Thursday, February 12, 2026

Best Snickerdoodle Cookies

February 9, 2026

Without a doubt, my favorite cookies are Snickerdoodle, and especially when they are just perfect, soft and yummy.
 
I have made many cookies over the years and some recipes are ok, some don't come out as great, and this one is by far my go to, and my absolute favorite Snickerdoodle recipe.  They are no fail, always turn out amazing and are so easy to make.
 
I don't know where I got it from, over the years I have scribbled recipes on pieces of paper and notebooks, when I am scrolling online or on social media.  Wherever it came from, it is the best Snickerdoodle, truly.
 

February 9, 2026

Snickerdoodle Cookie

Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter (1 cup)
1 and 1/3 cups of sugar
1/3 cups of brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
3 and 1/4 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 and a 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon of salt
Cinnamon sugar to roll cookies in 
 
 
Method:
 
Preheat oven to 375 ° F.  
 
In a stand mixer, beat the butter and the sugars until creamy.  Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix. Add the flour a little at a time, then the baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.  Mix well but don't overbeat, you just want everything mixed together.
 
The size of the cookies depends on you.  I just grabbed small bits of dough about the size of a golf ball, rolled into a ball and then rolled them in the cinnamon sugar to coat.  Place on a greased baking sheet, and then slightly flatten.
 
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool. 


February 9, 2026

February 9, 2026

Monday, February 09, 2026

Menu Plan Monday - February 9 to 15th, 2026

Good morning.  It has been a while since I've posted something on this blog, and I do miss sharing, so am hoping to start doing more of that.  I have a couple recipes to post, just need to sit down and do it instead of getting distracted.
 
One thing I do want to get back into is posting the Meal plans for the week, it helps me stay on track and also gives me a place to look back and see what I was making, for future meals.
 
So without further ado, here is the meal plan for this week.
 
 




Monday 9th

Breakfast: Low Carb Banana Pancake
Lunch:
Tuna Salad
Dinner: 
Sticky Asian Chicken, Sesame Noodles, Sauteed Squash

Tuesday 10th
Breakfast: Oatmeal, Coffee
Lunch: Leftover Salad
Dinner: BBQ Pork Ribs, Roast Sweet Potatoes, Five Bean Salad


Wednesday 11th
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Multigrain Toast
Lunch: Honey and Vanilla Greek Yogurt, Walnuts
Dinner: Steak and Shrimp, Garlic Rice and bean salad
 

Thursday 12th
Breakfast: Weetabix, Coffee
Lunch: Leftover roast sweet potatoes, boiled egg, leftover shrimp
Dinner: Meat, Chicken Rissois, Leftover Rice, Avocado Ranch Salad


Friday 13th
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Greek Yogurt with honey, granola and blueberries
Dinner: French Bread Pizzas
 
 
Saturday 14th
Breakfast:  Toast, Coffee
Lunch:  
Dinner:  Fend for yourself 

 
Sunday 15th
Breakfast: Oatmeal with coconut and dates
Lunch:  Salad
Dinner: BBQ Chicken Legs, Sweet Potato Fries, Broccoli and Cauliflower

Thursday, March 06, 2025

Islak Burgers

These delicious burgers are a typical Turkish street food. 
 
I have been enjoying Mediterranean recipes for the past year, and one of the foods we have most enjoyed, have without a doubt been from Turkey.  There are so many delicious recipes, from heart warming stews and kebabs, to yummy street food like Pide and Simit.  I had not heard of an Islak Burger before, so when I came across this recipe I knew I had to try it.
 
Wow was it good.  It was not only easy to make, it used simple ingredients but the result was fantastic.  You can make them in a skillet or in the oven, I chose to do the oven because I was making quite a few for the whole family.  Here is the source for the recipe.
 
 
IMG_8527
Islak Burgers

Ingredients:
1½ pounds ground beef chuck (20% fat)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped, divided
1½ teaspoons paprika, divided
5 tablespoons (or more) unsalted butter, divided
¼ cup tomato paste
4 hamburger or brioche bun
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
 
 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix beef, parsley, half of garlic, and 1 teaspoon paprika in a large bowl. Divide into 4 loosely packed patties 4″ wide and 3/4″ thick. Make a small indentation in the center with your thumb to help keep it flat as it grills. Chill until ready to use.

