I tried it and I like it!

(Photo filled post....)

I tried it and I like it! What is it? Coconut oil!

Jessica (daughter #2) mentioned making some chocolate chip cookies using coconut oil a while back. Honestly, I'm late for the dance, as I'd never heard of coconut oil for cooking.  Then I remembered even a longer-while back Melissa (daughter #1) had mentioned coconut oil for use for... something, but I just didn't remember!

I bought some coconut oil, which in itself was a challenge here in our town. I think I had to go to three store before I found a jar of it.  I originally was looking for "oil", as in canola oil or olive oil. I didn't even know it was a hard oil, as in "Crisco Oil"!  I had even called Jessica from the store when I couldn't find it, and that's when she said it's a solid oil.

Once home I used Jessica's recipe for "Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies."  Now I'm not like our daughters, who love chocolate chip cookies and/or chocolate chip cookie raw dough, (I do like a good sugar cookies!), but this raw dough was to die for!  Here's the recipe:

The baked cookies were yummy, too.  For some reason the dough reminded me of the chocolate chip cookie "dough" in the ice cream by the same name!

Fast forward a few weeks to a day out in the country picking blueberries.  I only had time to pick about 4 pounds, so bought a box of 15 pounds (the blueberry farm workers had picked them earlier that day).  I "sold" 5 pounds to my friend, then took the rest home to freeze.

Tonight for dinner I decided to make Blueberry Muffins, but use coconut oil for the "soft shortening".  Here's the recipe I used:

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Grease a 6-muffin tin

1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup soft shortening (this is where you use coconut oil!)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Mix all ingredients except berries; gently fold in blueberries; fill muffin tin; bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes (tops will be a nice golden color when done); serve with butter!

(Sorry, I don't write out complete recipe instructions, once you've made a muffin-or whatever-you've got the technique!)


I have to say, these were the best blueberry muffins I've ever tasted!  I guess 1/2 cup of sugar will make anything taste good to me, but I think it was the coconut oil! (The main dish tonight was Sweet and Sour Pork over rice, just so you know it wasn't just muffins for dinner!)

I've been busy with various projects: my "big girl job", painting signs for my Etsy orders, and other custom signs orders from locals; and now a big even in our town called "Marshfield Vintage Market".  Here's the poster.

Melissa has a space and I'm her side kick!  I'll bring signs and other projects I've been working on, too many to even begin posting photos at this point. 

And, finally, just for fun, a sampling of recent signs I've been painting:

(this sign is at Leaf's Treehouse, Coos Bay-unless sold)

(this sign is at "Overcoat", the store in Myrtle Creek, OR)

(this sign is available here)

(this sign is at Leaf's Treehouse, Coos Bay, unless sold)

(this sign is available here)

(this sign is at Leaf's Treehouse-unless it's sold)

(this sign is available here)

(this sign is at Leaf's Treehouse, Coos Bay-unless it's sold)

(This sign is headed to the store, "Overcoat" in Myrtle Creek , Oregon, next to Dairy Queen. You simply must stop and visit Tonya if you are anywhere close!)

(this sign available here)

Blessings,
        ~Heidi