Dark Chocolate Lava Cakes

I have always preferred half baked cookies and french toast.  You know the type of things crunchy on the outside and melty, doughy on the inside.  So it came as no surprise years ago that I loved the first Lava Cake that I tried.  Dark intense chocolate cake with decadent melted chocolate spilling out when you slice it.  And it's served warm with a dallop of fresh whipped cream.  I never attempted to make one until this recipe because I thought they would be too difficult or time consuming.  Was I wrong!  My girls did all the stirring and dropping in of ingredients.  These are simple to make and so good.  We made ours milk free except for the optional whipped cream and loose no flavor, it's amazing.  Make them for a dinner party or holiday and you'll be sure to impress!

Ingredients

4 pieces (squares) Semi-sweet Baking Chocolate or 1 bag of semi-sweet chips minus a few you eat!
½ cups Butter or 1/2 cups fleischmann's unsalted margarine (dairy-free)
1 cup Powdered Sugar
2 whole Eggs or 1/2 cup pasteurized egg product
2 whole Egg Yolks
6 Tablespoons Flour
Optional Whipped Topping
2 cups Real Whipping Cream (seriously It's So Much Better!)
2 Tablespoons Sugar

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray 4-6 ramekins with oil and place on cookie sheet.
2. Combine butter and chocolate in microwave safe dish.  Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute.  Stir thoroughly.  Then microwave 30 seconds more and stir.  Repeat until the chocolate in completely melted.
3. Whisk chocolate mixture and sugar until well combined.  Whisk in eggs, then flour.
4. Fill ramkins and back for 12-18 minutes depending on size of ramekins and oven.  All sides should be firm and just the very center soft.  
5. Remove from oven and let cool 1 minute.  Place a plate on top of the ramekin, and flip upside down so the cake is on the plate.  This will help the inside of the cake stay put until you slice it open.
6. Top with powered sugar and whipped cream if desired.  Combine heavy whipping cream and sugar and whip until stiff 

Original Recipe

Tweaked the original recipe as you will see in ingredients list, chocolate melting method and removal of cakes from ramekins.  This can be made milk free by using milk free chocolate, milk free margarine and skipping the whipped topping.  Here is the original recipe

Pumpkin Oatmeal Whole Wheat Pancakes

Here in Ohio fall is in full force.  The trees are creating an absolutely stunning landscape and the color is peaking.  We have had 70's and 60's and 50's for weather.  Sunshine and rain.  The girls are off school this morning and have been asking for pancakes.  In a tribute to these beautiful fall season we decided to create a new healthy pumpkin pancake recipe.  I used our oatmeal banana pancakes as a start and added a touch of fall and voila!  I have to say this is one of my new favorite pancake recipes.  I made a double batch and will be very happy to pull some out of the freezer next weekend.  Now if I get brave I may just tackle that apple maple bacon pancake I keep dreaming about.

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat white flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 egg

2.5 cups milk/almond milk/rice milk/coconut milk *plus extra if needed

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 of a 15 oz can of pumpkin or 1 cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 cup real maple syrup

Recipe

1. Blend the oatmeal in a blender until it resembles course flour.  Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl (from oatmeal to nutmeg)
2. Now that the blender is empty add remaining ingredients (egg through maple syrup) and blend until well combined.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  If the batter seems too thick add more milk a little at a time.  It should be thicker, not runny
4. Heat large griddle to medium heat.  Drop pancakes in desired size.  We use around a heaping quarter cup for each pancake.  Flip when bubbles just begin to form on top top to brown the other side.  I noticed that the bubbles are harder to see with these
5. Serve warm with fruit or syrup if desired.  Enjoy!

Fluffy Hearty Whole Wheat and Oatmeal Waffles

It seems there are never enough lazy mornings to explore all the possible waffle recipes.  We are back on school schedule so everyone wakes early.  With that extra morning time its time to make a new yummy recipe.  This waffle is not overly sweet, is hearty, crisp on the outside and fluffy.  Perfect for topping with fresh fruit and some real maple syrup.

