Easy Chocolate Muffins

I went to visit some friends the other morning and wanted to take a treat. I searched what I had in the pantry and looked at different recipes in my cookbooks and came up with these. I'm not a big fan of chocolate and these are not overly sweet, but my friends were pleased.

EASY CHOCOLATE MUFFINS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk (I used evaporated)
1/4 cup butter, melted.
1 egg
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Add milk, butter, and egg. Stir just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Fill paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full of batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Going Retro

Back in the 80's when Bisquick was popular (before the whole trans fat mania) Bisquick had a bunch of 'Impossible Pies' that used different ingredients but added a Bisquick batter to them to create a magic crust. I decided to throw one together recently.

IMPOSSIBLE CHICKEN BROCCOLI PIE

3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 cup fresh mushrooms sliced
12-oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, steamed for 5 minutes in microwave
8 oz. shredded cheese (I used Vermont White Cheddar)
1-1/2 cups cooked cubed chicken (I used 2 large boneless chicken breasts)
1-1/3 cups milk
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup baking mix
Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 10 inch pie plate with Pam. Saute the onions and mushrooms together in the butter. Add broccoli and chicken and cheese and mix together. Put into pie plate. In a small bowl mix the milk, eggs, and baking mix together until blended well and pour over ingredients in pie plate. Bake for 35 minutes until puffed and set.

Oatmeal Coconut Chewies

So once again here I am with a long time between posts. I had a day off and the coworkers have been complaining that I haven't baked anything in a while so I went in search of something that I could make with what I had on hand. I happened upon this recipe that was posted on this blog My Tasty Treasures (disclaimer -- this blogger has a wicked naughty sense of humor) but she has good recipes. She had gotten the recipe from this blog My Kitchen Cafe. So many good blogs out there and such great recipes. I think the coworkers will be pleased with these cookies.

OATMEAL COCONUT CHEWIES
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut (I toasted the coconut)
1 cup quick oats
1 cup chopped, toasted pecans (of course, I have to add these)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl cream together the sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes until cookies are set but not overly brown. (My oven took a bit longer so check your oven). If you bake longer they are a bit crisper.