Country Time Acres Blog

This muffin has all my favorite ingredients!

Once a week I like to have breakfast for dinner and I try a new muffin recipe. This week I tried this recipe and it is now one of my favorites!  Here is what you need: Preheat oven to 375. In large bowl mix 2 cups all purpose four, 1/2 cup sugar, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In another bowl combine 1 egg, 2/3 cups buttermilk, 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/3 cup melted butter and 2 teaspoons grated orange peel. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet. When mixed well fold in 3/4 cup chopped cranberries and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Put into greased muffin pan and bake 18-20 minutes. Let cool, serve warm.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!!

Chocolate lovers will love Polka-Dot Cookie Bars.

Chocolate lovers take notciec. My 4-H kids baked these bars this week and they were awesome!!! Here is what you need.  Pre-heat oven to 375. In large bowl mix 1 cup butter, softened, 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup packed brown sugar. Add 2 eggs and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. In another bowl combine 2 & 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/3 cup baking cocoa, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Slowly pour into wet ingredients until mixed well.  You need 1 package (10-12 ounce)  of vanilla chips. Set aside 1/2 cup of vanilla chips and mix the rest into batter. Pour batter into  15 X 10 pan. Top with remaining chips and bake for 18-23 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.They taste great warm!!!!    Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!!!

Old fashioned Blue Berry Muffins

Nothing says country than a fresh batch of muffins made with real blue berries! Here is a recipe that is quick and easy. Pre-heat oven to 400. In mixing bowl mix 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 1/4 cup milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2  teaspoon vanilla. Once blended gently stir in 3/4  cup of blue berries, fresh or frozen ( if frozen do not thaw berries). Put batter into muffin tin and bake for 18-22 minutes. Serve warm.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!!

If you love trail mix, you will love this cookie!

This cookie has everything in it but, the kitchen sink. Or, so it seems. I love trail mix so I just had to try them and they are one of my favorites. Here is what you need: Heat oven to 375. Mix in bowl - 1 cup sugar, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup of margarine or 1 stick of butter , softened, and 1/2 cup shortening. Stir in 1 1/4 cups quick oats, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 2 eggs. Stir in 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Stir in 1 cup peanut butter. Add 2 cups candy coated peanut butter candies, 1 cup peanuts and 3/4 cups of raisins. Note: Do not over stir or cookies will be runny!  Drop by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9-10 minutes or until cookies are brown. Cool 5 minutes or until set so they don’t fall apart. Makes about 5 dozen. Enjoy!  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!

Peanut Butter Bars, a tasty treat for a rainy day!

What better way to spend a rainy day than baking a yummy dessert?  Today the girls of Country Time 4-H made these awesome peanut butter bars. Here is what you need: In large bowl cream 1/2 cup butter (softened), 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup quick oats, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt, gradually add to creamed mixture, add 1 cup chocolate chips to mixture or spread mixture into 13 X 9 pan and sprinkle chips  on top. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. For icing combine 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter. If to runny add a little more sugar. Drizzle over bars. Cool completely and cut into bars.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!!!

The girls of Country Time 4-H love spending time in the kitchen!

Need a cool dessert Fast? Grab a cup and some cookie dough!

We all know what it’s like when you suddenly need a cool idea for a special treat and don’t have much time to make it. This recipe uses an 18 ounce roll of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough, 36 miniature Snickers bars, baking cups and a can of chocolate frosting.

Heat oven to 375. For each cookie cup wrap a heaping teaspoon of cookie dough around  1 candy bar, enclosing it almost completely and forming a ball. Place in a paper baking cup. Place cups on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Centers will sink slightly. Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheet, cool 15 minutes. Spoon chocolate frosting into pastry bag  with a star tip and pipe frosting on top of each cup.

I didn’t get any where near 36 cups out of this recipe but, they were so good it didn’t matter. They were gone the minute they hit the table!!!  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!

Chocolate Chip Blondies, when a little chocolate is all you want.

All this snow has left me with plenty of time for baking, however that’s really not what my new exercise program needs! Most of the time I bake and send my treats over to Shining Time Daycare to my taste testers. They said these were GREAT! Here is what you will need. In large bowl mix, 1- 1/2 cups  packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until blended. Add 1 -1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well, Stir in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Spread into a greased 13 X 9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut into bars.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!

Baking Powder Biscuits, great for any meal.

When your low on flour but, feel like biscuits this recipe is perfect! Here is what you will need.  Pre-heat oven to 450. Mix 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tbs. sugar, 3 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. salt into a large bowl. Cut 1/2 cup shortening using pastry blender, mix until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in 3/4 cup of milk. Dough will be soft and sticky. Place dough onto lightly floured surface, kneed about 10 times and roll to 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured  2 inch biscuit cutter. Place onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake about 10-12 minutes. baking tip: for crusty sides place biscuits about 1 inch apart, for softer sides have biscuits touch. Each biscuit is 160 calories (80 fat).  Did you visit?  Leave a comment!

Banana Orange Bars are a tasty treat.

This week I tried a new recipe using bananas. I especially like the orange frosting. Here is what you need: In a large bowl mix 2 cups mashed bananas, 1 – 2/3 cup sugar,  1 cup oil and 4 eggs. In a seprate bowl mix 2 cups all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.  Slowly mix dry and wet ingredients, pour into 15 in. X10 in. X 1 in. pan and bake  at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool and frost: Orange frosting: mix 5 tablespoons butter, softened,  4-1/2  cups confectioners sugar, 5 tablespoons orange juice and 1 /2 teaspoons grated orange peel. Beat until smooth. Spread over bars.  Did you visit?  Leave a comment. Visit Jowana Lamb on Facebook.