Chocolate Frosted Donuts

Donuts have always been hands down one of my favorite foods. I love them so much in fact that I purchased a couple donut pans about 4 months ago. Foolishly believing making my own donuts would be a complicated procedure I left my donut pans in the cabinet used for months. Last weekend I finally pulled them out and I was amazed at how easy and fast it was to have fresh baked donuts in my own kitchen. I chose to make chocolate frosted donuts because they have always ranked near the top of my absolute favorites list.

Perhaps the best thing about this recipe is that the donuts are baked and not fried! So I can kind of convince myself that it is okay to have more than 1. I am wholeheartedly encouraging you to make donuts yourself this weekend. It is a great way to start your day plus you do not even have to change out of your pajamas.

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 large egg
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup Greek yogurt (I used plain)
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Ingredients for Chocolate Frosting:
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons water
optional: rainbow sprinkles

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a donut pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
2. For the donuts: Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and nutmeg together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. Whisk the egg, brown sugar, milk, and yogurt together until smooth. Add the melted butter and vanilla, whisking until fully combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix. The batter will be very thick.
4. Spoon the batter into the donut cavities or use a pastry bag or zip lock bag and pipe the batter into each donut cup, filling about 3/4's of the way. (Piping it is definitely the easiest way to go here).
5. Bake for 9–10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the pan and bake the remaining donut batter. Allow the donuts to slightly cool before glazing.
6. For the chocolate glaze: Place the chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a medium bowl. Melt in 20 second increments int he microwave, stirring after each time, until completely melted and smooth. You can also make your glaze in a double boiler.
7. If using sprinkles do so immediately before the frosting sets.

Donuts can be stored for up to 2 days in an air tight container.

Recipe Source: Sally's Baking Addiction. I have used many of Sally's recipes in the past and they always turn out to be perfection.

On the Menu: Cheesy Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. During the week, I do not have time to make a big breakfast in the morning so I sometimes make breakfast food for dinner. This casserole combines everything you need for a good breakfast. I like to use hot sausage to add a little spice to the meal. Plus the cheesy goodness is so delicious. The eggs achieve the perfect level of doneness and are light and fluffy. Once you throw it all in the pan you have almost a full meal and you just have to sit back and wait for it to bake.



Ingredients
1 Can of Biscuits
1 Pound of Sausage
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
1 cup Shredded Cheddar
6 Eggs
3/4 cup Milk
Salt and Pepper

Directions
1. Line a 8x8 pan will alumni foil and spray with nonstick spray. Preheat the oven to 425.
2. Slice the sausage and fry. Drain the excess grease and chop up the sausage. Set aside for now.
3. Open the biscuits and cut each biscuit into 6-8 pieces. Put in the pan. Sprinkle sausage over the biscuits.
4. In a bowl beat the eggs. Add the milk. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir together. Then pour over the sausage and biscuits.
5. Top with the mozzarella and cheddar.
6. Bake for 30-45 minutes until the cheese has melted and started browning. Best eaten right away while still warm.

On The Menu: Maple Walnut Oat Scones

One morning last week I had a little free time so I thought I would try baking scones. This is my first time baking scones. They were surprisingly a lot easier to bake than I ever thought and they smell so good baking. The delicious smell of maple drifting out my kitchen is always something I will love. These scones are delicious and a friend who claims scones are one of her favorite foods claimed these were one of the best scones she had ever had.

Ingredients:
2-3/4 cups all-purpose Flour
1/2 cup Regular Oats, Ground In Blender
1/3 cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2 sticks (1 Cup) Cold Butter, Cut Into Cubes
1/2 cup Walnuts, Finely Chopped
3/4 cups Heavy Cream (more If Needed)
1 whole Egg
1 teaspoon Maple Extract

Frosting Ingredients:
5 cups Powdered Sugar
1/4 cup Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
4 teaspoons Maple Extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, ground oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
3. Add butter pieces and use a pastry cutter to work the butter and dry ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped walnuts.
4. Whisk together the cream, egg, and 1 teaspoon maple extract. Pour into flour mixture, stirring gently, until it all comes together. (Mixture will not come together in one cohesive ball; it should be in a few large clumps with some crumbs in the bowl.) If it is overly crumbly and will not come together at all, add a couple of tablespoons of extra cream and work it in.
5. Turn the dough out onto a cutting board or floured surface and use your hands to press into a 6-to-8-inch circle about 3/4 inch thick. Cut into 8 equal wedges (or you can cut into smaller wedges to get more.) Transfer to a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment and bake for 20-24 minutes, or until poufy and set and just barely golden. (Shouldn't have much color on them at all.) Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
6. Combine all the icing ingredients. Make sure it's thick but still pourable. Drizzle a very generous amount on each one, then sprinkle on a few more chopped walnuts. Allow the icing to set completely, then serve.

Recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman.

On The Menu: Cinnamon Roll French Toast

This easy Cinnamon Roll French Toast is an amazing and totally indulgent casserole. Although it only takes about 10 minutes to have it ready to place in the oven everyone you serve it to will be absolutely impressed and have no idea that it was so simple to make. I love to serve this for breakfast when I have had overnight guests. It makes your guests feel like they are being served a decadent treat and the kitchen smells amazing when they are sleepily coming to the table to eat.

