Rainy day baking projects

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon so I decided to bake a couple of desserts - an apple bread (for breakfast this week) and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, which I have been craving for awhile. 


Apple Bread
Here is my version of the above recipe: 
1/2 cup oil (I used slightly less) 
1-1/2 eggs
1 cup (light brown) sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla  (I had no vanilla) 
1-1/2 cups (old Fiji) skinned apples, diced - 1 medium sized apple
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
I also added about 1 cup of mashed soybean paste (I don't know what to call it) that was leftover from making homemade soybean milk. 

INSTRUCTIONS Combine and set aside the oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Sift flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture gradually. Add apples and nuts. Bake in 2 regular loaf pans or 3 foil loaf pans for 1-1/2 hours 45 min at 300 350°F. Cool 10 minutes in the pan. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.

*note: I baked the bread at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes


My bread did not rise as much as I expected it to... Perhaps not enough baking soda? I had a slice and it was delicious and moist! Also since I used light brown sugar instead of granulated (the recipe does not specify), the bread is sweet without being overly so and the taste of the apples really comes through. 


Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies 
(adapted from Quaker Oats' Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies) 
Ingredients 
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened (I left it at room temp for a few hours)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
1/2 (maybe 3 tablespoons) of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (again, no vanilla)
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips :) yes I'm very healthy


Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins (chocolate chips); mix well.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 (14) minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time Time: 14 min
Yield: I made my cookies fairly big, but this recipe should yield about 2 dozen cookies

(Yes, these really do vanish) 

• PS Happy Earth Day! 

Trader Joe's Products Review: Facial Cleanser & Hand Cream

A few weeks ago I was in a local Trader Joe's store picking up groceries when I saw a display of their unique brand of hand cream (Trader Joe's Nourish Shea Butter Hand Cream) - on sale for only $1.99! It comes in a 2 fl oz capped tube and contains natural moisturizers such as shea butter, cocoa butter and almond oil, as well as Vitamin E. This hand cream is also vegan and claims to not have been tested on animals. 

My hands have been extremely dry this past winter and I haven't been able to find a decent hand cream that is not a) greasy and b) overly scented. The Trader Joe's shea butter hand cream is a godsend. It hardly has a scent and is creamy to the touch. A little goes a long way, and once fully massaged into the skin it makes my hands feel buttery soft for hours - even after washing my hands once or twice. At a drugstore price of only $1.99 it is remarkably affordable for a product that truly moisturizes without grease, extra fragrance, or chemicals. My only regret is not having discovered it earlier! 

Finding the hand cream inspired me to explore Trader Joe's section of other personal care/household items, which I have never browsed before. They have a range of lotions, facial moisturizers, hand soaps, face washes, and body products. Since I was also on the market for a new facial cleanser, I decided on the Trader Joe's Nourish (Dermatologist Formulated) All-In-One Facial Cleanser (in the same "Nourish" line as the hand cream). I read that TJ's teamed up with a dermatologist to come up with this product, which the dermatologist sells in his own practice at over $20. Thanks to simple packaging and little marketing, this 8.45 fl oz bottle only costs $5.99 at Trader Joe's (read this).

The packaging of the All-In-One Facial Cleanser reminds me of a hand soap pump bottle, which makes dispensing the product very easy. In the description on the back of the bottle, it claims to "simplify the routine and leave your skin feeling clean, smooth and cared for. It washes away the impurities and treats your face to a feast of antioxidants without any drying effects." The ingredients list includes:

•  green tea extracts, which is probably the main source of antioxidants
• Vitamin B5
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D3
• Vitamin E, and 
• Vitamin K among others                                                                                                            

In many ways, the cleanser does remind me of hand soap - however one that is gentle enough for your face! The consistency is a fairly thick gel that lathers up with water. I have been washing my face every day with this cleanser either by itself or with a little rubber scrubber for exfoliation. I do find the product to be very gentle and not drying at all as it claims. Like the hand cream, it has a very light scent if any and just feels natural. (This product is also not tested on animals, however, it is not vegan.) Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with both of my much-needed products at Trader Joe's . Who knew it has such great personal care products? At such reasonable prices for natural products, TJ's might very well replace the drugstore for me. 

(note: your new bottle of All-In-One Facial Cleanser will be full... I've been using mine for about 2 weeks now)

Not your average salad

Lately I have been really into making salads to bring to work for lunch. These are not your flimsy, unsatisfying, salads that taste like you're munching on your lawn or make you feel like you're on a diet. I like to add ingredients that add texture and sweetness such as dried cranberries or apple slices. (This was inspired by a build-it-yourself salad station on my college campus. I've missed it a lot since I've graduated) 


The main ingredients in my salads: 

• Olivia's organics Spring Mix (out of an 11oz package)
• Bel Gioioso Fresh Mozzarella (Ciliegine aka "cherry size") - cut in halves
• Trader Joe's dried cranberries
• Whole Foods organic walnuts - halves & pieces
• Full Circle brand Organic Balsamic Vinagrette

Some days I also add sunflower seeds, sliced tomato or avocado. Other days I substitute just olive oil for balsamic vinagrette, although I do think the vinagrette works very well with the dried cranberries for a tangy-sweet flavor. The salad itself is pretty filling since I add so many delicious (and healthy) goodies to it, but I also like to bring an additional snack or carb, plus a little dessert :) 

All the ingredients added together cost only about $20 (spring mix $6, mozzarella ~$4.50, dried cranberries $2, walnuts $2, vinagrette $3) and can feed me for over 2 weeks or as long as the salad greens keep fresh. So that breaks down to $2/lunch. Not bad for a tasty, healthy meal... 

the main ingredients that I toss into a tupperware

finished product - tadaaaa!