Recipes & tid-bits....

A few nights ago I promised a bunch of followers on Instagram that I would post a few recipes that I had uploaded pictures of previously-and I've been so caught up in getting work done that I hadn't gotten it done yet!

So here are some of my favorite winter-time foods that are easy and fun to make for some cold day meals, snacks and desserts. Most of the time, because of the type of cooker/baker I am, I like to change up measurements and ingredients-taking the inspiration of something and then making it my own...

I don't like to follow the rules, even with cooking!

Have fun with these and try your own style of goodies Substitute certain foods for others and play around with flavors and different ways of presenting dishes. I've just started really exploring some fun new ways of serving certain foods, and I think there is always a fun way of showing off different types of meals, so that they are not only delicious-but pretty and fun to look at as well!


Mini Apple Pies

Crust
2 cups flour
2/3 cup butter (chilled)
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons water
Filling
5 medium apples (peeled and chopped up into small pieces)
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter (chilled)

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Get muffin pan out. No need to grease it.
2.In food processor blend flour, salt and butter until it looks like little peas.
3.Add in water and blend just until it looks like it's sticking.
4.Take out and combine it by hand until well blended.
5.Roll out on lightly floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick.
6.Cut 12, 4 inch circles with cup or bowl.(You will need to roll out twice).
7.Note: you can use the rest of the crust for anything you may want to do on top of the pies.
8.Press each circle in muffin tins until all the way up each side, to form little bowls.
9.Mix by hand all filling ingredients and spoon into muffin bowls.
10.Cut up butter into 12 little pieces and place one piece on each pie.
11.You can decorate them anyway you like with extra crust, or just leave plain.
12.Bake at 425 degrees for 16-18 minutes. (Until crust is light brown and apples are bubbling).
13.When cool, just loosen with a spoon and they'll come right out!

Plain awesome beans. They have no name. Only awesomeness.

My mum passed this recipe onto me a little while ago, which I am totally addicted to. Most of the time I honestly eat more like a GUY than I do "girly" stuff like salads and smoothies...I'm more of a beef beans and beer gal. So I'm totally crazy about this super easy and fast dish that you can start in the morning and come home to dinner being done! 

Take one bag of each: Pinto Beans, Black beans, any kind of bean that you like-what I love about them is that they are a super easy cheap option and if you wander into the Hispanic section of the grocery store they have SO many choices for around $1.25 each, so load up on them! 

Soak: Combine all your bags into a big colander and rinse in the sink. Then combine them into your crock-pot for an overnight soak. 

Cut: Slice and dice a large onion, and if you have any extra steak or left-over meat laying around, dice and toss into the mix in your crock-pot. Throw some salt, pepper and any spices that you love to heat up the mix. I love this medley because really you can add anything to it and it's going to come out. 

Let your Crock-pot simmer for the day while you're at work or freezing your toes feeding, and come inside to a hot yummy dish that takes very little effort but that disappear quickly! 

Cornbread Muffins

To me, beans wouldn't be complete without a big bowl of hot buttered cornbread muffins made from scratch dripping in honey. Here is an easy recipe that you can always make Gluten-free simply by substituting your cornmeal for Red Barn Gluten Free meal. 

1 1/2 cups milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with butter and light dusting of flour, or paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Spoon batter into muffin cups.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden.

xoxo

~Adrian