Peanut Butter Cowboy Cookies

A couple of weeks ago I tried a new cookie recipe for Peanut Butter Cowboy Cookies which was a big hit.
Next time I make them I'll double them. I substituted canola oil for the butter and they were fabulous :) Whenever I can I have been substituting canola oil for butter and shortening just because I think it's much more healthy. Cakes, cookies and breads do fine with the substitution. The only recipes that don't work out is pie crusts. Today I used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe with oil and they taste a little different, but they turned out fine.

Chocolate Tea Bread

Chocolate Tea Bread is one of my families favorite snacks. You can enjoy this bread as is, drizzle with glaze or sprinkle with powdered sugar. This easy recipe makes 2 breads.

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

2/3 cup canola oil
4 large eggs
2/3 cup water
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour (or 2 cups all-purpose + 1 cup whole wheat white)
2/3 cup cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (12 oz. = 1 package)
2/3 cup chopped walnuts ( optional)

Glaze (optional)
1/2 cup confectioner's (powdered) suar
1 - 2 tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt

Preheat oven 350°. In a large mixing bowl combine applesauce, oil, eggs water, and sugar. Beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add to applesauce mixture. Beat well. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour into 2 greased 9X5X3" loaf pans. Bake 350° for 60-70 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing and then finish cooling on a wire rack. Leave as is or drizzle with glaze or just sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Enjoy :)

Self Frosting Cupcakes

Today I made these Self Fosting Cupcakes for my boys as a Valentine's Day treat. I have been wanting to try these for a long time now. The recipe is very easy and you use Nutella as the self frosting part. Delicious! Very tasty :)
Click here for the recipe.
Enjoy :)

Delicious Shiny Brownies

This is a very easy one bowl brownie recipe...no electric mixer needed. Before I could take a picture two brownies disappeared! They really are very good :)

4 squares of unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup oil
1 lb box ( 4 1/2 cups) confectioner's sugar
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour (I used 1 cup all purpose + 3/4 cup white whole wheat)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

In a large bowl melt chocolate in microwave on high 2 1/2 minutes. Add oil and eggs beat well. Add confectioner's sugar mixing well. Add all remaining ingredients, adding nuts lastly. Bake in a greased (Pam) 13 X 9 pan, 350º for 25 - 30 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Enjoy :)