March Surprise Recipe Swap - Chai Tea Bread

March Surprise Recipe Swap

Jutta from Hungry Little Girl started this Surprise Recipe Swap.I believe that this is the third month but it is the first month for me.  We were given a blog partner at the first of the month, giving us a couple of weeks to go through our partner's blog and find a recipe to make.  Then on the 20th you will post the recipe that you made.  I love this idea as going through someone else's blog and finding recipes are so much fun.  I know this makes me go though the blog as with my busy life I don't always make time to do this, so this way I have to go and read someone else's blog.  If you want to participate in this, head over to Hungry Little Girl and read what it entails and the few simple rules that there are.

This month CJ from Morsel of Life is my Surprise Recipe Swap partner.  At the beginning of the month I went through her blog, finding many recipes that I wanted to make.  I wrote down about 8 recipes and then the next step was to pick one of them.  That was the hard part.. which one do I make.  After some humming and hawing I decide to make her Chai Tea Bread recipe.  I love Chai and I knew that I had wanted to make this already as I had left a comment on this recipe.
  

As you know I very seldom make a recipe the way it is written.. Mainly because I don't always read the recipe and another reason is that I believe a recipe is a guide and you need to make it to your taste.  I also made mine in 2  Welcome Home paper loaf pans as even though we have 10 feet of snow and it is still snowing, today the 20th is the first day of spring and I wanted something that looked springy.

Chai Tea Bread

adapted from Morsels of Life

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups flour ( I used 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat as the recipe stated)

3/4 tsp cardamom (ground)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp cloves

1/8 tsp anise (ground)

2 tsp baking powder

Wet Ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil (I used Tradition Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil)

1/2 cup honey

2 eggs

3/8 cup milk (I used evaporated milk)

1/2 cup Chai concentrate or Chai tea  (I used Chai tea as was to lazy to make some concentrate)

2 tsp vanilla

1/8 cup coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients together in bowl.  In mixing bowl combine wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until barely moist.  Pour into greased loaf pan or I used 2 paper Welcome Home loaf pans. Sprinkle coconut over top of loaf.  Bake for 50 minutes if using one loaf pan or mine took about 35 minutes with the 2 paper loaf pans.

Enjoy

Enjoy with a cup of Chai Tea

I loved the spices in this bread and it is not too sweet.  Just perfect to have with a cup of tea.  I had a couple of pieces for breakfast this morning.  I had planned on putting some ripe banana's into this last night when I made it but thought I would wait...  I think bananas would be a perfect addition to this wonderful bread.  To find the original recipe, go HERE.

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻   Marlys

(¯`✻´¯)
`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻ Enjoy your day....`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻

Related articles

• Last day of winter chai latte (creativekismet.com)
• Chai Spiced Banana Bread....simplistically delicious! (localforkful.com)

Thyme and Maple Acorn Squash

I have just gotten into eaten winter squash.

The other day I bought an acorn squash and decided that I wanted to use some maple syrup with it.

I also had some fresh thyme, so googled to see if maple syrup and thyme would go together.

The do and this recipe tasted fantastic.

I love the flavours of the maple syrup and thyme together.

Thyme and Maple Acorn Squash

1 acorn squash

2 tsp butter

2 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp fresh thyme

maple syrup to drizzle

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Wash and  the acorn squash in half.  Remove seeds. Place in baking dish.  Spread 1 tsp of butter over both halves of squash.  Sprinkle 1 tsp of brown sugar over each half.  Sprinkle 1/2 tsp of thyme over each half.  Then drizzle maple syrup.  Bake in 350 degree until squash is soft.  I then added a small amount of fresh thyme over the top before eating.  Enjoy.

This would make a great side dish for two or a meatless vegetarian dish for one.  I ate mine as a main meal and  it was delicious.

