Flaky Pie Crust

I found this in an old Weight Watcher's Magazine. It looked really easy and healthier, so I decided to pair it with some apples and make a galette. It turned out really good, but not as flaky as a full fat pie crust! All in all, it was a good substitute.

Source: WW Magazine Sept/Oct 2005

1 c all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
4 tbsp cold unsalted butter, finely diced
3 Tbsp light sour cream

Directions:
Pulse the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a food processor. Add the butter and pulse several times until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the sour cream and pulse again, until the mixture begins to hold together. Gather the dough into a ball and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few times, flatten to form a disc, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 30 days.

Chocolate Mousse

My husband requested this for Valentine's Day, I was happy to oblige him! It was delicious! It was smooth, creamy and rich. Luckily, it didn't make too much because I could have eaten enough to make my belly hurt!

Source: http://jasonandshawnda.com

Individual Dark Chocolate Mousse
2 large egg yolks
2 Tbsp sugar
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp espresso or strongly brewed coffee (optional)
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

(1 oz bittersweet (or your favorite dark) chocolate, finely chopped
3/8 cup heavy cream, chilled
Chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)

Set a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, salt, and espresso until the mixture is very warm and the sugar has completely dissolved (rub a bit between your fingers to check that there are no granules). Add the cocoa and chocolate and whisk until almost melted. Remove the bowl from the pot and set aside. Whisk until completely melted and then let cool to room temperature/slightly warm.

Whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add half of the whipped cream to the bowl of chocolate and fold with a rubber spatula until mostly combined. Add the remaining whipped cream and fold until completely combined.

Divide the mousse among 2 small dessert dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours (and up to 1 day). (I cut a paper towel in half and covered the top of the dish, not touching the mousse, before wrapping – this will catch any condensation drips that might form on the plastic wrap before they drip on the top of your pretty mousse). Remove from the fridge 15 minutes prior to serving. Garnish with chocolate shavings or additional whipped cream.

Serves 2 (~1/2 cup servings)
Adapted from Everyday Food

Thai Peanut Noodles

This recipe was pretty good. I added chicken to it, but I still felt like it was missing something. Maybe the addition of more veggies would make it better. My husband really liked it though and that is a plus. Another plus is that it is cheap and easy!

Source:http://ourbestbites.com
Originally adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
1/2 c. chicken broth (I used water)
3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1-2 tsp. Sriracha chili sauce (1 is mild with a bite, 1.5 is medium, 2 is hot)I substituted red chili flakes)
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh minced ginger
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
8 oz. Udon or linguine noodles
Chopped green onions
Chopped cilantro
2 limes, cut into quarters
Chopped peanuts

Directions:
Cook noodles in salted water. In the meantime, combine chicken broth, peanut butter, chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until smooth and remove from heat. Toss cooked noodles with sauce and divide among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with green onions, cilantro, chopped peanuts, and garnish each serving with 2 lime quarters. Before eating, squeeze lime juice over noodles and stir to combine.

Vermont Oatmeal Maple Honey Bread

I am forever looking for a bread recipe that I can successfully use for sandwiches, but tastes homemade as well. This one fits the bill. This is everything that I like in bread. It is soft, wheaty and semi-sweet, it's so delicious!

Source: amanda.fakeginger.com
Adapted from King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion

Ingredients:

2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups (18 to 20 ounces) boiling water
1 cup (3 1/2 ounces) rolled oats, plus more for top of bread
1/2 cup (2 3/4 ounces) maple sugar or brown sugar (4 ounces)
1/2 teaspoons maple flavor ( I used maple syrup)
1 tablespoon honey
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick, 2 ounces) butter
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 1/2 cups (7 3/4 ounces) whole wheat flour
4 cups (17 ounces) all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, combine the water, oats, maple sugar, maple flavor, honey, butter, salt, and cinnamon. Let cool to lukewarm.

Add the yeast and flours, stirring to form a rough dough. Knead (about 10 minutes by hand, 5 to 7 minutes by machine) until the dough is smooth and satiny. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl with a lightly greased plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 1 hour; it should double in bulk.

Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a loaf. Place the loaves in 2 greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch bread pans. Sprinkle with oats if desired. Cover the pans with lightly greased plastic wrap (or a proof cover) and allow the loaves to rise until they’ve crowned about 1 inch over the rim of the pan, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Bake the loaves for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove them from the oven when they’re golden brown and the interior registers 190F on an instant-read thermometer.