baking mix

Jalapeno-Cheddar Drop Biscuits

By in Breads, Sides 10 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

Jalapeno-Cheddar Drop Biscuits

The season of soup is drawing near. And, in my opinion, soup is just not complete without a side of biscuits – warm from the oven. Thanks to my favourite homemade baking mix, these biscuits could not be simpler to make. Four ingredients get stirred together, dropped onto baking sheets and baked until golden. I”m addicted to making biscuits this way. It”s so easy to come up with variations. Just stir in whatever suites your fancy for the day and you”re guaranteed to have fluffy biscuits in a flash.

These Jalapeño-Chedddar Biscuits are one of our new favourites and will definitely be going into the rotation. I love how the cheese gets crusty and caramelized on the outside with little pockets of melty cheese on the inside. The jalapeño adds a little touch of heat without being too spicy. You could easily add more of either depending on your tastes.

If you”re like me, a batch of fresh biscuits can be the spot of sunshine that perks up a cold and rainy day, so it”s great to be able to make them on a whim. Especially when you”ve got broccoli in the fridge and can whip up a batch of Broccoli Cheese Soup to go with it.

Are you looking forward to the fall weather coming up?

Jalapeño-Cheddar Drop Biscuits

If you prefer you can use real jalapeño. I can never find them at my store, but always have the canned stuff on hand, which is why I use the pickled ones in this recipe.

  • 2 cups baking mix (or bisquick mix)

  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped pickled jalapeños

  • 2/3 cup milk

In a medium-sized bowl mix together baking mix, cheese and jalapeños. Pour milk over and stir just until evenly moistened. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 450ºF for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are golden brown. Serve warm.

Makes approximately: 12 biscuits

Bisquick Apple Fritters

By in Kids, Pastries, Sweets 5 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

Bisquick Apple Fritters

I have a confession to make. My son bakes with me a lot but he hardly ever actually tastes the results of his efforts. I”ll say “let”s go bake Daddy a pie.” He”ll say “Yay! Daddy! Pie!” But after it”s all said and done he forgets all about it and never asks for a piece. We figure until he starts noticing what he”s missing why give it to him?

Of course there”s lot”s of taste testing along the way and when he asks I don”t deny it to him. But, if he happens to forget, which is more often then not, then I don”t offer it to him (insert evil grin here). In the case of these Apple Fritters he was my hand model so he didn”t have a chance to forget. :)

Evidence of my little helper drinking milk from the measuring cup and eating the apple scraps.

A couple of months ago I was honored to be included in Babble”s Top 100 Food Bloggers and even more honored to be rated #8 for Best Recipes. (Thank you everyone who voted for me!) Now they”ve gathered exclusive recipes from over 50 of those bloggers and are sharing them on their site. They seriously have me drooling. (You can check out all of the recipes here.)

I decided to share these Apple Fritters because I feel like they sum up what I”m about. Simple food. From scratch. That”s what I aim for anyways. So head on over to Babble for the recipe for these quick and easy Bisquick Apple Fritters.

*Just for clarification this recipe uses my Homemade Bisquick mix.*

P.S. Have you checked out the new recipe page?

Kids in the Kitchen: Jumbo Cashew Cookies

By in Cookies & Bars, Kids, Sweets 5 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Kids in the Kitchen: Jumbo Cashew Cookies

If you”ve been around here for a while you know that I like to keep homemade baking mix on hand in my fridge at all times. It makes last minute cooking/baking so much easier. The other day I was wanting to whip up some cookies real quick so I could go back to relaxing and spending time with my hubby. When I first saw this recipe I was drawn to the word cashews but when I saw that it also used Bisquick mix my mind was made up. I love finding new recipes to use my baking mix!

I was a tad bit skeptical at first. I knew the baking mix made great pancakes but I was afraid the cookies would be.. well.. pancakey. But they weren”t. They were nice and chewy and cookie-y. And, ginormous. These are the kind of cookies I like to eat for breakfast. Not too sweet and full of oats.

Now that my son is almost three years old I”ve been cooking with him a lot more in the kitchen. It has been so much fun and he is learning so much! Like, that raw potatoes don”t taste very good. And, Mommy has been learning lots to. Like, keep your eyes on him at all times or he”ll put pepper in your cookies. I”ve been letting him dig his hands in and get dirty. And, surprisingly there haven”t been too many mishaps as long as I”m careful about the jobs I give him.

This is the type of cookie that a little older kids could conquer all on there own. Or at least with very little help from mom. They”ll have fun shaping the dough and watching them grow to gargantuan size.

If you don”t like cashews I think they would be equally delicious with peanuts. Or, if you want a sweeter cookie you could add a cup of white chocolate chips. I think I”m gonna try that next time, but I also love them just the way they are.