Meanwhile, cook 4 tablespoon butter and remaining garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally, until butter turns caramel-brown and smells nutty, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and remaining ½ teaspoon paprika, whisk to combine, and cook until paste begins to caramelize, about 30 seconds. Add ¾ cup water and whisk until smooth; simmer until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and cook buns, cut side down, until cut sides are golden-brown, about 2 minutes (you may need to do this in 2 batches, using additional butter if needed). Using a brush, generously brush cut side of buns with tomato sauce.

Transfer buns to a 13 x 9″ glass baking pan.

Add oil to the skillet and increase heat to high; heat until oil begins to smoke. Season patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook burgers until lightly charred on the bottom, 2–3 minutes. Flip and cook to desired doneness, 2-3 minutes for medium-rare.

Transfer burgers to the pan with sauce and coat burgers in sauce. Transfer burgers to bun bottoms and top with top bun. Brush the top of bun with sauce. Cover the pan with foil, transfer to the oven, and bake for 5 minutes. Carefully remove foil and serve immediately.

IMG_8528

2 Ingredient Bread Rolls

I think everyone has seen this recipe floating around.  It comes from Kirbie Cravings.  It is a very quick and easy recipe to throw together, and the results are quite a tasty roll, albeit a bit heavier than a usual roll.
 
The family all enjoyed it, I did too but I am low carb so it's not something that I will be having a lot, but for a quick bread roll, it is definitely a recipe I'll keep on hand.
 
IMG_8537

2 Ingredient Bread Rolls

Ingredients:
2 cups self rising flour
1 3/4 cups + 2 tbsp nonfat plain Greek yogurt


Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, add flour and yogurt. Stir with a spatula just until all the flour is fully incorporated and a dough forms. Your dough will be quite sticky. Be careful not to overmix. The more you mix, the stickier your dough will be.  Divide dough evenly into 9 pieces. Lightly wet your hands and grab one of the dough pieces. Roll it between your hands until it forms a ball (it's okay if it has cracks, you just want to make sure it is round) and then place it onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough (wash your hands clean and rewet for each one), spacing dough balls 2 inches apart.  Place rolls into oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until rolls are done.

Notes: If you don't have self-rising flour, you can make your own by whisking together 2 cups all purpose flour + 3 tsp baking powder + 1/2 tsp salt.

IMG_8533

Monday, October 21, 2024

Menu Plan Monday - October 21 to 28, 2024

It's been a while since I've added a Menu plan Monday, and I wasn't planning on doing it again, really, but just felt like it today, so thought I would bring it back and hopefully stick with it.  It helps me have a place to keep my meal plans on hand.

Hope you enjoy a peek into our meals over the next week!


MENU PLAN October 21 - 28, 2024


Monday 21st

Breakfast: Low Carb Banana Pancake
Lunch:
Tuna Salad
Dinner:
Sage and Kale Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Tuesday 22nd
Breakfast: Oatmeal, Coffee
Lunch: Vegetable Soup
Dinner: Cabbage Roll Casserole, Salad

Wednesday 23rd
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Multigrain Toast
Lunch: Honey and Vanilla Greek Yogurt, Walnuts
Dinner: Ham Alfredo Pasta, Garlic Knots, Salad

Thursday 24th
Breakfast: Weetabix, Coffee
Lunch: Tuna salad
Dinner: Baked Fish Fillets with Creamy Spinach Sauce, Basmati Rice, Tomato Zucchini


Friday 25th

Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Leftover Zucchini and Fish
Dinner: Stromboli - Pepperoni and Ham and Vegetarian
 
 
Saturday 26th
Breakfast:  Cinnamon Rolls for the kids, Keto Waffle for me
Lunch: Heading to a museum so will get something out for lunch and dinner
Dinner:  Eating out

 
Sunday 27th
Breakfast: Keto English Muffin
Lunch:  Salad
Dinner: Beef Curry with Rice