Showing posts with label recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipe. Show all posts

Thursday, March 31, 2016

My #MakeItYours Inspired #CookieRecipe using Country Crock Original Buttery Spread



Here at Selena Thinking Out Loud, I enjoy getting in the kitchen to cook my own meals and bake too! Sometimes, I have no idea what I will come up with until I finish the entire meal or dish. I have been lucky so far! Below, you will find my personal review for Country Crock Original buttery spread and my cookie recipe with photos, inspired by their #MakeItYours campaign. Happy Cooking!

My Quick Product Review

I had the opportunity to try a complimentary 15oz. tub of Country Crock Original Buttery Spread from my Influenster custom voxbox. Before baking, I did use the spread on some gluten-free toast for breakfast and on some freshly-baked banana bread. The spread did have a buttery taste and complimented them very well. I did try to cook a batch of pancakes with this spread, but I didn't quite like the taste it gave my pancakes. I think heating the buttery spread in the frying pan changed its flavor, so I will only use it on top of my pancakes, toast, breads, mashed potatoes, other dishes, and of course for baking! I was also happy to see that they are using real ingredients to provide a nice-tasting, overall product. I would recommend that you give this product a try. I picked up my 15 oz. tub from Ralphs grocery store (Kroger).



My #MakeItYours-Inspired Cookie Recipe
Today, I decided to test a cookie recipe, inspired by the #MakeItYours Country Crock campaign. You can join in on the fun, by following the Make It Yours Cookie Recipe on their website, click here

In my recipe, I did use the Country Crock Original buttery spread as well. By the way, I was also a little nervous because I didn't know how my cookies would turn out until I tasted them, after they cooled. In the end, I was SUPER happy with the texture of my cookie and its taste! If you decide to make them, let me know how you like them in the comments below!


Dried Apricot and Raisin Cookies


Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
1 Cup Country Crock Original Spread, tub (cold from the refrigerator)
3/4 Cup and an additional 1/4 Cup Pure Cane Brown Sugar
2 Eggs

Dry Ingredients
3 Cups Gluten-Free All Purpose Baking Flour by Bob's Red Mill
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
3/4 Tsp Salt
1-1/2 Cups of chopped and cubed Dried Apricots
1-1/2 Cups of Raisins

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

2. Mix the brown sugar, eggs, and Country Crock Original spread in one bowl, until smooth.


3. Then combine the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl before adding it to the buttery mixture. Your dough should be nice and creamy like this ------>









4. Then add in the chopped and cubed dried apricots and the raisins. (Use more or less. It's up to you) Mix the dried fruit into the cookie dough.





5. Once your batter is ready to go, scoop 1 Tablespoon fulls onto a non-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a cooling rack. (This will avoid them from sticking to the cookie sheet and breaking)







Tasting Review 
This cookie is SO light and fluffy in texture. It may have been a result of me using the Gluten-free flour, which is a great alternative. I was super-excited about my results. With the amount of brown sugar I used, this cookie is still not too sweet. It would go nicely with a cup of mid-day tea or a grab and go cookie from the cookie jar. I enjoyed the dried apricots and raisin combination I decided to use. They work very nicely together. 

Testing other mix-ins will continue because I have more cookie dough left, so I am going to add chocolate chips to the dried fruit to see how that tastes as well. 

Thursday, March 17, 2016

VLOG: #Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie Recipe for St Patrick's Day and Family #Dinner



On St. Patrick's Day and for your next family dinner, why not try my Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie (Cottage Pie) recipe! 

I enjoy making wholesome meals in the kitchen that fill the tummy but have a vegetarian twist. In the video below, I take you step by step through my process for making this tasty meal. Bon Appetit!!



Your Grocery List of Ingredients
3 large Potatoes
1 bag of Gardein Beefless Ground
1 large Onion
2 cloves of Garlic
1 cup of Carrots, fresh or frozen
1 cup of Peas, frozen
1 cup of String Beans, frozen
2 Tablespoons of *All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 Cups of Vegetable Broth (1 cup for gravy and 1/2 cup when mashing potatoes)
1 15.5 oz (16oz.) can of Black Beans, rinsed
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt & Pepper (Seasonings and Spices, you like)
Bake 350 degree for 35 minutes or until the potatoes have browned on top.
*You can substitute the All-Purpose Flour with a gluten-free flour option.
Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie Recipe by Selena Thinking Out Loud
A plated serving of Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie, recipe by Selena Thinking Out Loud


Leave a Comment Below...
What special meal do you prepare to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Monday, May 26, 2014

Mac & Cheese #MadeWithYogurt @Chobani (Video) - In Time for Memorial Day!!



If you're in the mood for Mac and Cheese tonight for dinner or for your next potluck, then you need to definitely try this recipe made with Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt. I had the opportunity to get a free 32 ounce container of Chobani yogurt as a Bzzagent. The goal was to cook with yogurt, which I had never done before. 

In this YouTube Video I take you step-by-step through my preparation of the Chobani Mac & Cheese. I did substitute some ingredients, like the milk for soy milk, and margarine for the butter, but it turned out just as tasty. If you're looking for the exact Chobani recipe, you can find it on their website here

Bon Appetit!!




P.S. Did you enjoy the Mac & Cheese recipe video? If so, share it with someone you love. They may be looking for a good recipe for their next party or potluck!