2011 -
01.21
Tags: chicken, kebobs, pineapple Category Dinners | No Comments »
Pictures
Chicken with Pineapple Kebobs
the Ingredients
Pineapple Juice
Adding Cumin
Adding Ground Coriander
Adding Minced Garlic
Adding Chili Powder
Adding Salt
LADYBUG!!! (It was in my cilantro!)
Adding Cilantro
Adding Yogurt
Adding Orange Food Coloring
Stirring
All Stirred Up
Adding Pineapple Juice
Stirring
Added Chicken
Mixing
Ready to Marinade
Kebob Station
Kebob Before Oven
The Messy Aftermath
Halfway Done
Justin Basting Them
This Time You Can See Justin!!
Kebob Close-Up
With Rice Ready to Eat!
Chicken with Pineapple Kebobs
1 1/2 8 ounce cans pineapple chunks in juice, reserve juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
orange food coloring
3 7 ounce boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 whole red bell pepper
1/2 whole green bell pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Drain the pineapple juice into a bowl. You should have about 1/2 cup juice.
In a large mixing bowl, blend together cumin, ground coriander, garlic, chili powder, salt, yogurt, cilantro and a few drops of food coloring. Pour in the reserved pineapple juice and mix together.
Cut the chicken into bite size cubes, add to the mixing bowl witht he yogurt and spices and leave to marinade about 1-1 1/2 hours.
If using wooden skewers, soak 6 in water for 30 minutes. Cut onion and peppers into bite size chunks.
Prepare a barbecue, if using. Arrange the chicken, pepper, onions, tomatoes and reserved pineapple chunks alternately on the skewers.
Baste the kebabs with the oil. Cook on the barbecue or under the broiler for about 15 minutes, turning and basting the chicken with the marinade regularly.
Once the chicken pieces are cooked, remove from the grill and serve with either salad or plain rice.
I’m not sure where this recipe came from but I love it!! I love pineapple and I’m sure this would be even better with fresh pineapple and using canned pineapple juice. I think I will try that!!!
2011 -
01.21
Tags: chocolate chip, cinnamon, cookies Category Baking | No Comments »
Pictures
Spicy Frostbite Chocolate Chip Cookies
the Ingredients
Adding Flour
Adding Baking Soda
Adding Cinnamon
Adding Ginger
Adding Salt
Sifted
Creaming Butter
Adding Brown Sugar
Added Egg
Adding Vanilla
Adding Flour Mixture
Mixing
Cookie Dough
Adding Chocolate Chips
All Mixed Up
Adding Powdered Sugar
Adding Cinnamon
Mixing
Adding Cookies
Covering Them
Ready for the Oven
Out of the Oven
You Know...Racks
Spicy Frostbite Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 whole egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 12 ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, chopped, optional
2 cups powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Sift together flour, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Set aside.
Cream butter. Add brown sugar, egg, and vanilla, and beat well. Add sifted ingredients to butter mixture. Gently fold in nuts and chocolate chips.
Refrigerate overnight or until firm. Form balls using 1 tablespoon of dogh.
Mix remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with powdered sugar. Roll balls in sugar mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
This recipe came from a wonderful book, The Search for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie by Gwen Steege, I was lucky enough to find it at the Bookman in Orange. A great used bookstore!
As for the cookies themselves, they went to my step-dad’s work and I hear they were eagerly eaten!
2011 -
01.21
Tags: chocolate, cookies, M&M's Category Baking | 2 comments
Pictures
This Post Brought to You by Seasonal M&M's!
Chocolate Cherry Cordial M&M Cookies
Ingredients
Adding Flour
Adding Cocoa Powder
Adding Baking Soda
Stirring
Butter
Adding Sugar
Adding Brown Sugar
Mixing
Added Eggs
Adding Salt
Adding Almond Extract
Adding Flour/Cocoa Mix
Adding Cherry Cordial M&M's
Pretty
Stirred
Ready for the Oven
Out of the Oven
Do You Like My Racks?!?
Cherry Cordial M&M Cookies
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
2 whole eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 10 bag Cherry Cordial M&M’s (or any other flavor you like!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheet.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addiction. Add the salt and almond extract.
In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda and gradually add to the creamed mixture. Fold in M&M’s. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until fluffy but still soft. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
I sent these to work with my husband, he said everyone loved them!!
2011 -
01.14
Tags: apple, cake mix, red hots Category Baking | 1 Comment »
Pictures
Ingredients
Adding the Red Hots
Adding Sugar
Adding Apple Juice
Adding Food Coloring
Stirring
Adding the Apples
All Stirred Up
Boiling
In the Pan
Starting Cake
Adding Pudding Mix
Eggs
Adding Apple Juice
Adding Sour Cream
Mixing
Pouring Over Apples
Very Thick
Ready for the Oven
Out of the Oven
Flipped!
