Mother's Day Funfetti Cupcakes

Since I had a full day planned on Mother's Day I knew I did not have that much time for baking.  If you know me you know that El Hubby gets mad because my sense of time management is bad.  I always think I have more time than I do.  Hence, we were late to Mother's Day brunch because of me. 

Funfetti Cupcakes cooling

In my head I knew I wanted to make cookies for sure, but a holiday is just not right without cake.  So to make my life easier and still satisfy the craving for cake I used a box mix.  I don't think there is really anything wrong with a box cake.  But when there is the option for scratch I will also go with scratch.  You can taste the extra effort in scratch/homemade cooking/baking.

Mother's Day funfetti cupakes

I apologize to critics.  Everything about these cupcakes were store bought.  Box cake mix, frosting, and decorative sparkle icing.  Whatever!  Funfetti is yummy.  Case close. 

I am currently taking a cupcake class at the local adult school.  We are learning to decorate and make cupcakes.  Lets see what I learn.  I think El Hubby is excited because that will mean more baked goods since I need practice.  

Happy Mother's Day!

XOXO

S21

I have been craving some spam musubi and ramen for a awhile.  It's been all I can think about.  Consuming my thoughts at every meal.  There is currently no rice in my house.  No spam.  No ramen noodles.  I desperately need to go to the grocery store.  The last meal that was cooked in my house was BLAT sandwiches.  Okay okay El Hubby made the sandwiches.

Milky Ramen

Oh Tuesdays and Thursday S21 serves authentic Japanese ramen.  This was only my second trip to S21 for ramen.  S21 did not disappoint.  When we arrived there was no one in the restaurant which really makes me sad.  Coming from and growing up in a family of restaurant owners I know how depressing it is to have a empty restaurant.  It's also a reason I try to support local restaurants and shops as much as possible.  Not only are you supporting your community but you are helping the environment too.  (Local means less gas, packaging, etc.)  We were greet right away and seated.  The restaurant was clean and staff friendly. 

My bowl came out pipping hot and the broth was rich with flavor.  I got the milky ramen which comes with chasu pork, egg, fish cake, seaweed, and some other seasoned/pickled vegetables.  (Sorry I am not Japanese enough to know all the names)  I am not a fan in general of chasu pork.  El Hubby seemed to really enjoy it and ate mine too.  So I am sure if you like chasu pork you would like it.  I loved my ramen and it definitely satisfied my craving for ramen. 

Now time to hit the store and satisfy my spam musubi craving!

S21 Sushi & Sake Bar
5754 N. First Street
Fresno, CA 93710
(559) 438-7100

Support local business!

XOXO

Hot Chocolate Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is something about hot chocolate cookies that is just so good.  Maybe it's the richness it adds to the cookie.  Or maybe it's how yummy the cookie dough is.  
 

Hot chocolate cookie dough taste amazing ... and I am not even the type that like to eat cookie dough.  The hardest part of this recipe is chilling the cookie dough.  I am a very impatient person.

But I have found that chilling cookie dough for at least 1 hour minimum makes cookies so much richer in flavor.  So if you have the time ... and the patience chill your cookie dough. 

Hot Chocolate Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

4 ounces hot chocolate mix (not sugar free)

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup raisins

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Whisk flour, cocoa mix, salt, and baking soda together

2. Cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes)

3. add eggs 1 at a time.

4. Add vanilla

5. Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. DO NOT OVER MIX

6. Fold in the raisins and semi chocolate chips

7. Chill dough for about 1 hour

8. Pre heat your oven to 350 degrees.

9. Use a cookie dough scooper and drop about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

10. Bake them 1 sheet at a time for about 9 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

I am working on incorporating local produce into my cooking.  When the new Fresno State market opened I had went and purchased some raisins.  Let me tell you, I will never purchase regular raisins again.  The raisins that I got from the Fresno State market were huge, juicy and sooooo yummy!  There was no sugary white film on the raisin that you can something get with regular store bought raisins.  Buy local friends!  Buy local!

I brought these cookies to Mother's Day dinner with my family and my little cousin JakeEE gobbled one up.  I would say they were a hit. 

Support local business!
XOXO

Banana Walnut Caramel Cookies

This year we switched it up and had a champagne brunch with my husband's family for Mother's Day.  While eating my husband mentioned that the only thing missing was bananas foster.  This got me thinking ... and thinking ... and craving bananas foster.  

When I got home I decided to make cookies ... with a bananas foster theme of course.

Since real bananas get brown and I am not really familiar with them in cookies I decided to use banana pudding mix for my banana flavor.  The cookie dough smelled amazing.  There is just something about banana and caramel that is drool worthy.

Banana Walnut Caramel Cookies

Ingredients:
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (3.5) package instant banana pudding mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup caramel bits
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper
2.  Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
3.  Add pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla extract.
4.  Whisk together the flours, baking soda, and salt.
5.  Slowly add the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just incorporated.  DO NOT OVER MIX!
6.  Fold in the caramel bits and walnuts.
7.  Using a cookies scooper, scoop 1 tablespoons cookie dough on prepared baking sheet.
8.  Bake for about 9 minutes or until lightly brown.  Remove and place on cooling rack.

I brought these cookies to Mother's Day dinner with my family.  The cookies were super moist because of the banana pudding mix.  My husband really enjoyed these cookies.  However, we realized that I forgot a key ingredient to bananas foster ... RUM!  So looks like next time I make these cookies I will be substituting rum extract for vanilla extract.  The caramel bits were a little chewy so maybe not so old people friendly or dentist friendly.  Oh well.  Them were sure yummy to eat!

Keep baking for your loved ones!
XOXO

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, soon to be moms, and pet moms. Moms really should be honored more than once a year.

My family likes to do big dinners/meals to celebrate all occasions.  Above was the Mother's Day dessert spread.  Recipes to come!

Bake for the ones you love!
XOXO