Baked Chocolate Glazed Donuts

Yep, more donuts. We had to make chocolate donuts when we made our Baked Donuts with Maple Frosting. I'm a chocolate fan. My kids, not so much. But their friends helped me gobble these up!

Baked Chocolate Glazed Donuts

Source: Cookin' Up North

* 1 cup flour

* 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 1.4 tsp. baking soda

* 1/2 cup sugar

* 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

* 1/2 tsp. salt

* 2 Tbsp. butter, melted

* 1/2 cup buttermilk

* 1 tsp. vanilla

* 1 egg

Mix dry ingredients and set aside.  Mix the wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until just combined.

I poured the batter into a ziplock bag so I could pipe it into my mini donut maker.  You could also use a donut pan and cook in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

To make the glaze, I just used powdered sugar, melted butter and a smidgen of milk and dipped them in.  You could also add a little cinnamon to the glaze to bring out the cinnamon in the donuts.  That would be wonderful!

Top with sprinkles if desired. 

They're kind of healthy, right?  I mean, they're baked.  That helps, right?  Well, one can always hope.  They were delicious!

 

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Baked Donuts with Maple Frosting

Donut or doughnut?  What's the difference?  Anyone?  I've always spelled it donut because, well, I have no idea.  Probably because that's how Dunkin' Donuts spells it so that's donut law to me.   Either way, they rock!  I love them!

And what do you do when your kids both have a sleepover?  Well, you do facials and make donuts, of course.

Here they are with their face peels on.  Funny, right?  They loved it!

And eating donuts too?  Now, that's a sleepover!

Baked Donuts with Maple Frosting

Source: Iowa Girl Eats

* 1 cup flour

* 6 Tbsp. sugar

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

* 1/4 tsp. salt

* 6 Tbsp. buttermilk

* 1 egg

* 1/2 tsp. vanilla

* 1 Tbsp. butter, melted

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.  Add buttermilk, vanilla egg and melted butter and mix well.

I put the batter into a zip lock bag so I could pipe it into the donut maker.  You can also bake these in the oven at 325 for 9 - 10 minutes.

I love my little donut maker, tho.  I forgot I had one until I saw Sue's (from Cakeballs, Cookies and More) post on Nutella Donuts.  Yum!

We put maple frosting on our donuts because we are huge maple frosting nuts!

Maple Frosting

* 4 cups powdered sugar

* 3 Tbsp. butter, softened

* 1 1/2 Tbsp. maple flavoring

* milk

Mix the first 3 ingredients.  Slowly add milk until your frosting is the right consistency.  We like ours thick and delicious!

Yum, right? 

I asked my daughter to smile.  Her response was "I can't stop eating them!"  I think she liked them =o)

  

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Asher's Chocolates and a Chance To Win S'mores

Is it news to anyone that I love chocolate?  It shouldn't be.  I do.  I love everything about it.  And I'm pretty sure it loves to me.  We have that kind of a relationship =o)

Now what about s'mores?  Again, if you read my blog at all you know I am a huge fan of s'mores.  LOVE THEM!  So when I had a chance to review some of Asher's Chocolates Milk Chocolate Covered S'mores I thought I was in heaven.  I mean, look at them.  Don't they look amazing?!?!

I was really impressed with how they were packaged.  It's still pretty warm here this time of year and I had visions of going to the mailbox and finding a gloppy, chocolatey mess in a small box.  No way!  They came packed in a styro foam cooler with an ice pack to keep them from melting.  Immediately I was pleased.

 And they were delicious!!!  And huge!  (And excellent combination!)

The chocolate was a delicious, high quality chocolate which is important to us chocolate snobs =o)  The graham crackers were crisp and delicious and the marshmallow was soft and yummy.  I was very pleased!

But don't just take my word for it.  Check out Asher's Chocolates fro yourself and see what I'm talking about.  You can find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Would you like a chance to win 2 of these amazing Milk Chocolate COvered S'mores?  Enter on the rafflecopter below!

Giveaway open to residents in the Continental United States who are 18 years of age or older.  Giveaway ends October 15th at midnight.

Good luck!

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Mally Beauty Cosmetics Review

I'm not a huge make up person.  Let me clarify - I wear it on work days.  But I don't really know all the fancy tricks and applications that make a person look beautiful.  I know.  I'd love to look amazing but it's just not in the cards for this single, working Mom.  (Yeah, I'm going to blame it on that.)  =o)

When I do use make up it's simple.  I use powder (sometimes) and blush and I do my eyes (eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara.)  Not a lot, and I use natural, earthy tones.