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 Tbsp and 1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/4 cup buttermilk OR 1 1/4 cup rice/soy/almond milk + 1 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 egg or 1/4 cup pasteurized egg product
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tsp vanilla

Recipe

1. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl with a whisk
2. Combine wet ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until well combined
4. Cook waffles until crisp, or desired doneness.  Serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup

Banana Oatmeal Whole Wheat Pancakes

 

We have tried countless pancake recipes and this is my current favorite.  They are dense but fluffy, sweet but not too sweet, hearty and filling and most of all absolutely yummy.  The girls gobble these up and there is only 1/2 cup of brown sugar in a double batch!  I always double the recipe so I have enough left over to freeze two packs of 8-10 pancakes.  I love to be able to pop pancakes from the freezer for an any day treat.

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
2 cups milk or rice milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 banana, mashed
2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe adapted from 

This recipe comes from all recipes

Click Here for Recipe

Recipe

1. Blend the oatmeal in a blender until it resembles course flour.  Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl (from oatmeal to cinnamon)
2. Now that the blender is empty add remaining ingredients (egg through vanilla) and blend until well combined.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  If the batter seems too thick add more milk a tablespoon at a time.  It should be thicker, not runny
4. Heat large griddle to medium heat.  Drop pancakes in desired size.  We use around a heaping quarter cup for each pancake.  Flip when bubbles form on top top to brown the other side.
5. Serve warm with fruit or syrup if desired.  These are sweet enough to stand on their own, go light on the syrup

Original Recipe Modifications

• eliminated the dry milk
• added cinnamon
• blended ingredients instead of hand mixing
• reduced oil
• increased banana
• used rice milk
• used pasteurized egg product

Hot Pink Spring Nest Cupcakes

 

We have not one, not two but three girls!  They are 4 years and younger so of course they love bright colors and pink.  So when I spotted this bright pink edible grass at Target I knew I'd be making classic nest cupcakes.  The cupcakes turn out so cute and are the perfect addition to a spring party, Easter, a rainy day, a monday, whenever

Ingredients
Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all purpose four
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter or fleischmann's unsalted margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg beater type product, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup whole milk, room temperature or 2/3 rice milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice
edible grass
chocolate egg candies

Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or fleischmann's unsalted margarine, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup whole milk or rice milk
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe adapted from 

This recipe comes from squidoo

Click Here for Recipe

Frosting Recipe

1. Beat margarine until creamy
2. On low speed add powdered sugar
3. Add vanilla then slowly add milk until desired consistency

Cupcake Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a cupcake pan with wrappers.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together
3. Beat margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until blended.  Sometimes the margarine will separate, mix a bit longer
5. Alternate adding flour and milk.  End with milk
6. Fill cups 2/3 full and bake 20-24 minutes.  Remove from pan after cooling for 1 minute and place on wire rack.
7. Frost cupcakes, add decorative grass and chocolate egg candies

Original Recipe Modifications

• used flieschmann's unsalted margarine instead of butter
• used real eggs from Costco (like eggbeaters) instead of eggs so the girls can safely sample the batter
• used rice milk instead of whole milk with a tablespoon of lemon
• used vanilla instead of vanilla paste

Decorate Your Own Sugar Cookie

 

One of my favorite sugar cookie recipes is from cooking light.  I don't feel nearly as bad when I cover it in frosting and decorations!  My girls love to help bake and I almost always let them help.  Sugar cookies can be messy and they always try to eat the decorations and frosting.  So I decided to not fight it, just go with it.  They each got their own cookie, frosting and decorations.  I let them decorate however they wanted and double dip in their personal pots after tastes.  They ended up with beautiful half eaten cookies and I managed to get all the rest pretty while they were busy.  This will be a fun activity for a playdate, maybe an outdoor playdate where the ants can eat the crumbs!

Recipe Modifications

• used pastuerized egg product
• used fleischmann's unsalted margarine
• used rice milk
• we made these for St Patrick's day not easter.  Any cookie cutter or cup will work

Ingredients

Cookies:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 1/2 ounces)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons fat-free milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Food coloring (optional) 

Recipe

This recipe comes from one of my favorite sites cooking light

Click Here for Recipe

Raspberry Frosted Vanilla Mini Cupcakes

 

I picked up a subscription to Food and Wine magazine recently for my daughter's school fundraiser. I have already found several great recipes.  This cupcake just looked pretty and I knew it would have to be yummy too.  I tweaked the recipe from strawberry to raspberry and eliminated the milk products.  Instead of regular cupcakes we made mini ones.  I would guess you could use any type of berry jam.  Be careful to not add too much the frosting will get soft.  These were the perfect sweet treat to bring our dinner club and so pretty.

