Lovin' From the Oven

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • FAQ
  • My Lifestyle Blog
  • Disclaimer

Sweet and Savory Bites

June 16, 2014 by kim 6 Comments

FotoFlexer_Photo

Some days, I can’t decide if I want something sweet or savory. To be honest, I usually eat something savory and then something sweet, making sure to repeat the process at least two more times. It’s a viscous cycle. With these little snack sized bites, you won’t be forced to choose one or another. You can have both in one bite! I’m going to be sharing two recipes with you that couldn’t be any more simple. Heck, they don’t even have official recipes since they’re so easy.

sweetsalty-16

I used Farmer’s Garden® by Vlasic® pickles for my first snack. Have you ever tried having pickles and peanut butter? It might sound a little strange, but it works. It’s kind of like eating french fries with a milkshake (In-N-Out, anyone?). I used the Bread and Butter Chips since they are slightly sweet and have a wonderful crunch to them. They’re hand packed and made with honest ingredients without any artificial flavors.

The cute mason jars that they’re canned in may also be used after you’ve finished the product for crafts, weddings, or storage. I’ve never seen a mason jar that I didn’t like. If Bread and Butter Chips aren’t your thing, don’t fret, there’s also Zesty Garlic Chips, Kosher Dill Spears, Kosher Dill Halves and Dill Chips.

sweetsalty

Pickles and peanut butter are similar to one another since I never what to categorize them. Would you say peanut butter is sweet or savory? What about sweet pickles? In this case, I’d definitely say that the pickle is the savory and the peanut butter is the sweet. I used honey roasted peanut butter for these snacks and it muted the tanginess from the pickles.

sweetsalty-9

These bread and butter chips are much thicker than regular pickle chips. There’s no skimping here.

sweetsalty-15

sweetsalty-12

It’d be silly for me to write a recipe for these. All you do is take a cracker (I used whole wheat Ritz crackers), smother it with your choice of peanut butter, and top it off with a pickle chip. Repeat twenty five times and you’ve got yourself an appetizer for your summer party.

Now for my second snack, Ritz cracker s’mores! Usually s’mores are made with sweet ingredients– graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. In this case, I subbed out the graham cracker for something a little more salty.

sweetsalty-2

I melted some dark chocolate, spread about a teaspoon on each cracker, and then laid them chocolate side down on wax paper. I left them while I went to go do laundry. When I came back, the chocolate was hardened, smooth, and ready to work with.

sweetsalty-4

sweetsalty-3

Kraft made my life a lot easier when they created StackerMallows. They’re flatter, rectangle shaped marshmallows that are perfect for s’more making.

sweetsalty-7

I toasted each marshmallow over some fire before sandwiching them in between two chocolate dipped crackers.

sweetsalty-14

A torched marshmallow is a beautiful thing.

sweetsalty-6

I LOVED the buttery, salted crackers with the sweet inside. I might just replace graham crackers in s’mores for forever.

sweetsalty-11

sweetsalty-10

Be careful, each bite will tend to get a little messy! Now you can’t say that you were never warned.

sweetsalty-5

Farmer’s Garden is now celebrating their authentic, flavorful foods by throwing a Savor Simplicity Sweepstakes from May 7th to July 31st, 2014. You can enter online for a chance to win a weekend cooking adventure or summer entertaining package, each worth $1,500. One winner will be chosen each month. A $1 off coupon will also be given to all entrants immediately following entry.

Want to win a free jar of Farmer’s Garden by Vlasic Pickles and a Farmer’s Garden tote bag? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post using the hashtag #FarmToJar and share your own simple moments that you savor in life. You can also use that hashtag to follow the conversation on Twitter.

This is a sponsored post, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: chocolate chip, giveaway, peanut butter/peanuts, snack

Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

April 22, 2014 by kim 4 Comments

espressoshortbread-4

I usually never make shortbread. Shortbread cookies have never caught my interest because they’re usually quite plain and crumble easily. This recipe, however, is no ordinary shortbread cookie.

espressoshortbread-2

These cookies have chocolate AND espresso! That’s one heck of a combination, folks.

espressoshortbread

I love that these are squares rather than your normal circles. You could even get creative and use a cookie cutter to cut out particular shapes since these don’t spread at all after baking. Oh, the possibilities!

espressoshortbread-3

I used Baker’s Joy non-stick baking spray with flour in order to make sure these cookies glide off effortlessly from the sheet. It definitely did its job! There was no cookie scrap left behind.

espressoshortbread-5

This recipe comes adapted from from Use Real Butter.

Screen Shot 2014-04-19 at 8.17.33 PM

Baker’s Joy is actually running a promotion called “Which Sweet Treat are You?” starting today (April 22nd) through May 5th. By taking a quiz online, fans will get to discover what their baking personality is. Each personality is a different sweet treat. Are you a cookie? Or perhaps a cake or a pie?

You can take the quiz as many times as you’d like for a chance to win a daily prize and be entered to win the Grand prize. What exactly are the prizes, you ask? Well, daily prizes include $50 gift cards plus a year’s supply of Baker’s Joy. The Grand prize is a $500 gift card, a KitchenAid mixer, AND a year’s supply of Baker’s Joy. How about that? Give it a try here!

