Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Holiday Glazed Doughnut Muffins


Don't These Look Delish?!

I saw these this morning and
by this evening I was able to find the post
for the picture and the recipe.

I thought with the holidays coming up
that we could all use some fun new ideas
of make ahead recipes.

So this is the first I am sharing.

For the Muffins:
  1. 1/4 cup butter
  2. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  3. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  4. 1/3 cup brown sugar
  5. 2 large eggs
  6. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  7. 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  8. 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  9. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  10. 3/4 teaspoon salt
  11. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  12. 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  13. 1 cup milk
For the Glaze:
  1. 3 tablespoons butter; melted
  2. 1 cup confectioners’ sugar; sifted
  3. 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
  4. 2 tablespoons hot water
  5. Zest of orange (my addition) abt. 1-2 TBLS.
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, vegetable oil, and sugars till smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time. With the mixer on low speed, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and vanilla until just combined. Stir the flour into the butter mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour and making sure everything is thoroughly combined.
  3. Spoon batter into cups, filling the cups, and smooth tops. Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups. Bake until muffin tops are a pale golden and springy to the touch, 15 to 17 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool 10 minutes before glazing.
  4. To make the glaze, In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and water. Whisk until smooth.
  5. When muffins have cooled slightly, dip the muffin crown into the glaze and allow the glaze to harden. Once hardened, dip a second time  and allow to harden then serve.
Yields: 12 muffins
Note: Muffins will keep at room temperature for about a day.
From: www.sweetpeaskitchen.com

Love,
Grammy T.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

I Love Fancy Guppies



Did you know that I love Guppies? Well I do. They are gorgeous.

When I was little I lived on Argo Way in Sacramento, California. 
It was a little house that sometimes had a silver side when the rest was 
painted pink and I could tell people to look for the silver house when they 
were hunting for me. 

Any who... the neighbors had guppies. Not a big tank just a big bowl and those guppies had guppies and then those guppies had guppies. 

Whew it was so fun to see the explosion of little pretty fish and I got 
some guppies too.

Much better than the poly wogs that I caught every spring at St. Mary's Cemetery, the place I was forbidden to ever, ever go.  

"Where did you get those poly wogs?"  Mom would ask and of course being the angelic child that I was I answered "In the gutter by Jiggy's house."
Of course she really believed that. 

Back to my guppies...So when I couldn't do a lot with my hands and because some of my Granddaughters came to help me clean my house so that one of them could raise $7.00 for a frog house and we had to go hunting for all of the important things that go with little critters. I wound up at the pet stores 
and couldn't resist the beautiful guppies that they have now. 

Guppies have really changed since I was little. They are gorgeousThere are red, blue, green, purple and much more. 

There is a blue and a leopard mama in my tank. And I had a leopard daddy that Christi bought me for my birthday. He died but I am going to get another one because he was so, so beautiful. 

One of the funny things that happened is that about 30 little baby guppies 
that were six weeks old had babies! I had to put on my reading glasses to see them. 

I keep my tank at about 80 - 82 degrees and I guess that is what happens when they are kept nice warm. 

So now I have many, many Fancy Guppies. 

Love,
Grammy T.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Fighting Cancer One Hug at a Time

Jenny's Quilt
Nikki's Quilt


I have been busy lately making quilts. 


One for a new baby arriving in December 
(picture of just the top is above) 


and two for two of my cancer sisters that are 
having a hard time right now. 


I hope they will be able to feel love and hope 
like a hug from their new quilts.
 The finished quilt is for Jenny.


Please pray for her and Nikki.


Thank you friends. 

Love,
Grammy T.