Outstanding Orange Poppyseed Loaf

OK people, are you listening?! Do yourself a favor and MAKE this.....like NOW! I found this recipe many years back when I was looking at some pampered chef recipe books that my friend Amber brought to work. This one stuck out and I knew I had to try it right away...well several years later, I have to admit I have probably made it close to 50 or more times. I use to make it for every get together, and people started to request it. I would whip some up over the holidays in mini loaf pans for friends and neighbors. After trying many other quick sweet bread recipes....this is still and will always be my favorite! It is sure to become a new favorite in your house as well!
From Pampered Chef

 * Before you start to make the bread remove from the fridge 3 eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream and 1 stick of butter..allow them to come to room temp 30 mins...maybe closer to 1 hour for the butter.

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
2 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup (1 stick of butter) room temp
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, room temp
1/2 cup sour cream , room temp

For the Glaze
1/3 cup of powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice, from your zested orange
1 teaspoon orange zest

* you will probably end up using 2 oranges total

Preheat oven to 325*
Butter a loaf pan well, and set aside. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, poppy seeds, and orange zest together in a small bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl beat the butter on high for 30 seconds with a hand mixer. Add the sugar and continue to beat the butter with the sugar together for 3 min. until it is light and fluffy. Then add the vanilla and beat to combine.
With your mixer on medium speed, add in the eggs, one at a time beating 30 seconds after each egg to combine.
With the mixer on low speed, add 1/3 of the flour mixture, beat until just combined.
Then add in 1/2 of the sour cream and beat until just combined
Then add another 1/3 of flour and mix to combine
Then the other 1/2 of the sour cream and combine
Then the last of the flour mix and beat just to combine
Pour batter into pan and bake for 60 mins.

When the bread has about 5 mins left to bake make the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, orange juice and zest in a small bowl.

Once the loaf is done remove from the pan right away and brush on a thin layer from glaze all over the loaf, wait 5 mins or so and repeat. Let cool and then slice and enjoy!

Pomegranate Double Chocolate Cookies!

If you are in a funk, and bummed that it is only hump day, and this week is going soooo slow. Rush home STAT and make a batch of cookies. I mean come on, what else makes everything all right in the world and happy other then, bitting into a warm homemade cookie. YUMMMMMM.....DROOLLLL
Adapted from Two Peas and their pod


1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks
1 cup pomegranate arils*, pom seeds

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars together until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.

3. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated.

4. Stir in the oats and  two types of chocolate. Then GENTLY stir on pom seeds. Make dough balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for two minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

* I find the easiest way to remove the seeds from the pom, is to cut the fruit in half and place in a large bowl of water. Then with your fingers pull it apart. You can also find the already removed seeds in the produce sections in most grocery stores.

Honey-Garlic Glazed Meatballs!

YES, these are as good as they sound! I made them for new years eve, and plan to make them again for super bowl if not before. They were fast and easy to put together and the sauce has some outstanding flavor!
From allrecipes.com

2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt..recipe calls for 2 tsp...but 1 works
2 pounds ground beef
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated
1 TBS. butter
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup honey
3 TBS. soy sauce

In a large bowl combine eggs and milk. Add the bread crumbs onion and salt. Crumble beef over mixture and combine it all together, mix well, but don't go crazy and over mix it all. Shape into about 1 inch balls and place on greased baking sheets. Bake uncovered at 400* for 14-18 mins or until not longer pink in the middle.
While the meat balls are cooking, make the sauce. In a large saucepan melt the butter over med heat and add the garlic and allow to cook for a min. Then stir in the ketchup, honey and soy sauce. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and cover and simmer for 5 mins. Drain meatballs and carefully toss with the sauce heat for another 5-10 mins. Enjoy nice a warm!