KerriansKitchen

KNR, p. 204 “Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins”

Sheila tried out a new muffin recipe. And the muffins have PUMPKIN in them. Big smiles here.  She said that these were for breakfast, but since I was hanging around for taste-testing duty, I had the first one for an afternoon snack. She made some with chocolate chips and without, and both types were great. Chocolate and pumpkin, though? Perfect together!

In case you were wondering? No bodies anywhere in the kitchen or dining room. I always check. 😉

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Sheila Kerrian
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Standing mixer
  • Jumbo Muffin Pan

Ingredients
  

Topping

  • 3 Tablespoons   brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons pecans, chopped and ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Muffins

  • 1/3 cup sunflower seed oil (or other nut oil)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs      
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached King Arthur flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1/4 cups organic canned pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Mix topping ingredients together and set aside.
  • Pre-heat oven to 375. Use standing mixer on slowest speed. Do not overbeat at any step.
  • Cream oil and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until just mixed.
  • Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, a little at a time and mix until evenly moistened.
  • Add pumpkin puree and mix until just blended. Add chocolate chips and stir with large spoon until evenly distributed throughout the batter.  
  • Divide mix evenly among 6 extra large greased, floured muffin tins (or use jumbo baking cup papers). Divide topping equally and sprinkle on top of the muffins, about 2 teaspoons each.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes in center of oven - until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, muffins are springy to the touch, and lightly golden brown.

Let rest on cooling rack for five minutes, then enjoy!  🙂

 

 

 

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KNR, p. 291 Portuguese Veggie Dish – Peppers and Zucchini

Our trip to mainland Portugal was a food adventure to be sure. We always ask for, but rarely get, all the special secrets for some of the dishes we try. BUT, a generous chef at a Porto bed & breakfast not far from the train station, shared this wonderful vegetable recipe with us.

 

Sheila replicated it at home, so we know the cook authentically shared her list of ingredients. We came up with the proportions ourselves, but after our usual trial-and-error tasting sessions, it now looks and tastes the same as the original to us. They served it at breakfast alongside the eggs and pastries, but we have enjoyed it at every meal of the day.

 

Portuguese Veggie Dish - Peppers and Zucchini

Sheila Kerrian
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Portuguese
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • about 1/2 cup (1 small) Carrot
  • 1/2 cup green Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 cup red Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 cup yellow (or orange) Bell Pepper
  • about 2 cups (1 medium) Zucchini
  • 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil olive oil can be substituted, but the flavor will be quite different
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried Oregano

Instructions
 

  • Wash carrot, peppers, and zucchini.
  • Peel carrot, then cut into 3" Julienne strips, about 1/2 cup.
  • Remove seeds from peppers, then cut into 3" Julienne strips, about 1/2 cup each of green, red, and yellow peppers.
  • Peel zucchini, then cut into 3" Julienne strips, about 2 cups.
  • Place all veggies and avocado oil into large saute pan on medium heat.
  • Add garlic, sea salt, and onion, and toss with veggies and oil until well coated.
  • Cover and lower temperature, and simmer for 5 minutes, then stir.
  • Add oregano and toss with veggies.
  • Continue to simmer until crisp tender, about another 5 minutes.

 

 

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KNR, p. 139 “Irish Brown Bread”

 

Ireland is a fabulous place to visit from Spring right through early Fall. The country has plenty of top-notch scenery, challenging golf courses, stud farms, and castles galore. And, it has all that really great food. Sheila and I had loads of fun going from tea room to pub to restaurant, sampling traditional Irish dishes.

The one constant at lunch wherever we went was the dense brown bread. It varied slightly in taste with different bakers, but it was usually served with soup or at afternoon tea, with jam, butter or honey.

Of course, when we came back to the States, Sheila and I created our own version of the bread so that we could serve it on St. Patrick’s Day. Yes, it is on the table with the soda bread, giving our guests a chance to try both. To be clear, Sheila does the baking and I do the tasting and cleanup. We make a great team in the kitchen.  🙂 

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Irish Brown Bread

Sheila Kerrian
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine Irish
Servings 6

Equipment

  • 1 4”x 8” loaf pan
  • 1 Standing mixer with dough hook
  • non-stick cooking spray

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 Tablespoons cold butter
  • 2 3/4 cups stone ground wholewheat flour, plus additional Tablespoons if needed
  • 1/4 cup regular or quick-cooking rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl, blend all-purpose flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt. 
  • Cut in butter until mixture forms pea sized crumbs. 
  • Stir in whole wheat flour and oats. Add buttermilk, using bread hook if available.  If mixture is sticky, add in more whole wheat flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time, just until the dough has a smooth, dry surface.
  • Place dough ball on a lightly floured board and knead 6-7 times, shaping into a loaf. Spray 4”x 8” loaf pan with non-stick spray and place dough in the pan.
  • Bake at 400 until golden brown, about 45-50 minutes. Test for doneness with metal skewer.
  • Remove from pan immediately and cool on rack. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

 

Serve with butter, jam, or honey and enjoy!

 

*Photo by Patti Phillips

 

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