a treat for you.

a fool proof recipe for chocolate cobbler (two of my favorite words combined).

nutella chocolate cobbler

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cocoa powder, divided
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 6 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1-½ cup hot tap water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 1/2 cup of white sugar. Stir in milk, Nutella, butter, and vanilla. Mixture will be thick like the texture of peanut butter. Spread mixture into an ungreased 8-inch baking dish. In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup white sugar, brown sugar, and remaining cocoa. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the batter. Pour the hot water over everything and do not stir. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the center is slightly firm but not fluid like liquid. Spoon mixture into small bowls and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

okay, if i could do it over again, i would probably increase the amount of nutella to either 3/4 cup or even 1 cup. because i like nutella that much. also, i might try to figure out a way to make it more cobbler-y. like make the top crunchier. possibly add a bit of flour and some crushed up walnuts? not exactly sure. but, i'll be honest, it was really terrific as is. like a brownie with puddles of chocolate pudding throughout.

tuesday

a smorgasbord of stuff headed your way:

1. i need to start baking artisan bread. i've been meaning to do this for months. here is the best recipe (click here).
2. i would also like to start making granola that will last me for a week of breakfasts. HERE is the best recipe for that.
3. i've found my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (for the time being). i add a little sea salt (yummmm). if you want this top secret recipe, you have to ask:) this one's too good to let go so easily.
4. tonight is LOST party. yeah! if you have a LOST party of your own, or want something quick and easy to make for the super bowl, THIS is my favorite dip and it takes about five minutes start to finish.

the end.

happy lost watching:)

sea salt spray

oh hey there friends. found this little recipe for beach-y wave hairspray. it works pretty well, give it a shot--

*Get a clean spray bottle. You can find them super cheap at dollar stores, grocery stores, and mega marts. Make sure it holds at least 8 fl. oz. to 10 fl. oz.

*8 fl. oz. of water. Try distilled or filtered if your tap water isn't the best on hair.

*Sea salt. I used the more finely ground stuff because it mixes easier and faster with the water. It cost me $2.19 for a large canister of it. Use 1 tsp for each 8 fl oz of water.

*Coconut scented conditioner. It doesn't have to be expensive conditioner - I used Suave brand for $1 at the dollar store. I mostly added this for the "beachy" scent but it helps counteract the drying that the salt will do. I used 1/2 a tsp - use more if you have extra dry hair.

*A dab of hair gel. Unscented, preferably—otherwise it will interfere with the coconut scent of the conditioner). Usually the cheaper brand are more runny and mix better."

Optional add-ins:

*Essential oils: If you have dry or coarse hair, this is a good add-in. They will help condition your hair and add some shine. Choose whatever scent you want - ylang ylang works great for sensitive skin and problem scalps. Rosemary is great to help deepen the color of brunette's hair and chamomile brightens blonds. Use 3-5 drops.

*Tea Tree Oil: Great for sensitive and oily scalps. If you have oilier hair, this is the best oil to add for you since it won't make your hair oilier or weigh it down. Use 3-5 drops.

*More sea salt - You can add a little more if you have oilier/thicker hair. The more salt you use, the more it will dry out your hair. BUT the more you use, the "beachier" your hair will look and the more hold there will be. If the recipe doesn't have enough salt for you, add 1/4 tsp at a time until you reach the desired level. Make sure to record your changes so you know how much to add when you want to make more!"

To do: Add all your ingredients to the spray bottle and shake it until it mixes together. Any oils added will never fully combine well with the water so you'll have to shake it a little before each use. If your hair gel and/or conditioner don't combine you can try warming the mixture in the microwave (remove any metal pieces and don't use until cool!) to see if that helps - if it doesn't, you may have used too thick of a conditioner/gel.

oooooookay, bye.

this will be good (updated)

hello friendlies--on this blustery, overcast day, i think some chili is in order. but, since this evening my dad and i will be making quick work of moving me over to the new place, i won't have time to make any,

but you should.

i'll put up my favorite recipe for chili, which cannot be served without cornbread (preferably jiffy, baked in a cast iron skillet:). and if you don't feel like making it, or don't think you can do it successfully or something, i will make it for you when i get settled. for real, i will.

