Dumplin's

This isn't a baking entry; this is a cooking entry! Whoa!
But it's not REALLY cooking, so..it's okay.
These are "dumplins", NOT "dumplings." That's just way too formal. I'm talking "we gotta cook up some dumplins" here! And this recipe is for chicken/turkey based dumplins, but you can use beef stock/juices instead.
My dad grew up eating these, but I consider them a special treat. I'd never even made them before today! It was actually really fun making them. You have to make sure that the liquid is hot enough, because it helps bind the ingredients and draws them off of the spoon.
Dumplins are cheap, easy, and sooo tasty. And they're so good dipped in ketchup!

Dumplins Recipe

• 2 cups flour
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 c milk
• 2 containers chicken stock (not broth)
• Optional:
• If you decide to cook a chicken or turkey, you can use the leftover juice with the chicken stock! Dumplins are a good "day after" meal, for if you have chicken or turkey!

Preparation

• Put the chicken stock (and optional chicken/turkey juice) in a large pan. Bring to a rolling boil.
• Put the eggs in a large bowl. Break the yolks and stir to combine.
• Add in the flour and milk, and FOLD together with the egg.
• NOTE: Rough stirring will add too much air, which will make them large and flat. Hence folding!
• NOTE: The mix will be thick, like a heavy dough. You want it this way!
• Turn the stock down to medium-low. Scoop about 3/4 spoonful of the mix and dip in the mixture. When hot enough, the stock will draw it off of the spoon.
• Repeat until the bowl is empty of mix. Cook dumplins for 10 minutes minimum.
• After 10 minutes, cut one open to make sure it's done inside.
• Serve as a side or as a meal, with or without ketchup!

Spritz Cookies

Phew! Finals are over, I'm waiting for grades to be posted, and it's so close to Christmas that I'm frolicking everywhere.

And I thought, what better treat to make to celebrate the holidays than spritz cookies??

I Googled "Best spritz cookie recipe" and this is the one I found. Now, I like mine more buttery and sweet, and these are a little more tangy, so there's your warning. They're still delicious, but in a different way.
I got my roommate to help me, too! She bought me the spritz gun (as I so lovingly call it) for my birthday, but I haven't used it until now. It's so fun! This recipe is made for use with a cookie press (gun) and it makes a looot of cookies.
I did three different designs, and used three different sprinkle colors. The trees got green, the roundish ones got blue, and the.. diamond ones..? got red! Very festive.

The recipe online said to cook them for 10-12 minutes, but when I cooked by first batch for 10, it burned. I was so sad! I burnt a whole tray of trees. So I suggest starting at 6 minutes, and then going from there.

Best. Roommates. Ever.

Spritz Cookie Recipe

• 1 cup butter-flavored shortening
• 1- 3oz package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• Sprinkles for looks

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350
• In a medium bowl, cream together shortening, cream cheese, and sugar.
• Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and orange zest. Beat until light and fluffy.
• Beat in salt and cinnamon, then gradually add flour. Mix until well-combined.
• Choose the design you want, fill the tube of the cookie press, and form your cookies on an ungreased, un-parchment-papered cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle with sprinkles (Crazy!) before putting in oven.
• Bake 6-8 minutes, removing when edges just begin to turn golden brown.
• Remove from pan as soon as you can, letting them cool on a cooling rack instead.

Delay

FINALS WEEK! AHHHHH!

All that means is that I'm not baking yet this week.
But I'm going to make spritz cookies after this is all done, so you have that to look forward to!

Brownie Bites

My writing group had a holiday party on Monday, so I (obviously) decided to make some treats!
I did the cinnamon pinwheels that I love so much, but also made brownie bites and a chocolate buttercream to go on top!
It was the frosting that made these things! The brownie was your typical brownie, and the frosting was your typical chocolate frosting, but together.. I may start drooling just typing this up!
These can either be really good for you, or really bad. You can grab one and it's rich enough for you to be able to walk away. But then..you might walk back a dozen times to get more.
Brownie Bite Recipe

• One package box brownie mix
• Eggs (varies)
• Vegetable oil (varies)

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350
• Mix brownies according to directions on back of box.
• Grease a mini-muffin pan, fill 3/4 way full with brownie mix.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, and check with a toothpick. Be careful not to overcook, because they'll become dry and crumble.
• Let them completely cool before removing them from the pan.

Chocolate Buttercream Recipe

• 11 tbsp butter (1 stick + 3 tbsp), softened
• 1 - 2lb bag powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 c milk
• 3 tbsp cocoa

Preparation

• Combine butter, vanilla, salt, 3/4 of the powdered sugar and 3/4 of the milk.
• Blend until well combined, adding more powdered sugar or more milk when needed.
• Once you reach the consistency you desire, add in 3 tbsp cocoa (mix on low speed to avoid cocoa-fying your clothes!)