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻   Marlys

(¯`✻´¯)
`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻ Enjoy your day....`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻

Links: In and Out of the Kitchen

Related articles

• How to: Bake an Acorn Squash (and what to do with it!) [NaBloPoMo Day 11] (citymama.typepad.com)
• Meatless Monday with Carnival Squash Stuffed with Cranberry Maple Quinoa and Beans (planetforward.ca)
• Winter Squash Recipes: Stuffed Acorn Squash (honeycrunched.wordpress.com)
• Squash Happens (livinginaction.wordpress.com)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Image via CrunchBase

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I have now moved all my GFC friends over to bloglovin as I have heard that google reader may be gone shortly. I . don't want to miss any of the blogs that I follow. I hope that you will join me in the change over and will continue to follow me. You don't have to be a blogger on Bloglovin to follow. I even have an app on my phone and it is free.. So I can read blogs wherever I am.

I found this great tutorial on Sew Much Crafting that show exactly how to switch all the GFC over to bloglovin with a click of a couple buttons. Easy as Pie. If you need help you can go here.


Thanks Marlys

Mint Chocolate Coffee Shake

Last week I made a Saint Paddy's Day Milkshake and it was shared on Facebook by Don Tomas Coffee with a comment that it would be good with coffee added.  When I saw this I thought mint, chocolate, coffee, oh yum.  I had to make this.  I had some Mint Chocolate Ice cream in  freezer and knew just what I had to make....

Mint Chocolate Coffee Shake

Makes 2 servings

3 cups mint chocolate chip ice cream

3/4 cup strong coffee ( I used Don Tomas Sundown Coffee*)

1/2 cup milk

2-3 drops of green food colouring (optional)

green coloured sugar for the rim (optional)

garnish with fresh mint and Andres Creme De Menthe Thins (optional)

Place ice cream, coffee and milk into blender and blend until smooth.  Dip rim of glass in coloured sugar and pour milkshake into glass.  Add green food colouring if you would like it to be slightly greener.  Garnish with fresh mint and Andres Creme De Menthe Thin.  Enjoy!

You can also use the recipe for St. Paddy's Milkshake if you don't have mint chocolate ice cream and add coffee for part of the milk.
* Don Tomas Sundown Coffee has have the caffeine but all the taste of regular coffee.

Enjoy!

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻   Marlys

(¯`✻´¯)

`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻ Enjoy your day....`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻

Links:  Foodie Friends Friday

#FoodieFriendsFriday linky party

Welcome once again to Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party.

This week we are Going Green!

It will be fun to see all the Green Saint Patrick Day Recipe.

Other recipes are welcome too.

Check out the Recipes that Caught our Attention
from last week's party


To have your recipe featured, you must link back to our party or the host blog that you link up with.

Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday!

Please take a moment to read through the rules before getting started, Thank You!

*By linking up you agree that you read these rules and all photos/recipes are original and belong to you. You agree to allow Foodie Friends Friday and any of it's affiliated websites or publications (Social Girls Media, LLC) to use photos, links, and recipes for reprint and/or republishing and distribution without monetary compensation to you. If photos & recipes are used, proper link backs to you will be included.

Adding Links back to Foodie Friends Friday and our Button is our only form of advertising to bring in more people to see YOUR recipes.

Please remember to do this. It benefits you! To thank you, we will continue to feature those with links throughout the year on various outlets.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.foodiefriendsfridaydailydish.com/" title="Foodie Friends Friday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj628/busyvegetarianmom/FFFDDButtonNEW150Darker_zpse238f637.jpg" alt="Foodie Friends Friday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Meet our Co-Hosts at Foodie Friends Friday:

Now Let's meet our sponsor this week!

*Giveaway Disclaimer: Facebook is in no way associated with this website or giveaway and holds no liability for this giveaway. "Liking" facebook pages is optional, not mandatory for entry. Sponsors will be responsible for shipping- if there is a delay or problem with prize, you must communicate directly with sponsor.



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Remember to fill out the Rafflecopter for your chance to win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last Week's Party Winners

Sponsor Giveaway

Voted Top 3

Most Clicks

Host Favorite

This week my host favorite is from Lizy at Just Dip it in Chocolate for her Plantain Lasagna.   I love Lizy's blog, she has great recipes and her pictures are superb.  You will find yourself licking the screen when you see them... I just wish that you could taste them, they look so good.  I picked this recipe as I love plantains.  The first time I ate them was in Togo.  My husband has requested his father to plant many plantain plants on the land we bought there so that I can eat them all the time.  This recipe looks wonderful and I can't wait to try it.  Thanks Lizy, I would have never thought of using plantains instead of noodles.

