Chewy and Moist Chocolate-Peanut Butter ZUCCHINI BROWNIES

In Fall, fresh zucchini is plentiful... and it's a perfect ingredient for baking. Today, I'm sharing my recipe for my favourite chocolate-peanut butter zucchini brownies. Give them a try, and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup quality unsweetened cocoa
• 2 cups grated zucchini (including all the moisture)
• 2 tsp real vanilla extract
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh baking soda
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup (mixed) peanut butter and chocolate chips for sprinkling on the top

Directions:

1) Grease a 9"x13" baking dish, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2) Using an electric mixer (on low), combine sugar, oil, and flour until it has a "wet sand" texture.

3) Continue mixing on low, and add cocoa, grated zucchini (which you don't need to pat dry), vanilla, salt, and baking soda. 

4) Once incorporated, add the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Pour batter in pan, and sprinkle with remaining peanut butter and chocolate chips. (The batter will be quite thick.)

5) Bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Enjoy!!!!

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (You might also like this yummy FALL RECIPE)

Quick, easy and DELICIOUS Apple Crisp

If you like a quick, easy and delicious dessert, THIS recipe is for you. I absolutely love how simple it is to throw this apple crisp recipe together... and it makes your house smell AMAZING!!! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

You'll need:

• 9-10 cups of peeled, cored and sliced apples
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 3 Tbsp water
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup melted butter

I've included the instructions below, but you can also check out the video I made here:

***note - The video says 350 degrees C, but it should be 350 degrees F. 

Instructions:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then, peel, core, and slice apples. Place in the bottom of a greased baking dish.

2) Mix together 1 cup white sugar, 1 tbsp of flour, and 1 tsp cinnamon.

3) Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the apples. Then pour on the water.

4) To make the topping: mix 1 cup oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp baking soda. Once combined, mix in 1/2 cup melted butter.

5) Spoon mixture over apples, and bake in oven until top is golden and apples are bubbling (40-45 minutes).

6) Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!!!!

Simple Quiche RECIPE that you can make in less than 5 minutes / It's budget-friendly too!

Who doesn't love a quick weeknight meal? This Quiche recipe is a staple in our house. It's delicious and super-easy to make. It's also budget-friendly. Check out the step-by-step instructions here.

Check out the short recipe video I made here.

I love that this recipe uses biscuit mix that I buy inexpensively at my local Dollarama. And it's delicious and sooooo easy to make! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Moist and Delicious BLUEBERRY LEMON LOAF

I'm usually a "chocolate" girl when it comes to dessert, but I'm also a sucker for the combination of blueberries and lemon. Recently, I made this loaf, and my husband said that it was the best thing I've ever baked. Pretty high praise! Give the recipe a try and let me know wheat you think.

Ingredients for loaf:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp real vanilla
• zest of one lemon (approx. 2 tsp)
• juice from one lemon (approx. 2 Tbsp)
• 1/2 cup cream (you can use milk instead, but I like the richness of the cream)
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (cleaned and mixed with 1 Tbsp flour)

Ingredients for lemon glaze:

• 2 Tbsp melted butter
• 1/2 - 3/4 cups powered sugar
• juice from one lemon (approx. 2 Tbsp)
• 1/2 teaspoon real vanilla

Directions:

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. (You can use butter to grease the pan, but the parchment paper makes it a lot easier to get it out of the pan in one piece.)
2. Whisk the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and baking powder) together.
3. In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Once it is combined, start adding the cream and flour mixture -- alternating and adding a bit at a time. Don't overmix. You just want to incorporate all the ingredients.
4. Gently fold in the flour coated blueberries.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for 55-65 minutes. Check readiness by inserting a toothpick into the centre of the loaf. It's done when it comes out clean.
6. Cool bread in the pan for about 30 minutes, and move to a wire cooling set on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. (The baking tray and parchment will catch the glaze that drips of the loaf and make clean up easier.)
7. Prepare glaze by whisking ingredients together. Add 1/2 cup powered sugar, and add more until desired consistency is achieved. 
8. Poor glaze over the loaf, allow to set, and enjoy!

