Bacon Chicken Ranch Wrap

Hey Everybody!  Today's recipe is one of the simplest I will ever post.  I hope you enjoy it!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps

1 medium tortilla

1 1/2 teaspoons ranch dressing

2 tablespoons bacon bits

1 handful lettuce

4 1/2 chicken nuggets (heated)

1/4 cup colby jack cheeses

Directions

Spread ranch dressing over tortilla, and sprinkle bacon bits over it.  Layer lettuce over tortilla.  Set warmed chicken nuggets in the middle of the tortilla.  Add cheese, roll up and serve.

Oh yum!  I can still taste it!

Delicious Golden Cornbread

Hey everyone! I have a really yummy recipe for cornbread! It goes really well with chili, red beans and rice, and any other dish you might think of! 

                                   Delicious Golden Cornbread: 

                              2 cups cornmeal
                              2 cups flour (whole wheat or white will work)
                              1 tsp. salt
                              8 tsp. baking powder
                              2 T. sugar
                              2 eggs
                              2 c. milk or water
                              1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

In a bowl, mix milk or water with eggs, and add melted butter. Add all dry ingredients and stir. Sometimes the mixture seems dry, so just add a few tablespoons more of water. 
Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Test with a toothpick, and if it comes out clean then the bread is done! 
It is also delicious to add some honey butter! Here's a recipe: 

                         Honey Butter:
                              1 cup butter, soft
                              1/2 cup honey
                             
Mix softened butter and honey together, and spread on cornbread! So easy yet so yummy! 

I hope you guys tried this, and enjoyed it! If you did, please comment and tell me what you think! Give us ideas on what else to post too! Happy Eating! ~Nutmeg:) 

Grandma's Banana Bread

Hello all!  Today's article is being posted a little later because I was helping out at my church with a program called Vacation Bible School (a.k.a VBS).  My article on Friday will also be posted later in the day.  Now for today's recipe!  Everyone loves grandma's cooking, so I decided to post one of my favorite recipes of hers!!!

Grandma's Banana Bread

3 medium ripe bananas

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg

1/4 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1- 2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

Heat oven to 350.

Smash bananas in a large bowl. Add softened butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg.  Blend in sour cream and vanilla.

  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and cinnamon( I don't particularly like cinnamon, so I tend to leave it out).  Add to banana mixture.  Beat until blended, and pour into a greased and floured loaf pan. 

Bake for 65 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes in pan and tip out onto rack.  Let cool for another 10 minutes and enjoy!!!

I hope you all love my grandma's banana bread!  This has been one of my favorites since I was little, and I hope that you guys feel the same way!

Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse

Hey Everyone! I decided it was time for another dessert. Around here we like to keep things simple.  I hope you all enjoy it!

Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse

1 3/4 cups 2% milk

1 pkg. 3.4 oz. instant cheesecake pudding

1/2 cup melted milk chocolate chips

1 teaspoon butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions

Whisk together milk and instant pudding mix.  Let stand in refrigerator for two minutes.

Melt together chocolate and butter in a double boiler.

Mix the melted chocolate and pudding together; set aside.  Meanwhile, whip the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.  (Note: If you do not want to use heavy whipping cream; two cups of whipped topping can be substituted, and omit the powdered sugar.)  Fold into the chocolate mixture, put into dishes and chill.  Happy eating!

I prefer small chocolate specks in my mousse , but there are ways to avoid that.  I hope you all enjoy this marvelous mousse as much as I did!

Really Yummy Lemon Bars

Hey Everyone! This is Nutmeg, and I have a really good recipe for lemon bars! This is one of our family favorites, so I hope you enjoy! :) (Koko made sure I brought her one too :) Happy Eating! :) 

                                   

Really Yummy Lemon Bars

             Crust:

             3 sticks of butter (or shortening if you want it dairy free) 

             3/4 cup of powdered sugar

             3 cups flour

          

             Filling:

             6 eggs

             3 cups sugar

             6 Tbsp. flour

             1/2 cup lemon juice

              

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350*, and spray a jellyroll pan with non-stick spray. 

Combine the butter or shortening with powdered sugar, salt, and flour in an electric mixer until dough forms. 

Press the dough onto the bottom of the pan, and bake for 20 minutes. (If you are using a convection oven, bake it for less.) 

