Caramel Cupcakes Woo-hoo! Thanks for all the well wishes and shout-outs about that half marathon business I told you about the other day. The race itself was a success. I had wanted to finish in under 2:15, and made it in 2:05, so I’m really happy with that. For once, I didn’t hurt anything, and I only cried three times (from joy, not misery)–at the start, crossing the finishing line, at the halfway point when I saw my friends, mom and husband cheering like crazy people as I passed, with my Little Coach C perched high up on her daddy’s shoulders. And then shoving caramel cupcakes into your face when you’re done. This combination is nothing short of dynamite, people. It’s just so lovely and balanced, all things considered. The not-too-sweet cake also creates the perfect canvas for toppings of all sorts, from traditional buttercreams to more sugar-heavy icings that might cause your molars to ache on a sweeter cake, like my great grandmother Ruth Enzenbacher’s other-worldly caramel icing. For the cupcakes:
50 Amazing Zucchini Recipes (for Sneak Some Zucchini on to Your Neighbor's Porch Day) (Originally posted with 20 Zucchini Recipes; updated with more favorites in August 2013.) It may not be an official government holiday, but gardeners everywhere celebrate August 8 as Sneak Some Zucchini on to Your Neighbor's Porch Day. Several years ago I did a zucchini round-up in honor of the day, but since then I've made so many more recipes with zucchini that I decided to give that post a make-over and update it with some of my new favorites. You still have a few more days before you need to start sneaking the zucchini on to the neighbor's porch, so maybe these recipes can help, or at least you can leave the neighbors a recipe idea along with that zucchini! Grilled Zucchini More Grilled Zucchini Recipes: Stuffed Zucchini Zucchini Side Dishes Cheesy Zucchini Dishes Raw Zucchini Salads More Raw Zucchini Salads: Zucchini Bread or Cake Julienned Zucchini is a tasty diet-friendly or gluten-free spaghetti dinner. Zucchini with Eggs is a good way to sneak some zucchini into the breakfast menu.
Corn pudding and corn casserole recipes We did 2 recipes today for a great side dish. Corn casserole Ingredients: 2 cans creamed corn1 egg1 sleeve Ritz crackers milk, approximately 3/4 cupButter or margarine to dot topsugar, 2 teaspooonsSalt, pepper (liberally sprinkled) (I added about 10 chopped jalapeno slices, and 2 slices cheddar jack cheese, and1 can of whole kernal corn instead of creamed) Directions: Preheat oven to 350-375 degrees. Grease a casserole dish. Mix corn, eggs, milk, salt, pepper and sugar. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Top with remaining crackers and dot with butter. Bake for 40 minutes, checking for burning at 15 minutes. Corn Pudding 5 eggs1/3 cup butter, melted1/4 cup white sugar1/2 cup milk4 tablespoons cornstarch1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn2 (14.75 ounce) cans cream-style corn DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 400 Degrees F (200 degrees C).
Spiced Caramel Apple Dip Recipe Spiced Caramel Apple Dip Recipe – This creamy delicious and easy dip is perfect to serve with sliced apples. It’s an easy appetizer to serve at showers as well as for a special snack! Caramel apple dip is another must have recipe around my house. It’s perfect for a quick dip to take to a potluck, snacking during the big game, and to have when friends drop by for a visit. And during the cooler months of fall and winter, it tastes even better with spices – like a bite of apple pie. You’ve just got to try it. Spiced Caramel Apple Dip Recipe This keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days, making the perfect make-ahead treat for weekends and entertaining. How to Make Here are the easy steps to make this favorite dip. Cream the cream cheese. Add in one cup of packed brown sugar. Pour in a half cup of granulated sugar. You don’t want to bite into crunchy sugar when you eat this. Add one teaspoon of vanilla. Add in apple pie spice. How to Make Ahead Here’s how I make my Spiced Caramel Apple Dip.
Party Food! Pizza in a Bite October 20th, 2008 by katie Getting together to watch a game? Or maybe watching a different sort of game? Pizza Bites 2 recipes pizza dough (or 2 cans refrigerated pizza dough)8 oz block mozzarella cheese4 oz thin sliced pepperoni2 tsp Italian seasoning (combine oregano, basil, parsley, and garlic)1/4 cup olive oil3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheesepizza or marinara saucePrepare pizza dough and roughly chop pepperoni. I used to use the refrigerated pizza doughs for this recipe, but I actually find the homemade dough far easier to work with. Basic Pizza Dough 1 pkg active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp loose yeast)1 cup warm water1 tbsp olive oil1 tsp salt2 3/4 cup flourCombine yeast and warm water, stir to dissolve.Add oil, salt, and flour. What’s for dinner this week? Don’t miss my other pizza creations: Pizza Bagels and Pizza Egg Rolls and Pizza Bread!