Recipe Modifications

• used fleischmann's unsalted margarine
• used vanilla rice milk
• you can use your favorite white or cream cheese frosting recipe and just add jam to taste.  I added raspberry jam and topped with fresh raspberries instead of strawberry
• made mini cupcakes instead of regular ones
• frosting was a bit soft so popped in the fridge before traveling with them

Cupcake Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk, at room temperature

Recipe

This recipe comes from Food and Wine

Click Here for Recipe

Dark Chocolate Sprinkled Rice Krispie Pops

 

These are so easy and yummy that I will be making them again and again!  Rice Krispie treats are something most of us don't outgrow.  Add rich dark chocolate, sprinkles and a stick to keep your hands clean and you have the perfect treat.  These are also great for the little helpers in your life.  My 2 year old was able to dip in the chocolate and sprinkles herself.  She did try to eat them as she made them though ;-)  You could easily change this up by dipping in nuts, seasonal sprinkles, changing the color of the chocolate, making the treats different sizes, chocolate then mini marshmallows than carmel then chocolate again...I could go on forever.  Now I want one, and of course they'be been eaten up!

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
- OR -
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
1 bag dark chocolate chips
sprinkles
popsicle sticks
ribbons to decorate if you'd like

Recipe

1. Make rice Krispies according to recipe on the box, allow to completely cool.  I used an 8x8 pan and made sure they were pressed evenly in the pan
2. Cut treats into popsicle sized bars
3. Melt chips in microwave in 30 second increments on 50% power, stirring thoroughly after each increment
4. Place sprinkles in bowl
5. Stick a popsicle stick into each treat and dip in chocolate, then dip into sprinkles
6. Place in fridge to set and then server at room temperature

This recipe found at Twig and Thistle blog

Click Here for Recipe

Valentines Ice Cream Cake Pops

I am a huge believer in finding the joy in life.  Valentines Day is so much more fun now that we have children! We went all out this year and tried out this super cute cake pop recipe.  The girls got to make home-made valentines and treats for their neighborhood friends.  This recipe is less healthy and less homemade than the majority of our cooking but that's alright it's fun to have a special treat now and then ;-)  And everyone loved the pops so if you are looking for a cute birthday idea these are sure to please and can be decorated for any holiday or celebration

Recipe Modifications

• I used a cookie scooper to scoop the cake balls.  They look just like mini ice-cream scoops
• I found my balls too big to dip in the chocolate without falling apart.  So I dipped cone in chocolate, put the cake ball on and then used a spoon and poured over the balls.
• I bought plastic wine glasses from the dollar store and used a beer six pack to transport the pops.  Worked perfectly!

Ingredients

1 9x13 cake mix (homemade or box)

1.5 to 2 cups cream cheese frosting 

Sugar cones

Chocolate candy melts (I used Wilton)

Sprinkles

Sweet Hearts candy

Serrated knife

Styrofoam

Lollipop sticks

Recipe

This recipe comes from cakepopsgalore

Click Here for Recipe

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

These muffins have great banana flavor, a hint of sweet, nice bite and bake very pretty.  The girls love to eat them as a snack or for breakfast.  My favorite way is warm with a tiny bit of butter or margarine.  We "healthed" up the basic banana muffin recipe to make a more filling snack.  You could go even further and substitute 1/3 cup applesauce for the oil.  Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Ingredients

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 egg or 1/4 cup pasteurized egg product

3/4 cup coconut milk (almond or skim plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice would work too)

2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 medium mashed bananas, around 1 and 1/4 cups

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine dry ingredients flour through nutmeg and whisk together.
3. In a large bowl thoroughly mix the egg, oil, milk, vanilla and mashed bananas.  Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined.  Do not over mix the muffins will be tough
4. Pour batter into lined or oiled muffin tins.  Fill 3/4 full.  This recipe makes 12 muffins in my square pan and enough left over batter for 10 mini muffins.  We like a light sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar on top before they bake.
5. Mini muffins bake for 10-12 minutes.  Regular muffins bake for 12-15 minutes.  These bake fast, be careful not to over bake.  Remove from pan after they have cooled for 2 minutes

