Dessert

Rainbow Sprinkle Shortbread

- Amanda

I’m going to keep try and keep this post short and as sweet as possible. Emotions are running high today with good and bads news coming in simultaneously. Life is interesting like that sometimes…..But let’s talk cookies. I think short and sweet is pretty fitting for these Rainbow Sprinkle Shortbread. They’re the cutest little gem of a cookie. The perfect marriage of 4 simple staple ingredients like butter, sugar, flour and a hint of salt (and then vanilla for good measure.) The taste and texture are everything you want in a classic buttery shortbread and the rainbow edges add such a fun and celebratory flare sure to make all your little (and even big) loves smile.

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Autumn Pumpkin & Fig Maple Glazed Scones (in APRIL)

- Amanda

One silver lining of this quarantine/ lockdown stuff is that I think we’re all feeling free reign to cook & bake with everything and anything we have on hand even if is sooo not in season. And I am definitely taking advantage of that with these Pumpkin & Fig Maple Glazed Scones. I mean doesn’t the name just sound scrumptious and scream all that is good about autumn. That’s because they are and well, yes they very much do indeed. But on this cold and gloomy spring day here in Istanbul (stuck at home,) I welcome every bit of the coziness that comes with brisk fall days that so often come with the scent of pumpkin baked goods wafting from the kitchen.

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Banana PB & Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

- Amanda

We’re definitely on a chocolate banana kick over here, but can you blame us? One of the best combos ever, right? (And well, we’re wasting nothing these days, so we’re putting them brown bananas to work.)…But we’ve upped the anti and included some peanut butter. And we’ve left out the gluten and almost all the refined sugar. But truuust me, don’t let that deter you from making these if you have the ingredients in stock. They are delicious as well as kid & healthy-treat-picky hubs approved.

Honestly, I have to say, I was a bit (pleasantly) surprised when we tasted these out of the oven. They were really knock-our-socks-off-good. Soft, chewy and full of chocolate-banana flavor. All good things you want in a cookie and often lack in one labeled gluten-free or refined sugar-free, let alone both. And I’ve made plenty of refined sugar-free and gluten-free treats. These don’t have that slight “something’ is missing element. They are just really satisfyingly delectable.

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Chocolatey Banana Oat Squares

- Amanda

It took me a while to decide what to call these. At first, I was sold on banana chocolate oat brownies. But my husband didn’t think they fit the bill for what he might call a brownie. Then I was leaning towards bars. But, Mr. T, my 6 year-old, said that bars are “usually a little harder and not so soft.” And for some reason, cake just didn’t work for me….So, Chocolatey Banana Oat Squares it was. And I’m still not 100% sold on that title, but tomato tomata, the only thing these need to be called, is really good. Because that’s exactly that they are.

This cake, bar, brownie is so soft, moist and packed with chocolatey banana flavor. And I bet, if you tasted one, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you they are made with whole wheat flour. And, they contain healthy ingredients like oats and ground flax seeds. What’s not to love there?!

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Quick and Easy Cherry Hand Pies

- Amanda 3 Comments

In an effort to contain the chaos that can come from having my 3 year-old and out-of-school 6 year-old home together all day, everyday, I’ve been trying to have a few daily activities planned that we can do as a group and that are fun for all.  So far they’re favorite thing, is the one the ends with a treat that they can eat. 

Today we made these Quick and Easy Cherry Hand Pies.  And trust me, when I say easy, it doesn’t get easier than this.  I suppose unless you buy ready-made jam and use that as the filling, which would be just fine. I’ve taken a major shortcut with these and we used store-bought Puff Pastry dough that I already had in the freezer.

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