Strawberry Pockets 

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 stick cold butter

2 egg yolks 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 pound strawberries cut into 1/2 inch pieces

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

3 tablespoons strawberry jam

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In your Kitchen Aid combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt.   Cut butter into small squares and mix into flour until it looks like coarse sand.

  Add 1 egg yolk, 1/2 cup water, and vanilla.  Mix until it is just combined. Knead dough on floured surface then put in the refrigerator.  

Meanwhile, make filling.  Combine chopped strawberries, jam, and confectioners sugar in a bowl.  Add remaining 1/2 cup flour.  

In another small bowl, beat egg and 1 tablespoon water together.  Roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into 3 inch round circles with cookie cutter.  Roll each round circle into 6 inch circles.  

Scoop 2 tablespoons of strawberry filling onto one side of the 6 inch round circle leaving 1/2 inch of dough border.  Fold the dough over the filling and pinch borders together with a fork.

  Move pockets to parchment paper lined baking sheet.  With a toothpick, poke several holes into top of pocket then brush with egg wash.  Sprinkle a little bit of sugar on top of each pocket and stick in oven for about 30 to 35 minutes.  Bake until golden brown. Let cool for about 20 minutes. 

I highly recommend eating your strawberry pockets with some vanilla ice cream.  Yummy : )

 Santa Barbara Courthouse

The stunningly beautiful Santa Barbara Courthouse is only a couple blocks away from my apartment.  I drive by it several times a day but haven't taken the time roam around it in years.  Santa Barbara is full of beautiful buildings but, in my opinion, the courthouse takes the cake.  It was finished being built in 1929 after it was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1925.  It was designed by William Mooser III and has been called the most beautiful government building in America ( not to brag )  It's the perfect example of the Spanish Colonial style seen in many buildings throughout the city.  You can take an elevator to the "El Mirador" clocktower to get an incredible view of the city! 

Here I am, bundled up and sitting just outside the front of the courthouse.  Enjoying a rare rainy day! 

 Cheddar Cheese and Rosemary Biscuits

I've been a little bit obsessed with rosemary lately.  It grows like crazy all over Santa Barbara so I've been trying to utilize it as much as possible. Cheese and biscuit in the same sentence is always a good thing. Throw in a little rosemary and waahlaa! 

Ingredients

4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon sugar

1/3 cup fresh and finely chopped rosemary

2 1/4 cups grated cheddar cheese

3/4 cup cold unsalted butter

2 cups buttermilk

1 extra tablespoon buttermilk

1 egg

In your Kitchen Aid mix flour, salt, sugar, baking soda and powder, and paprika. Add cheddar and rosemary. Chop cold butter into small squares and then mix into flour until it is a coarse meal texture. Pour in buttermilk and mix until it is a sticky dough. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until it comes together.  Roll the dough out until it is about 1 inch thick.  With 2 /12 inch circular cookie cutter, cut out at biscuits and place on baking sheet. Beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of buttermilk together and brush over each round dough of biscuit.  Stick in oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Take out and let cool. Eat.

Banana Walnut Muffin

I am not a fan of bananas or walnuts but for some reason I really love them both in a banana walnut muffin.  Don't know what it is...

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup melted butter

4 slightly over ripe bananas

3/4 cup chopped and toasted walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In an your Kitchen Aid, mix together 4 bananas and sugar. Once mixed, add melted butter and vanilla. In a separate bowl sift together flour and baking soda. Add chopped and toasted walnuts. Add flour mixture to wet mixture until just combined. Place in oven for about 20-25 minutes. Take out and let cool for about 15 minutes. 

Coconut Ginger Cookies

This recipe is as easy as it gets and involves two of my favorite flavors, coconut and ginger. A little bit crispy and a little bit chewy, these babies are seriously addicting. 

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

3 tablespoons grated ginger

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In your mixer, beat butter and sugar then add vanilla. Beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in flour, shredded coconut, and grated ginger. Mix until completely combined. Shape dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place 12 balls on an un-greased cooking sheet. With the bottom of a glass cup, gently flatten each of the balls. Stick in oven for about 25-30 minutes. Let cool for about 30-45 minutes. 

Cranberry Scones

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

5 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup cold butter

1 egg

1/2 cup whole milk

Preheat your oven to 395 degrees. In a large bowl sift together flour, sugar, and baking powder.  Cut your cold butter (the colder the better) into small cubes and stir into flour mixture until completely combined (this works best using a Kitchen Aid) Mix in cranberries. Combine egg and milk with flour mixture. Stir together until just combined. Your dough should not be too sticky. Grab a small hand-full of dough and mold into a ball then place on buttered baking sheet. Place a total of 9 small balls on baking sheet and cook for about 20 minutes until scones are a light golden brown. Serve warm or cooled. 

Enjoy!

Chocolate Glazed Baked Doughnuts

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons melted butter

Chocolate Glaze

6 ounces of chocolate chips

I loved doughnuts in all their deep-fried deliciousness but I just can't eat them anymore. I always feel a little sick to my stomach and a whole lot of guilt after putting one down. These baked doughnuts are a healthier, guilt-free alternative. Not exactly what you'll get from the Golden Doughnut down the street, but still a super yummy treat!

Coat your doughnut pan with cooking spray and preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.  Combine buttermilk, eggs, butter, and vanilla in another bowl and whisk together. Pour liquid mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Fill eat doughnut tin about 3/4 full of batter. Bake for about 4 minutes. 

Melt 6 ounces of chocolate chips and spread on cooled doughnuts. Chill doughnuts for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has hardened. 

Breakfast Cups

This is one of my all time favorite breakfast recipes! These cups are just as adorable as they are delicious. Such a cute spin on the classic American bacon, egg, and toast breakfast. Quick and easy!

Ingredients

8 slices Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

6 eggs

6 Slices of Bacon

Unsalted Butter at Room Temperature

Salt and Pepper

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Flatten the bread slices with your hand and then lightly butter each piece. Cut all 8 slices into 4 1/4 inch circles with either a cookie cutter or knife. Cut each round circle in half. Press two halves into each muffin cup so that the bread is reaching slightly higher than the edge of tin. Use the excess bread to to fill any gaps in the cups. 

In a pan, cook 6 pieces of bacon until just crisp. Lay one bacon slice across each bread cup and then crack an egg into each cup. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top then stick in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the egg whites are just set. Serve while hot. 

Enjoy!