BLUEBERRY BOY BAIT


I am obsessed with blueberries...can't get enough. Fresh or frozen I will take them anyway I can get them! I especially love to bake with them. This is one of my favorite coffee cakes; loaded with blueberries and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
Mr. Kimball, from ATK writes, "This is my all-time favorite recipe name. It comes from Renny Powell, a teenager from Chicago, who submitted this recipe in 1954 to the Pillsbury $100,000 Recipe & Baking Contest (now known as the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest) and won second prize in the junior division. This is a very light one-layer cake with blueberries and a simple crumble topping. Ms. Powell evidently found it useful in attracting members of the opposite sex and, based on my testing, I would have to agree that it's pretty good bait."

Blueberry Boy Bait
The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2008

Cake:
16 T unsalted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cups whole milk
3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen, tossed with 1 t flour

Topping:
3/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 t ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.
Whisk flour, powder, and salt in medium bowl.
With a mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 min., scraping the sides when needed.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated.
Reduce speed to medium and beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture until incorporated; beat in 1/2 of the milk.
Beat in 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, then the remaining milk, finally the rest of the flour.
Gently fold blueberries into the batter.
Pour the batter into the pan and smooth with a spatula.
For the topping, scatter the berries over the top of the batter.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and sprinkle over the batter.
Bake about 45 min.
Cool the cake in the pan for 20 minutes.
Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

12.20.2012

POPCORN BALLS

Normally, I wouldn't post a recipe like this but I have had two friends recently talk about popcorn balls...which is a throwback for me. My mom use to make them when I was little...we would add different colors of food coloring into the marshmallow mixture and add different candies...like M&M's, Nibs and sprinkles (not the healthiest treat, I know but fun for the kids). Also instead of balls we would use a bundt cake pan to make a popcorn cake.

POPCORN BALLS
10 balls

4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 tsp salt
1 bag (10 ounce)  miniature marshmallows
12-14 cups popped popcorn
M&Ms (optional)

Note: Add more popcorn if you don't want them to be so sticky.

Melt the butter in the microwave. Add salt and 1 bag (10 ounces) mini marshmallows, microwave until melted (about 90 seconds), stirring every 30 seconds. In a large bowl, combine popped popcorn (from about 2/3 cup kernels), be careful not to mix in any un-popped kernels.

Pour melted marshmallows over popcorn mixture, and fold to combine. You will need to work quickly since the sugar in the marshmallows hardens as it cools. Rub a little butter into your hands to prevent sticking, and gently form 12 balls, each about 2 1/2 inches across; place on waxed paper. Let set until cool and firm, about 10 minutes. If you are using the bundt pan make sure you grease it well before putting the popcorn in so it doesn't stick.

We are still busy with our little Elf, Elfie this year. Here is what he has been up to this year...
Under the tree...

Found him in the car blasting Mele Kalikimaka...

Obstacle course down the hallway...






TP'ed the Christmas tree....

Wrapped the toilets with Christmas wrapping paper...

Finally caught him...

Praising baby Jesus...


Painted our nails red while we were sleeping...

Caught watching Christmas movies and eating popcorn with Buddy...

Suggesting it may be time to practice...

 Pig Popper war...

Drew mustaches on us while we were sleeping...

Decorated the dollhouse...

 Set up a domino course...

Stuck in the vacuum...

 Put our shoes all over by the front door...

 Pirates...

 King of the Mountain....

 Snow fort by the front door...

 Playing tooth fairy...


 HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!