The Savvy Crafter

Green Tea Muffins...

 

It's been a bittersweet past few days---my project review for the book was a smash, phone calls and emails with friends, organizing classes for later this fall, things are really moving and I don't want to take it for granted.  On the other hand, my dad is sick and it seems to have gotten worse the past few days, so that's weighing heavy on my mind.  Could you send some good healing energy his way?  Thanks in advance.

Two nights ago, I made a batch of soup and some  Green Tea muffins to go with it.  I've been wanting to try these for oh, say, three years now!  Katie picked me up some "matcha" (green tea powder) the other day at the international grocery store  Love the intense green color!

Ok, got a little carried away with the "green." I first tried green tea muffins in China (even though I think it's a Japanese thing).  It was out in Changshu at a Kenny Roger's Roasters restaurantt (very random), believe it or not!  Of course the restaurant closed down not too long after we got there.  So I've pretty much been hungry for them since...

 

Could not resist this cutie plate at the dollar store!  I found the recipe by googling "green tea muffin recipe".  Thank you Collection of Words for posting this great recipe.  I didn't have hazelnuts, but they still were awesome.  I'm making another batch in the morning to take out to a friends house for lunch.  Looking forward to that!

Spring Cravings....?

Ugh, I am craving a stroopwaffeln right now!  Katie I know you are too!  My Dutch friend, Coby got me hooked on them when I lived in Suzhou.  Then when we were in Germany and Belgium the Spring before last and I bought a load of them for everybody I knew.  Maybe I'm having association cravings or something weird like that?  Earlier today I realized this will be the third year in a row that we miss out on Aunt Jane's pickled eggs at Easter. And just to add a log to the fire, today is my crazy cute nephew's fourth birthday and we are missing it. :-( That's it, I'm having a pitty party for myself.  You're all invited, of course.

Pumpkin and Chocolate...

 

A group of us got together Wednesday afternoon to catch up and welcome Fall by doing some baking and crafting.  My craft project isn't finished yet, so I'll show that later (wish I had a nickel for every time I said that).  But!,  I can tell you about a fabulous cookie recipe that we tried out---Pumpkin and Chocolate chip.  We used the recipe from here.  There are many different recipes online for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies, but I was drawn to this one for the "spice factor."  Nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove--yes please.  The cookies turned out to have a muffin-like texture, very soft and fluffy. 

To sum it all up I'd say;  lattes, cookies, and friends---the perfect ingredients for a lovely afternoon.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. It’ll look really funky at this point but have faith.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes (17 minutes works about perfectly for me), or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for two minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.