Thursday, February 28, 2013

Valentines Day Cupcakes!


- make any light coloured cake batter
- put aside 1/3 of the batter, and use food colouring to dye it
- bake only the colored batter in a square greased baking pan for about 15 mins- cool 5 mins, pop the cake out of the pan and using a mini heart shaped cookie cutter, cut as many hearts as you can (recipe makes approx. 15 cupcakes) place the hearts in the freezer for 20 mins.
- Take each heart and stand it vertically (point to the base) into the dollop of batter. Then spoon a dollop of batter on either side of the heart. Make sure your batter reaches roughly the half way mark of the cupcake, high enough to support the heart, but remembering that the batter will rise! Remember you want the batter to rise OVER the top of your heart so add enough to achieve this. You can also add a dollop of batter over the top of the heart to help. (Carry this technique on until you have filled all the cupcake cases.)
- bake cupcakes until a toothpick comes clean when inserted (only took about 20 mins for mine)
- icing once cooled- then voila!


Chocolate Chip Cookies


These cookies are possibly the best cookies ever! I have people who ask for them often! I even paid for my stove in these cookies! This exact batch that the picture was taken from to be exact! 
I will let you in on a little secret. Take them out of the oven BEFORE they look fully cooked. Cookies continue to cook for an additional two minutes when take out of the oven (learned that while working at Subway!).
So, I hope these will become a part of your cookbook! 

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup butter - melted
1/2 cup shortening - melted
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour (more may be needed)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 chocolate chips (more if you want!)

Preheat oven to 375f.
Cream together sugar, brown sugar, butter, shortening, eggs and vanilla.
Add flour, baking soda and salt. (if dough is very sticky, add more flour until it is still soft, but not sticky)
Add chocolate.
Roll out teaspoon sized balls, 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
Bake around 6-8 minutes. Cookies will look under cooked.



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6 Layer Dip & Guacamole

So this past weekend I decided to host my first (small) dinner party- the theme, MEXICAN! um delish? yes. So I went all out and made 3 different dips, Mexican Lime Salsa, Guacamole, and 6 layer dip. I think they all turned out pretty well, considering I made 2 of them for the first time, and the salsa recipe can be found here. We had yummy margaritas, and an unlimited supply of tacos adding onto my delicious dips. Of course I will show you the recipes, below. :)

Soften cream cheese and spread evenly on a pizza pan. Add the salsa, spread evenly amongst the cream cheese. Add all veggies- evenly! so every bite get a mix of everything! chill for a half hour- server with corn chips- enjoy!
Take a chip and DIP!!!


Cut avocados in half and scoop out contents. Add all ingredients together, add as much salt and pepper as dsired. After everything is well mixed together refrigerate for half hour so ingredients combine then serve!! (I served with corn chips)
All and all I think the night went well, Noah behaved, the food was great, and the company even better!! Have you had any gatherings recently? I would love to here you ideas or any new exciting recipes to share!

My table setting

I love dinner party themes... next time you decide to have people over why not add a fun theme? 

Baked Honey Soy Chicken

Do you ever get to the point where you just stare at everything you have in the fridge with the most confused look on your face wondering WHAT THE HELL WILL I MAKE FOR DINNER? Well... I do this all the time and with my countless hours spent on Pinterest this recipe will sure to win over the family- no more boring chicken meals here! The best thing about this recipe is it's pretty low maintenance, aka. easy weeknight dinner! so here's the recipe...

Stir together:

1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup light soy sauce
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger root

To a large Ziploc bag or large mixing bowl add:

4 large chicken breasts, (not boneless, skinless)

Pour the marinade over the chicken and store in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight.

Place the marinaded chicken breasts on an aluminum foil lined cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F, uncovered, for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.

Do not throw out the marinade. While the chicken is cooking simmer it over low heat and brush it on the chicken about every 10 minutes as it cooks.


This Pinterest recipe came from Here

Happy Cooking!

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