Print
Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp plus 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 tbsp boiling water
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
  • Baker's Joy non-stick baking spray

Directions

  1. Mix the instant espresso powder in boiling water and set aside to cool.
  2. Beat butter and sugar together until completely smooth.
  3. Mix in the vanilla and espresso. Gradually add in the flour until just incorporated. Don't overmix!
  4. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
  5. Transfer the dough to a gallon-sized ziploc bag. Put the bag on a flat surface, unzipped, and roll the dough into a rectangle that fills the bag, about 1/4 inch thick. Remember to turn the bag to keep the dough as smooth as possible. Once done, press out the air and seal the top of the ziploc bag. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  6. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a cookie sheet evenly with Baker's Joy. Set aside.
  7. Put the plastic bag on a cutting board and slit it open. Turn the firm dough out onto the board (throw away the bag) and, using a ruler as a guide and a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch squares.
  8. Transfer the squares to the prepared baking sheets and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating after 10 minutes.
  9. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool.
3.1
https://lovintheoven.com/espresso-chocolate-chip-shortbread-cookies/

This is a sponsored post, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: chocolate chip, coffee, cookies, dessert

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with a Walnut Streusel

February 8, 2014 by kim 10 Comments

bananabread-2

Have you guys gotten your flu shot yet this year? My DF read an article about how someone our age passed away in the bay area from it within a week of getting sick and immediately demanded that we both go down to the nearest pharmacy and get our flu shots. After arguing back and forth trying to convince him that I didn’t need it, we ended up in his car on our way to CVS.

bananabread

I know my line of work is pretty much the worst thing ever when it comes to getting sick. Being stuck inside of a long metal tube with recycled air for x amount of hours isn’t exactly the best environment for staying healthy. I mean, who knows what you can catch from all of those passengers!?

bananabread-3

Apparently, there have already been 95 reported deaths from the flu this year as opposed to 5 last year. That’s insane.

Side note: I’ve never gotten a flu shot before. Like… ever.

Back to the story. We’re at CVS and there’s one older lady in front of us waiting to get her flu shot as well. I’m looking around wondering if there’s another room that they take people to give shots to, but I see no such thing. Who gives you the shot, anyways? I’ve never been one to be scared of shots or needles. I used to donate my blood every couple of months at UCLA.

bananabread-4

As I’m sitting in what I thought to be a waiting chair, a man in a white lab coat comes out and asks if I mind and that he’s going to be giving the older lady a shot first. “Of course I don’t mind,” I tell him. He’s lingering over me longer than normal, until I finally put the pieces together. The chair that I’m sitting in is not a “waiting chair.” That’s where they give the shots! Right out in the open, just like that.

I get up and let the guy do his thing. He’s trying to explain to her that they’re out of the normal flu shot and the one that he’ll be injecting is the intradermal one. I’m standing to the side, eavesdropping on their conversation since I’ll be next. Instead of just injecting a part of the dead virus, they’ll be giving us the entire virus. If you’ve never had the flu shot before or are older, you’ll be more prone to getting the symptoms right after the shot.

bananabread-5

The older lady freaks out a bit and ultimately decides that she doesn’t want the shot. She tells the guy that she needs to discuss this with her doctor before taking further action. She basically bolts out of the door without getting the flu shot. The guy then looks at us and goes, “Okay, who’s next?”

My DF is now hesitant in getting the shot after seeing the first lady decline it. My DF keeps looking back at me asking me, “Do YOU want it? What do YOU think? I don’t know anymore… I don’t want to get symptoms…”

bananabread-6

In the end, I’m the one that sits in the chair first to get it over with. My DF finally follows suit and gets his shot as well. Days after, neither of us have any symptoms. The only downside is that neither of us can feel our left arms. The lightest touch sends us falling to the floor, crying out in pain.

Bottom Line? Getting your flu shot isn’t that bad. Just be mindful that you’ll have a dead arm for the next couple of days.

IMG_3812

As long as I have my blog, you can bet your bottom dollar on endless banana bread recipes. Every recipe is slightly different from the next and seems so promising. Plus, there are always brown spotted bananas to get rid of. This recipe has to be one of my favorite banana bread recipes (top 5) and the chocolate chips add a nice touch.

I received some nuts from SunRidge Farms and thought that the walnuts would be perfect for the streusel. These nuts from SunRidge farms are organic, natural, and non-GMO. I find the resealable bags extremely convenient since I hardly ever use an entire bag of nuts at once. I don’t need to use any clips or ziploc bags to keep the nuts fresh.

IMG_3816

Not only that, but their packaging is BPA-free! Their snacks are produced in a solar-powered manufacturing facility, so they’re also environmentally friendly. Delicious tasting snacks that are good for the environment and your body– now that’s a win-win situation.

This recipe comes from Annie’s City Kitchen.

Print
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with a Walnut Struesel

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • Streusel:
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup crushed walnuts

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9"x5" loaf pans.
  2. Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl to combine.
  3. Add in the bananas, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until just incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips.
  4. For the streusel, combine all ingredients in a small bowl until crumbly and well incorporated.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between loaf pans. Sprinkle the streusel on top.
  6. Bake 35-45 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean.
3.1
https://lovintheoven.com/chocolate-chip-banana-bread-with-a-walnut-streusel/

Filed Under: banana, bread, breakfast, chocolate chip, nuts

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • …
  • 71
  • Next Page »

hi! i'm kim-- a girl mom, baker, blogger, and ex-flight attendant. welcome!

Search

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

RODELLE-BABadge




Categories

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2026 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress