Peach Cobbler

This is my first attempt at a peach cobbler and I must say, it turned out pretty damn delicious. My peaches might not be from Georgia but I doubt anyone could tell the difference. Enjoy!

Ingredients

5 ripe peaches

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cup flour

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons very cold butter

2/3 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut peaches in half, slice into 1/2 inch thick slices, then half again. In a bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, peaches, and lemon juice. 

2. Pour into 2-quart baking dish. 

3. In your electric mixer, mix together flour, baking powder and soda, 3 tablespoons sugar, and salt. 

4. Chop cold butter into small squares then whisk into flour sugar until it resembles coarse meal.

5. Add buttermilk and stir until dough forms. 

6. Spread dough mixture evenly over peach filling. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar on top. 

7. Bake about 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. 

8. Serve with vanilla ice cream. 

Avocado and Cilantro Hummus

Avocados are available year round in Santa Barbara, but the typical "avocado season" begins in March and ends in early to mid-September.  If you have an avocado tree, you are probably overwhelmed by the number of avocados dropping in September and don't know what to do with them all. Here's an idea...make some avocado hummus! You can whip it up in large batches and it lasts for a pretty long time in your refrigerator. Not to mention, it's delicious. 

Ingredients

1 to 2 ripe avocados

16 oz can of chickpeas

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon lime juice

1 1/2 cup cilantro

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more!)

1. Put all ingredients into your food processor.

2. Chop until all ingredients are combined and it's as smooth as you want. 

3. Serve with your choice of chips or slap it on a sandwich!

Apple Spice Muffins

I made these yummy apple spice muffins in honor of the beginning of fall, my favorite season. The warm cinnamon and apple flavors make me want to snuggle up on the couch and watch the leaves fall from the trees. I have tried several different apple muffin recipes and this one wins! They are deliciously moist with just the right amount of a buttery cinnamon topping. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 green apple

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoons apple sauce

1 egg

2 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon melted butter

2 tablespoons oats

2 tablespooon flour

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In your electric mixer combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. 

2. In a different bowl combine milk, oil, apple sauce, and egg.

3. Peel and chop your apple into smallish pieces.  Over medium heat, melt your 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon brown sugar together. Stir in chopped apple and cook for about 4 minutes.

4. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Add cooked apples leaving the butter and brown sugar liquid in your saucepan. Turn off heat.

5. For your crumble topping: Add 2 tablespoons oats, 2 tablespoons flour,  and 1 tablespoon brown sugar into your butter and brown sugar liquid left over from cooking your apple. Stir together until small crumbly clumps form.

6. Sprinkle on top of your muffins and cook for about 20-25 minutes or until your crumble topping turns golden brown. 

Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Coconut oil is great because it has many health benefits and can be used as an alternative to higher calorie and less healthful ingredients. It is loaded with healthy fatty acids, can improve blood cholesterol levels, and increase your metabolism.  It also doesn't hurt that I am a huge fan of anything coconut flavored. Although this recipe is still a sugary treat, it's definitely a great alternative to your classic chocolate chip cookie and just as delicious!

Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut oil 

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1 cup chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat coconut oil and sugar together. Beat in egg and vanilla.

2. In another bowl combine flours, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

3. Slowly combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips. 

4. Scoop tablespoon sized balls of dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 15 minutes. 

5. Let cool and enjoy.

Pear and Chicken Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese sandwiches are great because there are so many different cheeses and combinations that you can experiment with.  I recently watched an episode of "The Chew" dedicated to grilled cheese sandwiches.  Michael Symon made a bacon, blue cheese, and pear grilled cheese.  I am not a fan of blue cheese but the rest of the sandwich sounded delish.  Here is my version...

Ingredients for 1 sandwich

1 grilled chicken breast

handful of spinach

2 slices of Asiago cheese

2 slices of ripe pear

1 tablespoon of room temp. butter

1/2 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

2 slices of whole wheat bread (or whatever bread you prefer)

1. Preheat your grill pan over medium heat.  In a bowl, mix together butter and Balsamic Vinegar. 

2. Butter one side of both pieces of bread with Balsamic Vinegar and butter mixture.  Lay out bread and layer with cheese, pear, chicken, and spinach. 

3.  Place sandwich on the grill.  Press sandwich down on grill (Michael Symon uses a brick to press) until bread is golden brown. Flip and continue to cook other side until golden brown. 

Berry Turnovers

This was my first experience using puff pastry and it was wonderful.  No need to get out the electric mixer and slave over a dough recipe! Just whip up some berry filling, plop it on puff pastry, and stick it in the oven.  It's pretty much that easy! 

Ingredients

1 sheet of puff pastry

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup blueberries

1 cup raspberries

2 tablespoons melted butter

pinch of salt

Glaze:

3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

juice from 1/2 lemon

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and let 1 sheet of puff pastry thaw. 

2. Combine berries, sugar, corn starch, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of water.  Cook over medium heat until berries soften and it thickens. 

3. Cut your puff pastry sheet into six squares.  Drop a dollop of berry filling into the middle of each square (not too much and not too little...you don't want there to be too much oozing out the sides). Fold over, creating a triangle and pinch ends together with a fork.

4. Melt the butter and brush the tops of each turnover. 

5. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

6. Add the confectioner's sugar to the lemon juice and drizzle over each turnover after cooled.