Good Afternoon!!! It's Baking time

I hope that YOU had a wonderful weekend. Got some rest.....finished up that last minute shopping or just did something FUN!! It was one of those curled up with a good book kinda weekends for me. Rain, rain and more rain but I so love the rain. The mister watched sports all weekend and the Chazman played games, watched videos, a movie or two and just thoroughly enjoyed his WiFi with his PS3. (that was one of his Christmas gifts...the WiFi)

This morning I finished up gifts for my sister and my BIL. We are going to their house tomorrow and I just can't go empty handed for them when I made gifts for their girls. Just wouldn't feel right...nope...wouldn't feel right at all.

She loved this bracelet when she saw it and even made a comment on FB that it sure would look good on her. HEHE  I made her a different one...almost the same..except this one has two amber glass beads wrapped in silver wire next to the heart one.

Don't ya just love the patina of this washer? I know that I do and it just looked so manly that I just had to use it for a bracelet for my sweet BIL.  Hopefully he will wear it even if only every once in awhile. 

Once I finished making the paper boxes for these I started my holiday baking. The Chazman and I LOVE to bake. Ok well....this year I'm baking and he is licking the spoon..hehe..but at least he is in the kitchen with me chatting up a storm and licking his lips. 

I made blueberry muffins this morning...nothing special....from a mix but they sure did make a great quick breakfast. I have some of my homemade cinnamon swirl coffee cake muffins cooling and OHHHH my, they smell so delicious!! Apparently they are cool enough to eat because the Chazman just came in and said they were YUMMIEEEEEEE!!! They are very easy to make and make a great gift to take to a friend or to a family gathering. (like to my sister's house tomorrow...if I can keep the Chazman away from them) 

Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake Muffins

(makes 12 regular size muffins)

* 2 cups flour

* 1/2 cup sugar

* 1 tbsp baking powder

* 1 tsp salt

* 1/4 cup vegetable oil

* 1 egg

* 1 cup milk

* 1 capful vanilla flavoring (ok...that's how I measure it..hehe)

Cinnamon swirl filling

* 1/3 cup melted butter

* 1/3 cup brown sugar

* 1 tsp cinnamon (yes...you can add a bit more if you want)

Crumb topping

* 1/2 cup flour

* 1/2 cup brown sugar

* 3 tbsp softened butter

* dash of cinnamon (that's however much you want ^_^)

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners. (or spray with cooking spray...I like liners) 

2. Make the filling. Whisk together all ingredients until well combined. Set aside.

3. Make the topping. Combine all ingredients and with a fork mix until it resembles crumbs. Set aside

4. Make the muffins. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In a separate smaller bowl whisk together the oil, egg, milk and that cap full of vanilla flavoring. Pour wet whisked ingredients into the dry mixed ingredients and sit just until combined good.

5. Add 1/2 tbsp of batter to each prepared muffin cup. Then add 3/4 to 1 tbsp of the cinnamon swirl to the center of the batter. Top with another 1/2 tbsp of the batter then cover muffins with crumb topping.

6. Bake for 15-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

7. Let cool in tins for bit and then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

8. Eat and enjoy!!!

Now we are also making some of my NOM NOM NOM peanut butter balls. You can find the recipe for those if you click HERE 

I have another easy and quick recipe that has several different variations to it if you are needing or wanting something different to make this year. It's my shortbread recipe and like I said...it's very easy. Just click HERE to see it. 

Ohhhh I smell those brownies and they are ready to come out of the oven. Next are peanut butter cookies. Yes yes...we LOVE peanut butter!!!!

Until next time.....Hugs,

Regi