Picture Credit.  Just Dip it in Chocolate

Related articles

• Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party and a handbag giveaway (marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com)
• Foodie Friends Friday with bagsnthings.biz (foodiefriendsfridaydailydish.com)
• Recipes that Caught OUR Attention... #DailyDishMagazine (foodiefriendsfridaydailydish.com)

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party and a handbag giveaway

Hope everyone is having a great week and it is that time again...

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party Time

First before we get into the party, I would like to remind you that each week each host will pick a favorite recipe.  These recipes will be featured in the Daily Dish Magazine.  To be featured you must have a link back either to Foodie Friends Friday or the blog that you linked up with.  To check out the featured recipes for this week go HERE.

Host Favorites

Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday!

Please take a moment to read through the rules before getting started, Thank You!

*By linking up you agree that you read these rules and all photos/recipes are original and belong to you. You agree to allow Foodie Friends Friday and any of it's affiliated websites or publications (Social Girls Media, LLC) to use photos, links, and recipes for reprint and/or republishing and distribution without monetary compensation to you. If photos & recipes are used, proper link backs to you will be included.

Adding Links back to Foodie Friends Friday and our Button is our only form of advertising to bring in more people to see YOUR recipes.

Please remember to do this. It benefits you! To thank you, we will continue to feature those with links throughout the year on various outlets.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.foodiefriendsfridaydailydish.com/" title="Foodie Friends Friday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj628/busyvegetarianmom/FFFDDButtonNEW150Darker_zpse238f637.jpg" alt="Foodie Friends Friday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Meet our Co-Hosts at Foodie Friends Friday:

Now Let's meet our sponsor this week!

*Giveaway Disclaimer: Facebook is in no way associated with this website or giveaway and holds no liability for this giveaway. "Liking" facebook pages is optional, not mandatory for entry. Sponsors will be responsible for shipping- if there is a delay or problem with prize, you must communicate directly with sponsor.

Facebook  - Bagsnthings
Website - Bagsnthings.biz

Remember to fill out the rafflecopter for you chance to win a handbag similar to the one in the picture. 

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last Week's Party

Sponsor Giveaway

Voted Top 3

Most Clicks

Host Favorite

This week's my host favorite goes to a new friend Mary from LoveFoodies for her Quick & Easy Tea Party Cherry Custard Pastries.  I did make them today but although they taste wonderfully they are not photo material... at least not as good as Mary's are.  I am going to try them again and I have an idea for a filling for Saint Patrick's Day... so keep watching.  Head over to Mary's blog she has some wonderful recipes and great pictures..

Don't these looks so delicious.
photo credit:  Love Foodies

St Paddy's Day Milkshake

I am not a big St. Patrick's Day person...

Although I do like the green food..

This year I decided to make a green mint milkshake and this recipe turned out great.

My pictures aren't the best as it was early evening so not a lot of natural light 

and the more pictures I took, the milkshake kind of separated some but it still tasted good.

St Paddy's Day Milkshake

1.5 cups ice cream

1 cup milk (I used skim)

3 tsp creme de menthe syrup

1 tsp minced fresh mint

2-3 drops green food colouring

extra mint and andres creme de menthe thins, coloured sugar for garnish 

In blender mix ice cream, milk, creme de menthe syrup and mint until smooth.  If you want a thicker milkshake add more ice cream or thinner add more milk.  Add 2 -3 drops of green food colouring until you get the shade of green you would like.  To make green coloured sugar, add a drop of two of food colouring to sugar and mix.  Dip rim of glass into sugar.  Pour in milkshake and garnish with andres mints and extra fresh mint.

Enjoy

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻   Marlys

(¯`✻´¯)
`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻ Enjoy your day....`*.¸.*✻✿*.¸.*✻

Links:  Tasty Thursdays, In and Out of the Kitchen

Related articles

• The History of the Milkshake (thehistoryof.org)
• 8 St. Patrick's Day Food & Recipes (foodiecitymom.com)