The Cozy Little Kitchen

Baked Brownie Pudding at Inspired By Family Magazine!

2012-03-05T10:27:00.001-06:00

Good Morning, Lovelies!

I'm excited to be able to share my recipe for Baked Brownie Pudding at Inspired By Family magazine today! I feel honored that they have asked me to be a contributor at their family-oriented magazine, and I'm really excited to continue to share my food articles there! This brownie dessert is scrumptious!!! I really hope you'll go over and visit for a while to see my recipe and check out some of the other fun stuff that's happening at Inspired By Family.

I hope everyone had as good of a weekend as I did. After terribly tornadic weather last week, we had a beautiful weekend to enjoy!

(I have to interject, that I thank the Lord for His protection on our family and friends when there were deadly tornadoes all around. I pray for the grieving families in Illinois and Indiana! I'm so sorry for your loss.)

I don't know about you, but I can feel spring in the air, and I'm loving it already! :)

Good Morning!

2012-02-23T11:22:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to give you a glimpse of my morning.

It's devotional time. A time to pray and spend some time with the Lord. I really like this little devotional Mr. Cozy gave me for Christmas a few years ago. I can't help but read through it every year since. I have to say that my relationship with Jesus Christ is what sustains me everyday! I love Him and I want to know Him better. I'll be the very first to say that I'm not even close to perfect! At all. Not close. I don't strive for just "perfection", but I strive for Christ and want to be more like Him. I love Him not just for what He does for me, but who He is! I only hope that at the end of my life one day (after living a very long, healthy, happy life, in Jesus' name!) I hope to look back on my years and truly be able to say that I lived for Jesus and carried out His purpose in my life!

That's the ultimate legacy to leave behind.

So thankful to my loving husband to go on this journey of life with me. In the ups and downs--and trust me when I say we have them both!-- God has blessed me with a husband that is a perfect fit whom I'm crazy in love with!!!

So, here with my coffee in my morning chair or "reading chair" by the fireplace, I wake up. There's nothing like coffee, some Jesus time, and an embrace from my hubby that's just the fuel I need to start off my day!

I hope your day is a blessed one. :)

(This is a favorite mug of mine that Mom gave me one Valentine's Day. I love what it says, ha!!)

Creamy Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

2012-02-20T19:20:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone is having a good start to the week. I just got off work today and decided to start a new post of something, savory!!! It's kinda crazy, right? Ha, it seems like I've had a big sweet tooth in the cozy little kitchen the past couple of months. Today I'm sharing a recipe of one of my all-time favorite soups, broccoli-cheese! This was the very first time for me to make this soup at home! I knew I was going to make it the moment I saw it on The Pioneer Woman t.v. show a couple of weeks ago. I made it that very night--and like all the rest of her recipes-- it looked so good !

This is her recipe that I've tweaked to make it a little more healthy. Instead of half and half and whole milk, I used whole and skim milk -with maybe a small dash of half n half. (Mom likes using evaporated milk in soups to make it creamy--I need to try that out sometime.) I added some Canadian bacon that I already had in the fridge. It still lends that smoky pork flavor that the soup needs, and it's much leaner than bacon because it's actually pork loin. I love Canadian bacon! I also cut the amount of butter she used in half and added a bit of olive oil.

For all you broccoli & cheese fans, this soup is sooo yummy. Unfortunately, Mr. Cozy really doesn't like broccoli & cheese anything!

Sorry Honey, but that's just weird!

He even compares the taste to old shoes. Gross. Forgive me for sharing this mental image. :/ I have no idea how he could ever think that about this recipe, but that just means more for moi!!!!

Fresh beautiful broccoli in a creamy soup oozing with cheddar cheese and flavors of smoky pork, this is a comfort food no doubt! If you're like me and make a pot of soup every week in the winter, then this one should make the rotation soon. Cozy up with a bowl of creamy broccoli-cheddar soup!

Creamy Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

1 onion, diced

3 slices Canadian bacon, diced small

1/2 stick (1/4 c.) butter

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/3 c. flour

4 c. whole milk

2 c. skim milk

4 heads broccoli, washed and cut into florets

1 pinch nutmeg

3 c. freshly grated cheddar cheese (I used sharp, but use whatever you want)

dash of salt

black pepper

chicken broth, if needed for thinning

Melt butter and olive oil in a pot over medium heat, then add the Canadian bacon to brown for about 2 minutes. Take out and set aside for later. Add onions and bit more butter, if needed. Cook the onions for 3-4 minutes, then sprinkle the flour over the top.

Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute or so, then pour in milk. Add nutmeg, then add broccoli, a small dash of salt, and plenty of black pepper.

Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.

Add the Canadian bacon pieces.

(Next, I used an immersion blender to blend the soup altogether making the broccoli into smaller bits. You can definitely choose not to do this part if you want!)

Stir in cheese and allow to melt.

Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Add a bit of chicken broth or more milk to thin out if needed.

Serve in a delicious bread bowl if you dare! (SO yummy, but I had to restrain for the waistline, this time!)

Enjoy!

I'm linking up with:

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T09:10:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentines Day!!!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, for whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16, ESV

Today I'm featuring a food article, at the lovely Inspired by Family Magazine, that is so scrumptious! It would be perfect for a special occasion like today. I hope you can go check it out and look around the magazine!

Thank you for all the love you've shown me with your sweet words that you leave in my comment box. I've been floored over the past year by the attention some of my recipes have received! I am blessed you have ya'll as not only followers, but friends. :)

I hope today you are shown extra love, and have the chance to bless someone else, too!

Your Friend,

Leslie

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Thank you to Annie Oakley's Kitchen for giving me this wonderful award!!!

Liebster is a German word that literally translates to "dearest", "favorite", and "beloved". By giving this award, you are saying that "This is a favorite and beloved blog."

I feel blessed and humbled to receive such a sweet award! Thank you, again!

Today, I want to share the love by honoring 5 other blogs with this award! The winners of the award are posted below. Please take the time for check out these wonderful blogs that I enjoy reading!

Below are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award.

3. Pick our favorite 5 blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog so they know they received an award.

4. Hope the 5 blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to 5 other beloved blogs.

A Little Country House and Vintage Market

Aurora Blythe

Coffee, Chaos, and Contentment

Shareen's Food and Cooking Blog

Daffodil Hill

Super Duper Simple! Chocolate Chip Pancakes

2012-02-04T16:29:00.000-06:00

(I have to preface this post with, just about 10 minutes ago was a fiasco around here! Mr. Cozy was off to the store to grab a few things, and I thought I'd start this new post. Well, somehow after about 2 pictures --the way I always start assembling my posts-- I hit the publish button instead of preview! Oh no!! So in a frenzy I somehow managed to knock my coffee mug over off the coffee table onto my new rug and favorite cable knit throw in the world!!

The entire mug of coffee. Everywhere. Big big mess!

So here I am after cleaning all of that up, thankfully able to wash the throw on a gentle cycle, and back to being in a frenzy to publish this as a real post! Yes, I have my crazy moments, too! :)

Chocolate chip pancakes are a great way to start off the weekend! This is almost an embarrassingly simple recipe, I just got excited while making them and wanted to take some pictures to share!

Mr. Cozy actually started making chocolate chips pancakes like this in high school, and now it's a favorite of ours when we want to splurge at breakfast! It's just a fancied up box mix recipe that delicious and easy!
Have a yummy--Superbowl!-- weekend!

Super Duper Simple Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Box Pancake mix (I used Maple Grove Farms of Vermont)

Vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)

Butter

Chocolate Chips

Maple syrup

(Yes, these are not gourmet!)

In a bowl, follow pancake mix directions and then add a drizzle of vanilla bean paste or vanilla and mix into the batter. This pairs so well with chocolate!

Set batter aside.

In a large pan over medium-low heat, hold a stick of butter by the paper, and swirl it around the pan a couple of time to coat.

Drop batter and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Flip over when pancakes gets bubbly and edges slightly brown.

Cook just another minute or so.....(not sure why I'm giving you a step by step of pancakes. Haha, I'm not a perfect pancake maker by any means, but this is just how I do it.) Remove the cooked pancakes, put on a plate and cover with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.

Wipe off butter in between and add more in between batches, so the browned butter doesn't end up burning. This happens to me most of the time, it seems!!

Stack up as high as you like, and serve with warm maple syrup....I have it on here, but the camera doesn't seem to capture the pale amber goodness descending down the fluffy pancakes!

MmmMmm!

I said they were easy to make!

I have to show you how cute this little candle "sweater" is!! Thank you, Sarah!

I'm linking up with!

Maple Fried Apples

2012-02-02T08:41:00.000-06:00

Fried apples remind me of...home.

It's a comfort food to me, because Mom has made them for special breakfasts all my life! Places like Cracker Barrel have made fried apples more popular, but to me there's nothing like them made from scratch! When they're so easy to make, why not?

I use two different kinds of apple--Granny Smith for tartness and Jonagold's for sweetness--and the contrasting colors of red and green are so appealing to the eyes! Adding real maple syrup and walnuts along with some warm spices, trust me when I say these apples are melt in your mouth goodness!

Fried apples are good to eat with any country breakfast or dinner, for that matter! But they are also a wonderful addition over pancakes (with extra maple syrup) or stirred into old fashioned oatmeal--that's how Mr. Cozy ate are them over the weekend. Whatever way you decide to eat fried apples, they will lend a bit of sweetness that's sure to be delicious!!!

Seriously, wherever I eat fried apples, I'm taken back to Mom's kitchen in a waft of cinnamon and sugar....

You've heard it said before, and I find it's true, that there's no place like home!

( Like many things that I've always remembered "just making", I don't have an exact recipe for fried apples. Don't worry, these are very easy to make and hard to mess up! Honestly, you can be very creative and add whatever sugar or spice you prefer. I tried to make them with at least a little bit of health in mind, so this time the only sugar I used was the maple syrup, but brown sugar is AMAZING or molasses. I like the combination of cinnamon and apple pie spice, because it that you have all of the flavors that compliment apples. Also, I used walnuts for their Omega 3's, but pecans would also be delish. I keep the peel on the apple for the fiber and color, but peel them if you like. I hope you love this recipe, too!)

Maple Fried Apples

Butter, the real thing!

2 Jonagold apples, unpeeled and sliced

1 Granny Smith apple, unpeeled and sliced

Lemon Juice

Real Maple Syrup

Cinnamon

Apple Pie Spice

Walnuts (or Pecans)

Be sure to wash your apples well before slicing since we're not peeling them. Slice them not too thin or thick, so they won't completely lose shape. Squeeze lemon juice over apples while they sit.

In a medium sized cast iron skillet, add about 3 Tbsp. of butter and turn on medium heat.

When butter is mostly melted and sizzling, add apples and about 3 Tbsp. maple syrup. Stir.

Add a couple dashes of cinnamon and a few dashes of apple pie spice. Stir everything together well, and allow this to cook for a few minutes until apples begin to get tender.

Add walnuts and cook a few minutes more until apple get more tender, the buttery syrup thickens, and all the flavors combine. (I carefully do a taste test here to decide if I need to add any more syrup or spice.)

Serve warm from the pan!

Makes 2-3 servings

I'm linking up with:

Luscious Meyer Lemon Cake with Lemon Glaze

2012-01-25T17:36:00.000-06:00

Maria: I am Maria Portokalos, and welcome, welcome to our home

Harriet: (hands bundt cake to Maria)

Maria: Oh. Thank you... What is it?

Harriet: It's a bundt

Maria: Bun?

Harriet: Bundt

Maria: Bun, buh...bonk, bonk, bonk

Harriet: BUNDT

Maria: Bonnnnnnn...tt

Harriet: BUNDT, BUNDDD..TTT

(whispers)

Maria: It's a CAKE! I know! Thank you, thank you very very much.

Maria: ....(aside) There's a hole in this cake...

(We LOVE "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", and my husband insisted I add this dialog! Hilarious. Now I always think of this scene when I see a bundt cake!!)

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We have a big lemon sweet tooth around here, and this lusciously moist cake is my new addition!

Adapted from Nigella Lawson's lemon cake recipe, this is Meyer Lemon Cake with my own lemon glaze!!

Isn't she a gleaming sweet and tart beauty!

I chose to use Meyer lemons because they are a treat that I look forward to every year around this time. They are not so bright yellow and not so tart. Basically, a cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon. They are delicious in desserts or served with sweet tea. I also made a lemon meringue pie with these last year, scrumptious!

I'm glad that I decided to use a bundt pan for this recipe! Personally, I think cakes with a glaze look prettier in a pan where it can seep down the sides to show off the lovely curves of the cake.

Incredibly moist and decadent, this luscious cake is sure to be loved by anyone who loves cake.

Or lemons.

Or dessert, for that matter!!!

It's a cold rainy night here, so I think I'm gonna get cozy in my favorite chair by the fire and help myself to a slice!

Have a wonderful night and stay warm!

Luscious Meyer Lemon Cake

1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks), softened

2 c. sugar

3 eggs

3 c. unbleached all-purpose flour, sifted

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. buttermilk (or sour cream)

2 tightly packed Tbsp. grated lemon zest

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

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Lemon Glaze

I don't go by a strict recipe:

Powdered sugar

Fresh lemon juice

Butter

Stir together about 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar and just a few tablespoons of lemon juice together. (To make a glaze like consistency.)

Add 1 Tbsp. butter and microwave just until the butter nearly melts.

With a whisk, stir everything together until very smooth.

As I say in the directions, whenever I add the "final glaze" I also add more sugar for it to really thicken, so it will very slowly drizzle down and not completely get soaked up by the cake.

You can alter this recipe to suit your taste. It's a very simple, but delicious glaze for this cake!

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Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 10 in. tube or Bundt pan.

(Here's all the ingredients minus buttermilk)

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs one at a time, blending well after each one.

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.

Stir in dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Add lemon zest and juice.

Pour batter into prepared cake pan.

Set on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 1 hr. and 5 minutes, or until cake pulls away from sides of pan and tester pick comes out clean.

(Clean up your mess while it's baking.....here's just a portion of mine?!!)

Cool cake in the pan and set on rack for 10 minutes.

Take cake out of pan and using a fork or toothpick, make holes in the top of the cake. Pour half of the glaze on while it's still hot.

Let it sit for a bit longer for the glaze to soak in and the cake to cool more. About 15 minutes.

(Here's where if you make it the day before, you can loosely wrap the cake plate with foil and refrigerate for the glaze to make the cake extremely moist and delicious.)

Add a little more powdered sugar to make the glaze thicker and drizzle the rest over the cake.

YUM!

Eat immediately for warm from the oven taste although if you refrigerate it overnight it will be incredibly moist the next day!

( I had to "clean up" the reminder of the piece I cut.

Everyone knows the gooey goodness on the bottom is the best part! :)

If you are interested in this recipe, you have to check out a semi-homemade lemon cake family recipe that's a favorite of mine!

(Recently I've been having trouble linking up each linksy party icon to every blog, so I put them on the sidebar...but my husband is helping me figure out another way! Sorry Linsky host friends for the confusion!!)

Linking up with:

Sweet Treats Thursday

Cozy Brown Sugar Bars

2012-01-17T11:59:00.001-06:00

You may be thinking, another dessert recipe from Leslie!?? Ha, why yes it is. Contrary to how it appears, I haven't been skipping meals for dessert! (Only in my dreams:) I've still been making things like delicious pork loin with balsamic glaze and apples, enchiladas with favorite black beans, chili and cast iron skillet cornbread, marinated chicken fingers with roasted yukon gold potatoes....on and on. I do still make entrees, but my pictures of most of them are awful since they're prepared at night and pictures are taken with a flash. Bad excuse, but true! I promise I'll be better at bringing you some savory recipes soon!!!

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My family came over this weekend, and it was great! I made a big pan homemade lasagna, green salad and garlic toasted whole grain bread with kalamata extra virgin olive oil (Trader Joe's) for dipping! I have to say that I think bread and e.v. olive oil is one of the best healthy indulgences ever! So yummy and heart healthy, just don't eat too much!

