My friend Gina, wanted to know if I had any cupcake recipes, and of course I do. We have a cupcake thing going on right now... We do a 3 mile Top of the World run in Laguna Beach, then we drag our crew to Susie Cakes and Kean Coffee for the reward. The hill is pure hell, but the pay off is all worth it. Cupcakes and coffee are heaven!
If you want to try something a little different for a cupcake, try these recipes. Growing up I hated coconut, but I love toasted coconut for ice cream, in brownies, and cupcakes. I also cannot pass up chocolate and peanut butter. The two are a happy combination.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Toased Coconut and Marshmallow Cupcake
Toasted coconut and marshmallow is so good! You have to try this recipie.
Ingredients
3 cups shredded sweetened coconut
1 box of your favorite vanilla cake mix
1 can of coconut milk
2 tablespoons of rum
2 sticks of butter at room temperature
1 jar of marshmallow cream
Ingredients
3 cups shredded sweetened coconut
1 box of your favorite vanilla cake mix
1 can of coconut milk
2 tablespoons of rum
2 sticks of butter at room temperature
1 jar of marshmallow cream
Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the shredded coconut on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven, shaking the baking sheet occasionally, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
Follow the instructions on the box of cake mix, add 1/3 cup of the coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of rum and 1 cup of the toasted coconut. Fill your lined cupcake tins 3/4 of the way up and back following the instructions on the box of cake mix.
To make the frosting, in a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter until creamy, then add 1 tablespoon of the coconut milk, the confectioners' sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the marshmallow cream and beat until combined.
Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost the top with the frosting, and dip into the rest of the toasted coconut. They are messy to eat, but so worth it!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake
I love chocolate and peanut butter together. Putting them into a cupcake only makes it better!
Ingredients
1 box of chocolate cake mix
1/2 of cold coffee
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter - my daughter likes Skippy, but I like Jiff
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream
Chopped salted peanutsFollow the instructions for the chocolate cake mix, just replace the water for the 1/2 cold coffee. Fill the lined cupcake tins with the batter and cook following the instructions on the box.
For the frosting, place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.
Once the cupcakes have cooled, top the cupcakes with the frosting, then dip into the salted peanuts.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Seared Ahi with Pistachio Pesto Dressing
My sister is coming into town and her youngest daughter is a partial vegetarian, so I wanted to try something new, seared ahi with a pistachio basil dressing. It turned out great!!
Ingredients
1 6 oz ahi tuna steak
5 cups of basil
5 cloves of the garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
The juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup of toasted pistachios.
1/2 cup of olive oil
For the dressing, add the basil and garlic to a food processor, and pulse 3-4 times. Then add everything, up to the olive oil. Pulse a few times and scrape down the sides. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Taste and add additional seasoning to your liking.
When you are ready to eat, season the steak with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan over high heat. Spray grill surface or wipe with a thin layer of oil. Add tuna steak to the hot cooking surface and sear tuna 2 minutes on each side. Remove tuna from heat and top with your basil dressing.
On the side I made some pasta. I heated up some of the basil dressing, added a little bit of cream, and the topped with some tomatoes for color.
Ingredients
1 6 oz ahi tuna steak
5 cups of basil
5 cloves of the garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
The juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup of toasted pistachios.
1/2 cup of olive oil
For the dressing, add the basil and garlic to a food processor, and pulse 3-4 times. Then add everything, up to the olive oil. Pulse a few times and scrape down the sides. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Taste and add additional seasoning to your liking.
When you are ready to eat, season the steak with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan over high heat. Spray grill surface or wipe with a thin layer of oil. Add tuna steak to the hot cooking surface and sear tuna 2 minutes on each side. Remove tuna from heat and top with your basil dressing.
On the side I made some pasta. I heated up some of the basil dressing, added a little bit of cream, and the topped with some tomatoes for color.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
My Blog
If anyone knows me they know I love two things, cooking and shoes. I love coming home from work, or spending Sunday afternoon cooking. I would not call myself a foodie, but I do love my food. I see recipes and look how to make them my own. There is no greater feeling to plate my dish and to see that it worked. The next step is to share it with my friends and family. My son is out on his own, and I think he loves to cook as much as I do. He likes to entertain and I love to hear about the meal that was prepared. I also think his dad has contributed to his food ideas, now that he has started his own spice and sauce line, Manjaman. They have a unique fusion twist, which is a fun change to a plain recipe.