One thing I've found when using eyeliner and mascara is that all eyeliners and mascara are not the same.  I've purchased mascara that is clumpy and gross.  I've also purchased eye liners that don't draw a line without practically cramming the darn pencil into your skin.  That's not comfortable.  So I find a brand that I like and stick to it.  And it takes a lot for me to try something new.

When I had the chance to review Mally Beauty Cosmetics I was excited and nervous.  Would they compare to my favorites?

Have you heard of Mally Beauty Cosmetics before?  "Makeup artist Mally Roncal’s love affair with all things glam started at an early age. As a young girl growing up in upstate New York, Mally began experimenting with makeup on her mother, an incredible beauty who was and continues to be her biggest inspiration. From that early age, Mally’s parents instilled in her the philosophy that the things that make us different are the qualities that make us beautiful—a mantra that has guided Mally in her every pursuit."

I tried their City Chicks Smokey Eye Kit.  It's Mally's signature sexy smokey eyes made simple.  "Discover the secret to gorgeous smokey eyes just like the ones Mally Roncal creates for her celebrity clients. Mally's all-in-one eye kit has what you need for eyes that are smooth, real, and sexy – never heavy or fake. This all-in-one professional system makes smokey eyes 1, 2, 3 easy, but looks professionally done."

The eye liner is wonderful!  It goes on smooth and evenly without much pressure (so my eyes don't suffer.)  The eye shadow comes in wonderful earthy tones that go on evenly and last all day.  And the case is beautiful.  It doesn't open accidentally so it stays secure in my purse and the mirror is perfect for application. 

I also tried their Evercolor Poreless Face Defender.  It is a revolutionary water clear finish that sets, extends wear, minimizes pores and looks flawless.  "Mally's Evercolor Poreless Face Defender is the perfect finishing touch for your makeup. This remarkable technology yields an utterly sheer, featherweight product that diffuses the look of pores, minimizes fine lines, and helps protect your makeup so it lasts from morning to night. Face Defender gives you that flawless matte finish without the dry, ashy look of powder. The result is silky smooth skin and longer-lasting makeup. It comes with a unique buffed-edge Japanese sponge."

I absolutely loved this product.  I usually wear powder and one of my complaints about it is that, if I'm not careful, you can see the powder on my skin.  And if I'm not really careful, depending on the time of year and if I have a tan, the color doesn't match the color of my skin.  That's not good.  But with the Evercolor Poreless Face Defender, color isn't a concern.  It goes on smoothly and seals my make up so it lasts all day long.

I absolutely loved the two products I had the opportunity to review.  And Mally Beauty Cosmetics have a huge line of liners, eye shadows, foundations and powders, to just name a few.  They even have a line of perfume, their Signature Collection, that sounds heavenly.

Don't take my word for it.  Check them out for yourself and see.

You can find Mally Beauty Cosmetics on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

  

Disclaimer:Although I was given these product free of charge by Mally Beauty Cosmetics, the opinion in this post are my own.

Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips Giveaway

Mom's have a ton of difficult tasks to do each day.  Just thinking about it makes me tired!  One thing that I hate to waste my time with is thinking about healthy snacks for my kids to eat.  It's hard to find foods that are delicious and healthy.  But I found one - Bare Fruit Snacks. 

Bare Fruit Snacks are low in calories, high in fiber and naturally sweet.  They are the perfect between meal snack or treat in your child's lunch.  Heck, or my lunch.  I love them!  They are crunchy, the perfect amount of sweet and taste wonderful.

And to top that?  Bare Fruit Snacks are all natural, gluten free, trans fat free, GMO free (no genetically modified ingredients), cholesterol free, lactose free, preservative free, no sugar added, Kosher and they come with an allergen statement (which means the facility is a nut, gluten, wheat and allergen free environment.)  That's quite a list of pluses in a snack product.

I had the opportunity to try their Cinnamon Apple Chips.  They are made with organic cinnamon and the apples are grown in Washington state.  I like that since I'm from Oregon.  Supporting a neighboring state feels like a positive to me. 

Take a look at the nutritional information as see for yourself how wonderful these chips are.

Look at how delicious they look.

And they have different varieties as well: Granny Smith Apple Chips and Fuji Apple Chips.  Not into apples?  What about different fruits?  Dried pears (yum!), cherries and mangos.  I know, right?!?!  I want to try them all!