When they arrived, I had some fresh apple cider with cinnamon sticks and cloves simmering on the stove top! There's nothing more inviting on a cold day than to come in for something hot to drink. Warms your body and soul!

I had just pulled these brown sugar bars out of the oven not long before everyone arrived! Freshly dusted with powdered sugar, they were waiting with the cider piled high on an eyelet trimmed tea towel on a dainty pedestal.

These moist and chewy bar cookies are a treat I used to make when we lived in Louisville for cell group at church. They always seemed to be a hit, because they'd be wiped out in just a few minutes!

Brown Sugar bars are incredibly simple to make and require only a few ingredients! Yes, they do contain sugar, but to my surprise there is no butter (or oil) at all in the recipe! They taste more decadent that they are.

I like to add chopped pecans to them and shower them with powdered sugar to give them a beautiful finish. This is a Paula Deen recipe from her Just Desserts cookbook, that I love!

I'm sure you'll find these brown sugar bars the perfect little treat to whip up! Just right on a chilly, wintry day (or stormy one like it is here...) these gooey centered-crispy edged bars are divine with a glass of milk, coffee or hot apple cider!

Brown Sugar Bars

Makes 16 2-in. squares

1 egg

1 c. brown sugar, lightly packed

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. chopped pecans or other nut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 in. square pan. (I used Pam for baking.)

Stir together egg, sugar and vanilla in a bowl.

Sift (or whisk) together flour, soda and salt in a smaller bowl.

Quickly stir flour mixture into egg mixture. Add most of the nuts.

Spread in pan and sprinkle on the rest of the nuts.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. The batter will puff up and get golden around the edges, but stay very moist inside.

(This past time I thought I should bake it a few minutes longer, because I thought the inside needed more time. Well, I kind of over baked them a little! So unless your oven is not too accurate, 20 minutes should be plenty of time!)

Allow them to cool for at least 25 minutes and carefully cut them up. I made 16 small squares.

Using a sifter, shower them with as much powdered sugar as you please!!!

See how pretty they become?

Be sure and check out all parties (on my sidebar) that I'm linked up to!

Warm & Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-01-07T21:18:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling under the weather today with a myriad of allergy and sinus problems, in turn swimming in Kleenexs at this point. I'm disappointed because we were going to have my family come over today (they live away, so it's always an exciting visit), but when I woke up with a pounding headache and trouble breathing I knew today wouldn't be a good day for that. Unfortunately. So we're going to try to make the visit happen next weekend!

I so enjoy when we have visitors. Family or friends! We love having loved ones over to our house while I fix a big meal or watch a movie with some homemade popcorn...or just whatever! I have to admit that I'm generally a private person ( I don't just spill my problems to just anyone), but I still want our home to have an open door!! One day we hope this also goes for our children's friends. We want to be the "fun house" to come to! :)

And you know, sometimes it's nice for a girlfriend, sister or Mom to come over and have deep conversation about what going on in life over some coffee or sweet tea. I think God wants us to be there for the people in our lives. I know we're all quite busy these days, but when you know someone may be in need of a hug or a listening ear, they should be able to have someone to lean on.

That someone may be you or I!

Enter these delicious cookies.

I made some of these for Mr. Cozy's parents, who came over for a really nice visit yesterday. His dad brought his truck over so we could load up some firewood a neighbor-friend was giving us. While they were doing all the hard work (thanks guys!!) my mother-in-love and I had a cookie with some hot cocoa and a good talk! It was a good time!

I decided I wanted to make some cozy oatmeal cookies! Is it just me, or is there something almost comforting about eating a warm oatmeal cookie?

I love them with raisins or dried cranberries or nuts, but this time we agreed that chocolate chips sounded the best! It a perfect combo of the classic oatmeal cookie and favorite chocolate chip cookie! I decided to add a tinge of cinnamon in these to give it the warmth I'm crazy about this time of year. This recipe turned out great! I have to say though, I made just a few yesterday (the ones in the pics) and refrigerated the rest of the dough, and just made a couple more today after the dough been in the fridge 24 hours. They are better today! They turned out a little thicker with a richer flavor!!! So I highly recommend refrigerating the dough before baking...if you can wait that long, that is!

I wanted to show ya'll a bit of my "winter kitchen" nook with my new snowman tea towel Mom gave me for Christmas and my Cookies platter with snowflakes, that I love! There in front of that is our pretty little red and white hot chocolate maker that was a Christmas gift from my dear friend, Shareen, and her husband. (Check out her blog if you haven't already! She is a lovely person all around with some delicious recipes!) We love to make real hot chocolate on an occasional cold winter's night! I'll have to feature it sometime. :)

I hope that you oatmeal cookie fans out there get the chance to make a batch of these scrumptious, chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on a chilly afternoon. I know that you'll love them, too!

Warm & Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen

1 c. butter, softened
1 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste)
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3 c. old fashioned oats
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1 c. walnuts or pecan, chopped (optional)

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.

Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended.

Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.

They will spread some, so allow ample room!

Bake for 12 minutes in a 325 degree preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

I'm linking up with:

Addicting Nutella Puppy Chow & Christmas Memories to Share!

2012-01-05T10:22:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year!
Sorry I've been neglecting my blog through the Christmas festivities. I've really missed sharing all of the fun memories that have been made and recipes that we love! So here I go trying to rewind and catch you up, my Friends!!!

I wanted to start off by sharing a new recipe I just made on New Years Eve!

How can you improve upon that famously delicious, snow dusted treat of puppy chow? Well, I have a different version for you that I believe many will think is just as good, if not better! Nutella puppy chow! I wish I thought of this confection myself, but I didn't. I saw it on Pinterest and a couple of other food blogs that I love.

I did tweak it a bit. I used Nutella and chocolate chips for the base and kept the hazelnuts chopped instead of grinding them, for I like an extra crunch! Also, I wanted to add a splash of vanilla extract because we're huge vanilla fans. It only adds an undertone of warmth. I revised the recipe on here to be like the one I used, and it is sooo good!

I have it in a large tin I kept out from Christmas, so that we can nosh on it anytime we want a little sweet! What a perfect frosted snack to start off the new year! Now, all we need is some real snow! (Come on, 60 degrees in January? Eww.) I'm sure it'll some soon enough, but until then I'm going to be here in my cozy, snowman decorated home!

Nutella Puppy Chow

1 12 oz. box wheat/corn/rice cereal like Chex or Crispix

3/4 c. butter

1 1/4 c. Nutella

1 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 c. chopped hazelnuts, toasted

4 c. powdered sugar (may want more or less, to taste)

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In a 350 degree oven, roast hazelnuts until fragrant, about 7-8 minutes

Here you can grind up hazelnuts finely if you want (I chose to keep them chopped)

Put cereal in a large bowl and set aside

In a pan over med-low heat, melt chocolate chips and butter, stirring constantly

When all is melted, remove from heat and stir in Nutella and vanilla until all is mixed in

Add hazelnuts and stir well

Pour over cereal

I used my hands to stir. I think it's easier than a spoon, but be sure and not burn yourself! The consistency will be very thick and take a few minutes to incorporate altogether. Takes time, but it well worth it!

Dump the mixture into a large paper bag or a gallon sized storage bag and pour in the powdered sugar, starting with a little at a time. Add more sugar until it's coated enough for you. I like it to be amost white myself....very frosty looking!

This will keep for a week if stored well sealed.

Enjoy. Every. Clumpy. Morsel!

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I want to share with you some highlights of our Christmas 2011. We were very blessed this year, being able to go home and visit all of our family! We received more wonderful gifts than I could ask for or imagine! God helped Mr. Cozy and I to give some great little gifts ourselves. :) *Fun*

In our home, Christmas is truly about the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ! I cannot thank God enough for sending His Son down to earth to literally DIE for our sins (all my sins) and redeem us!!! Jesus is risen and I can't wait to see Him in my Heavenly home one day with my baby girl and other loved ones!

That's really what "Merry Christmas" is all about!

I have to show you the dessert table at my parents house. Mom had all of these incredible desserts! Well, I made the Christmas tree linzer cookies.

