New Experiment

I was so excited when I saw this in Meijer the other day. Yes, I shop at Meijer, love it, love what they do for the community, and they are far superior to that awful place that starts with a W that I loathe to the ends of the universe and back.  (Ok, rant over).

I'd been playing around with ideas for thick ganache alternatives for my brownies. Then I saw this: (insert heavenly choir here, you know that "ahhhh" sound we hear on TV commercials)

My grandmother, Maga, was a big Eagle Brand fan, and it's the only sweetened condensed milk I use. Other shoppers stared at me as if I was an escapee from the nearby mental hospital. (It's literally a mile away, so I can understand their concern). The little jig and whoop of joy startled some, while making others laugh and come over to see what I was so happy about.

This is a little one-stop miracle! I love caramel and chocolate, especially in brownies. So I tried it out today. A batch of brownies with this turned into a thick ganache, it's more like fudge than ganache, and the flavor was almost perfect. Everyone seems to have truly liked it, and I'll be playing with this a bit more.

In case you'd like the ganache recipe, it's so simple that I don't know why I didn't try it earlier. Here's the recipe:

• 1 can Eagle Brand Caramel Flavored Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 package (11 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use mini chips)

1. Empty the can of milk into a non-stick pan, or double broiler, warming on the stove top. Stir occasionally until the milk begins to bubble. 
2. Add in the chips a bit at time, stirring until fully melted and well incorporated.  
3. When all the chips are in and the mixture is smooth, pour the ganache while still warm on top of your brownies, cake, or cookies.

I'll post more experiments later as I think of items to try this in.

And no, I do not get any money from Eagle Brand, or Meijer. I'd love to if you know anyone in their marketing departments, but at this point my site is not monetized with ads.

Snickerdoodle Muffins

I've been making these muffins since I was in middle school. It's a modification of a French Puff and has been given several nicknames by some of the teens that like to hang out at our house. These are easy to make, and don't require a mixer if you have younger kids that would like to make them on their own.

Yes, those are Snickerdoodle cookies in front of the muffins!

These do not last long! The recipe makes a dozen regular size muffins or 6 jumbo muffins.

Miss Mary's Snickerdoodle Muffins

• 1/3 cup shortening or melted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup milk

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F
2. Mix sugar and butter together until well mixed, add egg and mix  in throughly
3. In another bowl mix together in flour, baking power, salt and nutmeg
4. Stir in flour alternately with milk
5. Grease muffin tin (I use Pam Baking spray) - DO NOT USE paper cups
6. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full (usually one big eating tablespoon full)
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes
8. Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes then remove from muffin tin

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:

1. Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 2 tbsps Cinnamon (or mix to your taste) in a container big enough to fit a muffin
2. Melt 1/4 cup of butter (1 stick) - I nuke this in a bowl big enough to fit a muffin

Roll muffins in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture
Final step: EAT!

This is what my cinnamon sugar mix looks like when it looks "right".