In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and pumpkin.
The Big Green Bowl
Simple recipes for everyday baking.
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Why This Blog?
Welcome!
Come in and make yourself at home. I'm so happy to be able to share my recipes here with you.
I bake mostly cookies, quick breads, muffins and scones -- sometimes pie, sometimes cake, but nothing too fancy. I prefer simple recipes that call for ingredients that I already have in my kitchen.
These are the recipes I will share with you. They come from family and friends, magazine clippings saved through the years, favorite cookbooks, and other blogs.
I'm so glad you came to visit. Enjoy your stay!
Michael Ann
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and pumpkin.
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Easy Shortbread
This shortbread recipe may be easy, but the taste is ALL there. In my opinion, it's perfect. It's light and sweet and melts in your mouth. When I get shortbread cravings, I want to be able to whip up a batch and eat it within the hour. This recipe fills the bill. So perfect with a cup of afternoon tea.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
2 TB granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl with electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add the sugars and salt and beat again until well blended. Sift the flour directly into the butter mixture and STIR until a stiff dough forms.
Spoon the dough evenly into an UNGREASED 9" square baking pan. With your fingertips, press the dough into the pan until compact and even. With a fork, prick the dough all over.
Bake until lightly browned, 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool a bit, then cut evenly into squares. Let cool completely. Store shortbread in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Happy Baking!
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Dutch Butter Cake (Boterkoek)
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 TB (Tablespoon) almond extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
sliced almonds for the tops
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8" round cake pans (or spray with baking spray).
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs. Add eggs to the butter mixture, saving about 1 TB to brush over the tops of the cakes.
Stir in the almond extract.
In another small bowl, combine the flour and baking powder with a whisk; stir into the batter by hand. The dough will be stiff.
Spread dough evenly into the two prepared pans (an offset spatula works nicely for this). Brush the tops with the reserved egg and use the spatula to smooth it over, then sprinkle evenly with the sliced almonds.
Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Don't over bake or it will be dry!
Remove from oven and let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then carefully remove to wire racks to cool completely. Cut in wedges to serve.
Happy Baking!
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Tripe Chocolate Brownies
When I want brownies, I normally use Ghirardelli brownie mix. I mean, why mess with perfection? But sometimes I want MORE than a brownie... I need something richer and denser, more like a dessert. That's when I bake these. I was introduced to this recipe by a parent who comes into our school office. She brought us these treats and I HAD to have the recipe. She got it from Cook's Illustrated. As always, I type up recipes here the way I like to bake them and with any changes I've made to the original.
If you love deep, dark, rich chocolate, you will want to make these soon!!
Triple Chocolate Brownies
5 oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or use chocolate chips)
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
8 TB (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into large cubes
3 TB cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1-1/4 cups (8-3/4 oz) sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (5 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour
Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray an 8" square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. You can line it with parchment paper if you wish, letting the sides hang over so that you can pull the whole thing out of the pan when baked. If you do this, spray again with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium microwave safe bowl, add the semi-sweet and un-sweetened chocolate and the butter. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. It usually requires 3 intervals to completely melt. Set aside to cool a bit.
In a larger bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt.
Whisk the warm chocolate mixtures into the egg mixture, then stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake 35-40 minutes until slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a small amount of crumbs on it. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Cut into squares directly in the pan or if you've used parchment, remove from pan and cut.
Cover and store on counter or in the refrigerator.
Happy Baking!
Monday, January 24, 2022
Salted Nut Roll Bars
If you like PAYDAY candy bars, you will LOVE this recipe. It's super easy and fun to make with a few ingredients. Recipe from Allrecipes.com
Ingredients
16 oz dry roasted salted peanuts, divided
4 TB unsalted butter
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
10 oz bag peanut butter chips
4 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
1. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Add 1/2 the peanuts. Set aside.
3. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter.
4. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir till completely combined.
5. Add peanut butter chips and continue to stir until melted.
6. Stir in marshmallows and cook til puffy, about a minute or two.
7. Remove from heat and pour on top of peanuts in the baking pan. Spread with spatula.
8. Top with remaining peanuts and press down gently.
9. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until set.
10. Cut into bars and serve.
Happy Baking!
Saturday, November 6, 2021
Pumpkin Spice Bread
This Pumpkin Spice Bread is one of the best I've tasted. It's super moist and flavorful. The spices are heated in with the pumpkin puree before the other ingredients are added, which really brings out the cinnamon and clove flavors. Baked in 3 mini loaf pans or one 9" pan, it makes a wonderful gift to bring to a friend!
Recipe doubles easily and freezes well.