There was fresh coconut cake, fudge, pecan pie, Mom's famous chocolate peanut butter balls and chocolate cupcakes!

(Not seen) Also, wassail and creamy boiled custard.

(Mind you, this is a dinner for just 6!)

There was so much goodness going around in our tummies!

Mom's table was set beautifully. It was an elegant candlelit dinner, complete with a little nutcracker for everyone!

The big Christmas tree at my parents. Stuffed with oodles of memories. And candy canes. And lights!!

"Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go!"

It was a beautiful Christmas Eve! I had to take a picture of the wispy, paint brushed clouds floating in the crisp winter sky!

Grandmother always sets an incredibly elegant table! It's always candlelit and sparkly. I love going over there for dinner on Christmas Eve!

This next one is on Christmas morning after we've opened all of our gifts at my parents. We've already showered and changed here.

Christmas morning starts off waking up to my parents singing "We wish you a merry Christmas" outside the door (instead of an alarm. No joke. This is a long-standing tradition)! Then enjoying a homemade peppermint mocha--thanks to my sweet mom!--wearing our new Christmas pj's (of course!) and an exciting couple of hours of opening each present one by one!

I still LOVE waking up to Christmas morning! I have to say it's my favorite day of the year!

I am such a kid.

We've just arrived at my In-Love's house. Mr. Cozy is tackling the gifts to take inside!

(Thanks, Handsome!)

The beautiful Christmas table scape at my mother-in-love's house. I want her eggplant walls!

I'm a happy girl!

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I have to rewind a few more days, and share with you just a few of the highlights of my family's Smoky Mountain Christmas vacation! It was a dream vacation for all of us to get together and stay in a cabin in the mountains right before Christmas! I can't thank my parents enough for this trip!!! It's one we'll never forget...one of the best!!!

We very much enjoyed our huge, yet incredibly cozy cabin!

One night required a Christmas movie and some peppermint hot cocoa!

Complete in a cute snowman mug!!

Day of shopping at my favorite, The Village. Here I am with my mom and sister! We're so excited!

My favorite coffee place in a little nook at The Village. I felt as though I was in a quaint corner somewhere in Bavaria! Or in a little gingerbread town. :) Either way, it's my kind of place!

The beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

I love this one!

My happy parents on our little hiking adventure! I love them!

It was so beautiful and serene there by the creek.

Look at this amazing fireplace at Flapjacks! We ate a big breakfast here one morning.

The Village that I loved to shop at.

Drinking snicker doodle coffee at my favorite place!

Well, that was just a very tiny glimpse of what fun we had! It was a trip for the decades, and a Christmas we'll never forget!

The Barefoot Contessa's Shortbread Cookies

2011-12-11T14:34:00.001-06:00

Last night I made shortbread cookies for the very first time...this was a very good decision!

These cookies are DREAMY!!!

I chose to make Ina Garten's (The Barefoot Contessa) recipe, because everything I've made of hers has always made me look like a better cook than I really am! These cookies are so easy to make, and they are incredibly buttery, light and delicious!!! My husband loves shortbread cookies, and he went wild over these! Well, we both did!

These cookies are "deceptively light", as Mr. Cozy said, because of all the butter that's actually in them! I've been wanting to make these for some time, so I thought what's a better time to try a new cookie recipe than at Christmas?!?

So after sugaring half of them and dipping the the other half batch of cookies in tempered semisweet Scharffen Berger chocolate we had to indulge in a couple while watching The Holiday in front of the fire last night. Sigh. Perfect night with my hubby!

Today we're enjoying just a couple more with milk and are now going to our neighbor's homes to deliver the rest! What is better than receiving a surprise tin of homemade cookies around Christmas-time, and perhaps in return you get to spend a little time with people you don't often see! After that, we will be having a wrapping "party". Sounds more fun that way, right?!

The Barefoot Contessa's Shortbread Cookies

3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

(I also used some sparkling sugar for sprinkling)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 to 7 ounces "very good" semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

(I used about 4 oz. because I wanted to leave half the batch plain.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined.

Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt.

(This sifter has seen better days...)

Add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture.

Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.

Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a 3 by 1-inch finger-shaped cutter.
I used a 1 1/2 in. round biscuit cutter instead.

Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.

When the cookies are cool, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Put half of the chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Stir with a wooden spoon. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second increments until the chocolate is just melted. Add the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. Stir vigorously until the chocolate is smooth and slightly cooled; stirring makes it glossier.

(This method is tempering. It prevents the chocolate from burning and ensures a very smooth and glossy finish even after cooled.)

Drizzle 1/2 of each cookie with just enough chocolate to coat it.

Eat up or Give Away--Either way, you'll get pleasure!

Amazing Chocolate Praline Bark & Christmas Decor

2011-12-06T21:06:00.001-06:00

I'm pretty excited to share with you with a recipe I just made last night! It's soooo good! Buttery like toffee, sugary like pralines and rich with chocolate....it's delicious and so easy to make!

I've made versions that are very similar to this --thanks to Shareen!-- but I just kind of winged this recipe with what I had and it turned out scrumptious!

I was trying to make something to give to my husband to take to work today for his fellow med students. I wanted to use ingredients that I had on hand, because it was a very cold, rainy night last night and I really didn't want to get back out to the grocery. I was just fine in my snuggly home that I do not take for granted!

I wanted to make something that I don't usually make, but something incredible!

This chocolate praline bark really fit the bill! We were both surprised at how addicting these little things are.

I must say though, I made all of them to only eat 2 tiny pieces! It was very bittersweet to give all of these yummies away, although I do LOVE baking for other! Especially at Christmas-time!

It's a time for giving.

These little goodies would be perfect gifts to package up! Simple and easy with everyday ingredients. You can really add whatever candy you want on top, but whatever you do you must use the pecans! We both agreed that they not only make the house smell unbelievably cozy while baking, but they really make this candy over the top!!

I hope this chocolate praline bark gives you a new idea to add to your baking-palooza this holiday season!

(Enjoyed my fire this morning, and isn't this little gingerbread tea pot adorable!? I love him:)

Christmas-Time Chocolate Praline Bark

1 sleeve graham crackers

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. brown sugar, packed well

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1 c. pecans, roughly chopped

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

2 squares chocolate "bark"/candy coating, chopped

1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cover a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray.

Lay out the graham crackers right next to each other on the sheet pan.

In a saucepan, melt butter and sugar together and bring it to a boil for 2 minutes. Take off the heat; add vanilla.

Pour mixture over the graham crackers. Spread with spoon if you need to reach all the corners.

Sprinkle pecans evenly all over the top and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt chopped chocolate bark carefully. (I did it in the microwave). I melted in 30 second intervals, stirring in between to avoid burning. When bark is melted, add chocolate chips. Stir until melted and heat a few more second in microwave if you need to. Please remember chocolate burn easily.

(I did add a tiny smidgen of corn syrup here to give the chocolate a gloss. Optional.)

When the praline bark comes out of the oven, wait a few minutes, then sprinkle white chocolate chips all over and drizzle with melted chocolate.

Refrigerate to harden up faster. Will only take about 30 minutes.

Break your yummy candy into shards to resemble bark. Store tightly and enjoy!

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I wanted to share with you a bit more of my Christmas decor! I decorate my home to my taste...something that's cozy-classic with a bit of whimsy!

He's my very favorite little birdie! Gotta love the hat!

I got these stockings last year at an antique&gift shop. I thought they were cute!

The basket is for our Christmas cards we receive.

I Simply Remember my Favorite Things....Coca Cola Birthday Cake and Christmas!

2011-12-03T22:02:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday to Mr. Cozy!!!

We celebrated with his parents by each enjoying a slice of coke cake --as we call it--which is a long standing favorite birthday cake with some cinnamon hazelnut coffee! It was a perfect night of catching up with family that doesn't get to visit too often. It started by going out for a nice dinner and coming back to our place for a delish dessert by the cozy Christmas tree. We both felt blessed!

Here are my (favorite!) Christmas dishes. They are Johnson Bros. Old Britain Castles Pink Christmas Green Tree.

I came across 4 salad/dessert plates in T.J. Maxx with my Mom a couple years ago and grabbed them. Never thinking I'd run across anymore.