Ingredients:
2 packages of cinnamon rolls
1/4 lb butter
5 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 cup maple syrup (plus more for when you serve)
1 cup chopped pecans
Optional: Confectioner's sugar

Directions:
1. Melt the butter and pour into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Separate the cinnamon roll and cut each cinnamon roll into 8 pieces. I use kitchen scissors for this step. Spread the pieces of cinnamon evenly into the pan.
3. Beat eggs together in a mixing bowl. Then add the cream, vanilla, and cinnamon to the eggs and mix together. Pour over the cinnamon roll pieces.
4. Drizzle syrup over the cinnamon rolls and then sprinkle nuts on top.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 22-28 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
7. Place frosting in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 15 seconds. Then drizzle on top of the cinnamon rolls.
8. Dust with confectioner's sugar if desired.
9. Serve with additional maple syrup.

On the Menu: Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I love all kinds of breakfast foods like biscuits, muffins, pastries, waffles, etc. Muffins are a great breakfast item because they can be made before and then eaten on the go. Cinnamon is also a favorite flavor of mine, so I have known for a while now that I needed to try my hand at cinnamon muffins. These turned out delicious. They are moist and the streusel packs in some extra flavor.

Ingredients
Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup Sugar
1/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
3 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon (I used more because I love cinnamon.)
2 tablespoons melted Butter
Muffins:
1 and 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1/3 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 tablespoons Cinnamon (again I added more)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 beaten Egg
3/4 cup Milk
1/4 cup Oil



Directions
1. For the cinnamon streusel topping, whisk the first four ingredients together then add the butter. Stir together until blended. Set the crumbly mixture to the side.
2. For the muffins spray and line a cupcake pan (holds 12 cupcakes). Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
3. Next combine the dry flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Make a well in the center and set aside.
4. In a different bowl combine the wet ingredients. Then add the wet ingredients to the dry. Stir just enough for the dry ingredients to be moistened.
5. Spoon batter into the pan. Fill the cups 2/3 of the way full. Cover with the streusel.
6. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and then pull from the pan and cool on a wire rack.

On The Menu: Coffee Cake With Cinnamon Streusel

I love hitting pause mid-morning and sitting down for a few minutes to a sweet breakfast pastry and a cup of coffee. Although I do not practice it on a regular basis it can be a nice little ritual. What makes it even better is when the morning treat is homemade and my current favorites are this brown sugar pound cake with caramel sauce and this delicious coffee cake with its cinnamon streusel center and top. The top of this coffee cake gets a great crunch and the pecans are an amazing touch.

Ingredients For The Cake:
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Coarse salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream

Ingredients For Streusel:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Coarse salt
1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped toasted pecans

Ingredients For Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk

Directions:
1. Excluding the pecans and butter mix all of the ingredients for the streusel together. Then cut the butter in. Next fold in the pecans.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Butter a bunt pan.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl.
5. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour. Continue to beat until well combined.
6. Evenly spread half of the streusel into the pan.
7. Spoon half of the batter on top of the streusel.
8. Even cover with the remaining streusel and then the remaining batter.
9. Bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.
10. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
11. Once the cake is cool make the glaze by mixing together the confectioners' sugar and milk. Then drizzle it over the cake.

Happy Weekend!

After a long week of work and having to work last weekend, I am looking forward to a break. We have plans to make dinner for our Mom to celebrate Mother's Day and her upcoming birthday. Other than that I plan to do some laundry and take a break this weekend. What are your plans?

via: 1

Breakfast Room

Sometimes I daydream about what I would love my future home to be like. One thing that I always thought I would love for my dream house to have was a breakfast nook. This would be a cozy nook in the kitchen where I could entertain a couple of my best friends or my siblings for a relaxing, delicious breakfast. Recently, Tracy showed me pictures of a beautiful, grand house that had a dining room and a breakfast room. Yes! Instead of a small breakfast nook, it had a whole room dedicated for being a place to eat breakfast. So it was the breakfast room!
A breakfast room is basically the same thing as a dining room, but smaller. A quick search informed me that the typical dining room would sit 5 to 15 people (15 people!) and a breakfast room is for a small group of like 5 or less people. This room is for an intimate group of people who are wanting to eat a casual meal together. I love the photos above for breakfast rooms and could see myself loving to have one with looks of windows and maybe some french doors to let in a lot of the sunshine, especially if this room faced the direction of sunrise. However, I think I could be just as content with a small little breakfast nook in my kitchen. What about you?

via: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Taking Back Sunday

Source: justcallmebubbles.tumblr.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Although the weekend just ended I am still exhausted from last week. I normally have long work days and Saturdays are full of doing errands that I lacked time for during the week. Sundays are normally the only time that I have to relax and enjoy some peaceful, quiet time.

Source: flickr.com via Sunny on Pinterest

This past weekend was a blur of activity. Sunday night as I was still doing laundry at 11 pm, I thought about how I hadn't had the relaxing Sunday that I desperately needed and I realized that I was going to have long week ahead of me.

Source: weheartit.com via Sunny on Pinterest

To me Sundays are meant for catching up on much needed sleep and waking up with the sunlight shining in your window.

Source: sunday-suppers.blogspot.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Followed by having my only breakfast of the week that doesn't consist of something similar to a banana and string cheese being grabbed as I rush out of the door.

Source: simplelovelyblog.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Enjoying the feeling of not being rushed and forgetting about the millions of things that I have to do while maybe catching up on some reading or a favorite tv show that I missed earlier in the week.

Source: weheartit.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Then maybe an afternoon stroll or enjoying some sunshine while sitting on the deck.

Source: perricatherine.tumblr.com via Sunny on Pinterest

I love cooking a nice meal for dinner on Sundays because it may be the last time I have a home cooked meal for the week. I love to cook (although I hate cleaning up and doing dishes but that is another story).

Source: weheartit.com via Sunny on Pinterest

Then hopefully before bed there is a little time for checking up on some blogs I love to read and plan a couple posts for the upcoming week.

To me this is a perfect Sunday. What do you like to do on Sundays?

♥ Sunny