the proper care and feeding of nerds is going on the back burner

i'll be taking a hiatus from blogging for a few weeks to spend some time working on my other hobby, crocheting.

i'll return with lots of baked goodies and winter soups!

xo

buffins: beer and muffins, together at last

i found this recipe while searching for a beer bread recipes. i was excited to try it out, but halfway through mixing it up i realized it was a total bust... the batter turned out like cookie dough, and with no binding ingredient the muffins would have simply crumbled. i added an egg, a bit more beer (because who doesn't want a bit more beer???), and substituted whole wheat flour for the all purpose originally suggested.
i made two batches; one with semi sweet chocolate chips and one with butterscotch morsels. i was only going to make chocolate, but my nerd loves butterscotch and asked me to indulge him. glad i did, because it turns out that butterscotch is the perfect accompaniment to the rich and bitter chocolate stout
.
beer. chocolate. butterscotch. these manly muffins are just shy of motor oil and machine guns. 

double chocolate stout muffins

3 c whole wheat flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 c sugar
1 pint double chocolate stout
1/2 c melted butter
1 egg
2 c chocolate chips OR butterscotch morsels

preheat oven to 375f. spray muffin tin with baking spray.

in a large bowl sift together flour, baking powder and salt. stir in sugar.
slowly pour beer into flour mixture. add melted butter and egg. stir gently until combined.
mix in chocolate chips or butterscotch morsels.
spoon 1/3 c batter into each muffin cup. bake for 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.

makes 12 muffins

chicken and thyme-rosemary buttermilk biscuits

i made this last friday for some friends who stopped by for dinner. i forgot to take pictures, so i had to make it again (not complaining, it was wonderful!) during the week. we're still eating the leftovers from the second batch. this was a first-time recipe for me, and will now be my go-to chicken soup.

not feeling the dumplings? skip those and add about a cup of uncooked egg noodles during the last ten minutes of cooking, and feel free to adjust the recipe. add more veggies, leave the barley out, experiment with the herbs.

4 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless
4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
1 c chopped yellow onion
2 c sliced carrots
1 large potato, cubed
2-3 celery stalks, sliced
1 tsp dried thyme
pinch of dried rosemary
3/4 tsp salt
1 tbs pearl barley
4-6 cups chicken stock (enough to cover all ingredients)
1/4 c water
1/4 c flour

in a large soup pot over high heat, combine chicken thighs, chicken breasts, onion, carrots, celery, potato, thyme, rosemary, salt, barley, and enough chicken stock to cover all the ingredients. bring to a boil. reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes.
mix flour and water in a small bowl and pour into soup, mixing well. allow to thicken, about 2-5 minutes.

for the dumplings:
2 c flour
1 c buttermilk
1 tsp dried thyme
pinch of dried rosemary
1/2 tsp salt

mix until combined. drop by heaping teaspoonful on top of the hot soup. turn the heat up to high and cook, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. reduce heat to low and cover, simmering another 10-15 minutes until dumplings are done (test by inserting a toothpick into one. if it comes out clean they're done).

serve 4-6

anniversary cookies

my nerd and i met and started dating in the later part of august, 2009. on october 2nd of the same year i made him a batch of these cookies, the first cookies i had ever baked for him. later that evening he asked me to be his girl. three years later, i'm still his girl, his one and only, and he's my best friend, the father of my child, and the absolute love of my life. i know deep down that we were meant to be, but sometimes i wonder if it was the happy belly full of these rich, delicious cookies that did the asking that day three years ago.

i love you hunnie <3 <3 <3

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

1 c canned pumpkin
1 c granulated sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp milk
1 tbs vanilla extract
1/2 tsp freshly ground ginger root
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 c semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c chopped pecans

preheat oven to 350f.

in a medium bowl whisk together pumpkin, sugar, oil, egg, milk, vanilla, and ginger root. set aside.

in a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

add wet ingredients to dry. mix until just combined. add chocolate chips and pecans.

drop by heaping teaspoonful onto lightly greased baking sheet. bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned. transfer to rack and cool.

make these for your nerd, and maybe you'll be lucky in love too!

<3 <3 <3