Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts

Friday, October 17, 2014

Recipe || Maple Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I like pretty cupcakes and I cannot lie...those other mommas can't deny when a big, pretty cupcake... Ok, ok I'm done (where's my laughing emjoi?) Anyway, it's true.  I love cupcakes and I love pretty cupcakes even more.



These were the easiest cupcakes ever because they start out with a boxed recipe.  Normally, I prefer a more bakery style cupcake, so I doctored these up to make them more homemade tasting.


Here is the recipe for bakery style Maple Brown Sugar cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 Box of Pillsbury Maple Brown Sugar cake mix
 -Add 1 more egg than called for
 -Use melted butter instead of oil
 -Use milk instead of water
 -Add 2 tablespoons of vanilla

Mix it all together and fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.  Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees and bake for suggested time on box.

Preheating the oven to a higher temperature then reducing while cooking causes the cupcakes to rise more.

Now, to make the frosting... Again, I used a container of cream cheese frosting to start and added in about 1/3 block of cream cheese.  I whipped the frosting and cream cheese together to create a fluffier texture and slightly less sweet, more intense cream cheese favor.  If I had more time, I would have used this recipe.  To decorate these, I simply frosted them and then rimmed them with fun fall sprinkles.

I'm definitely going to play around with a homemade recipe for cupcakes similar to this.  Do you have a favorite cupcake recipe?  I'd love for you to share!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

THE Best Chocolate Chip Cookies


I've searched far and wide for a good cookie recipe, besides my mom's, and I think I've finally found it.  It's the perfect mix of chewy, chocolately goodness.  I used this recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction, found on my Pinterest here.  They're SO good.  The cornstarch in them makes them extra chewy and fluffy.  I used a mix of Ghiradelli bittersweet chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips.  I didn't add nuts, but you could certainly add pecans, walnuts, etc.  Also, refrigeration is key.  If you're anything like me, you'll wait the minimum hour in the fridge and start;)


I loved this recipe because not only does it use simple ingredients, but it's also quick and easy to throw together.  These will not last long in our house!  Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?  I'd love for you to share.  Happy Baking! 

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Garden Fresh Salsa

Hi friends!  Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.  Our garden is currently in a jungle like state, not that I'm complaining, but we're getting an abundance of tomatoes.  Yesterday, I made the most delicious homemade salsa and wanted to share this quick and super easy recipe.  I'm a wing it type girl so this is a recipe that you can adjust to your liking.

4-5 beefsteak tomatoes, cubed (or other large tomatoes)
Half of a Vidalia onion
1 medium bellpepper (or 2-3 small)
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Tsp salt
Tsp cumin
Handful of parsley or cilantro
1/2 a clove of garlic
1/2 small jalapeno (I'm a baby)

Put all of the ingredients into a food processor and you're done! You can choose a chunkier style or smooth, spicy or not, so many possibilities.  It was so good and fresh!



Enjoy!

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Morning Lifesaver: Aka Iced Coffee

Mornings around here are normally fast paced with a toddler, therefore, I've started some little things to make them smoother and more enjoyable.  I was never a huge coffee drinker until recently and let me tell you, this recipe is a morning lifesaver.



Recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman:

2 1/2 cups of good coffee
4 quarts of cold water (or more for weaker coffee)
1 Tbls vanilla extract
1 cup of simple syrup

First measure out coffee grinds, then add water.  Give it a good stir and let sit covered for 8 hours or overnight at room temperature.  I used a Brita pitcher to make the coffee mixture, which held the perfect amount.  After the mixture has sat for at least 8 hours, pour the mixture through cheese cloth or a coffee filter over the container you plan to store it in.  I added 1 cup of simple syrup to the finished coffee, which was also a great timesaver.  To make the simple syrup, combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water, bring to a light boil while whisking occasionally, then let cool.    I stored it in a large drinking dispenser from Target and it keeps for about a week and a half in the fridge.  Mornings are so much more enjoyable with some iced coffee in a mason jar ready to go! 
Note: Picture taken a week into the huge jar of coffee - it makes a ton!


Enjoy!


Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Have you...

Have you gotten your flu shot??



Just got mine :)

Quick recipe for yummmmy Hungarian Goulash:

1 28oz. can of crushed tomatoes in puree {I normally use RedPack}
1 medium sized yellow onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1 tbl. paprika
1 tbl. thyme
1 - 2lbs. of cubed bottom round beef
Flour
Salt & Pepper
1 cup of sour cream
Egg noodles

To begin:
1.  Coat beef cubes and onions in flour, add to slow cooker
2.  Add chopped carrots
3.  Add can of crushed tomatoes
4.  Add spices, salt, and pepper
5.  Turn on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours

Boil water for egg noodles, cook until al dente or your preference

When you drop the noodles in boiling water, add 1 cup of sour cream to the slow  cooker and stir until incorporated.