This loaf is absolutely delicious! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

You may also be interested in trying this yummy cookie recipe:

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

EASY Easter Desserts that are DELICIOUS and Guaranteed to Impress!

If you like EASY holiday desserts, you are going to LOVE the quick and delicious recipes I'm sharing today. I have short cuts to share... and a step by step video. Take a peek, and let me know which Easter dessert is your favourite!

1) No-bake Easter cheesecakes (from a mix) - Find the step by step instructions here.

2) Mini egg brownies (from a mix) - If you like a good short-cut, you are going to love this quick and easy Easter dessert. Check out the easy "how to" here.

3) Soft and chewy mini egg cookies - To make a delicious Easter cookie, all you need to do is add mini eggs to your "go to" chocolate chip cookie recipe. You can find mine here.

4) No-bake chocolate/oatmeal/coconut Easter cookies - These are my FAVORITE Easter cookies. They are the perfect chocolate cookie... and they are easy to make. Find my recipe here.

For a closer look (and more instructions) check out the 5 minute video I made below.

What's your plan for Easter dessert? I hope you try out some of my favourites!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

***Find more Easter ideas here.

EASY Valentine's Day Treats... featuring chocolate dipped goodies

Let's be honest... Valentine's Day is all about the chocolate. And homemade chocolate treats are guaranteed to impress family and friends. Today, I'm sharing EASY chocolate dipped goodies. You are going to be amazed at how simple the chocolate dipped heart-shaped strawberries are to make!

My favourite part of my Valentine's Day treat tray starts with heart-shaped strawberries. You halve the strawberries and cut a "V" from the top. (Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions.)

Insert a skewer, dip in melted chocolate, and place on wax paper to set.

Cute, right?!

You can also dip other things in chocolate. Try cookies, caramels, and cashews.

Then... when all the items have set... lay everything out on a tray. I added a bowl full of candies to the middle to add a bit of interest. Doesn't it look great? AND it tastes even better than it looks!

Check out this video for all the instructions / recipe video.

Thanks for checking out my latest easy and inexpensive Valentine's Day treat ideas! Let me know which one is your favourite. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

If you are looking for more Valentine's Day inspiration, check out more than 30 Valentine's Day ideas here.

 

The BEST Halloween Cookie Recipe... including a quick step-by-step video

This no-bake cookie recipe is a family favourite. I make it at Easter and add mini eggs, and at Christmas I make them and call them "reindeer poop". Today, I'm sharing my Halloween version. You are going to LOVE these simple and delicious Halloween cookies.

The recipe is at the end of this post, but you might want to check out this quick step-by-step video first.

To make these Halloween monster cookies:

1)  Mix together the following dry ingredients, and set aside:

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt

2)  Put the following ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a boil:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3)  Remove from heat, and stir in dry ingredients.

4)  Before the mixture starts to dry out, drop the mixture from heaping teaspoons onto wax paper, and add candy eyes to each cookie.  Allow to cool completely.

They look adorable on a plain, white tray.

But I put mine on the tray I made in the video here.

You really should make this cookies. I guarantee you are going to think they are SPOOK-tacular. :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas here...

3 "C" Cookies -- Crispy, Crunchy and Chewy

Sometimes you need a break from the traditional cookie recipes you bake all the time, and this recipe is just what you have been looking for. It's simple to throw together, it makes a bunch, they freeze beautifully, and they are delicious. The texture and buttery flavour of these cookies is EVERYTHING!

To make these cookies, you'll need:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup oil

1 cup softened butter (not melted)

1 egg

1 tsp real vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut

1 cup Rice Krispies

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Beat together: white sugar, brown sugar, oil, butter, egg, and vanilla together.

3) In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar, oats, coconut and Rice Krispies.

4) Mix the two bowls of ingredients together.