Jumbo Cashew Cookies

  • 1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • 2 1/2 cups homemade baking mix (or Bisquick mix)

  • 1 cup rolled oats

  • 1 cup chopped cashews

  1. Cream together sugar and butter. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients until evenly mixed.

  2. Drop onto parchment lined or greased baking sheets by 1/4 cupful amounts, 3 inches apart. Using your hands roughly shape into circles and press down to 1/2 inch thick.

  3. Bake at 375ºF for 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Allow to cool 3 minutes on baking sheets before removing to wire racks or paper towel to cool.

Makes: 16 cookies

Adapted from Betty Crocker

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

By in Breakfast, Kids, Mothers Day 19 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Mothers Day is fast approaching and all of us mom’s have images of beautiful bouquets of flowers, leisurely breakfasts in bed and children who are perfectly behaved for an entire day, dancing through our minds. Deep down we know it won’t go so perfectly, but it’s nice to have a day where our children at least try to pamper us.

I think it’s so adorable when kids try to pamper their mom. It seems that everything always ends up going wrong and they never realize how much extra work they’re actually creating. But, seeing their faces beaming with pride reminds you that at that moment you are the most important person in the world.  It may not be the most relaxing day but it’s definitely one to treasure.

I’ve had this recipe on my “to make” list ever since I posted the recipe for homemade bisquick mix. Why it took me so long to make them I have no idea because I have been missing out!

This recipe is so simple that your kids (with supervision from Dad, of course) will be able to make them without your help. I’ve even included a printable step-by-step photo guide for your kids and/or partner to follow, so you don’t end up making them for yourself.

Did I mention that these tastes like dessert for breakfast? Because they do. Especially with some peanut butter slathered on top. Mmm.. I think it’s time to pop the leftovers in the toaster.

Happy Mothers Day to all you beautiful Mommy’s out there! You deserve the perfect day (or at least the perfect breakfast). ;)

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

adapted from Taste of Home

  • 2 cups baking mix (or homemade bisquick mix)
  • 1 cup mashed bananas
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips
  1. Place baking mix in a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. In another bowl mix together bananas, egg and milk.
  3. Stir banana mixture into baking mix until evenly moist.
  4. Stir in chocolate chips.
  5. Preheat non-stick griddle or skillet over medium heat and lightly grease. Drop batter using a 1/4 cup measure and cook on one side until bubbles form on top.
  6. Flip and continue to cook until golden brown on both sides.

Makes: 12 small pancakes

Print Recipe

Step-by-Step Picture Recipe for Kids

Print child-friendly recipe with pictures.

Homemade Baking Mix

By in Breads, Breakfast, Homemade, How-to's 124 Comments Tags: , , , , ,

Bisquick mix

I love making things that you normally buy in a box, at home. Especially when it’s as easy to make as this Homemade Baking Mix. I don’t make fresh biscuits nearly as often as I crave them, for one reason only. I’m lazy.

Bread isn’t a nutritional requirement when planning my evening meals so it’s often left out of the equation. Not, that I don’t love it. It’s just that when the clock strikes five I want to be done with my day and only  do the work that is required of me.

That’s the great thing about this mix. You whip it up one day, keep it in the fridge and any time you want fresh biscuits you take a couple cups out, add some milk and bake it up. You can also use this mix for any recipe that calls for a bisquick/baking mix. No need to go to the store when you have this stashed away in your freezer.

Since we are a small family this recipe is enough to last us a while. But, it can be easily doubled or tripled depending on the amount  your family will go through.

What are you favorite uses for Bisquick Mix?

Want a healthier alternative? Try out my Whole Wheat Baking Mix.

Homemade Baking Mix

adapted from allrecipes

  • 5 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup baking powder
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup butter or margarine
  1. Mix together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
  2. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 weeks or in the freezer for longer storage.

Makes approx: 6 cups

To make Biscuits

Mix together 1/3 cup of milk for every 1 cup of mix. Drop onto un-greased cookie sheets and bake @ 450ºF for 10-12 min.

*Add any additional ingredients you wish such as cheese or herbs before adding the milk.

* 1 cup of mix will yield about 6 biscuits.

To make Pancakes:

Mix 2 cups of mix with 1 cup milk and 2 eggs. Cook on hot griddle.

*I have not made the pancakes myself but have heard rave reviews about using this mix for them.

*As with the biscuits you can add any flavouring or other ingredient you would like, such as chocolate chips or blueberries.

Print Recipe

Update: I whipped up these pancakes over the weekend and they truly are delicious. My husband usually does not get overly excited about pancakes and he flipped (ha) over these. The taste and consistency is a cross between pancakes and french toast. Eggy, buttery and delicious! He has now requested that this be my pancake recipe from now on. I won’t complain about that. :)

More Recipes Using this Mix: