Blackberry Muffins July 22, 2010

I’m sure every parent has been through this scenario… one sunny day the toddler of the family, known through out the land as a picky eater, decides she likes something.  She likes it so much that she eats a lot of it. Her parents are pleased because it’s..wait for it..healthy. So as good parents would, they run back to the market and purchase more of this product.  Only to discover that their little darling doesn’t want it anymore. She wants nothing to do with it.

This scenario played out at Casa Sparklepants recently with blackberries.  This isn’t the first time it has happened and I’m sure it won’t be the last.  So with a plethora of gorgeous blackberries on hand I set out to make muffins.

Muffins, I discovered, are a sure-fire way of getting the picky one to eat certain things. She thinks they are cupcakes! Shhh..don’t say that too loud, I definitely don’t want her to hear that they aren’t.

Blackberry Muffins

makes 18 muffins

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups fresh blackberries

Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time.  Beat well.  Mix in dry ingredients then add milk. Beat well.  Fold in blackberries. You can use fresh or frozen, I used fresh, they were large so I cut them in half.  Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3rd full and bake at 350° F for 20 minutes-25 minutes.

Okay, so perhaps they aren’t too different from cupcakes, they do have sugar and white flour, but that can be altered if you choose to. Of course after I made these I saw this recipe for Blackberry Corn Muffins.  Those look yummy!

P.S. Please forgive the holiday themed paper cupcake liners.  They were all I had.. and well muffins wouldn’t be cupcakes without them!

I Hope You’re Not Dieting May 24, 2010

Does this look yummy or what?!

I made this scrumptious delight after seeing in on Bakerella.  She calls it a Brookie (brownie + cookie). I just call it amazing. The recipe calls for pecans, but I used walnuts instead.

Look how thick the batter is!

I plan on making this again.  Not too soon though…my thighs can’t take it.

Another SWEET Online Mag May 7, 2010

Here in the the sparklepants household we love our magazines.  Honestly we receive way too many.  It’s pretty easy to find free subscriptions here and there on the internets and I’m a sucker for them each time. Sadly, within the past few years there has been changes in the mag industry and we’ve lost some of our faves. A moment of silence for Metropolitan Home, Blueprint and Domino…

And we’re back! So with the new outcropping (is that a word?) of online magazines makes the heart go pitter-patter.  Sweet Paul magazine is just plain awesome! It is chock full of great recipes. The one for mac and cheese is making me fatter just thinking about it. The are great articles and the photos are amazing. Also check out Paul’s home and design blog here. This guy is great!

SparklePants Ranger Cookies April 12, 2010

I have always been reluctant to share my recipes because it makes me feel wanted when people ask me to make treats for them.  Time to get over that!! Here is my version of ranger cookies:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup Frosted Flakes

1 cup coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

a handful of walnuts

Cream together butter and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla and cream well.  Stir in flour, salt, baking soda and powder.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Bake at 375 for six minutes.  Mr. SparklePants likes the insides gooey, so I put them on the cookie rack to cool immediately. There are so many ways to vary this recipe..Have fun!!