Gnarly Soda Bread Muffins

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...If you enjoy soda bread I think you'll enjoy these muffins. They are easy to make and quite tasty, despite their rough appearance. While I've done hundreds of coffees and more than my share of cocktail parties, I have never done a tea. I've been told by those who have and do, that these are a nice addition to a tea table. I suspect they will not have universal appeal because they are barely sweet and their appearance will keep most from choosing them if more attractive selections are available. Rest assured, they are great when served warm with butter, clotted cream or a really fruity jam or jelly. Like larger soda breads, these rolls stale quickly, so you should plan to serve them the day they are made. It is hard to go wrong when making these muffins. They come together quickly and I think you will enjoy the hint of orange and caraway that is added to what is otherwise a basic dough for soda bread. The muffins can be made with just a bowl and wooden spoon, so this is a good recipe to keep in mind when working in a kitchen that has no modern amenities. I do hope you will give them a try. Here is how they are made.

Mocha Oatmeal Cookies

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I love simple recipes and those for cookies are rarely easier than the one I'm featuring tonight. While most children love oatmeal cookies, the amount of coffee in these will be off-putting to them. Adults, however, will keep coming back for more, especially if they like coffee flavored sweets. I can't think of a nicer accompaniment for vanilla ice cream. If you have a strong arm or a hand mixer, the recipe is simple enough to qualify for our cottage cooking collection. While the cookies can be mixed in ten minutes, they do require some time to chill before they can be shaped and baked. If you decide to try mixing these completely by hand, make sure your arms are strong enough to properly cream the butter and sugar. I've tried to do this and have failed miserably. When I think about how much mixing was done by hand, I'm convinced our grandmother's upper arms must have been the size of thighs. An exercise like this, gives me a greater appreciation of what they were able to produce in their kitchens. I do hope you'll give these cookies a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Here is how they are made.