Mix together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice,and flour, and pour over the baked crust. 

Bake for another 25-30 minutes. When the bars are cool, sift some powdered sugar over them and enjoy! :) 

~Note from Nutmeg: If these are not lemony enough, you can add more lemon juice or some lemon zest. 

Breakfast Smoothie Popsicle

Hey!  Ko-Ko signing in!  Have your kids ever wanted a popsicle for breakfast?  I am going to guess that maybe a few of you have had this problem.  This popsicle recipe is sweet enough to be a dessert, but nutritious enough to be a cool breakfast on hot days.

Breakfast Smoothie Popsicle

2 bananas

1 can of pineapple

1 can of peaches

1 egg(optional)

2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut macaroon

splash of vanilla

Directions

Drain peaches and pineapple.  Add all to blender.  Blend.  Freeze in molds and enjoy!!! 

If you would like this just as a smoothie, the egg is optional.  My family and I raise chickens, so we know where our eggs come from.

Thick 'n Creamy Mac and Cheese

Hey Everybody!  This is Ko-Ko!  Today, I will show you a delicious way to make mac and cheese from scratch!  Kids love it!

Thick n' Creamy Mac and Cheese

2 cups dried pasta
2 1/2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon dried, minced garlic
1 cup loosely packed cheddar cheese, shredded by hand

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a small saucepan, add pasta, milk, and garlic.  Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook until pasta is soft, stirring frequently and ensuring milk does not boil.

Turn heat off, add cheese and salt  and stir to combine.  

Cover and let stand for a couple of minutes, then stir again and serve. If not creamy enough, add milk a little at a time, and gently stir.

Banana Split Smoothie

Hey everyone!! It's Nutmeg this time! I will be posting on Wednesdays, and Koko will post on Monday and Friday. This is a recipe for an amazingly yummy smoothie that me and Koko made together! Doesn't it look yummy?? I hope you enjoy it!! 

                           

Banana Split Smoothie

1 banana

 1/4 cup milk

1 egg

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

splash of vanilla

handful of chocolate chips

blend banana, milk, egg, and vanilla until smooth, then add frozen strawberries and chocolate chips. Blend until it reaches the consistency you like, and enjoy!:) Makes 1 smoothie.  

~Note from Nutmeg: Frozen strawberries make the smoothie cooler, so it's really refreshing on a hot summer day! You can also add some whipped cream if you'd like. :) 

If Enjoyed....

Hi All!  I just wanted to ask you to please post a comment if you have tried anything from our blog.  Also, please comment if you have a suggestion for us of how to improve our blog.  We would also enjoy requests for things to make.

Maple Glazed Pork Loin and Pea Green Radish Salad Dinner

This nice, simple dinner is perfect for chilly evenings when all you want is deliciousness.

Maple Glazed Pork Loin

2.75 lb. pork tenderloin

salt

pepper

1 T. vegetable oil

3/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

a pinch cayenne pepper

Directions

Adjust oven rack to the lower middle position and heat the oven to 375* F.

Pat the roast dry and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Heat oil in a twelve inch over a medium - high heat until just smoking.  Brown the roast on all sides and reduce heat if fat starts smoking.

Transfer  to 9 by 13 baking dish and roast in the oven  until the thickest registers 110 degrees, 35 to 55 minutes.

Pour off the fat left in the skillet.  Mix the maple syrup, the cinnamon, and the cayenne in the pan.  While mixing, scrape up any browned bits left in the pan and simmer until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds.  Remove  from heat. 

Brush the glaze over the pork loin and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the pork reaches an internal temp. of 140 degrees.

Transfer to a cutting board and cover with foil until it reaches an internal temp. of 150*F.  Enjoy!!!

Now for the salad!!!

Pea Greens and Radish Salad

2 cups pea sprouts

radish greens

5 radishes (thinly sliced)

1/4 cucumber (thinly sliced)

Dressing

1 T. lemon juice

splash rice vinegar

1 T. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a medium bowl, toss pea sprouts, radishes, greens, and cucumber with the lemon juice dressing.  Enjoy!!!

I hope you all enjoy this simple yet delicious meal.  I did not add a recipe for mashed potatoes, because everyone has their own favorite recipe.

Keep Cool!