Zucchini Parmesan Crisps | Healthy Recipes | Snack Recipes The following content was Provided by www.GroceryBudget101.com "We're Not Penny Pinching, We're Benji Pinching!" Zucchini is in abundance this time of year and we were looking for a great munchie that was healthy, unique and easy to make and these zucchini parmesan crisps really hit the spot! Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention and other times, it's just a matter of trying to figure out what you're going to do with an overabundance of a single ingredient when your family has vowed to run away if you serve it just one more time! You'll Need: Cooking spray 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (3/4-ounce) 2 tsp fresh minced garlic 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning 1/4 cup panko crumbs dash salt & black pepper marinara sauce Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Hmm.. © Can Stock Photo Inc. / jdwfoto
Vegetarian Recipe: Zucchini Gratin Vegetarian Recipe: Zucchini Gratin Perfect as a cheesy side dish or the main event, zucchini gratin is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The recipe is simple, but also versatile – you could replace two of the zucchinis with yellow squashes, or pick different cheeses based on your preferences. Swiss, Gruyere, and mozzarella would all make great substitutes for cheddar in this recipe – even a little pepperjack for some added kick would be tasty. For a smaller dish that only serves two, cut this recipe in half. Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter4 large zucchini, sliced4 medium shallots, minced2 teaspoons garlic, minced1 cup heavy cream2/3 cup cheddar cheese1/3 cup Parmesan cheese1/4 teaspoon oreganoSalt and pepper to tasteGreen onions, sliced, for garnish Directions: Preheat the oven for 400 degrees F.Heat a large, deep pot to medium heat and add the butter. Recipe adapted from Just a Pinch
Cheddar Bacon Dip - Crack This is a favorite at our tailgating parties. It is very simple to make and it addictive to eat. We refer to it as CRACK! Cheddar Bacon Dip (a.k.a Crack)(Printable Recipe) 16 oz sour cream 1 packet Ranch dressing mix 3 oz bacon bits (in the bag not jar) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Mix together and refrigerate 24 hours. Dulce de Leche Brownies Dulce de Leche Brownies At seven o’clock last night I had a chocolate craving. I approach the pantry and see a can of Dulce de Leche and instantly think caramel brownies. I have been wanting to try a new brownie so I did a quick Google search and found these babies. Being seven at night and the fact that I live in the middle of nowhere, I used semi-sweet chocolate chips because that’s what I had. If you aren’t familiar with Dulce de Leche it is basically caramel, like caramelized sweetened condensed milk (I can eat it straight out of the can). Dulce de Leche Brownies Adapted from The Sweet Life in Paris (Broadway Books) David Lebovitz Ingredients: 8 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter, cut into pieces 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped 1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder 3 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup flour optional: 1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped 1 cup Dulce de Leche Cooking Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Potato and Cheese Pierogi Recipe Pierogi are traditional Polish noodle dumplings, filled with a variety of classic sweet and savory mixtures. For this recipe, we've chosen to make a basic potato-cheese filling and serve them as a side dish topped with sour cream, garlic and chive sauce. Our family recipe, combined with a fairly standard dough preparation method, produces an exceptionally light and tender finished product. The secret? 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting3 large eggs2 tablespoons sour cream3/4 to 1 cup water 1-1/2 lbs baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch slices2 tablespoons unsalted butter1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil1 small sweet onion, chopped1 clove garlic, minced1/4 teaspoon dried thyme3/4 to 1 cup grated dry farmer's cheeseKosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1/2 stick butter, cut into 1 tablespoon portions1 recipe Sour Cream Garlic-Chive Sauce For the dough: In a large bowl or mixer, combine the flour, eggs, sour cream and 1/2 cup of water. Serving Suggestion
Homemade Pickles – All food Recipes Homemade Pickles Cool and crunchy, delightfully sour and capable of going from snack to sandwich without a hitch — that’s what I call a good pickle. Did you know that they’re a cinch to make at home? You don’t even need to set aside the afternoon; you can make a few pint jars in less than thirty minutes. 24 (or so) small 4″-5″ pickling cucumbers9 cloves garlic, ends removed and smashed9 bay leaves2 1/2 tbls pickling spice(cloves, coriander, allspice, pepper, mustard seeds)Fresh Dill4 tbls large granule sea salt (kosher salt) Method: Clean 3 quart sized mason jars. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Coat 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 2 cups cooked rice in bottom of baking dish. Arrange 3 cups cooked chicken pieces over top of rice. Layer 6 slices of Swiss cheese on top of chicken. Then layer 10 slices of cut-up ham on top of the Swiss cheese. Mix 2 cans cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/2 cup sour cream together. Spread on top of ham. Crush 10 saltine crackers then add 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, and 1/2 teaspoon parsley and mix together. Sprinkle on top of soup mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. I’m linking to these awesome blog parties:Hookin’ Up with HOH at House of HepworthsSunday Scoop Link Party at I Heart NaptimeSunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and DreamingRecipe Link Up Party at RemodelaholicRecipe Link Party at Centsational Girl
Boy-Approved Spiked Pasta (Spaghetti with Vodka Cream Sauce) My boyfriend P has a busy, active job and is often too busy to eat a big lunch, if any lunch at all. It's no surprise then that he comes home hungry at only 5 p.m. For those days especially, I have a list of go-to meals that can be whipped up in no time. P's not much of a foodie. I'd actually seen many versions of this dish long before, yet was always scared off by their copious use of heavy cream. Do you also have a go-to list of quick, delicious meals for those really hectic days? Spaghetti with Vodka Cream Sauce [Printable Recipe] Slightly adapted from Cooking Light Serves 3 to 4 XIAOLU'S NOTES: I HIGHLY recommend using fire-roasted canned tomatoes for this recipe -- it adds that much more depth to the flavor! Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. IF you have stick blender, you can now puree the sauce right in the pan (easy peasy!).