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Monday, May 20, 2013

Cherry & Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies



Do you know that feeling, when you had a lot of things going on in your life and you're just longing for a moment for yourself with a good book and something nice to nibble? This is how I felt yesterday afternoon. For me there's nothing closer to perfection than cookies in these moments. So I went to the kitchen and checked which ingredients were left in my baking cupboard. I saw chocolate and oats. I recently baked chocolate oatmeal cookies, but yesterday I felt like there should be a little extra to it. Something fruity had to be added. That's where the dried cherries came to my mind. Fortunately I always have some dried fruits at home and I took out the baking bowl and started my lazy Sunday mission.


I realized that I haven't prepared cookies in a while. These were the first in 2013 and we're already May. Recently there were so many cupcakes involved that I didn't have the time and the place in my stomach to add a round of cookies. But here we go now, with delicious little treats for the public holiday laziness. I know I keep pointing the lazy part out, but recently my life has been quite busy and I am just enjoying being alone baking and reading and writing my little blog posts. 


I already prepared oatmeal raisin cookies around a year ago and I decided to change the recipe a little bit. I must say I am happy about the result. The only thing is that they are a little fragile and soft when you take them out of the oven. So you have to be very careful not to break them into little pieces. The best thing is to wait a bit and let them cool down before you put them on the cooling tray. Because otherwise they might not survive it from the baking tray to the cooling tray



For around 15 cookies you need:

115g butter
85g brown sugar
1 egg
60g flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
115g oats
100g chocolate chips
75g dried cherries

*****

Preheat the oven to 160°

In a large bowl whisk together the butter and the sugar. Add the egg and the oats, the baking powder and the vanilla extract. Mix again until you get an even dough. Carefully add the chocolate chips and the cherries.

With two table spoons form little cookies and put them on the baking tray. Be careful to let a certain distance between the cookies because with the heat they might flatten a little bit.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.

As mentioned before, let them cool down a bit on the baking tray before you put them on the cooling tray.

Enjoy!!!!!


Sunday, May 5, 2013

Coffee Walnut Cupcakes




Since the birth of Passion meets Creativity, I have only lived 6 months in Luxembourg. And from these six months I travelled 2. So let's say for 4 months I have been back for good. My family but especially also my friends are following very closely what happens on the blog and on the Passion meets Creativity's Facebook Page. 

However it occurred, that not many of them had the chance to taste the things I prepare. Well this is mostly due to the fact that I prepare things on Sundays and until the next gathering my family or those which I meet on the first week-days as well as my colleagues from work ate all of it.

This is why I decided I would organize a little Passion meets Creativity Feast. This is basically a win win situation. I mean, I can prepare 3 kinds of cakes, cupcakes, tarts etc... and it will be eaten for sure afterwards and my friends can taste as much as they want. The first feast was a great success I'd say, so this calls for another round. 



The winner of this event was the Oreo Cupcake. Those following me on Facebook know what I am talking about. For the others just have a look at this picture.  The Oreo Cupcake was the winner. And the Coffee Walnut Cupcake definitely deserves the second place. What I really like about the Coffee Walnut Cupcake is the fact that it is crunchy and soft at a time. I chose to crush the walnuts not into too little pieces so it keeps a certain crunchiness. 

The coffee buttercream is not heavy at all and still has a well-defined taste. I have a new icing bag, so this was also the first time I was decorating with it and I have to admit I am quite proud. I was always wondering how they get this well-defined decoration on a cupcake and now I find out. There's still space for improvement but for a first I am already happy.



For 12 Cupcakes you need:

4 tbsp espresso
125g butter
125g brown sugar
2 eggs
150g flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
50g crushed walnuts


For the icing

4 tsp espresso
100g butter
150g icing sugar
walnuts for decoration


Preheat the oven to 180°

Prepare a cup of espresso. In a large bowl whisk together the butter, the eggs, the sugar, the baking soda and the flour until you get an even dough. Now add the chopped walnuts and mix again. Finally add the espresso and mix for at least one minute. 

Pour the dough into the cupcake molds and bake for 20 minutes

Meanwhile you can prepare the icing. Whisk together the butter and the icing sugar. When obtained  a silky cream add the espresso. Mix again. 

******

Let the cupcakes cool down before you start decorating the cupcakes. With your icing bag put the cream on top and decorate with a walnut.

Enjoy!!!!


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