Christmas Donuts {A New Nielson Tradition}

If I'm being honest, there is nothing inheritantly "Christmas-y" about these donuts, as you'll soon realize. There was just something so fun about turning on the Christmas tunes a few days after thanksgiving, opening all the windows and doors and trying out this new recipe with Marcus in the kitchen while Simon and his cousin Lucy played and laughed on the back porch. It made me want to make them at least once a year (although they were so good we already talked about opening up our own gourmet doughnut shop on Main St, so maybe it will be more often than that--haha). Hopefully I remember that beautiful morning memory forever and keep this tradition going.

Here's the recipe, give it a go!

Ashley Nielson's Christmas Doughnuts//

1/4 cup scalded milk
1 cup room temperature water
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon yeast
--set this mixture aside for about 7 minutes

3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
--sift together and cut in 1/4 cup cold butter with a pastry blender or fork
--add liquid yeast mix

Roll out, cut into donut shapes and let rise for about 20 minutes under a tea towel
Fry the donuts on each side until lightly golden in a cast iron skillet using coconut oil

Glaze//
Melt butter and add powdered sugar to taste, dip or brush on donuts while warm

These are best fresh and hot!

(We tried cinnamon donuts and powdered sugar donuts, but everyone's favorite were the glazed)

What are some of you fondest Holiday Memories?

A Betty of a Cookie!

Reason's I love this cookie--just cooled from the oven they have this very thin layer of crisp, like a perfectly toasted marshmallow,  that up until now has been very hard for me to achieve without the use of Crisco, which I refuse to use. The inside is still a little but gooey while they're still warm, which is delicious, but also rich, so it keeps you from eating the whole patch right away. Because of said gooeyness, they are still perfect the next day and if you can resist the following day after that. They no longer have that crisp skin, but they're still soft and satisfying and now way too easy to eat 3...4 at a time. I also recently tried this Guittard brand chocolate chip after having some troubles with my normal Tollhouse choice and really like them a lot more!

Both this recipe (a vintage Betty Crocker recipe and that choc. chip brand were recommended to me by friends on SnapChat! Woot woot--love that app more and more each day :))


Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semi-sweet Guittard brand chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375°
Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in mixer
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl
Mix in flour mixture to sugar mixture, Stir in chocolate chips.
Place rounded Tablespoon sized balls 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Centers will be soft. Cool on pan slightly, then cool on rack.







*This is my take on this original recipe found here

{foodie} friday: chocolate éclair sheet cake

I'm generally a huge sweets fan, but with this pregnancy, at least so far, I have craved deserts and candy a lot less than usual. But the one thing that sounds good just about any time are chocolate eclairs--particularly one's from Proof Bread, but since many of you don't have access to Proof, I won't taunt you with tales of it's goodness, and since I can't afford to get eclairs there everyday, I have to make do. And I must say, this is a pretty delicious option :)

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 stick butter
1 cup flour
4 eggs
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
3 cups milk
1 large package vanilla instant pudding
Fresh whipped cream 
Chocolate syrup

Preparation instructions:
Crust//
Step 1: Boil 1 cup water and 1 stick butter, then pour mixture into 1 cup flour and slowly mix in 4 eggs, one at a time. It's a weird consistency so I use a whisk to get it to blend well.

Step 2: Spread mixture into a large, greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 25 minutes, or until golden brown. (if you're planning on serving right away cook it to just barely golden, but I prefer to make it a day or at least several hours in advance and then let it sit in my fridge--this allows the crust to moisten a little, in which case you want the crust baked 'til a true golden brown color is achieved)

Step 3: Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Filling//
Step 1: Add package of cream cheese, 3 cups milk and package of vanilla instant pudding in a blender and blend until smooth (this ends up being more pudding than you need, so just put as much as you think you'll like, i ended up having at least a cup extra).

Step 2: Spread pudding mixture onto cooled crust and allow it to set up a little before spreading fresh whipped cream over the top.

Step 3: Drizzle chocolate syrup over the top and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Step 4: Cut into squares, garnish with a fresh strawberry or raspberry and enjoy!

{Foodie} Friday

this is probably the fastest/simplest dessert you can make other than a bowl of ice-cream, but it is so delicious that your mind and your mouth will probably have troubles fully comprehending it.

trust me.

you can buy this frozen naan bread at trader joe's for about two dollars and change. you stick it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 3-4 minutes or until just barely crispy (barely!)

then while its still warm, smear a generous amount of nutella and top with bluebell homemade vanilla ice-cream.

fold it like a taco and enjoy!

As it should be.

This weekend we went down to Old Town Gilbert for some dinner at Liberty Market (remember this story?) and afterwards we wanted something sweet, but not to big. It was then that we saw Joe's Real BBQ across the street and Marcus had the bright idea to go get cookies--remember how much we loved them last time we had a taste?

We bustled over there as fast as our full bellies could manage, stood in quite and extensive line and grabbed ourselves a couple of cookies. As we walked back to our car, we began to indulge...only it wasn't indulging this time. I took one bite and felt nothing. Another, and it was just as bland. Where had the Ooo and Aww gone from these chocolaty treats?

