tasty tuesday x2 IS INTERRUPTED FOR THIS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

I just bought this:

and this:

to go on my new:

I got an iPhone!!!
I'm a little excited if you can't tell.  :-)  It's my early birthday present from Trav, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I went in this morning, just to talk to someone about whether I could use Travis's upgrade on my line, and not only could I, but next thing I know I'm walking out with my new phone.

Now I just have to keep my over-exuberant 16-month old away from it!!


Ahem, now, back to our regularly scheduled program... Two recipes to share today.

First, Mini Pumpkin Loafs:

I did mine as a big loaf plus a dozen cupcake sized loafs...

Ingredients:
3 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
2/3 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla
12 Tbsp butter, at room temp
2 c. granulated sugar
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
4 large eggs
2 c. pumpkin puree

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Have all ingredients at room temp and prepare mini loaf pans.
-Whisk together flour, soda, powder, salt and spices thoroughly.
-In another bowl combine milk and vanilla.
-In large bowl of mixer beat butter until creamy (about 30 sec).
-Gradually add sugars and beat on high speed until lightened in texture (3-4 min).
-Beat in eggs one at a time.
-Add pumpkin puree on low speed until just blended.
-Add flour mixture in 3 parts alternating with the milk mixture in 2 parts beating on low or stirring with spatula until just combined.
-Scrape batter into pan and spread evenly.
-Bake about 45 minutes making sure to take out only when a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Let cool in loaf pans and enjoy!


This worked okay as a big loaf, but the bottom gets dark before the inside gets done... so mini loafs, or cupcakes, are better. 

They are amazing though!!


The second, Honey Mustard Chicken and Potatoes:

1 pound boneless breasts, cut into large pieces
1 minced shallot
1/4 cup dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/2 tsp pepper, divided
1 pound red potatoes, cut up (obviously I used white... because that's what I had)

In 9x13 pan, sprinkle chicken with half of salt and pepper. In a bowl, mix together honey, mustard, shallots, and thyme; spread over chicken. Spray potatoes with olive oil spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 735 for 50 minutes.

So I liked this, but didn't love it. The sauces was tasty, but their just wasn't enough moisture. Next time I'll probably do a batch and a half of the sauce, and use regular olive oil instead of olive oil spray on the potatoes.