October of that year Mr. Cozy and I went to Asheville, NC for our 5th Anniversary and I randomly stumbled upon 6 more of them in an adorable store in Hendersonville, NC! I was thrilled! So now I have 10 of those plates! I usually use them for dessert.

My parents gave me 10 mugs last year as part of my Christmas (thanks, Mom!) and now I'm set for dessert and coffee during the holiday season!

The pattern is so pretty and delicate. It's an vintage/antique pattern and that's probably why I like it so much. I am very much into a red and green Christmas with lots of old fashioned and nostalgia mixed in. To me, there is nothing cozier than that! :)

Back to the yummies!
Have you ever had a Coca Cola cake before? It's something that's apparently a Southern favorite, but I'd never heard of it before I celebrated a birthday with my husband.

This is one of his most requested birthday cakes that he grew up asking for. It's usually made in a sheet pan with a delicious, drippy chocolate-y icing. But I wanted to make it look just a little more special this year by making it into a layered cake. I found this equally delicious, less drippy, recipe online that's just right! Everyone agreed it was so good, even my mother-in-love, and it's her cake recipe!

This decadent cake is made with Coke but tastes like an incredibly rich chocolate cake. There's also lots of chocolate, melted marshmallows and buttermilk to make an incredibly moist cake.

Topped with toasted pecans and chocolate shavings for a look that's totally birthday worthy!

The icing recipe I used is one that's perfect for a layered cake. It has a more firm consistency than a recipe I have for a sheet cake. That one is poured over the cake while still warm! (Mmmm, I'll have to share that soon!)

This icing recipe is heaven. It's difficult not to taste test from the bowl too often!

I mean, doesn't it look like a whipped chocolate cloud?

Sigh!

Just in time for the festive parties and gatherings, this cake would be a show stopper on a chilly December night with a hot cup of coffee or a frosty glass of milk!

Whatever you do today, remember the true reason for this wonderful holiday, Christmas. It's the birthday celebration of our Savior and my Lord, Jesus Christ!

Why not make a cake for His birthday?

Coca Cola Cake

2. c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter

1 1/2 c. small marshmallows

1/2 c. oil

1 c. Coke(any brand)

1/2 c. low fat buttermilk

2 eggs,set out for 30 minutes if possible

3 Tbsp. cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla extract

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sift dry ingredients together.

Melt butter, marshmallows, oil and Coke.

Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients.Add buttermilk, vanilla and eggs. Beat well.

(Notice my new stand mixer hard at work for me!)

Pour batter into 2 well greased and floured (I like baking sprays) 8" pans.

Bake @ 325 degrees for about 40-45 minutes or until set and toothpick come out clean.

Coca Cola Frosting

(This is my modified version of what I found on Relish. com. The exact proportions of chocolate and sugar may vary according to your own taste.)

1 c. butter (2 stick)

1/4 c. Coke

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. cocoa powder

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted

1 lb. powdered sugar, sifted

1 c. pecans, toasted

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cream butter in bowl using a mixer until smooth.

Add Coke and vanilla. Mix on low speed until smooth.

Add cocoa powder and chocolate. Mix 'till smooth and scrape down sides of bowl.

Beat in sugar 1/2 c. at a time on low. Keeping mixer on low, beating until very smooth.

Icing is best made one day ahead.

The night before, I assembled the cake once cooled. I spread a very thin layer of icing (don't have a picture) on the cake to seal in the moisture and it helps icing the rest of the cake much easier next day.

Refrigerate the cake overnight.

(In between the layers I put icing and some of the toasted pecans.)

Ice the cake smooth, then for a whipped looking effect, use the back of a spoon to makes swirls all over the cake!

Ganish the top with toasted pecans or stir in them in the icing.

Here's my old fashioned, traditional Christmas tree that we love!
(There will be more decor pictures to come:)

Merry Christmas!!!

Patti's 1880s Settlement Sawdust Pie

2011-11-18T21:32:00.001-06:00

(Don't you want a piece??)

This incredible slice of Sawdust Pie, is from a favorite local restaurant that is known for their over-the-top seasonal decor, 2 in. pork chops, "mile high" meringue pies and I also think their sawdust pie! This beloved eatery is Patti's 1880's Settlement in the small yet charming, lakeside town of Grand Rivers, Ky.

I've had this recipe for a few years now and every time I make it I remember just how good this pie really is!

Being filled with graham cracker crumbs, coconut and pecans with a mound of fresh whipped cream and sliced bananas, this pie is good for a decadent breakfast or delicious dessert! I tend to think of it more in the fall, but it's warm flavors are always welcome in my tummy. :)

Patti's (as us locals call it) is known for their amazing Christmas decor! My Grandmother and I recently went there as tradition for her birthday, and they had the Christmas up and decorated it's all it's glory! This is just a glimpse of some of the decor over the window in just one of the many rooms. I think the theme in this room was the nativity scene.

My Grandmother and I have always been very close. She means so much to me and I love that she wanted to spend her birthday celebration at Patti's just the two of us!

It was a day of fun! The food (my delicious Kentucky Hot Brown with homemade potato chips and sawdust pie), the gifts, the Christmas atmosphere, all the chatting and laughing, and most importantly the company made this day one I won't forget. I just had to share a piece of it with you!

If you live too far away to visit Patti's, then you should at least make this incredible Sawdust Pie!!!

Patti's 1880s Settlement Sawdust Pie

7 egg whites, whipped

Add

1 1/2 c. pecans

1 1/2 c. sweetened coconut

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 c. sugar

Did I mention this is so easy to make?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mix all together well.

Pour into 9 in. deep pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

When cool, top with whipped cream and freshly sliced bananas. (Both are a must!)

Enjoy!

I'm linking up with:

Giving Thanks and Pear Cobbler with Blueberry Crumble

2011-11-04T09:33:00.000-05:00

Recently, I made this pear cobbler with blueberry crumble again and just had to take a few pictures right out of the oven to remind you of how yummy it is!

I've been making this Tyler Florence inspired cobbler for a few years now. In fact it was one of the first few posts on my blog! Delicious in the fall, you can dot this dessert with blueberries or cranberries. I think this is an elegant looking cobbler and one that it a bit unique, for the pears are only halved to see their curvy shape!

The recipe is in the previous post, or you can find it in "Tyler's Ultimate" cookbook.

I love November, my Friends! Not only is it the beginning of the best baking season of the year (yay!) but it's a month to specifically remember and thank the Lord for all of the blessings He has given us.

Psalm 100:4

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name."

Beef Stew Savory

2011-11-02T21:31:00.001-05:00

Do you guys like my new darker hair color in my profile pic? I love it! I've found that I like changing to a richer hue for the holidays, and I'm feeling more festive already!!! This time of year is my very favorite--it has been all my life. I'm like a child in that I still get so excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas! There's nothing wrong with that, right?? :)

This stew recipe is delicious! It's a recipe that my mother-in-love has made for years, and we've always enjoyed so much. I've added just a couple of things to suit our taste perfectly. This is a hearty stew that is comforting and filling. It's quite perfect to come home to simmering in the crock pot on a chilly day to warm you up!

I love using tender and juicy leftover pot roast if I have that (a trick from Mom), but if not it's okay because cooking in the crock pot gives you that tender falling apart meat and allows all the herbs and spices to blend together deliciously.

On this beautiful night I'm thinking I'll have to make this again soon, but for now I'll just curl up on the couch and enjoy my coffee!

Happy November everyone!!!

Beef Stew Savory

1 1/2 lb. stew meat

1 Tbsp oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 can tomato soup

1 beef bouillon cube, and 1 c. water

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 c. ketchup

5 dashes Worcestershire sauce

3 medium carrots, chopped about 1 in. pieces

2 celery stalks, chopped

4 medium potatoes, chopped about 1 in. pieces

Brown beef in oil over medium high heat in a dutch oven. (Try not to crown pan, and brown in two batches if you have to.)

Turn heat down to medium and add garlic and onion. Saute until transparent. Salt and pepper.

Stir in soup, bouillon cube and water. Add herbs, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.