My shoes are another passion, or maybe closer to an addiction. I love walking into my favorite store, seeing the shoes on display, and trying them on. My daughter has picked up a little bit of my cooking habit, but has developed more of my shoe problem. We are the same size and I often find my shoes on her feet. If she can walk like a lady, and not a spider, she can wear the shoes. My daughter and I run together, when I can keep up, and shop together. She runs track and cross country and I have my own personal trainer so, when we can fit in our runs on Saturdays, it is an added bonus for both of us.
I am happy to share my recipes with you, but will keep some of my shoe habit on the DL. My boyfriend of 12 years just would not understand.
My shoes are another passion, or maybe closer to an addiction. I love walking into my favorite store, seeing the shoes on display, and trying them on. My daughter has picked up a little bit of my cooking habit, but has developed more of my shoe problem. We are the same size and I often find my shoes on her feet. If she can walk like a lady, and not a spider, she can wear the shoes. My daughter and I run together, when I can keep up, and shop together. She runs track and cross country and I have my own personal trainer so, when we can fit in our runs on Saturdays, it is an added bonus for both of us.
I am happy to share my recipes with you, but will keep some of my shoe habit on the DL. My boyfriend of 12 years just would not understand.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Kalua Pork Sliders
I start with Manjaman Garlic 5 Spice and 3 lbs of pork roast.
Place the pork roast in to a crockpot. Add 2 tablespoons of garlic 5 spice, 3/4 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of liquid smoke in to the crockpot. I slow cook the pork with a little water, or beer, to keep the meat moist, until it falls a part. Shread the pork with a fork, and use the Hawaiian sweet rolls, topping it with a slaw and a little BBQ sauce. I used the Manjaman Sweet Mesquite and it was delicious!
Place the pork roast in to a crockpot. Add 2 tablespoons of garlic 5 spice, 3/4 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of liquid smoke in to the crockpot. I slow cook the pork with a little water, or beer, to keep the meat moist, until it falls a part. Shread the pork with a fork, and use the Hawaiian sweet rolls, topping it with a slaw and a little BBQ sauce. I used the Manjaman Sweet Mesquite and it was delicious!
Summer Tomato Pasta
I love to make pasta dishes. This is a simple recipe with big flavor.
I start the dish with 4 pints of colorful cherry tomatoes, and cut them in half. In a bowl, add the tomatoes, 1/2 cup of good olive oil, 20 julienned basil leaves, 1 tablespoon of Manjaman 5 garlic spice, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, about 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flake. Cover the bowl and let is sit. The longer the better, 2-3 hrs is good, but I have also let it sit for as little as 20 min and it tastes just as good. You just won't have all of the juice ready from the tomatoes.
When you are ready to eat, prepare 1 lb of angel hair pasta following the instructions on the box. Don't forget to add a big handful of salt to season your pasta. This is your only chance.
Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, pull about 1/2 cup of the cooking water from the pot and set aside. Combine the pasta with the tomatoes, and add some Parmesan cheese, to taste. If it is a little dry to your liking, add some of your cooking water.
I start the dish with 4 pints of colorful cherry tomatoes, and cut them in half. In a bowl, add the tomatoes, 1/2 cup of good olive oil, 20 julienned basil leaves, 1 tablespoon of Manjaman 5 garlic spice, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, about 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flake. Cover the bowl and let is sit. The longer the better, 2-3 hrs is good, but I have also let it sit for as little as 20 min and it tastes just as good. You just won't have all of the juice ready from the tomatoes.
When you are ready to eat, prepare 1 lb of angel hair pasta following the instructions on the box. Don't forget to add a big handful of salt to season your pasta. This is your only chance.
Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, pull about 1/2 cup of the cooking water from the pot and set aside. Combine the pasta with the tomatoes, and add some Parmesan cheese, to taste. If it is a little dry to your liking, add some of your cooking water.
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