Dark Chocolate & Tart Cherry Granola Bars

I saw this recipe and thought what a great idea and then completely forgot about it!  Thanks to the magic of Facebook and Pinterest, I rediscovered the recipe.  Homemade healthy granola bars that my girls and I would love and are easy to throw in my purse to eat when you need a snack.  What could be better!  After reading the reviews I made some tweaks and came out with a healthy, yummy, chewy, chunky and portable granola bar.  I will definitely be trying my hand at granola bars again.  I'm thinking of doing a cinnamon maple oat one next.  These are seriously so easy to make and you'll get a more nutritious bar for much less bank.

Recipe Modifications

• used 1/4 cup canola and 1/4 cup olive oil
• used 1/3 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped dried tart cherries
• cooked in glass dish and bars were about 2.5 inches thick instead of 1.  made 20 bars
• cooked for 20 minutes and let cool hour.  They crumbled when cut so baked additional 25 minutes. smushed down when I got them out of the oven to really compact.  Then cooled for 30 minutes.  Then put in fridge until they were cold.  After that they cut great!  Next time just bake for 40, smash to compact and cool in fridge before cutting

Ingredients

4 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 Cup Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup Chocolate Chips*

1/2 Tsp Kosher Salt

1/2 Cup Canola Oil

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 Cup Honey

Recipe

This recipe comes from one of my favorite blogs weelicious

Click Here for Recipe

Easy Blender Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

So my girls wanted pancakes and eggs this thursday morning.  I wanted them to have a healthy version so I took a stab at my own recipe.  The flavor is great and I will be making and tweaking this recipe in the future, success!  The batter is a thinner batter so smaller fast cooking pancakes are best.  You can let the batter sit for a while for a fluffier pancake, well if your family isn't as impatient to eat as mine is!  I read an interesting article on the affects of baking powder and baking soda, kinda cool to learn the science behind the ingredients The Food Lab: Baking Powder vs. Baking Soda

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cups old fashion oats

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon or to taste

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup rice milk (can use milk/soy milk/almond milk)

1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup pasteurized eggs or 2 eggs

1 really large or two small bananas, in pieces around a cup

Recipe

1. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until just mixed.
2. Heat oiled/buttered griddle over medium high heat.  Add batter 1/4 cup at a time.  Flip when bubbles begin to form

Oven Baked Meatballs

 

The girls have been into plain noodles lately.  So we went with these yummy oven baked meatballs served with veggies and buttered parmesan sprinkled noodles.  I adapted the usual meatball recipe I use, decided to bake rather than pan fry and they turned out perfect.  I will be making these again.  As a bonus you can make meat mixture the night before or whenever you have down time, even put them on the tray so it's easy to just pop into the oven during the hectic crazy dinner time rush!

Ingredients

1/2 cup diced onion

1 teaspoon olive oil

ground turkey (1.5 - 2 lbs)

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup parmesan cheese (this can be omitted to make milk free)

1/2 cup pasteurized egg or 2 eggs beaten

4-6 cloves garlic minced or pressed through garlic press

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper to taste (I use around 1/2 teaspoon of each)

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

hot sauce (we like cholula) to taste if you want to kick it up

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Prepare cookie sheet by lining with foil
2. Heat oil in medium fry pan over medium high heat.  Cook onion until it's caramelized.  It will start to turn a nice brownish color at tips but will not completely dehydrate.  Then remove from heat and let cool
3. Combine onions and remaining ingredients (turkey through thyme) in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
4. Make the meatballs and place on cookie sheet.  Depending on the amount of turkey you use, you should get 10 - 14 meatballs about 1/4 heaping cup in size.  Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until they are cooked through (no pink in the middle).    

Red Hot Spicy Roasted Chicken

These are seriously red hot spicy!  To make them a bit less spicy you can omit the red pepper and only use 1 1/2 tablespoons of chipotle chili powder.  Or you can use less rub, I really work it in and add allot.  These aren't so hot there is no flavor,  you will be surprised at how you can taste each spice and that you don't miss the skin at all in this is a lighter version of roasted chicken.  Serve chicken warm or cold, it's super yummy either way.  Be prepared for less leftovers if you have kids, they love gobbling up those drumsticks!

