South African Scones
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Biscuits
This recipe comes from a book that my mother-in-law gave me when she came back from visiting family in South Africa. I use this recipe every time I make a English breakfast or brunch. The scones taste great when topped with whipped cream and jam, paired up with a cup of Red Bush(Rooibos) tea.
Ingredients (12 scones) 
2 Cups of Flour
2 Tablespoons of Sugar
1 Tablespoons of Baking Powder
4 Tablespoons of Butter
1 Cup and 1 Tablespoon of Milk
Directions:
- Mix all ingrediants with an eletric mixer.
- Turn the dough and press out onto a lightly floured bored and cut out about 20 mill circles.
- Place them on a greased cooking pan and brush the top with milk.
- Cook for about 10 min, or until golden, at 350.
Level Of Difficulty – Easy
Tags: Breakfast, Brunch, Difficulty- Easy, Flour, Food, Milk, Scones, South African Recipe
My Favorite Brownies
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Desserts
Ingredients (Serving 12-15)
¾ Cup Butter
1½ Cup Sugar
2 Teaspoon Vanilla
3 Eggs
¾ Cup All-Purpose Flour
½ Cup Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
A Pinch of Salt
3 Oz Chopped Pecans or Walnuts (Optional)
Diresctions:
- Preheat oven to 350 deg F
- Spray the baking pan ( I like to spray the pan, add parchment paper and spray that as well. This makes it much easier to take things out of a pan and set them to cool and cut.)
- In the kitchen aid add the butter (melted), sugar, vanilla, eggs, baking powder and salt. Mix well with the wire whip attachment.
- Then add flour and cocoa powder. At this point I change the attachment to flat beater. The consistency at the end should almost look like chocolate pounding. Pour the mixture in the pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Cool the cake. Dust with powdered sugar or glace with your favorite chocolate frosting
Variations
To make a more cake-like brownie, bake in a square approx. 9×9 in metal pan. Cooks about 5 to 10 minutes longer, it turns out more fluffy, soft, and cake-like.
Level Of Difficulty – Easy
Tags: Brownies, Cake Like Brownies, Chocolate, Cocoa Powder, Desert, Difficulty- Easy, Pecans, Walnuts
My Magazine Stack and My Mom’s Suggestion
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Organizing
I finally did it and I’m glad that I listen to my mom! I add a quiet a few magazines in the office that had articles that I wanted to keep. I had recipes that I wanted to try, garden ideas that I wanted to do in our patio, and other articles that I enjoyed reading but I didn’t really know where anything was. So I took my mom’s suggestion and started to go over the magazine, took the articles out and categorize them, and got ride of the rest. The articles that I have kept take less that 1/4 of the space, I’m able to find the thinks that I’m looking for with in seconds instead of looking over magazines for an unknown period of time and sometimes even giving up on it. So by listening to my mom I can now find articles that I want and have a lot less clutter in the office. Thanks mom! 
Tags: Home Organization, Magazine, Office Organizing, Organizing, Storage
Carrot Cup Cakes or Cake
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Desserts
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut, plus more for garnish
8 ounces bar cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a standard 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners. In a bowl, combine sugar, vegetable oil, orange juice, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and eggs.
- Stir in baking powder, baking soda, allspice, and salt. Add flour; mix. Stir in carrots, walnuts, and coconut.
- Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 25 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
- Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
- Frost cupcakes, and garnish with shredded coconut.
Level Of Difficulty – Easy
Tags: Carrots, Cheese, Coconut, Cream, Desert, Difficulty- Easy, Eggs, Flour, Food, Orange Juice, Walnuts
Artichokes and Leeks Pasta
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Pasta
Ingredients: (4 servings)
1Pound of Pasta( I would suggest long pasta)
2 Medium Leeks ( White and green parts only)
2 1/2 Once Jar of Artichoke Hearts (Drained)
3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon of Fresh Lemon Juice
3 Teaspoons of Salt
1 Teaspoon of Pepper
1/2 Cup of Grated Parmesan
Directions:
1. Cook Pasta according to the package directions.
2. Meanwhile, wash and half the leeks lengthwise and thickly slice them crosswise and half artichokes lengthwise.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil and add leeks, stirring them frequently until they soften but not brown. Then transfer to a plate and set a side.
4. In the same skillet you can now add the sliced artichokes. Letting them cook for about 3 minutes on each side.
5. Once the artichokes are ready, add the leeks back into the skillet along with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Then toss all ingredients together .
6. Transfer the drained past in the skillet and add 1/4 Cup of parmesan to the vegetables and toss again.
7. Serve warm with the remanning parmesan on the side.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Tags: Artichokes, Artichokes Hearts, Difficulty- Easy, Leeks, Lemon Juice, Long Pasta, Parmesan Cheese, Pasta
One Word
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Goals
Like a lot of people I have my VERY LONG list of things that I would like to achive this year, and like every year I feel overwhemeld just looking at it. I don’t even know where to begin! This usually results in trying to do everything all at once and end up not being able to stick to any of my goals past the month of January. I came across an article that inspired me and belive that will help me to achive this years goals by picking one word. Yeah you read right one word! OK it’s not just any word, but a word that is important to me and that will help me through the year to remeber what I want to achive. The word that I decided on is NURTURE. After reading the article, the comments and most of all thinking about what I want to accomplish this word seams to keep coming back to my mind. The way I see it, through nurturing I can take better care of my family and self. By taking better care of my family I can be a better suport to Daniel and make sure that he has everything that he needs when he comes home, like make sure that I know what to make for dinner so that we can eat on time, organize myself so that can stay on top of our mountain of laundry and have the house clean schedule so that home can be a place to relax not another place that has us work on the weekend. I can nurture myself by taking care of myself by excercising and managing stress. I am nervous and excited and so looking forward to what is to come. I look forward to hear from you and sharing your thoughts and words with me! Have a wonderful new year!
Tags: Goals, New Year, Nurturing, One Word
Taco Salad
Posted by Rebecca Baldwin | Filed under Recipes Stuff
I really like taco salads but to be honest I never tried to make them at home. So tonight I gave it a try. Like most recipes it was really easy to make and it was delicious.
Ingredients: 
Rice;
- Rice
- Butter
- Salt/Pepper
- Dry Basil
Beans;
- Pinto Beans
- Oil
- Salt/Pepper
Corn;
- Corn
- Butter
- Salt/Pepper
Veggies;
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Onion
Condiments;
- Sour Cream
- Mexican Salsa
Directions:
Rice;
Cook the rice, I usually just the 5 min rice. Flavor the rice with a little butter, salt and pepper. To add extra flavor add some dry basil.
Bean;
I cook the beans with terracotta pan with a little bit of oil, it helps to add flavor and make them mushier. Once they are cooked I just add a bit of salt and pepper to taste.
Corn;
Corn is the most simple out of all of them. All you need to do is open a can of corn and warm the up in the microwave with a little bit of butter, salt and pepper.
Veggies;
Chop all the veggie.
Layer all the ingredients in a bowl with a soft taco shell with some melted cheese at the bottom. Add sour cream and salsa on the sides and serve.
Level Of Difficulty – Easy
Tags: Beans, Celery, Cheese, Corn, Difficulty- Easy, Lettuce, Onions, Rice, Salsa, Soft Taco Shells, Sour Cream, Taco Salad, Tomatoes