Serve goulash over noodles & enjoy!  My hubby wasn't sure of the name...but LOVED it!  

Have a great day!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Smorgasboard!

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're all having a great week so far... the title of this post explains it all: a little bit of everything over the past few days:)

First, if you are married or living with a guy how many things do they do that drive you nuts?! I love my hubby but seriously does he know where the hamper is???  I told him I was going to blog about his towel a.d.d. if he didn't fix it and did that happen...I'm afraid not.  Therefore, the great towel debate:

Sometimes he hangs towels wherever he sees an open spot places towels here:


or here...

or here...

and so on...you get the idea.  I understand that we have three bathrooms but why can't he find the hamper?! Now, this may seem like a small thing but seriously everyday? Hmm...maybe he needs to be in charge of laundry duty from now on to prevent the accumulation of so many towels ;) 

What are some things that your hubby does that drive you absolutely crazy?  I'd love to hear! 

On another note, he redeemed himself and surprised me with this book today!



I love it so far!  Awesome ideas and great pics to inspire such as:

Gahh I love fall...


I would sell someone for this mantel...just kidding but I looove it


and this b-e-a-UUUU-tiful sideboard...


Seriously, buy this book it's worth it in pictures alone! And no, I'm not being paid to advertise...it's that good.  

Also, to add to my blog smorgasboard today, I made the cauliflower soup from Centsational Girl...so yummy & a little messy! :)


Carrots, celery, onion...


Mmm...add stock, milk, half & half, simmer and you get this...


Make a little wedge salad...


and some parmesan crisps to go with it...


and you have this yumminess:


Delish...try it!

Anyway, off to take my fur baby Annabelle to the vet for her checkup!


She makes my heart go pitter-pat I love her! Have a great day all!







Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Butternut Squash Lasagna & Other Yummy Goodness

Last night we had my mom, sister, and her fiance over for dinner.  My sissy is quite the critic... performing cooking masterpieces {show off - love you} She is also the one that got me this great cookbook:
...highly suggest you pick it up!

Anyway, I decided to make butternut squash lasagna and my secret caesar salad...mmm :)

I read about a slow cooker recipe for slow cooker winter squash lasagna in the Real Simple magazine and figured I'd try it.  I'm always trying to sneak veggies into my meat and potatoes hubby.  Instead of using the slow cooker, I used my new Dutch Oven that I looove.  It was under $40 from Sam's Club...no Le Creuset but it's awesome.

To get started, these are the ingredients you will need:


1 lb. of lasagne {I used the kind you have to boil, definitely use the no-cook if you can find it - time saver!}

2 boxes of frozen butternut or winter squash {I used Birds Eye}
Thaw them in the microwave before using

1 large tub of Ricotta cheese {around a 1lb. I think}

1 bag of shredded mozzarella cheese

Salt & Pepper {add to squash and ricotta cheese mixture}

Bread Crumbs {not pictured - whoops}

To begin, spread a small amount of the squash on the bottom of your Dutch Oven or lasagna pan:


Then add a layer of lasagna sheets, I cooked mine slightly less than al dente because they cook more in the oven.  Then a layer of ricotta and shredded mozzarella cheese mixed together...


You can also add fresh parsley or basil to the ricotta and mozzarella mixture, I just didn't have any ready to use.  After all of the layers are completed, add a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella and breadcrumbs over the top layer.  I also added cubed butter to brown the top slightly.  Everything is better with butter, right? :)


I made this ahead of time in the morning so I could just pop it in when I was ready.  Cook the lasagna at 350 degrees for about an hour...up the temperature if you need a shorter cooking time.  It comes out all bubbly and yummy like this:


This made enough for 6 people plus at least 2-3 servings for leftovers...you could freeze this too!

To go along with the lasagna, I made a suuuper easy caesar salad.  I'm not a big fan of the raw egg - anchovy version therefore I created my own using these ingredients:


Ingredients:

1 small cup of plain yogurt {I used Dannon All Natural}
1/2 cup of mayo
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons of spicy brown mustard {Dijon works too}
1 garlic clove
Salt & Pepper
Grated Parmesan Cheese

First, you start out with adding the plain yogurt and mayo to a mini food processor:


Then comes the red wine vinegar, mustard, crushed clove of garlic, cheese, and salt and pepper, just throw it all in there together!