Ingredients

bone in chicken - legs (8-10 medium) and chicken breasts (2 large), these are just examples

2 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoon chipotle chili powder

1/2 teaspoon red pepper

2 tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoon dried oregano

kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Recipe

1. Mix olive oil through pepper in a small bowl.  It will form a paste
2. You can cook these on a roasting pan, or if you're like me and don't like the big clean up on a cookie sheet lined with foil.
3. Using kitchen shears cut the skin off your chicken.  Then rub the paste generously into each piece and place in pan.  I usually let the rub soak in for at least an hour and pop the chicken into the refrigerator.
4. Preheat oven to 350.  Bake for one hour or until the meat is done.  It's best to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.  Some people pierce with a knife and make sure the fluids are clear as a check, but again a thermometer is always your best bet

Snickerdoodles

Growing up I loved snickerdoodles.  I started cooking and baking at an early age and these were probably the first cookie that I mastered.  As an adult I still adore these cookies and now that I have children of my own they are even more fun to make with my "helpers". I will admit we do eat more dough than usual and I still sneak one half baked cookie out of the oven and eat it with a spoon!  Oh happy childhood memories.  This version of the recipe is much lighter than the one I started out with and lacks nothing as far as taste goes, enjoy!

Recipe Modifications

• used pasuerized eggs 1/4 cup
• used fleishmann's unsalted margarine
• chilled the dough for 30 min - 1 hour before rolling
• used 2/3 white sugar instead of 3/4 cup
• added extra flour tablespoon at a time to compensate for margarine and less sugar
• added extra cinnamon to rolling mixture
• baked for a few extra minutes.  Our dough was colder and cookies slightly bigger,  I like them chewy center and crisp outside
• used parchment paper and no cooking spray

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

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1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cooking spray

Click to see savings

Recipe

This recipe comes from my favorite source Cooking Light. Not diet food, but food that is conscious of health without losing any flavor. Food for life!

Click Here for Recipe

Baked Acorn Squash

 

Michael and I love our bowls of ice-cream but when the cold weather comes you crave something warm when you want a sweet treat.  One of our favorite easy and not bad for you treats is acorn squash with a bit of butter and brown sugar.  It's good on it's own just mashed up too.  This recipe is really simple but I thought I'd share for those of you out there who have not had a chance to try this yummy treat.  Looking at this picture I want another one right now!

Ingredients

acron squash - 1 acorn squash feeds two.

2 tablespoons brown sugar per acorn squash

2 tablespoons butter or margarine per acorn squash

 

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 400.
2. Cut acorn squash in half and scoop out seeds with a spoon.
3. Place sqaush on cookie sheet, hallowed out side up.  Add a tablespoon of butter or margarine and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the center of each squash half. 
4. Roast for 1 hour of until the flesh is soft when poked with a fork. 
5. We like to mash ours up with a fork when it's down and eat right in the squash skin!

Note: Many people add maple syrup and salt to these as well.  We find them pleny sweet without the syrup.  I have substitued 2 teaspoons of real maple syrup for the brown sugar.

Super Easy Fajitas

 

I rarely go out for mexican food and when I do I always get fajitas.  Well I've made them at home using little seasoning packets, and using super yummy spices that have to marinate for a day or more but sometimes you want a quick and easy recipe that's not in a packet.  After browsing some recipes online and getting a feel for what to use in a home-made marinade we experimented at making up our own recipe and it was a success!  I don't think I'll ever go back to those little packets with a zillion ingredients that I do not recognize.    

Ingredients

1.5 - 2 pounds of chicken or steak sliced in thin strips

4 garlic cloves

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 tablespoon freeze dried or 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (optional)

1/2 - 1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes, add based on how spicy you like it

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 bell peppers (green, red or yellow) in strips

1 small onion in strips

1 tablespoon olive oil

tortillas

Toppings of your choice - avocado mashed with lime and salsa, hot sauce, salsa, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce are our favorites.