I tweeted my disappointment and then forgot about the event. Not an hour later I received a message from Joe's explaining that they would like to apologize and requested my address. I was pretty impressed with the apology alone and didn't expect anything more, imagine my surprise and delight when I opened the mailbox to find a note from them that also included a nice gift card and a request to give the cookies another try.

I really respect companies that are determined to please their patrons and go the extra mile to make things right. I didn't have to go in ranging and demand to speak with a manager, all I did was tweet something like, "Did Joe's change their recipe, the cookies weren't as good tonight." And that was more dissatisfaction than they wanted their costumer to feel. I really like that Joe, thanks. You'll be seeing me soon, Fear not...But those cookies better be good.

What are some businesses that have policies you respect?

Well Ain't You a Peach...

Other than the weather cooling off and Halloween, one of my favorite things about the coming of Fall are the Utah peaches we get shipped in by the box load!

As I looked at the overflowing box with mouth a watering, I heard a group in the corner whispering something through their fuzzy lips. I looked around me to see if it was coming from some human, but no one else was around, so I bent over to get in on the conversation. 

"Cobbler...Peach Cobbler..." 

They were chanting it in a low hum, that got louder with each passing second. It reminded me of that scene on Babe, "Baa-Ram-Ewe, Baa-Ram-Ewe..."

That was all the convincing I needed, I got out the ingredients and an hour later the house was filled with the smell of peach divinity. 

Fruit never ceases to blow my mind with its goodness. 

What's the most mind-blowing thing about nature to you?

For more delicious recipes, check out my other blog. The one you never knew I had.

America's Favorite...Truffle?

I'm sure this is just the most terrible thing for you, but that doesn't mean it's not delicious and fine to eat every once in a while.I served these and the Joe's cookies for dessert at Sunday dinner and my family was freaking out, so I thought I'd share. Thanks Samantha for giving me this recipe!Ingredients:1 pack of Oreo's8 oz package for cream cheese Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted (or any candy coating chocolate)Directions:1. Finely crush up all Oreo's (leave two out). You can used a food processor, Bosch, or a zip-lock and a rolling pin. 2. Once the Oreo's are crushed, mix in the softened cream cheese.3. Roll mixture into balls, 1-inch in diameter and place balls on cookie sheet covered with wax paper. 4. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for about 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds.5. Once chocolate is melted, use two forks to dip the balls. This is the hardest part. Don't stress too much, as long as they're covered they'll be good and look fine. Mine looked terrible, but once they hardened they looked good. If you have any that look really bad, crush up the two Oreo's you kept out and sprinkle over the top.6. Once all the balls are covered in chocolate, place the balls in the fridge for at least an hour, or until the shell is hardened.7. Enjoy!8. If you don't eat them all, store an in air-tight container in your fridge, or just bring them to me...

Joe's Cookies in the House!

Remember how I did a Restaurant Review on Joe's Real BBQ? 

And remember how my favorite thing there was the chocolate chip cookies?

Well, a reader went ahead and sent me this link--a recipe for those cookies!

I made them friday night and Marcus and I were freaking out, honestly I can't remember exactly what the cookies at Joe's tasted like since I've only had them once, but these were MMMMM-mmmm good!

Please, try out this recipe! (make sure you watch the butter as it melts, I got distracted by the UPS guy and it exploded all over the microwave...Perfect housewife, ya?)

If you make them, make sure to tell me what you thought!

{For Fashion's Sake} Saturday: Asian Persuasion

I know I've already talked about this, but I'm an addict and I'm not even trying to recover.

I heart Boba Drinks. 

I think about them on the daily and if my bank account allowed it, I would drink them on the daily. 

For now, I settle for once or twice a week. 

The Boba drink cafe is located in an Asian strip mall--hence the "Koreana Video" and the "Asian Market" storefronts in my pictures. 

I love to go to the Asian Market because they have these delicious chewy candies called Hi-Chew. 

I'm telling you this, so that if you're ever around an Asian stripmall, you can go and buy these items and experience pure joy along with me. 

I'm also telling you this because I want you to know that I'm a fun person to hang around if you have a sweet tooth.

You should come to Arizona and come on these cultural adventures with me and eat foreign sweet things till we explode.

Good? Good.

The Breakdown:

Hair.do: Top-Knot

Feather Earrings: Ireland $4

Gold Coin Necklace: EmersonMade, Gift from NieNie

Polka Dot Blouse: Vintage via Buffalo Exchange $8ish

Yellow Braided Belt: Forever21 $3

Black Extra Thick Leggings: c/o WeLoveColors

Yellow Bow Shoes: Gap $30ish

Button Front Tops by Peter Nygard

Arizona Restaurant Review: The Grind.

We have a brother-in-law who is particularly fond of food. 

He also seems particularly fond of us. 

And we're pretty keen on him too. 

All of those variables come together to form a friendship that usually entails him raving about one of his favorite new restaurants, us listening intently with our mouths agape, him inviting us to lunch, us graciously accepting, and all of us having a great time telling stories and noshing on the best cuisine Phoenix has to offer. This week our adventures took us to a modern little place called The Grind.

