April 6, 2012

Muffins That Taste Like Doughnuts

I've seen this recipe for muffins that taste like doughnuts on several blogs, always with a glowing recommendation. I finally decided to try them, and, wouldn't you know it, they do resemble doughnuts. My husband even ate one and said, "These are really good. They taste like doughnuts." No kidding.

I think the secret to the flavor connection is the nutmeg in the batter which I'm fairly certain is common in cake doughnuts.


Muffins That Taste Like Doughnuts
adapted from lemanada on Tasty Kitchen

1 3/4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. oil
3/4 c. white sugar
1 whole egg
3/4 c. milk

Topping:
1/4 c. butter
1/3 c. white sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Combine oil, sugar, egg and milk. Add dry ingredients and stir only to combine. Spoon into well-greased muffin tins (silicone pans work well).

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a bowl. Combine the white sugar with the cinnamon in another bowl.

Shake muffins out while still hot. Dip muffins in butter, then into the sugar/cinnamon mix. Let cool.

April 3, 2012

Blue Cheese Dressing

Bottled salad dressings have not been seen in my fridge for several years now. My tastes have adjusted, and if I have bottled dressing now, it tastes bad. Too sweet, too salty, too something. Homemade dressings usually take just a few minutes to mix together. They usually store well in the fridge for a week or so, at a minimum.

I've made this blue cheese dressing several times now to go with buffalo wings and celery. It is amazing, really.


Blue Cheese Dressing
from Our Best Bites

1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. crumbled blue cheese
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp. minced garlic (1-2 cloves)
A couple tablespoons of milk or buttermilk (optional)

Combine ingredients. If you’d like, thin to desired consistency with milk or buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

April 1, 2012

All-Purpose Cleaner

Here's another cleaner I love. I use it anywhere in the kitchen and bathroom. Borax is found in the laundry aisle, and for liquid soap, try castile soap, like in this tub cleaner. I don't use any essential oil because my castile soap is peppermint-infused already.

The bottle pictured below is a 32-ounce bottle, so I double the recipe.


All-Purpose Cleaner
from Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan

2 Tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. borax
1/4 c. liquid soap (castile soap)
10-15 drops essential oil, optional

Mix vinegar and borax in a 16-oz bottle. Fill the bottle with very hot water, leaving room for the liquid soap. Shake until the borax is dissolved. Add the liquid soap. Can add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil if desired.