instead of white flour, we use:
Whole wheat flour


These things are so good!


This morning I was really lazy and I didn't feel like cleaning, so i used paper liners. you don't have to.


Yummy! I love these liners. I got them at stop & shop for $1.50 for 50! #prettypolkadots!


Side note: I'm sorry. I hate hashtags. I'll never do that again

And please never let your muffin be eaten alone.


Eat two.


Or three. :)


Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

  • 1/2 cup softened butter or 1/4 cup  sunsweet butter/oil replacement
  • 1 1/14 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups white flour or whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 large overripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 bag of chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350. Line or grease 1 1/2 muffin pans. If you are using butter use and electric mixer, if you are using sunsweet, use a bowl and a whisk/wooden spoon/spatula. cream together butter of sunweet and sugar. beat in 1 egg at a time. stir in vanilla. in a separate bowl, sift (or whisk if you're lazy like me) together flour, baking soda and cinnamon. mix into wet mixture. fold in your mashed bananas. Fold in your chocolate chips. fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full. bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick/knife comes out clean. Let cool or eat immediately. store in sealed gallon bag or tupperware. makes about 18 muffins.