Bare Fruit is also sourced in the United States which is important for several reasons.  US grown apples, cherries, and other fruits have a quality advantage over those grown elsewhere. For example, the climate in the Pacific Northwest is perfect for growing the sweetest apples in the world. Also, by keeping things close to home, they reduce carbon emissions and support the US economy. Finally, while possible, it is awfully hard to manage true US organic standards in other countries.

Click here to find out where you can buy Bare Fruit Snacks.  You can also find them on Facebook.

How about entering to win a whole case of Bare Fruit Cinnamon Apple Chips?  Yep, a whole case!!!  Enter on the rafflecopter below.

Giveaway open to US residents 18 years or older.  Giveaway ends October 16th at midnight.

Good luck!

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Martian Cookies (AKA Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies)

I'm not sure why these are called Martian Cookies, but that's the name Allrecipes gave them. It's probably easier than saying Zucchini Oatmeal Chocolate & Butterscotch Chip Cookies.  But Martian Cookies doesn't truly convey the awesomeness of these delicious cookies!  They are moist and seriously tasty!  I'm so glad I have more zucchini in the fridge because I'm making another batch of these bad boys!

Martian Cookies

Source: Allrecipes.com

* 1/2 cup butter, softened

* 3/4 cup sugar

* 1 egg

* 1/2 tsp. vanilla

* 1 1/2 cups flour

* 1 tsp. cinnamon

* 1/2 tsp. baking soda

* 1/2 tsp. salt

* 1 cup quick cooking oats

* 1 cup grated zucchini

* 1/2 cup chocolate chips

* 1/2 cup butterscotch chips

I'll confess - we used about 3/4 cup butterscotch chips and 3/4 cups milk chocolate chips.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla and mix well.

Sift together (ha!) flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt and slowly add to flour mixture.  Add zucchini and stir well.  Stir in chocolate and butterscotch chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly browned along the edges.  We like our cookies chewy so I tend to cook them closer to the 10 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack and I dare you to not eat them all while they are still warm!

Don't they look wonderful?  And my kids could care less that there's zucchini in them.  They said they couldn't taste it.  All they tasted was delicious =o)

Are you looking for more delicious zucchini recipes?  Check out these other posts!

Deliciously Moist Zucchini Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Baked Zucchini Tots

 

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Nature's Sleep Pillow and My Happy Cranium

When I was a kid I never gave any thought to my pillow.  I always thought a pillow was a pillow.  I don't think it was until I moved out and went to college that I even realized there was a difference between pillows.  I remember going to the store and buying pillows for the first time.  What in the world?!  I was kind of lost.  How were there so many different ones?!?!

But here's the really sad part.  I just picked a couple of them up, squished them and picked out the one that seemed good (and cheap).  And then a year or so later, I would do it all over again.  Yep, I bought pillows every year because that's what I thought everyone did.  Mine would get all weird and lumpy and uncomfortable.

Then I discovered Nature's Sleep Pillows and I feel like I have been in the dark all these years.  I chose to review their Nature's Sleep Faux Down Pillow.  I love it!  Faux Down is an alternative to down.  Much better in my opinion.

The Faux Down Pillow is referred to as “The Teddy Bear"" of pillows; it's soft, supple, filled with micro-gel fibers that caress your neck and head to gently and deliciously cradle and contour you. I love it!  The Pillow has a 300 TC cotton inner scrim cover and is completely washable. It is a great pillow for anyone who sleeps on their side or stomach, or who likes a scrunchable, huggable pillow. If you try this pillow, you’ll love it!

It is the perfect pillow for me.  I don't like hard pillows.  I guess they are called firm.  That makes more sense, doesn't it.  It was the perfect amount of soft and firm.  It also comes with an extremely soft, velour cover.  

My kids started to fight over who would get to sleep with it.  Sorry kids.  Mom spoke up on that one.  It's mine!  I have suffered from neck pain for years.  My chiropractor says I have shoulders like a linebacker because they are so tight.  It's from years of stress and that's where I carry it.  It's not very often that I wake p in the morning without feeling sore and stiff.  

The first morning after sleeping with my new Nature's Sleep Pillow I woke up and I seriously felt a difference.  My neck didn't ache every time I moved my head!  That's huge for me and a true testament to how wonderful this pillow is!

 They also have other pillows to chose from.  My co-worker has their Visco Memory Contour Pillow and he said he loves it!  