Close Up
Candy Apple Cake
1 cup red hots
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup apple juice, divided
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
4 whole Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
1 18.25 ounce box yellow cake mix (or White, or french vanilla)
1 3.4 ounce box vanilla pudding mix, instant
2 whole eggs
1 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large saucepan, combine the cinnamon candies, sugar, 1/2 cup apple juice, and food color. Heat over high heat, stirring until candies dissolve. Add apples and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the apples are tender; spoon into the baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, and the remaining 1/2 cup apple juice; mix well and spoon over the apple mixture, spreading to completely cover. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool slightly, then invert over a serving platter. Allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.
This recipes origins are totally unknown! But it’s a favorite in these parts! Pretty easy to make, but I must warn you of 2 things. 1 the cake batter is super thick! And 2 it addicting. You can’t eat just one piece!!! I challenge you!!
2011 -
01.14
Tags: chocolate, fudge, microwave, orange Category Baking | No Comments »
Pictures
Ingredients
Chocolate Chips
Adding Sweetened Condensed Milk
Adding Vanilla
Chocolate Fudge
White Chocolate Chips
Adding Sweetened Condensed Milk
Adding Orange Extract
Adding Orange Food Coloring
Stirring it Up
Orange Fudge
Chocolate Layer
Orange Layer
Finished Product!
Quick & Dirty Chocolate Orange Fudge
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 ounces white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon orange extract
orange food coloring
Line an 8×8 inch pan with wax paper.
In a medium bowl combine milk chocolate chips, 2/3 can of sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Microwave 45 seconds to 1 minute at a time, stirring in between heating. Continue until smooth.
Spread ½ of the mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan. Reserved other ½ of mixture. Chill 10-15 minutes. Microwave 45 seconds to 1 minute at a time, stirring in between heating.
In a small bowl combine white chocolate chips, remaining sweetened condensed milk, and orange extract. Continue until smooth. Stir in red and yellow food coloring until you achieve an orange color you like. Spread the mixture evenly across the first chocolate layer. Chill 10-15 minutes.
Reheat reserved chocolate mixture. Spread the mixture evenly across the orange layer. Chill for an hour. Remove from pan and cut into squares.
Recipe found here.
Easy and yummy! What else can I say?!?!
2011 -
01.14
Tags: eggnog, fudge Category Baking | No Comments »
Pictures
Eggnog Fudge
Ingredients
Adding the Sugar to the Eggnog
Mixing it Up
Cooking
Boiling
Adding Mini Marshmallows
Adding Cinnamon
Adding Nutmeg
Stirring
Boiling Again
Adding Butter
Adding Butterscotch Chips
Stirring
Pouring into Pan
Shaving Nutmeg
Setting
All Cut Up
Eggnog Fudge
1 cup eggnog
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 cup butter, chilled
6 ounces butterscotch chips
1 cup almond, chopped, optional
Line a 9 inch square pan with aluminum foil and set aside. Spray sides of a large saucepan with butter flavored nonstick cooking spray. Bring eggnog and sugar to a rolling boil at medium heat stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Let boil for two minutes exactly with heat turned down to the lowest setting that will maintain the boil. Stir occasionally to keep the mixture from boiling over or burning.
Fold in marshmallows, cinnamon and nutmeg; the boil will probably stop until the marshmallows completely dissolve. Bring mixture back to a rolling boil for another 6 full minutes (start timing when the boil resumes). Stir constantly. The mixture will start to turn brown during the boil. If you get brown flakes in the mixture, reduce heat a little. Remove from heat and add butter, chips and nuts. Stir until thoroughly mixed or until fudge starts to lose its glossy appearance.
Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Cool at room temperature. Remove from pan, remove foil and cut into 1 inch squares.
Store in an airtight container.
This is like a little piece of heaven! I have no idea where this recipe came from but am glad to have it! I’ve been making this for years and it’s very good. A bit of work but totally worth it!!
2011 -
01.02
Tags: easy, fudge, microwave Category Baking | No Comments »
Pictures
Ingredients
Big Block o' Chocolate
Big Block o' Chocolate all Chopped Up
Added Unsweetened Chocolate
Adding Sweetened Condensed Milk
Pour it Over the Chocolate
About to Stir
Stirring
Ready for the Microwave
Almost Ready
Adding the Vanilla
We Have Fudge
Double Chocolate Fudge
1 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk
12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup nuts, optional, chopped
Butter baking pan, 8 x 8 x 2 inches.
Stir milk and dark chocolate in 2-quart casserole; add unsweetened chocolate. Microwave uncovered on high (100%) 1 minute; stir. Microwave until chocolate is melted and mixture can be stirred smooth, about 1 minutes longer.
Stir in vanilla and nuts. Spread mixture evenly in pan. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 1-inch squares.
I have no idea where this recipe came from, but my husband (and everyone else who tries it) LOVE IT!!! It’s super easy, you can use chocolate chips if you want! I highly recommended this if you are a chocolate lover.
