Tag Archives: sugar

high-altitude raspberry muffins

Definitely worthy of blogging about! These muffins were created for our altitude of almost 10,000 feet but the cookbook has adjustments for 3 different levels of lower elevations as well.

It’s best to eat these the first day due to the fresh fruit inside, but we ate leftovers for a couple days and they were okay – just not as scrumptious!

From the cookbook Pie in the Sky, they are originally called “Mom’s Blueberry Muffins.” The author talks about the unlimited variations these muffins can withstand – you can combine different types of berries or use blueberries and peach or nectarine slices, or sliced plums and raspberries.

Print the recipe .

easy blender salsa

I just turned on my computer for the first time since Tuesday – solely to get this recipe up!

It’s been a staple in our home for a long time but since our Christmas party last weekend, I’ve been asked for it multiple times.

Really, I only made a couple small adjustments from that created this, due to a personal preference. It’s supposed to be a copycat recipe of Chili’s popular salsa. Honestly, Mike and I can’t decide which we like better!

Print the recipe .

I’ll be back on the blog soon. Traveling to the States with a baby is more exhausting than most of you know. ;) Lots to do, people to see and rest to never catch up on. Ha. But it’s great to be back, for sure! More soon!

high-altitude glazed cinnamon scones

As usual, I have included the original sea level notes in my printable recipe below, so this is for everyone!

Just to give you a little picture of what’s happening at the moment… I’m currently sitting at my computer, feeling the floor (and maybe the walls) literally shake. If you have ever lived in South America, you probably have experienced their version of partying. It’s almost 10:00, it started over an hour ago and it will probably go on for a couple more hours at least. Someone (I don’t know if just a neighbor or if the guards were called) is banging repeatedly on their door but to no avail. Besides the cultural differences which has been already written about in many books, I think I have just always been an old soul. How does anyone have the energy to scream and stomp and scream and cheer and holler and dance for so many hours to music crashing through most floors of this tall apartment building?

Update later: the party lasted almost 5 hours and multiple people tried to get them to stop. I didn’t call the guards because I knew it was futile, but I would have if they had woken the baby. Thank goodness they didn’t. He and Mike slept like…babies. ;) This is different than when we lived in Arequipa, Peru – we were told by our neighbors (after other neighbors partied all night) that if one called the police, the police would tell the “guilty” who called them. This would endanger them depending on the situation so no one ever called. Everyone partied and everyone hated it, haha! 

Oh goodness, that has NOTHING to do with these amazing breakfast scones, but I am having a hard time concentrating. :)

These really were amazing! Especially with a steamy cup of coffee right next to it.

I adapted it for high-altitude and it actually worked well the first time! Usually at 9800 feet elevation it takes multiple tries, if ever, to get dough recipes to rise (or not collapse) properly.

I’m really falling more and more in love with the website. It really does share terrific financial tips, recipes, and so much more. You can thank for these scones!

 for the printable recipe.

high-altitude turtle cookies

Before you throw this one away because you live at sea level – I noted on the printable recipe below notes for either. :)

Half the fun of making these was just that they’re pretty. :)

This recipe is from as shared by , but I have adjusted it for high altitude. Remember I’m talking over 9,000 feet elevation, so this should work for most “high-altitude” dwellers!

I don’t really know why but these always scream “Christmas” to me. At least I’ve made them for a Christmas party before! Just a holly jolly cookie, I guess.  ;)

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high-altitude english muffins

When we first moved to South America at the beginning of 2009, I craved a lot of food we couldn’t get. Just random things, mostly sweets. :)

As the years go by, though, the craving more turned to missing. We miss a lot of things we can’t get in Quito. A lot of the healthier options the States has to offer being on top (I still miss certain candies and treats, of course!) and now certain baby items along with basic conveniences. Sure, we don’t have the temptation of a lot of the junk food USA has in abundance but we also don’t have a lot of healthy options either.

That’s okay. We make do. And we exercise, that also helps. ;) (Oh, don’t get me started on running at 9800 feet elevation…)

Anyway, it occurred to me one day that I could make English muffins, one of the items I used to buy way back when. Granted, we didn’t have whole wheat flour (we do now!!) when I first started making these, but no big deal.

These were completely legit. I’ve made them multiple times and they always work out so well here.

Funny thing is – my baker friend up in Oregon said they didn’t turn out as well at sea level, even after she made the called for adjustments.

Here’s the  with my re-wording of a few things that helped me “stay the course” better, but it’s not really adjusted from .

Note for those interested: I live at 9800 feet. It’s a testament to ‘s skill that these worked so well. :)

pumpkin swirl brownies

Looking Back: Originally posted on Nov 14, 2010.

Original post:

I started preparing these way too close to the time we needed to leave the house the other evening that I was scurrying around like a crazy lady trying to get them into the oven in record time.  I probably did set a record!!

I literally pulled them out of the oven, put them where the rest of the family couldn’t see them and left the house.  I didn’t get to enjoy them till the next morning, but it was worth the wait!

I borrowed the recipe from and adapted it slightly.

You can print it .

white chocolate-dipped cranberry-oatmeal cookies

Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 23, 2010.

From Original Post:

Whew!  Long name.  But turns out not that difficult to make…plus they’re pretty!

It’s basically a normal cookie recipe made fancy by the dipped look. ;)

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perfect pumpkin cookie

Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 18, 2010.

If you followed this blog back in 2010, you’ll remember how crazy I went with pumpkins! I cooked up a bunch and used it to make all sorts of cookies, muffins, bread and more.

 

When a I followed posted , I immediately saved the recipe and ta-da, have now shared it with you. I remember actually making them in my Grandma’s house in Idaho. Let me tell you, it’s harder to cook in someone else’s kitchen than I had originally thought! But it was enjoyable.

Print the recipe  (just slightly adapted from ).

white elephant fortune cookies

Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 18, 2010.

Mike and I have hosted some sort of Christmas party since the year we began dating [2007]. Last year was the smallest – a dinner with close friends – as I was over 8 months pregnant and not up to putting on a big one!

A couple of the parties stand out in my memory and 2010 is one of those. I went baking crazy!

These were my favorite things I made though. There was a White Elephant exchange and I tried to think up a new way of drawing numbers, something to change things up a bit.

Each person received a fortune cookie – they got a yummy treat AND their White Elephant turn number.

And just for fun, I put some Christmas jokes in about 10 of them so the recipient could read them aloud to the group before they took their turn.

It was great fun.

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classic pecan pie

Looking Back: Originally posted on Oct 16, 2012.

Original Post:

It’s been a while since I shared a recipe and here is a classic!  It’s officially Autumn and we are socially free to make soups, stews, pumpkin & pecan pies, and so much more.

But I should probably admit to you that I made this in August.  ;)  If I have ANY time at all this Fall, when we’re not traveling, I have so many soups that are calling my name.  We’ll see about them…but for now, here is a very traditional recipe for super sweet Pecan Pie.  It was actually the first pecan pie I’d ever made and was pleased with the results.  The crust edge was also an experiment and I wasn’t as thrilled with that idea’s turnout, but hey you have to try to know!

Print the recipe .  Although I miss the warmth already and my frozen fingers feel numb typing this, I DO enjoy pulling my boots back out and cooking fall-y dishes. :)