Tuesday isn’t fat, it’s just big boned

So as you may recall, last week at this time I was busy preparing myself for all the National Organ Donor Day festivities, and now today I’m getting ready for another important holiday which is coming up tomorrow– Mardi Gras! Also known as Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday, or for all my Swedish amigos out there, Fettisdagen. Originally Mardi Gras was celebrated by the Christians because it was the last night before the beginning of the Lenten season. Everyone would get together and celebrate and eat rich, fatty foods and wear crazy masks and have big parades and parties. Sort of like a last hurrah before Ash Wednesday when they would begin repenting and fasting for the next 40 days before Easter.

Nowadays, Mardi Gras has taken on a whole new meaning and seems to be celebrated by not just Christians, but anyone out there looking for an excuse to party and have a good time. And by good time I mean a lot of dancing and drinking and throwing shiny beads at people who show off their ta-tas. Not exactly how religious Christians celebrated this occasion way back in the day but probably would have liked to, in all honesty. Who doesn’t enjoy a night of booze and boobs, am I right?

So even though Mardi Gras isn’t hugely celebrated up here in the Pacific Northwest, mi papa is originally from New Orleans and he still likes to do his part in carrying on some of the traditions from his youth. And since he doesn’t drink and isn’t much of a partier, you can probably guess which of the traditions it is that he likes to partake in <wink wink>. I, on the other hand, love any excuse to whip up some delicious baked goodies, and thought making some cute little mini cake doughnuts would be the perfect addition to our Mardi Gras celebration. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite the memo on the correct color scheme (green, purple and gold) so I went with pink instead. Oh well, at least it made mi mama happy. I just set her calendar back a week and told her they were for Valentine’s Day… hehe.

Mini Mardi Gras Strawberry Doughnuts

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitute

2 tbsp butter, melted

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

2 drops pink food coloring

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 12 mini-doughnut pan with cooking spray.

2) Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix well to combine.

3) Stir in milk, vanilla, eggs and butter and mix until just combined.

4) Fill each doughnut cup 3/4 full.  Bake 10 minutes or until slightly browned. Allow to cool 5 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 24 mini doughnuts.

5) Once completely cooled, combine powdered sugar, milk and food coloring in a small bowl until creamy. Dip tops of doughnuts into icing and cover with sprinkled, if desired.

6) Enjoy!

Alright amigos, that’s it for me for the evening. I gotta get my beads ready for tomorrow’s big Fat Tuesday parade. And considering how many strands I have saved from last year, things could get pretty crazy out there!

Baked Blueberry Cake Doughnuts

For most of the year (364 days to be exact) my world revolves around mi papa. There are times I really think the sun rises and sets for him and there’s no greater reason for getting up in the morning than to able to spend time cuddling with him on the couch. In all honesty, I think mi papa is a God and there should be a new religion formed where people and animals sit around together and worship him on an hourly basis. Maybe someday… In the meantime, however, there is still one day of the year when I think mi mama should actually be given a little bit of attention. At least for enough time that she can blow out her thirty-one twenty-five candles on her cake and we can all tell her “Happy Birthday.”

Well, today is that day. And in her honor I would like to say “Feliz Cumpleanos Mama” and share with you the delicioso recipe I came up with for her birthday Blueberry Cake Doughnuts. Why doughnuts, you may be asking. Well because she doesn’t eat cake but goes completely loco for blueberry doughnuts. I think they bring her back to her childhood when she would be allowed to get a doughnut when shopping at the grocery store with her mama and she would always get a Blueberry Cake Doughnut. Not the regular glazed doughnut, or the chocolate sprinkled one, but the Blueberry Cake doughnut. As odd as that may be, I still wanted to make her something she would truly enjoy for dessert. And in true Mama-fashion, she only ate two bites of it and wrapped up the rest for mi papa. Apparently she thinks he is the center of our universe as well. Smart lady (hmm, never thought the day would come when I would say that).

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk, any kind

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tbsp canola oil

2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitute

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a large doughnut pan with Pam and set aside.

2) Mix flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt in medium-size bowl. Set aside.

3) Mix milk, sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add flour mixture and stir until well combined. Fold in blueberries.

4) Pour batter into doughnut cups and fill 2/3 of the way.

5) Bake 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

6) Allow doughnuts to cool 5 minutes before removing the a wire rack.

7) Combine powdered sugar and milk in a shallow bowl. Dip completely cooled doughnuts into glaze and enjoy!