2011 -
01.02
Tags: buttercream, cake mix, cupcakes, eggnog Category Baking | No Comments »
Pictures
Eggnog Cupcake Cake with Eggnog Buttercream
Cupcakes Ingredients
Adding the Mix
Freshly Grated Nutmeg
Eggs
Adding Eggnog
Adding Oil
Mixing
All Mixed
Ready for the Oven
Fresh Out of the Oven
Frosting Ingredients
Creaming the Butter
Adding the Vanilla
Adding the Eggnog
Adding Powdered Sugar
Mixing
Adding More Powdered Sugar
Done
Cupcakes
Eggnog Cupcakes
1 18.25 ounce package yellow cake mix
1 cup eggnog
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 whole eggs
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Hand beat (I used a mixer and it turned out fine!) with a balloon whisk for at least one minute or more if lumps remain visible.
Pour into cupcakes pans and cook for 15- 20 minutes.
Cool 5 minutes in pans then move to wire rack to finish cooling
Eggnog Buttercream
1 cup butter, at room temperature
6 cups powdered sugar (6 to
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup eggnog
Cream the butter for 30 seconds until smooth. Add eggnog, vanilla, and 1 C. powdered sugar. Mix until combined. Add powdered sugar cup by cup until you’ve used at least 6 cups and is the consistency you want.
Pipe or spread onto cupcakes.
I made these for my step-dad to take to his work party, and he said they went like hotcakes! My mom and I thought that was really funny! We’re silly like that. The batter for the cupcakes is pretty thick so I added about 1/8 – 1/4 cup more eggnog. It made the standard 24 cupcakes. The frosty is too yummy!! Considering the amount I ate, it’s a wonder that I had enough for the cupcakes!
The original recipe was for a cake, it came from here and the frosting recipe came from here.
2010 -
12.22
Tags: chicken, Indian, wings Category Sides | No Comments »
Pictures
Ingredients
5 Pounds of Wings!
Onion
Adding Tomato Sauce
Adding Yogurt
Adding Ground Coriander
Minced Garlic
Adding Chopped Ginger
Adding Salt
Adding Cumin Seeds
Adding Chili Powder
Adding Food Coloring
About to Process
Processing
All Processed and VERY Red!
Pouring on the Wings
Ready to Marinade in the Fridge
Going in the Oven
Ready to Flip and Broil
Ready to Eat!
Tandoori Wings
5 pounds chicken wings
1 whole onion, quartered
1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 6 ounce carton plain yogurt
1 tablespoon coriander
4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon cayenne, upto 1 teaspoon, optional
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
2 whole cloves
Place chicken wings in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.
For the tandoori masala: In a blender or food processor, combin eonion, tomato sauce, yogurt, coriander, garlic, ginger, salt, cumin seeds, garam masala, cayenne, red food coloring and whole cloves. Blend to a very smooth paste. (The color should be bright red.)
Pour the tandoori masala over the chicken wings: turn wings to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 400. Arrange as many of the wings on the unheated rack of a broiler pan as will fit in a singe layer. Bake for 25 minutes. Turn oven to broil. Broil chicken 4 to 5 inches from heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until no longer pink and pieces start to blacken, turning once halfway through broiling.
Transfer wings to a serving platter. Repeat with the rest of the wings. If desired, serve with lemon wedges and red onion wedges.
I found this recipe in a Better Homes and Garden Appetizer Magazine.
I’m not a big fan of the wings, but Justin loves them!!! So usually when we watch UFC, I make wings. I made these for UFC 124. There were less then 10 of us and I don’t eat wings, and there was a vegetarian there, and these were gone in like 20 minutes! People like them! They are a good amount of work but I believe they were worth the effort.
2010 -
12.22
Tags: cookies, sugar cookies Category Baking | No Comments »
Pictures
Ingredients
Adding Flour
Adding Salt
Whisking
Butter
Adding Sugar
Creaming
Adding Egg
Adding Vanilla
Adding Flour Mixture
the Dough
the Dough in a Bag to Chill
Getting Ready to Roll it Out
Sprinkled with Flour
Rolled
Amara Helping Me
Naked Lights
Light with Colored Sugar in the Oven
Out of the Oven
Trees About to go in the Oven
Out of the Oven
Stars About to go in the Oven
Out of the Oven
Stockings About to go in the Oven
Out of the Oven
Lights
Trees
Stars
Stockings
Altogether!
Mrs. Fields Like Sugar Cookies
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
colored sugar for decoration
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
In a medium bowl combine the flour and salt with a wire whisk. In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until well blended. Scrape down sides of bowl, then add the flour mixture. Blend on low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.
Gather dough into a ball. Flatten the ball into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic wrap or a plastic bag. Refrigerate one hour until firm.
On a floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. With cookie cutters, cut dough into desired shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Decorate with colored sugars or sprinkles. Bake for 13-15 minutes, being careful not to brown. Immediately transfer cookies with a spatula to a cool, flat surface.
Recipe found here.
I found this recipe on the line and to be honest, it’s not my favorite. It’s not the worst either. It’s just mediocre. Justin seemed to like them, but to me they were kind of boring. I myself, won’t make them again, but you might like them!! (Especially after the ringing endorsement I just gave them!) I will say the looked pretty.