Transfer to the crock pot set on low heat. Add the carrot, celery and potatoes. Add more water if needed and more salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer on low heat for 6-8 hours. Enjoy with warm rolls and a salad!

Serves 6

FYI:

(For some reason I've been having a lot of trouble linking up with other parties. :o( I'm not sure what's going on...it says that my tag is broken and can't be accepted....that is why I haven't joined any this week. )

Warm and Gooey Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

2011-10-27T22:31:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed that some of the messiest desserts are the most delicious ones? Well, this dessert certainly fits the bill! I'm in love with these ooey, gooey s'more bars! If you like the classic campfire s'mores than you'll love these toasted marshmallow topped bars that are incredibly easy to make. They only require 5 ingredients!

These bars will go fast at any gathering--I've made them for movie nights with friends--but I find they're especially perfect this time of year! Graham cracker-cookie crust is a nice base for the melting milk chocolate and finished with the marshmallows that will stretch and pull as you cut yourself a slice.

These sure are a *love* recipe out of my kitchen, so I hope you all like them, too!!!

(Going to my parents for a campfire this weekend. Yay!)

Blessings,

Leslie :)

Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5) Sugar Cookie mix

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

(I usually crush my own.)

1 c. butter, melted

3 c. milk chocolate chips

(I didn't have milk choc. chips, so instead used broken Hershey bar and semi-sweet morsels.)

4 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix cookie mix and cracker crumbs . Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms.

In ungreased 13x9 in pan, press dough evenly. Bake 18-20 minutes until set.

Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Let stand 3-5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Spread evenly over crust.

YUM!

Set oven control to broil. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate.

Broil with top 4-5 inches from heat for about 30 seconds or til marshmallows are toasted. (Watch closely, for they will brown quickly!)

Cool for 10 minutes, and eat while still warm. Store tightly covered.

Enjoy every gooey bite!

I'm linking up with:

The Gift!

2011-10-20T22:13:00.001-05:00

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

This is just one of the wonderful scriptures that come to mind as I'm telling you this story of how God used a thoughtful and generous person in my life to remind me of just how much He knows me. He loves me.

He loves us.....

God truly cares for even the small details in my life. Really. This shouldn't be a revelation after years of serving Jesus Christ as my Lord, but there are times in my life that He-- as any loving father-- wants to surprise us with something that we never expect.

Anyone who knows me very well at all knows that my husband and I have been struggling for years trying to have a family.

(No, I'm not pregnant (yet!) so that's now what this blog post is about...but I assure you that day is coming!)

We have been blessed with a beloved baby girl in Heaven that we'll spend eternity with!

I'm not extremely open about this subject, because it's a very personal and delicate issue between my husband and I. It's huge that I'm sharing even this with you all right now, for this is something I can't help but feel very emotional about. Wanting children is part of the core of my being. I wanted to share this with you, just to give you all a bigger picture of why this story is just so special to me. The past 5 years have been filled with the most extreme highs and lows in my lifetime. I won't candy coat that there have been many hard times my husband and I have encountered together in our short married life, but I can still confidently say with a shadow of a doubt that, God is still good!!!

I'm a very optimistic person, and all of you who know my parents know that I was born that way! I love my family and I love my husband and have an amazing life with them...I love cooking, baking, beautiful days, snowy days, holidays, I really love life! Everyday is not an easy one, and the past 5 years there have been more bad ones than good. Thankfully, I serve a God who not only knows my future but also has plans for me. Awesome plans, that are better than we had ever dreamed about. When you follow Christ and seek Him for guidance in your life, and tell Him that "my life is for Your glory"... I believe that He will turn the plans we envision for our life into something far better than we could ever hope for. I want my life to be a testimony of the Mighty God I serve!

So anyways, God has not forgotten about my hearts desire to have children, and last week He reminded me of that by showing us that He knows and cares about even the smallest things that we care about. The things that we can live without. The things that are definitely trival in the grand scheme of things.

...Because He wants to pour His love on us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 9th, I put as my Facebook status,

"You all can have your new iphones, but all I REALLY want is a candy apple red or buttercup yellow Kitchen Aid stand mixer with a glass bowl!! One day..."

Simple! No biggie, really! Just saying that I've basically been pining to have one for years now, but I don't want to complain because I have a fine hand mixer. (Fine as in okay, as in, gets very hot when mixing meringue or anything else for over 3 minutes.) With Mr. Cozy in Med school, needless to say, our funds don't really give us everything we want.

Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father that will supply all my need according to HIS riches in glory! (Phil. 4:19)

I have never prayed for a mixer, I have never even asked for a mixer (from anyone at all!) and I haven't put much thought into dreaming about one when I knew there was no need to wish for something so trivial. Although my mind would occasionally wonder, how much easier and even more fun would it be to bake in a kitchen with a beautiful stand mixer, like on Dessert First or Barefoot Contessa?! :) After all, I do consider myself an avid baker and would get so much good use from something as wonderful as that!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 13th. I got off work late that night, as I always do on Thursdays. When I pulled into my driveway it was dark outside and I was making sure all my little kittens were okay as they frolicked around me.

What was by the back door? What was in this enormous box? Did Mr. Cozy order, I don't know....a book? A whole lot of them?? Umm...confused.

I'm actually on the phone with him as I'm walking up to the house. He has no idea what the box is. It says Bed, Bath & Beyond and looked like some postal service dropped it off. Weird, I thought. I tell him and he still doesn't know! I'm getting a little excited just from the mystery of it all. I open the door and put him on speaker just so I can bring the box in. It's heavy! VERY heavy!! I wasn't expecting to have so much trouble trying to get it through the door! Hmmm.

I open it up and stand amazed. It looked like another box inside with the picture of a Kitchen Aid stand mixer?!! I'm squealing, and I'm sure he thinks I'm frightened when in fact I'm quite the opposite. Mind you, there is no return address, note, name, or any facts whatsoever to link back to the giver of this gift.

This is unbelievable. I open the box to find a Candy Apple Red, Kitchen Aid stand mixer with a glass bowl!!!!!!!!

Ok. "Oh, Honey!! I love you, thank you!!!!"

How can we afford this right now?

"It's not from me. Seriously...I'm confused. I know nothing about this!" he claimed with sincerity.

Hmmm.....I'm baffled and thrilled at this point and so is he! After getting off the phone with him, we both call our parents. I'm pretty sure that mine probably wanted to surprise me with an amazing gift of my dream mixer!

No. They were excited, but clueless. Really.

(Friends, trust me I know my hubby and parents well enough to know they're telling the truth, and they were!)

To this day, we have no idea who the very wonderful person is that secretly sent me my heart's desire, a Kitchen Aid stand mixer! We do know, however, that God used that person to restore hope. He gave me something I thought I would probably have to wait years before getting--and I would've been okay with that--but He had other plans, better plans than I had for myself! Miraculous!

This gift felt like a big, warm hug.

I only hope that one day we can do the very same thing someone in need, or want. I'm assuming this person doesn't want us to find out who they are. What a huge gift, this humble and kind person gave to me. God knows who you are and will bless you in return! THANK YOU!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it, Folks. Thanks for listening to my story! I'm excited to bring you recipes with help of my new mixer! It seriously takes baking to another level of joy!!!

God works in mysterious ways!

See how it sparkles on my counter?

Have a blessed Autumn weekend!

~Leslie

I'm linking up with:

Cozy Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread

2011-10-18T18:30:00.000-05:00

I'm glad to be off work today, for I woke up to rumbles of thunder and a nice rain shower. The bedroom was very chilly, indicating that the temperature had dropped last night! It was one of those mornings that would've been difficult to pop out of bed. So, over to the coffee I went and I decided to make some delicious pumpkin bread to warm me up! Here's a few quick pics of my cozy little kitchen today...

These blustery, chilly autumn mornings seem to cry out for some heartwarming pumpkin bread to get you going! This is a wonderful recipe that always seem to turn out perfect! I like making them into the mini loaves so that I can share with friends or freeze a couple for later when I want a quick, homemade breakfast or snack. (They freeze beautifully, really!)