Recipe

1. Combine ingredients chicken through lime juice in large ziplock bag.  Shake it up and let meat marinate for at least an hour.  You can shake and rotate bag a few times.
2. Using a large pan or griddle heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat.  Add the peppers and onions to the griddle and cook until a little blackening caramelization occurs.  Let everything sit on the griddle for a few minutes, don't turn too often.  You want these to have have flavor, soften slightly but still have some crunch.  Remove from pan and set aside when done.
3. Add meat to the pan.  Cook on one side for a few minutes.  It will get a nice sear if you're good and don't flip too soon or try to stir too often.  Flip the meat and cook the other side.  
4. Be sure the meat is cooked through and then add the peppers and onions back to the pan.  Stir everything together and heat through.
5. Serve mixture on a warm tortilla with toppings of your choice

Crisp Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Browsing recipes for cookies we found this one and had to try it.  I love crispy chewy cookies.  Could the recipe really be true, is it possible to have a perfectly balanced, super yummy crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle cookie?  The first thing we noticed is the dough is absolutely my favorite dough that we have ever made.  It's outstanding.  And when we got to the baking, well all the hype is true!  These cookies are amazing.  I only wanted a few for each of us.  So I scooped the extra dough on a cookie sheet and froze for about two hours.  Then I transferred to a freezer bag.  Now the cookies are ready for me to bake another day or pop on out for some raw cookie dough goodness.

Recipe Modifications

• I used pasteurized eggs so I can safely eat the dough and the kids too!
• I am eating milk free so I used fleishmann's unsalted margarine and milk free chocolate chips.   Think these may be even better with fresh real butter, cannot wait to try it
• It took longer to bake then suggested in the recipe.  I've never baked at 325 and it took some extra time.  But be careful not to over bake or you will look the chewy!

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Recipe

This recipe comes from Smitten Kitchen a super yummy and fun food blog 

Click Here for Recipe

Just Like Hostess Cupcake

I saw a picture of a cupcake that looked like those hostess ones that used to be packed in school lunches, you know in the old school metal lunch boxes right by the fruit punch pouch and p&j sandwich.  It was intriguing and as I'm soy, milk and nut free right now I decided to make it all from scratch.  The end result was yummy yummy yummy!  I didn't even like these growing up, but I like this adult version.  t think it will be even better when I can make it using real butter, there is no real substitute for the taste of real butter in my opinion.  I learned a few things.  The glaze is amazing an my new favorite for donuts and cupcakes.  And be careful if you put too much filling in a cupcake it will explode!  And yes, there are allot of steps but they are worth the end result just be patient.  We decided to decorate with loopy W's for our last name, Cadence is learning letters right now. 

Recipe Modifications

• I made these milk protein, soy protein and nut free.  So I always used fleishmann's unsalted dairy-free margarine and rice milk

White Icing Ingredients

1 cups confectioner sugar

1 tablespoons butter (softened) or fleishmann's unsalted dairy-free margarine

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon water

1-2 teaspoons milk or rice/almond milk

Chocolate Glaze Ingredients

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) butter or or fleishmann's unsalted dairy-free margarine

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Cupcake Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose four

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 fine sea salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened or fleishmann's unsalted dairy-free margarine

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2/3 cup whole milk, room temperature or rice/almond milk

Marshmallow Filling Ingredients

1 1/2 cups marshmallow cream

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature or fleishmann's unsalted dairy-free margarine

Cupcake Construction

1. Make and bake the vanilla cupcakes.  You can use a box mix or the recipe for vanilla cupcakes below is good.  You don't want too sweet of a cupcake or the end cupcake will be too sweet.
2. Make the Marshmallow filling from the home made simple link and put into fridge.
3. After the cupcakes have cooled.  Fill a pastry bag with a large round tip.  Press the tip into the center of each cupcake and carefully fill it.  Be careful if you fill it too much it will crack!
4. Make the Chocolate Glaze from the home made simple link.  Dip each cupcake into the glaze.
5. Place all glazed cupcakes into the fridge and allow to cool for 20 minutes or more.
6. Place the icing in a bag with a tip or plastic bag and cut a corner.  Then it's time to decorate.  We decided on loopy W's to go with our last name

Recipe Links

This recipe was inspired by a home made simple recipe for cream-filled cupcakes

Click Here for Recipe

The vanilla cupcake recipe is from squidoo

Click Here for Recipe

Recipe for White Icing

1. Mix all ingredients except milk.  I use a hand mixer for this.
2. Add milk a little at a time until a thick glaze is formed.