Blueberry Muffins

What does every meal at my moms include? Blueberry Muffins of course. My nephews love them, so a batch gets whipped up for each special meal and baked in small muffin tins to make them bite size.

Blueberry Muffins

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup Sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup oil

1 egg, beaten

1 cup blueberries

1 tsp. lemon or orange zest

Heat oven to 400 degrees

Grease bottom only of muffin cups or paper line. In medium bowl, combine dry ingredients, mix well. In small bowl, combine wet ingredients. Add to dry and mix just until moist. Add one cup of blueberries and 1 tsp. lemon or orange zest.

If baking large (regular) muffin bake 20 to 25 minutes. When making mini muffins bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pork Chops w/Maple Dressing

It is that time of year and the sap is flowing. Here is one of my favorite recipes.

Pork Chops w/Maple Dressing

Add about 2 tablespoons of oil to your pan and heat. Season your pork chops with salt and pepper and add to your hot pan. Depending on the thickness of your chops fry on each side for about 5 minutes. Once you have flipped your chops once drizzle with maple syrup, (just eyeball it so each chop is coated) then add about 1 tablespoon of spicy mustard. Stir that into the maple syrup and let your chops hang out until fully cooked.

This makes a wonderful glaze on your pork chops. I am sorry to anyone that needs measurements for their recipes, but I’m a dumper. I seldom make anything the same way twice.

Fudge Brownies

Fudge Brownies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan

In a medium-sized saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to combine. Return the mixture to the heat briefly, just until it's hot, but not bubbling; it'll become shiny looking as you stir it. Heating this mixture as second time will dissolve more of the sugar, which will yield a shiny top crust on your brownies.

While the sugar heats a second time, crack the 4 eggs into a bowl, and beat them with the cocoa, salt, baking powder, and vanilla until smooth.

Add the hot butter/sugar mixture, stirring until smooth.

Add the flour and chips again, stirring until smooth.
*Note: If you want the chips to remain intact in the baked brownies, rather than melting in, let the batter cool in the bowl for a few minutes before stirring in the chips.

Spoon the batter into a lightly greased 9" x 13" pan.

Bake the brownies for about 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Remove them from the oven and cool on a rack before cutting.

Enjoy.

Adapted from King Arthur Flour

Chicken Parmesan

This is the best Chicken Parmesan I have made so far. It was so moist.

Chicken Parmesan

1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper
3 large egg
1 tbsp. water
vegetable cooking spray

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied and cut into halves (4 pieces total)
2 cups marinara sauce, warmed
about 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp. minced fresh basil

Directions:
Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Combine the breadcrumbs and oil in a 12-inch skillet and toast over medium heat until golden, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Spread the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish and allow to cool slightly; when cool, stir in the Parmesan.

In a second shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper together. In a third shallow dish whisk together the egg whites and water.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with vegetable oil spray. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each chicken piece in the flour to coat completely, shaking off the excess. Then dip into the egg and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Press on the breadcrumbs to make sure they adhere. Place the chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake until the chicken is no longer pink and feels firm when pressed with a finger, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven. Spoon 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce over the top of each piece of chicken and top with 2 tablespoons of the shredded mozzarella. Return the chicken to the oven and continue to bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the fresh basil and serve as desired, with extra Parmesan and marinara sauce.

Adapted from: Annie Eats