Crock Pots, The “It” Appliance?

I can’t tell you how many people I know that have gotten married over the last year! There was a lot! I noticed on most of the registries that a crock pot was pretty popular or should I say slow cookers? That’s the new term. Crock pots are what our moms used, right? Which does bring me back to childhood when my mom would use her crock pot from the 80s, pretty often. It was almost magical in a way, as a child I thought you could put anything in there in the morning and by dinner time it would turn into a meal. A tasty meal that is. Crock pots…*ahem*, I mean slow cookers aren’t just for making stews and chili, I’ve had a friend make berry cobbler once, let me tell you, it was sooo good! There are so many varieties of appetizers/meals/desserts you can create with slow cookers now-a-days.

You might be thinking, they’re so expensive and bulky and ugly. Well they used to be and they used to be a pain to clean too. But now, there’s a variety of sizes perfect for apartment living. Not to mention you can take the “dish” part out and stick it in the dishwasher. It’s so perfect for busy life styles and it allows you to make large portions, so if you don’t have time to cook every night, you’ll have left overs.

Maybe you have a party one night and don’t have time to slave over the stove, while you prepare everything else for your guests. Throw some things in (I recommend following a recipe though) and by the time your guests arrive you’ve got yourself something yummy and I bet it’ll make your apartment smell good! I find a crock pot pretty error proof.

Start Your Mornings Right

Are you looking for a great start to your mornings and week? Check out this delicious Blueberry-Buttermilk Coffee Cake recipe!

Ingredients:

Streusel Topping:

• 2/3 cup(s) (packed) brown sugar
• 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, cut up

Coffee Cake:

• 2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 1/4 cup(s) granulated sugar
• 10 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup(s) buttermilk
• 1 pint(s) blueberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13″ by 9″ metal baking pan; dust pan with flour.
2. Prepare Streusel Topping: In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and butter. With fingertips, work in butter until mixture is crumbly. Refrigerate streusel while preparing cake.
3. Prepare Coffee Cake: On waxed paper, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar with butter until blended. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until creamy, about 2 minutes, frequently scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
4. At low speed, beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat just until batter is smooth, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. With spatula, fold in all but 1/2 cup blueberries.
5. Spoon batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Sprinkle batter with reserved blueberries. With fingers, press streusel into clumps; sprinkle evenly over batter. Bake coffee cake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 1 hour to serve warm, or cool completely to serve later.

Let us know how you’re starting your mornings by commenting below or tweeting us @circlebartprk!

Jacksonville Eating 101

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or somewhere to celebrate with your friends, we’ve got you covered. See what Jacksonville has to offer!

Sekisui 1550 University Blvd W Jacksonville, FL 32217

Bistro Biscottis 1019 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32207

Clark’s Fish Camp 12903 Hood Landing Rd Jacksonville, FL 32258

Let us know where your favorite place to eat is by commenting below or tweeting us @circlebartprk!

Treat Yourself Right

If you need a break from your latest diet, or just want to the feel the rush of a chocolate high, these cupcakes are for you.

Frosted Chocolate-Buttermilk Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 3/4 cup(s) sugar
• 1 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 6 tablespoon(s) unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process
• 3 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, melted
• 6 tablespoon(s) buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg white
• Light Cream-Cheese Icing
• Candy decorations (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard 12-cup muffin tin (or two 6-cup muffin tins) with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. With an electric mixer, combine cocoa and 3 tablespoons hot water until a thick paste forms (this process intensifies the chocolate flavor). Add butter, buttermilk, egg, and egg white; beat until combined. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth.
3. Scoop (or spoon) batter into prepared tin(s). Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread Light Cream-Cheese Icing over tops. Decorate as desired.

Let us know what your favorite types of cupcakes are by commenting below or tweeting us @circlebartprk!

This Ain’t No Egg McMuffin

While my affinity for coffee is pure, there is one other thing I love in the morning almost as much as I love coffee. I could talk about coffee for hours, but I will save that for another time…let’s talk about that next best thing I mentioned. Eggs.

My goodness, eggs are wonderful. I mean, think of all the things you can do with eggs, and of all the ways you can cook them. They hold dough together, they make a brush for the tops of breads before baking, they are used for decoration (especially around Easter time, for those who celebrate Easter), and they are even used for experiments in high school physics classes. And do not even get me started on cooking – all the delicious types of prepared eggs…scrambled eggs, deviled eggs, eggs benedict, over easy and sunny side up eggs, egg “in a frame,” omelettes, poached eggs, egg salad…oh, the list seems endless and they are all so different yet delicious in their own ways.

While I love all the possibilities that there are with eggs, there is one delightful breakfast on-the-go that I have found to be a tried and true winner in my book.

This ain’t no Egg McMuffin. I present you with a delicious homemade, easy-to-make egg sandwich.

What do you need to make this delightful breakfast sandwich?

• 2 eggs, scrambled or over easy work best
• 2 slices bacon (I prefer turkey bacon)
• 1 slice cheese, whatever kind you choose
• 1 English muffin or bagel
• A bit of mayonnaise or butter (optional)

Toast the bagel or English muffin. While this is in the toaster, cook the eggs as you please and cook the bacon. Once the bagel or English muffin is done, put a bit of mayonnaise or butter on it. Then add the eggs, bacon and cheese to the sandwich.

There you have it: a homemade egg sandwich, with much more flavor and tastiness than an egg McMuffin (and most likely less greasy too!).

If you are in a hurry, wrap your sandwich in a paper towel and head out the door. You’re on your way with a delicious breakfast in hand.

What is your favorite breakfast food? Do you love eggs as much as I do? What do you do for breakfast if you’re in a rush?

Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @circlebartprk!

Your Taste Buds Are Welcome

If you’re looking for a great place to eat near you, then check out some of these restaurants in the Jacksonville area!

Matthew’s 2107 Hendricks Ave Jacksonville, FL 32207

Maggiano’s 10367 Midtown Pkwy Jacksonville, FL 32290

Fuji Sushi West 4495 Roosevelt Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32210

Let us know what your favorite local eatery is by commenting below or tweeting us @CircleBartPrk!

Eat Me, I’m Irish

If you’re looking to truly celebrate St. Patrick’s then you need an authentic Irish dish to munch on throughout the day!

Irish Soda Bread is a delicious combination of ice cold Coca-Cola and soft, white bread that will make your mouth tingle with joy.

Alright… so those definitely AREN’T the ingredients, but that’s what I imagined soda bread to be made of. Coke should probably contact me about a new product. Here are the REAL ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 3 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon(s) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/4 cup(s) butter or margarine, cut into pieces
• 1 cup(s) pecans, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup(s) golden raisins
• 1/2 cup(s) dried bing cherries or cranberries
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) caraway seeds
• 1 1/2 cup(s) buttermilk

For directions check out the rest of this recipe from Delish and let us know how you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by commenting below or tweeting us @circlebartprk!

Sippin’ On That Sizzurp

If you’re looking to unwind after a long week of work and your ID claims that you’re of legal drinking age, then check out this sweet mix for a little drink I like to call “The Side Car.”

Ingredients:

• 1 cup(s) water
• 2/3 cup(s) sugar
• 1/2 cup(s) lemon juice
• 1/2 cup(s) Cointreau
• 1 cup(s) brandy or cognac
• Ice
• Sugar for coating martini glasses

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil. Cook over moderate heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.

2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 1/4 cup of the syrup, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup Cointreau and 1/2 cup brandy. Shake vigorously until quite cold and strain into 4 frozen, sugar-rimmed martini glass. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 4 more drinks.

Let us know what your favorite way to relax is by commenting below or tweeting us @CircleBartPrk!

Free Gas!

Not so fresh after a big meal these days? If you’re producing more gas than Kangaroo Express on a daily basis it may be time to evaluate your current situation.

While some foods are obvious when it comes to their contribution to the volume and frequency of your outbursts, others are much sneakier. To make sure you’re aware of these flatulence fueling foods check out this article from AOL health. Here a few that may be causing you to become a walking fire hazard.

Bananas

Oranges

Pears

Green Peppers

Potatoes

Wine

Candy

Don’t forget to tweet us @CircleBartPrk!

5 Healthy Eating Tips For College

Believe it or not, there are actually healthy foods that won’t cost an arm and a leg. You should also consider the ways you indirectly save money by eating healthier. Being healthy means having a higher immunity and making fewer trips to the doctor, for example. Whatever the reasons for making wiser decisions in your diet, you don’t have to spend a fortune at the local health food store to do it. Here are a few ways to save money and feel better while doing it:

1. Make a Shopping List – By planning meals ahead of time and sticking to a shopping list, you should be able to avoid any unnecessary and unhealthy impulse purchases.
2. Buy In-Season Produce – A seasonal produce chart may help you do determine what will be cheapest at the store right now. Buying your favorite fruits and vegetables during the off-season costs you more because of what it cost to bring to market.
3. Shop at the Campus CO-OP – Why are you overpaying at health food store when you could be getting your food direct from local growers? Check out the local CO-OPs and farmer’s market before going to the grocery store.
4. Stock Up on Your Healthy, Cheap Staples – These include oatmeal, beans and rice. These are foods that are filling, inexpensive and healthy. You should always be sure that they are readily stocked in the kitchen.
5. Clip and Organize Coupons – This is probably the easiest way to save some money on food. However, be sure to only save coupons for healthy foods. Just because it is on sale doesn’t mean that you should buy it.

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