 The Visco Memory Contour Pillow is a contoured shaped pillow with a thicker and thinner side. Moderate density Memory Foam cradles your head and neck. The washable cotton velour cover is very plush and very kind to the skin. It is a wonderful pillow for those with neck pain, snoring, or breathing issues. The contour pillows are best for back or side sleepers. Choose the small pillow if you normally like to sleep close to the mattress, or use only 1 pillow or choose the Large pillow if you are broad, like to sleep more elevated or use more than 1 pillow when you sleep.  

His wife, on the other hand, is in love with her Viscolite Pillow.  

 The Viscolite Pillow is the newest cutting edge in visco memory foam technology. It is a softer more moldable pressure relieving memory foam with a lite formulation. You can have the best of both worlds, a huggable pillow made of memory foam that supports your neck and head in ultimate comfort.  

Nature's Sleep blog has a great post on ten tips on getting a good night's sleep.  

1. Block Out Excessive Light and Noise.
2. Do Not Nap Too Much.
3. Read At Bedtime.
4. Do Not Go To Bed Hungry.
5. Invest in a Quality Mattress.
6. Write Down Nagging Thoughts.
7. Avoid Alcohol.
8. Try Yoga.
9. Have a Relaxing Beverage.
10. Stick to a Schedule.

For more details on these tips, check out the Nature's Sleep blog.

But really, what I need is a great pillow!  And thanks to Nature's Sleep, I have one!

Are you interested in winning a Nature's Sleep Pillow?  (Because you should be!)  Stay tuned for a giveaway!

Chocolate Cobbler

Chocolate Cobbler.  Have you ever heard of it?   I sure hadn't.  And anything with the name chocolate in it, I thought I knew about.  Nope.  Not this one.

My co-workers said it was delicious!  The "cake" was delicious and a little crunchy on top.  (Not the burnt crunchy, but the yummy sugary crunchy.)  The chocolate was a pudding chocolate as opposed to a fudgy center.  And it seriously tasted like homemade chocolate pudding.  How can you go wrong with that combination, right?

And the best part?  IT WAS SO EASY TO MAKE!  I love recipes like this!

Chocolate Cobbler
Source: Cherry Hill Cottage

* 2 sticks butter
* 1 1/2 cups self rising flour
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 3/4 cup milk
* 1 cup sugar
* 5 Tbsp. cocoa powder
* 2 cups boiling water

Melt the butter in a 9x13 pan.

In a bowl, mix flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, vanilla and milk.  Pour over melted butter but DO NOT MIX!

In another small bowl, mix 1 cup sugar and cocoa powder.  Sprinkle over flour mixture in the pan but DO NOT MIX!  Just sprinkle over the top.

Now pour 2 cups boiling water over the cocoa/sugar mixture.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes.

It's best served warm (because what isn't?) 

You could top with vanilla ice cream (yum) or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

 

Homemade Applesauce

So here's a question for you. Are you a store bought applesauce person or a homemade applesauce person? Or do you not care? I heard there are people out there who actually don't care about food.  GASP!  Can you believe it?!?!

I'm a homemade applesauce person - all the way.  Just the thought of eating store bought applesauce makes me cringe.  It doesn't even taste like apples!  What the???

Last year I didn't want to bother making applesauce because Gravensteins (the BEST apples to make applesauce) always come in season right when I'm going back to work.  It's tough to think about work, school and making applesauce.  But then around October I about knocked myself loopy for not making any.  So we suffered all year with store bought (which I refused to eat.)

Once again it's applesauce time and I jumped on it this year.  20 pounds of Gravensteins please =o)

I don't really have a recipe for making applesauce.  It's all taste (which also means no two batches are exactly the same.

Oh yeah, and my kids and I HATE, let me say that again, HATE chunks in our applesauce.  So I use a food mill to squish it all up.  This is perfect for two reasons.  1) no chunks (yeah) and B) I don't have to peel the apples first which saves a ton of time.

So I cook up the apples in a large pot.  I core them as much as I can because I don't want crushed up stems or seeds in there.  A girl has to have some standards, right?

Then squish them in your food mill.

Put the applesauce back into a large pan over medium heat and add sugar to taste.  I add anywhere from 1-2 cups depending on how full the pan is.  I also add a teaspoon or 3 =o) or cinnamon.

Heat until it's boiling and then add to your sterilized jars.

Depending how how the applesauce is you may or may not have to put them in a hot water bath to seal them.  9 times out of 10 they seal perfectly.  If they don't after they cool, put them in a hot water bath for 10 minutes and they will.

Voila!  Amazing homemade applesauce!

Enjoy!

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