Sweet & Spicy Burger

The Grind is a high-end hamburger joint that uses a coal-fired ovens and fresh organic ingredients.

It also happens to have the best french fries any of us have ever tasted. 

My BLT burger was equal parts huge and delicious, but Marcus' Sweet & Spicy burger won the prize for most unique and succulent burger in the world.

That's right, I just pulled that card--IN THE WORLD.

Because I have authority to make such judgments. 

Obviously.

Steakhouse BLT

Just as we thought nothing could get better, Jay order's these mini donuts with a salted butterscotch sauce.

I can't even begin to tell you how fantastically amazing, no I won't even start. 

Just go.

Go now.

Get in the car.

Seriously, stop reading my blog and get yourself some of these donuts.

If you know what's good for you, you aren't still reading this. And if you aren't still reading this, then I'm really really jealous of what's about to be in your mouth...

Thanks Jay!

EXPLORE YOUR STATE!

 Aye yi yi, thank you sweet friends who suggested we eat at the Haunted Burger. 

I'm not a big meat eater, but I've been having the strangest burger cravings this month, and this delicious burger+twice-baked potato really hit the spot!

Marcus' steak fries were also some of the best I've ever had!

Hopefully someday we'll get to stay at this hotel during the Halloween season. 

My favorite holiday+friends+haunted hotel=well, you do the math.

LLLOVE these girls!

and especially this boy.

We stopped in at the brothel-turned-gift-shop, but um, turns out there's still some pretty scandalous stuff in there. So if you're ever in Jerome, enter at your own risk... 

Marcus and I really enjoyed our Thrifty's ice-cream cone (perhaps the best mint-chip I've ever had)

But not as much as Ted enjoyed his. It was like a love affair going on with him and that cone.

Lauren and Ted wore matching beatles shirts while Marcus and I wore matching Sperries.

Aren't we just the cutest couple of couples?

Or maybe just the dorkiest...

This restaurant was built in the 1880's and everything is still original expect for the counter-top. It was so charming and if we ever go back to Jerome, I vote we patronize this place.

On our way home Ted, Lauren, Marcus and I pulled off at this little shop that had billboards for it's "Famous Pies" and seeing as it was my half birthday, it only seemed reasonable that the four of us just have at an entire coconut cream pie. It was delicious and we had no shame.

What a great trip with great friends.

Thanks Ted and Lauren for inviting us to tag along on this grand adventure!

Eat Your Heart Out.

After I found out my Jury Duty Summon got canceled I decided we should celebrate the fact that the world did not come to a close on Saturday May 21st by making these Cinnamon Roll Waffles I saw on this blog earlier in the week.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I know waffles. And I most definitely know good waffles. 

And these might be the best thing that ever happened to me.

The toppings were VERY rich, and although it was indeed a scrumptious combination (how can you go wrong with butter, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract?)--it was really the actual waffle that had us all singing joyous praises--so light and delicious!

I can't wait to try them with ice-cream and fresh berries!

Los Invitados y La Comida

So, the party was perfect.

**and i got all my finals done :)

I couldn't have been happier about how it turned out.

My family helped so much by volunteering to help with the food. 

Becky made some colorful salsas and scrumptious chicken, 

Kara brought rice and hand rolled homemade tortillas that I've been craving ever since, 

Reachel provided the lettuce, chips and guacamole, 

and I made the Cafe Rio Green Dressing and Cafe Rio Tres Leches Dessert with fresh strawberries that got gobbled up before we got a picture of it. 

We also had black beans, lettuce, and Mexican sour cream, and plenty of Mexican sodas. 

Mmmm it was seriously, all, so good.

Leisel and DD made beautiful Construction Paper Flowers and Tissue Paper Flowers that were so cute as our centerpieces. 

And Stel provided us with a festive latino album (whose lead singer was also the inspiration for his awesome hairdo and outfit.)

Check back later to see photos of all the decor details :)

dix-huit

Yesterday, after spending all day in Idaho Falls with Jenny we got some pleading texts from our rockstar, recording husbands. 

They missed their wives. 

So cute, right?

So we came back to my house and surprised them with homemade pazookies.

They were happy to have us back, and they were very happy we came bearing gifts :)

Just looking at these pictures is making my mouth water, and I can't wait to make them again tonight!

**Recipe: I just follow the recipe on the back of the tollhouse chocolate chip bag, but I add about a third of a package for instant vanilla pudding (small), then I put the cookie dough (after it's been in the fridge or freezer for a day+) in a muffin pan, a little less than half way full. 

Bake at 360 for about 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden, but the inside still looks a little gooey. 

Let them cool for a bit, so when  you flip them they don't fall apart. 

Place a cookie sheet over the muffin pan and flip them. 

Once they are out of the muffin pan, I flip them back over and there should be a little dip in the middle of the cookie perfect for a ball of ice-cream. 

Drizzle with chocolate and serve immediately.

People will love you forever.

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