5) Roll into ball, and flatten with a fork.

6) Bake until lightly brown in colour (approximately 10 minutes).

For a closer look at how I make these cookies, check out the short YouTube video here.

Seriously... sooooo yummy!

These cookies are fantastic for school lunches, and I love mine with a cup of coffee or tea. If you give them a try, let me know what you think. 

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the cookie recipes here.

Chocolate, peanut butter CAKE MIX cookies

Who doesn't love a good cookie... and a good short cut? These CAKE MIX cookies are perfect for when you have a chocolate craving, but don't have a lot of time. You can mix up a batch (in one bowl) in less than five minutes. It doesn't get much easier!

To make chocolate, peanut butter cake mix cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, in a large bowl, mix together the following:

1 box of cake mix

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/4 vegetable oil

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup peanut butter chips

Mix together, and then scoop 1 tbsp balls onto a silpat (or parchment paper) lined cookie sheet. I like to use a cookie scoop.

Note: If you find the dough too sticky, you can refrigerate it, or add 1-2 tbsp of flour.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes. Don't overbake. They should be cooked, but still soft in the middle.

For a closer look at how easy it is to make these cookies, take a look at the video I made.

I hope you enjoy these cookies. Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of combining chocolate and peanut butter.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

The Perfect SNOW DAY Treat: Chocolate Chip Pecan Snowballs

This is the perfect snow day cookie recipe. These chocolate chip pecan snowballs are crispy on the outside… and the insides melt in your mouth. I even made a video to show you how easy they are to make!

You’ll need: 1 cup salted butter (softened) 3/4 cup powered sugar (plus an additional 1 cup for coating the cookies after they are baked) 1 tsp vanilla 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 3/4 cup chopped pecans (toasted ... on a cookie sheet at 350 for 5 minutes) 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup powered sugar (plus an additional 1 cup for coating the cookies after they are cooked) 1 tsp vanilla 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 3/4 cup chopped pecans (toasted) 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

And here's a video showing you how to put them together...

 

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2) Mix butter and 3/4 cup icing sugar with a hand mixer (on medium for about 1 minute)... just until light and fluffy.

3) Stir in vanilla and almond extract.

4) Add 1 3/4 cups of flour and mix on low (just until incorporated).

5) Stir in pecans and chocolate chips.

6) Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refridgerate for 20-30 minutes.

7) Remove from fridge, and roll dough into 1 tbsp balls. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet for 15 minutes.

8) As soon as cookies are cool enough to touch (but still warm), roll the cookies in powdered sugar.

9) Allow to cool completely, and sift another layer of powered sugar to the top.

These cookies are soooooo good with a warm mug of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate!!!

If you give them a try, let me know what you think!

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in these easy and inexpensive winter DIYs on my YouTube channel. Don't forget to like the video and hit the subscribe button. It really helps my channel. 😃

15+ Ideas for Thanksgiving Recipes, Crafts, Decor, and DIYs

Over the years, I have shared a lot of Thanksgiving recipes, crafts, diy, and decor ideas. So... this year I thought I'd put my BEST Thanksgiving ideas all in one collection for you to enjoy. Click on the links below for full recipes, step by step tutorials, and free downloads.

1) Reese's Pieces (soft & chewy) cookie tart - When it comes to Thanksgiving, most people opt for pumpkin pie, but this festive tart is a perfect, easy and delicious alternative. Find the full recipe for this Thanksgiving dessert here. 

2) FREE (funny) Thanksgiving print - Every home needs a bit of whimsical decor during the holidays. So, I designed this funny Thanksgiving print that you can download for free here. I popped mine in a dollar store frame, and I love it! 

3) Thanksgiving party favours - I love giving guests a party favour, and I have TWO fantastic options for Thanksgiving. I have a free downloadable tag you can print and add to a bag of cookies for your adult guests here. I also have a fun idea for turning a cookie into a turkey for the kids here.