Thank goodness this day only occurs once a year. I don’t think I can take having to spend any more time away from mi papa.

Feliz Cumpleanos Mamacita!

Twenty-five for the sixth year in a row

They’ve gone bananas for doughnuts

Seriously, is there any combination more deserving of each other than bananas and peanut butter? Well besides Lindsay Lohan and an orange jumpsuit. I think not. There’s just something about a luscious ripe banana smeared with a hefty glob of peanut butter that makes me want to swoon with happiness. Well, I’ve never actually gotten the joy of getting to eat this delicious snack as I am on a strict diet of kibble and carrots, but I’ve definitely witnessed mi mama and papa oohing and ahhing over some PB-bananas on numerous occasions. Especially when slathered with my homemade peanut butter… hint hint. The other day I happened to come across two very ripe, very spotty bananas hanging out in the banana hammock <insert inappropriate comment here> just screaming to be used in some sort of baked good. I was actually very surprised and completely delighted to see these two bananas had made it this long in our house without being eaten. Both mi mama and papa have at least one banana a day, so we almost never have any hanging around that I can steal for a bread or muffin recipe. I often times have to hide a few bananas in places around the house that I know mi padres won’t be looking (like on a bookshelf or in with the cleaning supplies, in mi mama’s case) just so I can allow them to ripen to the point I can use them in a baked good.

So as I said, I was very delighted to find two bananas all ripe and ready to be mashed and stirred into some sort of yummy dough. Given the love mi padres have for bananas with peanut butter, I decided to surprise them with some muy delicioso baked doughnuts. They went over so well at mi abuelas birthday party, I figured they would be equally appreciated this time around too. And boy were they! I think I may have even detected a few tears of joy coming from mi mama’s eyes… although that might have just been her physical reaction to my licking her eyeball on accident. I can’t help where this tongue flails about sometimes. Lo siento, mama.

Baked Banana-Peanut Butter Doughnuts

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup quick cooking rolled oats

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

3/4 cup milk

1 cup peanut butter

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1/8 cup applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup powdered sugar

4 tbsp milk

2 tbsp peanut butter

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a donut pan with Pam and set aside.

2) Combine flour, oats, baking powder and brown sugar in a large bowl.

3) Whisk together the milk, peanut butter, bananas, egg, oil, applesauce and vanilla in a medium size bowl.

4) Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.

5) Pour dough into individual donut cups about 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter to make a total of 12 doughnuts.

6) Combine powdered sugar, milk and peanut butter in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over cooled doughnuts and enjoy!

Honestly, does it get any better than that? Now get in the kitchen and make yourself a batch of doughnuts to enjoy too instead of just drooling over pictures of mine. And stop licking your computer screen, mama. Typing on a wet keyboard is bad for my delicate paws. And it’s hard to see through the drool lines.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I really must be going. I’m the guest of honor at the Tau Lambda Sigma Gamma annual holiday party this evening and I still need to clip my toenails and apply my flea medication before I leave. Should be a fun little fiesta.

Doughnuts for the birthday girl

You may not be aware of this (especially since I don’t like to brag) but in addition to being a master chef, culinary genius and jet-setting supermodel, I am also a very well-known and highly esteemed party planner. Yes, it’s true. In fact, I’ve been the brains behind many parties and receptions that most of the world is probably somewhat familiar with. You’ve heard of William and Kate, right?

So, this past weekend was mi abuela’s birthday and mi mama decided she wanted to throw her a surprise party. Of course she immediately turned to me to take the reins in planning the whole fiesta, of which I was very happy to oblige– with a fee of course. Since she was family I only charged her two Costco-size bags of baby carrots instead of the regular ten. What can I say? I’m a softy when it comes to mi abuela. She gives good cuddles.

Given the fact that the party was to be held on a Sunday afternoon, I began pondering over just what type of get-together we should have for her. Obviously, any kind of party involving keg stands or strippers was immediately tossed aside, much to mi mama’s dismay. After much thought, we finally settled on the idea of throwing her an afternoon tea party complete with finger sandwiches, teeny appetizers, bite-size desserts, mimosas and of course, tea. I wanted to make sure to incorporate all of her favorite foods into the spread so in addition to all the yummy foods I prepared, I also included little bowls of Hot Tamales and Jelly Beans and made her all-time favorite food in the world… the food she once said she would choose to eat if only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of her life. Doughnuts. Cake doughnuts, to be exact. As luck would have it, I had just ordered a new doughnut pan off of Amazon a few days prior and figured this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. Seeing as how I am the TeenyLittleSuperChef who likes to make only healthy, heart-friendly meals and baked goods for family and friends, I naturally tweaked the recipe for a typical fattening, overly sweet doughnut and made it more of one I could be proud of. And the end result? Well I’ll just let this picture do the talking…

Baked Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze

Doughnut ingredients:

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp vanilla

3 tbsp agave nectar or honey

1/4 cup white sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Glaze ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp agave nectar or honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp milk

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a small bowl, whisk together milk, lemon juice, vanilla, agave and sugar.

3) In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4) Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until just combined.

5) Pour into greased doughnut pan and bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

6) Allow to cool completely before icing.

7) Mix icing ingredients in a small bowl using a hand-held mixer on low until creamy. Spread on cooled doughnuts and top with sprinkles.

 8) Serve to all your tea party guests and watch them become amazed at how delicious a low-fat, non-fried cake doughnut can really taste.

*Side note: If you want to make chocolate doughnuts like the other ones shown in the picture, add in 1/4 cup cocoa with the dry ingredients and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips with the wet. Muy chocolatey!

So the doughnuts were a huge success and mi abuela was extremely happy to have them served on her special day, although I think she would have been happier had she not had to share them with her friends. Now I know where mi mama gets it…

Well I must be going now. I managed to sneak a couple mouthfuls of food from the party guests’ plates when they weren’t looking and now I’m feeling a little bit flabby. To the gym I must go.

Stay buff, my friends.

Doughnuts for the birthday girl

You may not be aware of this (especially since I don’t like to brag) but in addition to being a master chef, culinary genius and jet-setting supermodel, I am also a very well-known and highly esteemed party planner. Yes, it’s true. In fact, I’ve been the brains behind many parties and receptions that most of the world is probably somewhat familiar with. You’ve heard of William and Kate, right?

So, this past weekend was mi abuela’s birthday and mi mama decided she wanted to throw her a surprise party. Of course she immediately turned to me to take the reins in planning the whole fiesta, of which I was very happy to oblige– with a fee of course. Since she was family I only charged her two Costco-size bags of baby carrots instead of the regular ten. What can I say? I’m a softy when it comes to mi abuela. She gives good cuddles.

Given the fact that the party was to be held on a Sunday afternoon, I began pondering over just what type of get-together we should have for her. Obviously, any kind of party involving keg stands or strippers was immediately tossed aside, much to mi mama’s dismay. After much thought, we finally settled on the idea of throwing her an afternoon tea party complete with finger sandwiches, teeny appetizers, bite-size desserts, mimosas and of course, tea. I wanted to make sure to incorporate all of her favorite foods into the spread so in addition to all the yummy foods I prepared, I also included little bowls of Hot Tamales and Jelly Beans and made her all-time favorite food in the world… the food she once said she would choose to eat if only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of her life. Doughnuts. Cake doughnuts, to be exact. As luck would have it, I had just ordered a new doughnut pan off of Amazon a few days prior and figured this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. Seeing as how I am the TeenyLittleSuperChef who likes to make only healthy, heart-friendly meals and baked goods for family and friends, I naturally tweaked the recipe for a typical fattening, overly sweet doughnut and made it more of one I could be proud of. And the end result? Well I’ll just let this picture do the talking…

 

Baked Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze

Doughnut ingredients:

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp vanilla

3 tbsp agave nectar or honey

1/4 cup white sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Glaze ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp agave nectar or honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp milk

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a small bowl, whisk together milk, lemon juice, vanilla, agave and sugar.

3) In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4) Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until just combined.

5) Pour into greased doughnut pan and bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

6) Allow to cool completely before icing.

7) Mix icing ingredients in a small bowl using a hand-held mixer on low until creamy. Spread on cooled doughnuts and top with sprinkles.

8) Serve to all your tea party guests and watch them become amazed at how delicious a low-fat, non-fried cake doughnut can really taste.

*Side note: If you want to make chocolate doughnuts like the other ones shown in the picture, add in 1/4 cup cocoa with the dry ingredients and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips with the wet. Muy chocolatey!

So the doughnuts were a huge success and mi abuela was extremely happy to have them served on her special day, although I think she would have been happier had she not had to share them with her friends. Now I know where mi mama gets it…

Well I must be going now. I managed to sneak a couple mouthfuls of food from the party guests’ plates when they weren’t looking and now I’m feeling a little bit flabby. To the gym I must go.

Stay buff, my friends.