Gingerbread Waffles

A big hit at Topsail vacation!
Adapted from several blogs. Makes about 4 waffles.

1 C white flour
1 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C dark brown sugar
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 t (each) cinnamon and ginger
1 t (each) cardamom, cloves, allspice, nutmeg
4 eggs
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 C milk
1 C plain yogurt
1/4 C molasses
1 t vanilla

Mix melted butter, milk, yogurt, molasses, vanilla, and eggs in a bowl. Add in dry ingredients and mix until smooth.

Cranberry-Blueberry Muffins

Cranberry-Blueberry Muffins

Makes 18 muffins

It’s not too often that I come across a new muffin recipe that I love! This one is great, filled with fruit, not too sweet….

(modified from Weight Watchers recipe)

1. 2/3 cup sugar
2. 2 t. baking powder
3. 1 t. baking soda
4. ¼ t. salt
5. 1 T melted butter
6. 2 T canola oil
7. ¾ c. plain nonfat yogurt
8. 1/3 c. thawed o.j. concentrate
9. 2 eggs
10. 2.5 c. flour: I mixed whole wheat, white whole wheat, and white
11. 1.5 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
12. 1 c. cranberries

Preheat oven to 375.

Spray muffin tins with cooking spray and dust with flour or yellow cake mix

I combined the first 9 ingredients, and then folded in the flour (#10), and the berries.

Spoon the batter into the cups. Dust the top of each muffin with granulated sugar.

Bake til golden, about 15 minutes.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These delicious, quick, and pretty cookies come from a new blog I discovered, 17andbaking. I made them for the annual December frisbee tournament down on the Cape, Get Ho Ho Ho. Even though it was less than 35 degrees outside, I think these cookies warmed everyone up a bit. NOTE: The dough needs to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours so plan accordingly!

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (optional - my addition and it added a great flavor)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls with lightly oiled palms. I used a cookie scoop to portion the dough, a tablespoon or rounded teaspoon would also work depending on what size you like. Coat each ball well in confectioners’ sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.