4) Turkey wine bottle - How cute is this turkey wine bottle? Use a glue gun to attach a couple of dollar store fall leaves to the back. Then, use more hot glue to attach two googly eyes, a red felt wattle, and a yellow felt beak. It doesn't get much easier, and your guests will love seeing this whimsical bottle of wine on the table!

5) Turkey candy dish - The wine is great for grown ups, but there should be something on the table for younger guests too. How about a fun turkey candy dish? The kids can help by tracing and cutting out their handprints from coloured card stock. Then, arrange the hands together, secure with tape, and use hot glue to attach the "feathers" to the back of a glass dish from the dollar store. Finish by using hot glue to attach googly eyes, a red felt wattle, and a yellow felt beak. You can fill the dish with any type of candy, but I love the colours of these Reese's Pieces.

6) Paper plate "stained glass" turkey - Paper crafts are great for kids too. They add to the festive decor... and they keep the kids busy while you are making dinner. You can find the full step by step instructions for this stained glass paper turkey here. 

7) Thanksgiving tissue paper wreath - Kids can use 1 inch squares of tissue paper (in fall colours) to make this paper plate Thanksgiving wreath. You can find the step by step instructions for this simple wreath here. 

8) Argyle sweater Thanksgiving wreath - Don't you just love this cozy argyle fall wreath? If you can use a scissors and a glue gun, you can make this wonderful piece of Thanksgiving Day decor. Find the full step by step instructions for this Thanksgiving wreath here.

9) Tiered tray - Decorating tiered trays with dollar store finds and crafted items is a fantastic way to create a classy vignette in your home. I stained a mini rolling pin, added the word "harvest", and wrapped a scrap of fabric around it. I also added pumpkins and pine cones, and filled a dollar store bottle with orange and yellow buttons. I also crafted a book stack from scraps of wood, and strung some wooden beads onto a piece of yarn. Cute, right?

10) S'more bucket - Add a bit of whimsy to your Thanksgiving decor by filling a dollar store galvanized with S'more supplies. I added the words "Making S'more Memories" to the front of my bucket with my Cricut. Wouldn't a Thanksgiving campfire be fun?

11) Artwork in a dollar store frame - Framing Fall pictures and free downloads is an easy and inexpensive way to add Fall flair to your home. You can download the Fall Menu I designed (below) for free here.

12) Thanksgiving hot chocolate tray - A dollar store frame and few dollar store jars can be easily turned into an adorable Thanksgiving hot chocolate tray. Start by inserting a piece of fall-themed scrap book paper into a dollar store frame. Then, use strong glue to attach wooden beads to the bottom of the tray. Finish by adding jars filled with hot chocolate, marshmallows and fall coloured candies. It looks great, and kids will love it! 

Check out the little display I made on the table in my hallway.

13) Boho DIY yarn wreath - Even if you aren't very crafty, you can easily make this simple and chic fall wreath. Don't you just love the boho vibe? Find the full step by step tutorial (with photos) here.

13) Dollar store frame monogram - It doesn't get easier than this piece of DIY fall artwork. But a dollar store frame, insert fall-themed scrapbook paper, add a wooden monogram to the front with glue, and glue a ribbon hanger to the back. That's it. Easy peasy!

You can find more detailed instructions here.

14) Grapevine fall wreath - I made this simple fall wreath many years ago, but it's still one of my favourite DIYs. It's an inexpensive grapevine wreath with handmade felt flowers glued to it. You can find out how easy it is to make the flowers, and find all the step by step instructions here.

15) No Sew Fall Pillows - Transform Summer pillows to Fall pillows in a couple of minutes with a dollar store tablecloth. This is genius!

  

16) Pumpkin prize punch - if you have kids coming to your house for Thanksgiving, this is a fantastic game to make for them. It's always a hit, and it's cheap to make with dollar store supplies. Find the step by step instructions here.

Which of these fun Thanksgiving ideas is your favourite? Give a few of them a try, and let me know how it goes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)