I hope you enjoy all that this beautiful season has to offer, in the kitchen and outside with hayrides, bonfires, and raking leaves! We'll all miss the beauty of fall in a few months when the grass has dried and the trees are bare. (Then, we will have snow to look forward to--Hooray!)

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread

3 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

4 eggs

2 c. sugar

15 oz. can pumpkin

1 c. oil

1/4 c. applesauce, no sugar added

1 c. chocolate chips

1/2c. butterscotch chips

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl; set aside.

Beat together eggs, sugar, pumpkin, oil, and applesauce in a large mixing bowl; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fold in chocolate and butterscotch chips.

Pour into 2-8x4 in. loaf pans, or 5 mini loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes for large pans or 40-50 min. for mini pans.

Test with toothpicks to ensure they are done.

Cool for 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling.

These would be delicious with a simple glaze or also delicious without! :)

{You all may have seen a new, beautiful addition to my kitchen! I am so excited to share with ya'll about getting my "dream" kitchen appliance...but I'll leave that for the next blog. It's a story you will not want to miss out on. God is so good!!!}

Linking up with:

Nana's Best Loved Apple Pie!

2011-10-08T22:35:00.001-05:00

So, this is it...

This is the day I reveal the recipe to the best apple pie-- ever!!! (Well, at least it is in this family!) This is Nana's apple pie, and it's basically the best dessert in my husband's family! This Apple Pie was one of the very first posts I put up on The Cozy Little Kitchen, and I didn't share the recipe. Now I am. :}

Starting 10 yrs. ago when Mr. Cozy and I began our committed dating relationship, I swiftly found out that Nana's apple pie was his very favorite dessert, understandably so, and he said that nobody can make it like Nana.

Well, my goal was to someday make it just as well as she does!

The first time I made it was for his 18th birthday. You have to realize that I had not even had the pleasure of having this apple pie to eat yet! I thought I would surprise him by calling up Nana and getting her recipe for it and baking it for a special birthday surprise.

Little did I know that no one else makes this pie in the family. It's like a sacred recipe or something--others are afraid to touch it!

I was thrilled to present the pie to him, and the first thing he says is...

"It doesn't look like Nana's."

Can you believe it?? You have to realize that my husband is a very kind person, and usually sensitive to my feelings.

Not that day, Ha!

(I can laugh about it now.)

I didn't realize what I was up against, trying to make this famous dessert! Don't worry, he ate it and of course said that he liked it and how thoughtful it was for me to make it.

But I could tell, that it wasn't like Nana's.

After her mentoring me on the art of baking family pies and cakes, several times making it, and 10 years later....I can almost say, I think it tastes like Nana's!!! I have actually heard my sweet Mr. Cozy also say those words! :)

Some basic requirements for this delicious pie are two simple things.

1. Jonathan apples: they are the perfect blend of tart and sweet and melt like buhtta! My sad attempt of an SNL impression. Too bad these apples are only around in the autumn months!

2. Very thinly sliced apples. I couldn't achieve such thin slices when I first started cooking, but lots of practice and a better knife has allowed me to make them very thin! A kitchen mandolin also works, but does take away a bit of nostalgia that I like when making apple pie.

The combination of the thinly sliced Jonathan apple produces a beautiful blend of all the butter from the crumble top and cinnamon to cook down the apples, making each bite melt in your mouth!

If you want a new to you, old fashioned apple pie recipe to try please consider this one.

It's really that good!! It sums up the feeling of a brisk fall day, colorful leaves, gathering pumpkins and a hayride all into one bite, if that makes sense! It will fill your kitchen with the best aroma and hopefully your heart with a simple joy!

I share with you a family heirloom of a recipe.....

Nana's Best Loved Apple Pie

Filling

1 refrigerated pie crust

4 c. thinly sliced Jonathan apples

1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

(This is optional! I added this myself just to try it out. It tastes great with or without!)

Topping

2/3 c. butter

3/4 c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. sugar

Enough cinnamon to lightly dust over the top.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Peel your apples.

Thinly slice.

Toss the apples with sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, if using until evenly coated.

Cut the cold butter into the four and sugar until crumbly.

Prepare your crust and I like to give it a egg or milk wash and shower the edges with sugar so they'll glisten!

Pour in the apples.

Pour the filling over the top and spread around evenly. Dust with cinnamon.

Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Hot out of the oven! See what I mean by crumbly, buttery topping and a glistening crust? :)

Delicious!

I'm linking up with:

www.crumbssandchaos.blogspot.com"> src="http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae274/crumbsandchaos/seasonalinspiration20.jpg" border="0" />

Our Day in Amish Country

2011-10-06T09:36:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, on one of the first beautiful days of autumn Mr. Cozy and I took a wonderful drive into the country. Waaayyy, into the country to visit the Amish community around Marion, Ky.

Before leaving town, we decided to stop at this sweet, little diner to fill our tummies with some greasy spoon food! (Me in the car on an empty stomach means motion sickness!! :o/ )

Mr. Cozy got the delicious (!) cheeseburger and french fries.

Simple goodness.

I didn't take a picture of my taco salad because I didn't think to until I had already started digging in, and it already looked like a mess, but it was so tasty!

As we were leaving, I tried to sneak in a very quick picture of how "dinky" this diner really is! There are about 3 1/2 tables in here with a very small counter with bar stools. In my opinion, adorable! The regulars were back there chatting it up with the cooks. :) Kinda neat and old fashioned in a way.

Full tummy and beautiful day with my husband....I'm one happy girl!

We passed a huge field of sunflowers! This picture doesn't do them justice!!

I love God's creation.

Here are just a few snapshots of the western Ky. countryside. It was two weeks ago, so the leaves hadn't changed colors at this point.

We are in the Amish country right now. We got stuck behind a (non-Amish) tractor on a narrow road in the middle of nowhere. We couldn't drive any faster than about 15 mph, so we just rolled down the windows and enjoyed the breeze.

Here's the large home and property of the vegetables we bought. As we pulled up, there was an enormous clothesline coming off the second floor of the house. Such a classic snapshot of "the olden days"...

Here is their large garden the fruit and veggies come out if. It was so perfect and beautiful! We bought fresh okra, beautiful little sweet potatoes, and yellow squash.

I didn't take any pictures out of the car here, just in respect to the Amish. I never want to make them feel uncomfortable...so that's why you won't see pics of the actually vegetable stand. Take my word for it, it was great--They practically sell them out of their home! Baskets of lovely fruit and vegetables from there own beautiful garden. The 15ish year old boy that helped us was barefoot and had the biggest blue eyes. He was quiet, but very kind.

More beautiful country scenery. This particular one is quintessential autumn in the country.

No, this isn't a drive way, it's a road! Very narrow! Oh, and up ahead here we had to cross a random flowing creek!!! Good thing we drive a Jeep!

I love this bakery. These women sure know how to cook!

In front of the bakery, ready to eat some homemade oatmeal cream pie!

This was a wonderful afternoon for us to enjoy the weather, scenery and each other! One of our favorite things to do is find the "hidden jewels" of places close to home and discover what they are all about. I think part of a joyful living is appreciating everything, even the small things! God has always instilled in me a love for the simple things in life!

Have a wonderful Autumn day!!!

~Leslie

I'm linking up with:

Spiced Apple Orchard Bread

2011-09-23T09:46:00.001-05:00

Good morning!

I'm off work this today and it's a wonderful day to be off!

Temps in the low 70's.

Sunshine breaking up the early morning haze.

I'm enjoying my coffee this morning with a slice of this delicious apple bread!

Anxious to take a country drive into Amish country to visit their general store, bakery and to see if they have any pumpkins for the front porch.

Perhaps stop at a favorite local home decor store.

Baking homemade apple pie.

Dinner and fun times at good friend's home tonight!

I just had to take the time to share with you a recipe I used some of my Jonathan apples, some beautiful golden raisins and pecans. This is finished with a heavy dusting of cinnamon sugar that just falls in the nooks and cranny's of the top of the bread!

The recipe makes two loaves, but I halved it and made one. I also substituted part of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. I decided not to add pecans this time, but I will add them the next. It's tasty, either way! Bits of apple-y goodness specked this bread, making it moist. A good contrast from the crisp sugar top and corners --my favorite!

I hope you enjoy this blessed Friday whatever you bake and wherever you go! :)

Spiced Apple Orchard Bread

2 2/3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon apple pie spice

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 cups coarsely chopped apples

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped pecans

2 teaspoons sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Beat in eggs and vanilla, then stir in chopped apples, raisins, and pecans. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Grease 2 9x5-inch loaf pans and line bottoms with waxed paper. Greased waxed paper. Pour batter into pans, smoothing the top with a spatula or spoon. Bake for 20 minutes at 325°. Pull out rack and sprinkle loaves with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Continue baking for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes; turn out onto a rack. Slice and serve or freeze.

(I didn't use wax paper, but just sprayed the loaf oan well with Pam for Baking.)

I'm linking up with:

http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com

Jonathan Apples and Fall Tablescape!

2011-09-20T19:12:00.000-05:00

I know that fall is just around the corner when the Jonathan apples are here! These are my favorite apple, but they're only around for a few short months. These were actually given to us by Nana, where she got them at a local apple orchard! She was the one who told me about them, when she gave me her apple pie recipe, and she knows her way around a kitchen!

They were so beautiful in this big harvest bowl, that I just had to take some pictures! I love the soft green color at the stem that fades to a beautiful pale red. These apples are on the sweeter side for baking and have a wonderful texture--Mr. Cozy and I actually like when apples really soften in an apple pie. Don't get me wrong, I still love Granny Smith's!! These Jonathan I find are more versatile, because you can snack on them, too!

Now, to find lots of recipes to for these apples....

Good thing the latest Southern Living features some yummy looking ones! :)

I love these baby acorn salt and pepper shakers I got in Hendersonville, NC on our 5th Anniversary trip!

Here's a bit of my fall table decor this year...

I haven't bought anything new this year for fall...

(Shocker, if you knew me!)

...trying to be creative and use what I already have.

These warm, rich colors make me happy to have around the house. Here's my simple table arrangement that's comprised of mostly branches and "fallen" leaves. I've had these candle holders for ages, and still love them. (Although, I need to find two more tea lights.)

Just a peak of fall here at The Cozy Little Kitchen in Kentucky! Now I'm ready for the trees to show there vivid colors outside and the temperatures to linger in the brisk 60's and 70's!

Hope you all are getting your home all bundled up for the cool months ahead!

I'm linking up with:

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Cappuccino Muffins with Espresso Vanilla Glaze

2011-09-16T15:58:00.002-05:00

I'm excited to share with you a new recipe today! This morning I made cappuccino muffins, a recipe that I found in one of my favorite seasonal cookbooks The Gooseberry Patch, Autumn In The Country.

Made with rich flavors of espresso, cocoa powder and chocolate chips , these muffins are (without saying) scrumptious! I decided to make a glaze for them, too. I started out with a simple vanilla/powdered sugar/evaporated milk glaze that I poured right after getting the muffins out of the oven. We decided a thicker coffee glaze to make them over-the-top amazing!!

It worked ;)

{The camera was loving these moist decadent muffins, almost as much as we did!}

Mr. Cozy took Step 2 of his board exam, for med school, yesterday. (Yay, it's over!) If you don't know much about Boards, take it from me....they are very important, very difficult and require a whole lot of studying! So today I took off work to spend some much anticipated quality time with my husband, and decided to make these muffins for a morning treat. It was a great way to start off the beautiful, fall-like day.

This high is only about 72 degrees today and the sun is shining! This is really my kind of day!

Frost tall glasses of milk, and surprise your sweeties with these sweet cappuccino muffins on your next morning off!

Cappuccino Muffins with Espresso Vanilla Glaze

Makes 1 Dozen

2 c. all-purpose flour

3/4 c. sugar

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

2 T. baking cocoa

1 heaping T. instant espresso granules

1 c. evaporated milk

(it called for milk, but I used evaporated milk for extra yummies!)

1 egg, beaten

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 t. vanilla extract

3/4 c. chocolate chips

(I added a couple more to the batter after putting in the muffin tin.)

(Directions below for muffins)

Espresso Glaze

Powdered sugar, vanilla, espresso powder and evaporated milk.

(Of course, I just eye-balled the proportions. So sorry! I just forgot to measure it out, because I never have done that with a glaze before. It's easy to make!!)

Only, make sure you don't add too much milk because you want it thick, but if you do just add more sugar. Heat for about 30 seconds in the microwave to blend everything together and allow to cool and thicken slightly before pouring over muffins.

Here's my cozy work station. I lit my caramel corn candle to set the "baking mood".

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside.

Mix together milk and egg. Pour into flour mixture and mix together.

Stir in melted butter and vanilla. Mix well.

Add the beautiful chocolate chips.

I first tossed them in about 1 Tbsp. flour so they wouldn't sink.

Spoon batter into greased muffin tins, filling 2/3 full.

Bake at 375, for 17-20 minutes. Mine took 18 minutes.

Pour on the vanilla glaze, right out of the oven: powdered sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla.

Allow muffins to cool before adding the espresso glaze.

Add the espresso glaze to the top and allow to slowly drip down the muffin!

The next part is crucial...

Eat right away!!! :)

Here's my reading corner, next to the fireplace. This is where I drink my morning coffee, and spend time in the Bible. I find it a very cozy place to snuggle up!

I'm linking up with:

http://delightfullydowling.blogspot.com/p/mangia-mondays.html

http://www.jamhands.net

http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com

Deluxe Toffee Oatmeal Scotchie Cookies

2011-09-11T21:53:00.001-05:00

Alright Friends. Here's one amazing cookie! I've been making oatmeal scotchies every fall for several years, and we have loved them!

(But these are a little different:)

What is it about old fashioned oats, cinnamon, and butterscotch that is reminiscent of cool autumn days? I guess there is that bit of nostalgia that comes from oatmeal cookies, but this is not just an oatmeal cookie. It's not even just an oatmeal scotchie....it's an toffee oatmeal scotchie! These golden and crispy edged cookies are loaded with not only butterscotch, but buttery Heath bar toffee and (of course!) chocolate chips!!!

*Drool

I am happy to say that I still have a roll of this dough in the refrigerator.

What joy it is to make a big batch, refrigerate the dough, and bake it in increments as you want it. The hard part is done, all you have to do is bake them off or just eat the delicious cookie dough! (Yes, I'm a batter eater. It's problem.)

Please do try these cookies out if you want something irresistibly delicious to taste and to smell baking in the oven! What a yummy treat to bring along on the family hayride or to a football game!
I think I'm off to the fridge...to finish what I've started :)......

Deluxe Toffee Oatmeal Scotchie Cookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup graulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange

3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats

1 bag Heath chocolate covered toffee bits

1 c. butterscotch morsels

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, toffee bits, butterscotch and chocolate chip morsels.

Divide in half, make in logs and wrap in cling wrap. Put in the refrigerator for overnight, if you can wait that long! (This will intensify the delicious cookie flavor, so I think it's worth it.:)

Take the dough logs from the fridge and slice or break off evenly.

Place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. These cookies have a tendency to stick, otherwise.

BAKE for 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies or 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Today, 9-11-11, is a sobering day. To the families who have lost loved ones I am incredible sorry and pray for God's peace and comfort to you always. To all who were very courageous in that day and those days surrounding the attack, THANK YOU for all of your incredible sacrifice and dedication to our country!!!

Thank the Lord Almighty for His hand on us
and for his mercy and grace!

This day will always be remembered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm linking up with:

The Cozy Little Kitchen

Baked Brownie Pudding at Inspired By Family Magazine!

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Giving Thanks and Pear Cobbler with Blueberry Crumble

Beef Stew Savory

Warm and Gooey Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

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Cozy Chocolate Chippy Pumpkin Bread

*Nana's Best Loved Apple Pie! *

Our Day in Amish Country

Spiced Apple Orchard Bread

Jonathan Apples and Fall Tablescape!

Cappuccino Muffins with Espresso Vanilla Glaze

Deluxe Toffee Oatmeal Scotchie Cookies

Nana's Best Loved Apple Pie!