Summer is right around the corner!  Today's recipe will help us all keep cool during the heat.  This recipe is for all of you watermelon lovers out there.

Watermelon Sorbet

1 small watermelon

1/2-1 cup sugar(depending upon sweetness preferences)

1 cup water
1/3 cup lemon juice

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves.  Once boiling, take off of heat and let cool.

2. Cut your watermelon in half and remove all of the red and pink flesh. 

3. In blender, puree the lemon and watermelon until smooth.  Add sugar syrup, and mix well

4. Freeze in a freezer safe bowl.  Before serving, take sorbet out of freezer 2-3 minutes to thaw slightly.

My family LOVES this sorbet as a summer treat!  I hope yours does as well.  For those of you who think this would be a great popsicle recipe, I'm sorry.  I also thought this would make great popsicles. It does not.  When I tried to make popsicles, the stick did not stay in, and the popsicles would not come out of the container.  Oh, I almost forgot!  I had a little helper with this recipe!  Isn't he cute?

Chocolate Mint Brownies!

1. Hey everyone, it's Nutmeg! I have an amazing recipe for Chocolate Mint Brownies! I know, I know, it's another brownie recipe, but these are irresistibly wonderful!  I have made them several times! Instead of making the actual brownies, it also works to use a brownie mix and frost them, but either way they turn out wonderful! I also like to drizzle the chocolate on top instead of spreading a solid layer. It makes them look really cool. Happy eating! :) ~Nutmeg
   
   
   
   What you'll need

   ·         BROWNIES

   ·         1/2 cup butter

   ·         4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

   ·         1 1/2 cups sugar

   ·         3 eggs

   ·         1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

   ·         1 cup all-purpose flour

   ·         1/2 teaspoon salt

   ·         MINT FROSTING

   ·         1/4 cup softened butter

   ·         2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

   ·         1 1/2 to 3 tablespoons milk

   ·         1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

   ·         Green food coloring

   ·         CHOCOLATE TOPPING

   ·         3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

   
   

   ·         1/2 cup butter
   
   
                       For the brownies...
   1.     Heat the oven to 350º and grease a 9-inch square baking pan. For the brownies, place the butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stir, and microwave for 1 minute more. Stir until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs. Stir in the chocolate and the vanilla extract. Finally, stir in the flour and salt until thoroughly combined. Pour into the prepared pan, then bake for 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for at least 1 hour.
   
   
   For the icing...
   Cream the butter and confectioner's sugar together. Add  milk one tablespoon at a time and beat it until it is spreading consistency. Beat in peppermint extract, and, if desired, put in a few drops of green food coloring to make it look minty. Spread thickly on top of brownies.
   
   For the chocolate topping...
   
   
   mix chocolate chips and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Melt chocolate chips for 1 1/2 minutes on HIGH in the microwave. When they are melted, stir the mixture and spread or drizzle onto the brownies.
   
   
   This recipe makes about 16-32 brownies. Enjoy!
   
   
   Note from Nutmeg: I like using a 9x13 and brownie mix so it makes more/ bigger ones.

Grand Opening

Hi  Everybody!  This is the grand opening for the  blog Nutmeg and Ko-Ko Cookies!  I'm Ko-Ko,  and my partner, Nutmeg, has given me the honor of writing our first article.  I decided to make a recipe that will wake everyone up to our existence.  What better way to do so than to do something with coffee?  These brownies combine two delicious foods, chocolate and coffee!  They are called Mocha Brownies.  This is my own original recipe, and I am delighted with the result.  It  is light and cakey - just the way I like it!

Mocha Brownies

1-1/4 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup butter softened

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup Kahlua

2 tablespoons instant coffee crystals

Directions

1. Heat butter, granulated sugar, and cocoa powder in a large saucepan over medium heat until butter melts, stirring constantly.  Remove  from heat.  Add eggs and vanilla; beat lightly just until combined.

2. Stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl; set aside.  Mix together milk, Kahlua, and coffee crystals until dissolved. Add chocolate and milk mixtures alternately to the flour, beating by hand after every addition.

3. Pour into a greased 15x10x1- inch baking pan.  Bake at 350* F  for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack.  Enjoy!

Wasn't that a nice simple recipe?  I hope all of you who try this like it as much as I did!