here's the recipe:

cozy chili

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 red bell peppers
• 4 cloves of garlic, pressed
• 2 lbs. ground turkey
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 (12 ounce) can lager beer (optional, can use broth as a replacement)
• 2 (19 ounce) cans kidney beans
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• salt and pepper to taste

Really good served with: Jiffy cornbread, sour cream, radishes, scallions, avocados, jalapenos, cilantro, cheddar, and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Directions

1. Heat oil in large pot, over medium-high heat.

2. Add onions, red pepper, garlic and cook for 6-8 minutes, until soft, stirring occasionally.

3. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Add tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook for a few minutes.

4. Add beer (or broth), beans, tomatoes (including their juices), salt and pepper.

5. Let simmer until nice and thick, about 25 minutes.

happy fall, everyone.

***aaaaand update! here's a little fall +playlist+to accompany your chili cookoff***

really quick

this is pretty silly, and not rocket science, but i tried a little something different with chicken tonight, and i thought it turned out pretty tasty.  i figured i'd share.

i haven't been going to the store very much because it's just been me and the two girls, so i've just been making due with what's in the freezer/pantry.  i knew i had chicken, but didn't know what to do with it.  i decided i wanted to lightly bread it, but wasn't sure how else to season it.  

i just grabbed the first things i saw in the fridge.  okay, really simple:  2 eggs, put in a few spoon fulls of curry paste, and a dollop or two of sour cream.  

season the bread crumbs with some italian seasoning or whatever might float your boat.  

salt and pepper the chicken breasts on both sides, dip in the curry mixture, and dredge through the bread crumbs.  use a dish that keeps the chicken pieces close together, i think that, with the sour cream keeps them from being dry.  

okay, so once they're in the baking dish, i used a piece of munster cheese for each piece of chicken and covered the top.  cover the dish with tin foil, and cook at 350 for 30 minutes.  uncover and cook for 30 more.  though, i actually pulled ours out a little early.  

they ended up having a nice crunch on the outside, and really had the spice from the curry paste.  i served them over a little pile of left over marinara noodles, and i thought they were quite tasty:)  

what are your last minute pantry favorites?

good morning, salsa

well, it's still midmorning here, but i wanted to get a head start on tonight's dinner, so i went ahead and made the salsa for our mexican feast this evening.  

up until a couple of months ago, i had never made guacamole or salsa, but had a passion for both.  so, i thought maybe for those of you that like these 2 delicacies as much as i do, you might want a couple of really good, fresh recipes.  here goes:

salsa

3 tomatoes, diced

1 large white onion, diced

3-5 tomatillos, depending on size

1-2 peppers of choice, depending on how hot you want it, you could leave them out all together.

1 whole bunch of cilantro, roughly chopped

2 limes, squeezed dry

4-5 garlic cloves, again, depending on taste, i like me some garlic

2 cans original rotel

salt sparingly

a good bit of fresh pepper

chop everything, open a couple of cans, throw it in a bowl, grab some chips, and you're good.  you can really add or subtract most of these things according to your own taste.  

also, with the peppers because the crazy salmonella scare, nick just grabbed some canned jalapenos and i chopped those up instead.  i think it turned out fine.

guacamole

4 good sized avocados, scraped from skin and blended 

1 large red onion, diced

1 large bunch of cilantro, rough chopped

1 large tomato, chopped

2 tomatillos, you really don't need them, but i like 'em

4-5 cloves of garlic, using garlic press

2 juiced limes

salt and pepper

okay, the only thing i know for sure about this is that the avocados have to be all kinds of ripe.  otherwise you will have little cubes of them, instead of it being mushy and mixing with everything else.  eh.  i use a little melon baller type of thing to get all the avocado out, and then use a hand mixer to mush it up.  then i chop everything else and mix it in with a spoon.  

now, i really hate to add a lot of salt to anything, but let me tell you, this will be gross if you don't add enough salt, so try not to be shy, just keep tasting it, cause you don't want it sickly salty either.  lots of pepper, too.  

i hope you enjoy these, cause we will be tonight!