Wellness

Baking is Therapy

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For me one of the best ways to get me out of my head is to bake. Last week i was in a weird head place nothing seemed to work so i decided to do one of my favorite things… BAKE… right now its Christmas baking which is always the best kind of baking. I will make a bunch of cookies freeze them and then when it gets closer to Christmas i will make platters or tins to give out to people.

I made one of my favorite cookies right here, as my family likes to call them Thumb Prints. They are a Jelly filled cookie and i think they taste amazing. If you would like to try to make this cookie the recipe below, please let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 Cups All- Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter ( let it sit out get to room temp before using)
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Then i will use a couple different types of preserves such as Raspberry, Grape, Apricot or Orange. The different colors tend to make everything look so pretty. I normally buy a 13oz jar or each of the types i decide to use and then add as much as i feel is needed.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a non stick baking pan which i have and it is amazing.

Add the Butter and sugar into your kitchen aid, start at a low speed as it starts to mix together you can increase the speed, i will switch off my mixer at times to scrap down the bowl as sometimes the butter and sugar mix will stick to the sides of the bowl. As that is mixing in a separate bowl start to mix your flour, baking powder and salt together.

Then add in the vanilla and egg to the wet ingredients, I tend to speed up the mixer to make sure everything combines nicely before I start to add in my dry ingredients. You can either slowly mix your dry ingredients in or as i tend to do turn off the mixer then add all of the dry ingredients in. Turn the mixer onto the slow speed let everything mix together, i will switch off my mixer at times to scrap down the bowl to make sure everything is combining together nicely.

Once everything is mixed together bring your bowl over to your baking sheets. I will then roll the dough into small balls and set them on the sheet. I will let the dough set while i work on the second baking sheet this allows the dough not to be as sticky, so once i make the “thumb print” it will not stick. I do not actually use my thumb i found using the back of a clean teaspoon tends to work so much better to make the circle you really want. After you complete this step, you then add in the preserve.

Bake the cookies until the edges are golden, which is normally at least 15 minutes.

Let the cookies cool and then you can add additional powder sugar to the tops of the cookies.

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Lifestyle

Girls Night Idea

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Everyone loves nights with their friends, with life being so busy at times it can be hard to be able to get creative to plan something fun especially on a work night. I invited a couple friends over to hang out on a Friday night, right after work. Knowing what a busy Friday i had a head i decided to make turkey chili in a slow cooker, something healthy, yummy and simple to make when you are working. Whether you are working from home or if you have to go into the office. That is the great thing about having a slow cooker you put everything in the pot set the timer and then how every many hours to set it to cook to till will be done.

Below is my Turkey Chili recipe, but I will admit sometimes i will add extra spices in depending on who i am making the chili for depending on their spice tolerance level of course. I wanted to make everything look really pretty when my friends make over so i also did some decorating for Christmas to add to the fun night ahead. Who does not love some great Christmas decorations this year more so then ever i think everyone wants to feel the Christmas cheer a little early.

Meat 1 lb 90% lean ground Turkey, lean
Produce
1 tbsp Garlic powder
1 Can Kidney beans, red
1 Can Black beans
½ a can of Salsa
1 Yellow onion, medium
Condiments
1 (8 oz.) can Tomato sauce
1 TO 2 Cans of V8
Baking & Spices
1/2 tsp Black pepper, ground
2 tbsp Chili powder
1 ½ tsp Garlic Powder
1 1/2 tsp Salt
Oils & Vinegars
1 tbsp Olive oil
Nuts & Seeds
2 tbsp Cumin, ground

Add the olive oil in a pan let it heat up a little then and in the chopped yellow onion and ground turkey and break it apart with a fork and then cook until the turkey has brown enough to put into the slow cooker. Once you have completed this step and in all of your other ingredients.

Since more then likely everyone likes their chili a little different what i decided to do was add some possible toppings to the side in little containers so each person could make it however they wanted. Everyone got a kick out of this little added touch and everyone loved the chance to make the chili their own way. This is also helpful if you have anyone who may have an allergy no possibility of cross contamination.

Of course you cant end a good girls night without a little treat, and in the winter what goes better then a nice cup of hot chocolate with some whip cream to top it off with. Perfect simple and fun girls night event that will allow for a lot of laughs and memories with your friends. As long as you do not mind doing a little prep work ahead of time this will be a stress free after work type of night.

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