Blend until it comes out like this: 


In the meantime, prep your lettuce {wash & dry} then I like to add shredded cheese of some kind, tonight I just used mozzarella and croutons:


The add the dressing over the top and mix.  I normally have some left over to use another day :)  If you have a small family, you can cut the recipe in half.


Definitely give these recipes a try, they are delish!  Super easy and yummy.  

Thanks for reading & have a great day!

Kaitlyn 









Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Painted Wallpaper: Great Success!

Hey All,

My painted wallpaper wall is all finished!  I think it turned out great and designates that wall for our desk area.  Sooo here are the new pics:

Annabelle was a good little helper:


Side view...


Now all put together: 




And a view of the whole dining room/desk area:


Notice how one chair is still tan...that was my latest project that was put on hold to do the painted wallpaper.  I sanded down each chair and spray painted them with Krylon black satin.  A tutorial on that is coming soon!


This project was definitely worth the time it took to finish...I loove it!  Hope you enjoy it & become a follower too!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Dinners in the Freezer!

Before I got married, I lived with my parents after college because 1. I love my family and it was nice to be home again 2. rent is superrrrr high here and not having a job yet wasn't going to cut it.  My hubby (fiance then) was living on his own renting an apartment close by so I would try my "culinary skills" on him :)  At first, it was pasta, pasta, and more pasta... Eventually I started to make chicken, chili, burgers, etc.

Eventually, we started going back to my moms to eat some days {thanks Mom} and some days were take-out nights.  Last school year, I got a full time teaching job with about a 45 minute commute.  My hubby was working weird shifts and I was so busy lesson planning and getting ready for the next day that there wasn't much cooking going on.  Long story short, it was July {wedding!!} and summer vacation! Yayy for teachers...to all those who complain we have summers off - we need it after all those kids! I love them but boy did it get crazy some days! :)

After the wedding and honeymoon, we were finally living together in our new {rented} home and I was super excited to start cooking for my own little family.  

My sister gave me this awesome book, because she knows me so well and lovingly doubted my cooking skills.



The book is great, I highly recommend it to everyone who works, or has kids, loves their Crockpot, etc...basically everyone would benefit from it I think :)

Being that I was on summer vacay, I decided to create freezer meals that I could throw in the Crockpot in the morning and dinner would be done when I got home from work.  Shoprite was having a really good sale on Perdue chicken so I stocked up and marked recipes both my hubby and I would like.  Most of the recipes I tried first had chicken in them, but there are some really good red meat recipes and pasta recipes.  I do need to be creative at times, as he is somewhat picky.  He makes a face if I make stirfry...so it has a new name of "saute" and he eats it up!  The little things we do for them...

Anyway, in the book they recommend using the "freezer bag method."  Definitely saves room and you still have your containers for leftovers in the fridge.  I also use the freezer bag method to freeze homemade tomato sauce.  I fill the bag {enough for 1 pasta dinner for 2-4 people} and then zipper seal the bag and lay them out on a baking sheet.  Normally I have about 3-4 bags and lay them on top of each other and throw the whole baking sheet in the freezer.  I freeze them overnight then take them off of the baking sheet and stand them up right or flat in the freezer.  When I'm ready to use them, I just defrost them in the fridge and they're ready to heat up and use.

This doesn't look great, but it shows the freezer bag method...it's so yummy



Also, what's great about the freezer bag method is that you can write the directions right on the bag.  This saves time from having to look up the recipe in the cookbook and if the hubby puts it in the Crockpot in the morning, the directions are right there.  Written veryyy clearly just for the reason :)

Crockpot recipe example:


Oven recipe example:


We also have a dry-erase board in our kitchen to write down our crazy {opposite} schedules for the week.  This really helps with meal planning and thinking ahead to what needs to be prepped or defrosted.  On the days we're both working nights, we normally eat at work or leftovers will do. {I'm subbing and waitressing now, due to budget cuts no more classroom for me this year grrrr}  We also have a master calendar on our desk to help keep track of work schedules and commitments we have.  It seems to work for us, so if you're looking to be more organized with meals/schedules try it.  



I hope this inspires you to create some freezer recipes and saves you a little time in your busy day!  Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day :)

Oops...almost forgot: Update on the painted wallpaper wall:


I think the bottom is the hardest part...only because there's not too much room to move around so close to the floor so I left it for last :) I hope to be done by tonight!!

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