09.11.09

Orzo Salad

I had a salad similar to this at Heather's bridal shower a couple months ago, but I haven't been able to get the recipe from her. We are going to a BBQ at Anthony's uncle's house tomorrow and I decided to bring this along. I hope it turns out good, the ingredients sound great and it seems easy so I don't know where I could go wrong.

08.03.09

Taco Bake

This is a super easy dinner! Just layer flour tortillas, then refried beans, cooked hamburger seasoned with taco seasoning and shredded cheese. Bake it at 350 for about 20 minutes. The beans help it all stick together in layers, and the taco seasoning makes it taste, well, like a taco. We like to top it with a dollop of sour cream and maybe some taco sauce.

07.22.09

Orange Chicken Bowls

This is another one of our favorite dinners. I buy the Foster Farms Orange Chicken, found the in freezer section, then I add white rice and broccoli. The chicken comes with it's own sauce, so all you have to worry about is baking the chicken, cooking the rice and if you get the pre-packaged broccoli (like I do) you just stick that in the microwave. Super easy, really delicious, and easy clean up.

07.02.09

Margarita Cupcakes

Another recipe from Sarah's Test Kitchen, I've been wanting to try it for awhile. We went away for the weekend so I figured it was a perfect time. Let me know if you decide to try it.

Margarita Cupcakes

Makes 12
9 oz Margarita mix (such as Mrs. T's)
3 oz tequila
3/4 oz Grand Marnier
White cake mix
3 egg whites
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp lime zest

Mix together the margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large glass or spouted bowl. You will use 1 1/4 cup of this in the cupcake mix. Pour the remainder over ice and enjoy the mini-rita while you're baking.

In a stand mixer, add the cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, lime zest, and 1 1/4 cup of the margarita mixture. Mix on low for about 30 seconds and then increase to medium speed for two minutes (the batter will still be a bit lumpy).

Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pan and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick registers done in the center cupcake. Remove the cupcakes and cool completely on a baking rack. Once the cupcakes have cooled, make the icing and ice the cupcakes.

Lime Buttercream Frosting

3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted


Combine 3 tablespoons butter and next 3 ingredients (through juice) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating just until smooth. Spread about 2 1/2 teaspoons frosting onto each cupcake.

06.26.09

Bread Pudding

I got this recipe from my father-in-law last weekend and it's one of Anthony's favorites. It was super easy to make, except with our stupid oven you have to turn the knob from preheat to bake..and I always forget! So it's a little crispier on the top than it should be, but the middle seemed perfect. The true taste test will happen when Anthony tries it, but for now I think I did a good job.

06.05.09

Creamy One Pot Pasta

Another new recipe that turned out great, thanks to Sarah's Test Kitchen! Instead of posting the whole recipe, I'll let you read it for yourself here. It has so few ingredients, I was sure that it was going to end up not tasting right...but it was super good. And the best part is: easy clean-up! You only use one pot the entire time you are cooking..amazing! Next on my list of things to try from this website: Margarita Cupcakes. Yumm!

05.30.09

Sticky Ribs

I got this recipe here, at Sarah's Test Kitchen. She has so many recipes that look amazing, next week I'm going to try the Creamy One Pot Pasta. Tonight, we had her Sticky Ribs. We used spare ribs instead of baby back ribs, but either way it was soooo good! If you try them, let me know!

Rub Ingredients
1c brown sugar
1tbs kosher salt
1tbs black pepper
1tsp cayenne pepper

1 slab pork baby back ribs
BBQ sauce of choice

• Preheat oven to 400. Line baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray (this will save your life once you have to clean up!)
• Combine rub ingredients in small bowl, mix well. Rub all over both sides of meat.
• Place ribs on baking sheet, put in oven for 1 hour. Flip meat over after the first 30 minutes.
• After the first hour, turn down oven heat to 250 and cook for two more hours. Turn over every hour.
• Baste with BBQ sauce during the last 30 minutes, on both sides.
• Remove from oven & let stand 10 minutes.
  

05.23.09

Ice Cream Cake

Tonight I made this cake for a BBQ at my parent's house tomorrow. It's one of the easiest cakes anyone could ever make. All you need to do is buy ice creams that you feel go well together, I decided on Chocolate Swirl and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. I've done up to 3 ice creams in one cake, but I'm sure you could do more. Next, buy already baked cake in whichever flavor you feel goes with your ice cream flavors. I chose a chocolate and vanilla swirl this time. Of course you have the option to bake your own cake, but you really won't be using the entire thing so why put all the effort into it?!

Once you have the ice cream and the cake, line a glass bowl with cling wrap. Layer the ice cream flavors in the bowl. It's always good to make sure the ice cream is soft enough, so let it sit out for awhile beforehand. Once all the ice cream is in, place slices of cake at the top making sure you cover all the ice cream. Place in freezer until ready to eat! It's that simple.

Let it sit out for 5-10 minutes before serving, then flip upside down on a plate. The bowl should just slide right off. (If the bowl is hard to remove, I have even placed it in warm water for a bit to loosen it up). Remove cling wrap, serve and enjoy!!

03.30.09

Easy Chicken Bake

Looks weird, tastes good! I got this recipe off the back of a StoveTop Stuffing box and decided to try it. Just mix cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and thawed frozen veggies in a bowl. Cut up two chicken breasts, into bite size pieces. Make whichever flavor of StoveTop you like (I used Chicken). Put the soup/veggies/chicken into a 13x9, and top with the already prepared stuffing.

I thought that maybe the stuffing would burn since you add it to the top already cooked, but it baked up to be super crispy and good. It all turned out very "pot pie like", with the stuffing acting as the crust. We'll definitely be trying it again!