Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins are one of my favorite kinds of muffins. These are very easy to make and go great with breakfast or even just as a snack. This recipe makes about 12 cupcake sized muffins.Hope you enjoy!


Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar or brown sugar for sweeter muffins
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup fresh blueberries

In med bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.

In small bowl mix together milk, vanilla, and egg

Combine contents of both bowls until mixed well.

Gently fold in blueberries to mixture and then transfer to greased muffin/cupcake pan.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

**NOTE: Any empty spots on the muffin/cupcake pan should be filled with water so the pan does not burn.

Marshmallow Fondant

Who says that the Cake Boss is the only one who can use fondant to make custom cakes? With this recipe you can use fondant to cover your cakes to give them a fancier look! This is useful for those who don't have stores near them that sell fondant or even for people who don't like the taste of the store bought fondant. This recipe is simple but time consuming and will give your arms quite the workout.

Ingredients
16 oz white mini-marshmallows
2 -5 tbsp water


2 lbs Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup Shortening


Melt mashmallows in a double boiler  (place metal bowl in pot of boiling water if you don't have double boiler) and add 2 tbsp water. Stir until completely melted then remove from heat

Place 3/4 of the powdered sugar on the top of the melted marshmallow mix and grease your hands and working surface with shortening generously. Then dump the sugar/marshmallow mix on working surface

Knead the fondant. The fondant will be very sticky (which is why your hands should be greased). After kneading a bit, add the rest of the powdered sugar and continue to knead.

Grease your hands as needed and if you notice the fondant is dry/tearing, add water by 1/2 tsp and knead until you get proper consistency

It is best if you can let it sit, double wrapped, overnight. Prepare the fondant icing for storing by coating it with a good layer of shortening, wrap in plastic wrap and then put it in a Ziploc bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible. 

When ready to place fondant on the cake, roll out the fondant until it is thin (not too thin where it will rip). Once the fondant is rolled out apply a thin layer of icing on the cake to help the fondant adhere to the cake and then drape fondant over the cake.


Here's what the fondant should look like on the cake. (Don't mind my uneven cake I made it just for the fondant)

 

Spicy Chicken With Red Rice

This is a dish my grandmother used to make that I enjoyed while growing up and even today. It's quick and simple so what more can you ask for? The chicken has just enough zing to it to give nice flavor and the rice is just delicious. The measurement for the chicken rub is all done by eye for me but I will do my best to give approximate measurements.


Ingredients for Rice:
1 cup uncooked white rice (long grain)
1 1/4 cup chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp red pepper/cayenne
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz tomato sauce (or juice from plummed tomatoes)
2-4 chopped plum tomatoes
Cooking oil

In deep pan heat oil and toast rice.

Then add garlic and onions and cook until tender

Add remaining ingredients and cook until rice is done


Ingredients for Spicy Chicken:
2 Chicken Breasts
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper

**Note** These measurements are approximate. I individually seasoned the chicken breasts just by sprinkling the ingredients on the breasts and then rubbing them in. You can use more or less of these ingredients depending on your taste.

Rub the chicken breasts with the seasoning and put on a grill (the little George Forman ones work to) or fry until done and serve over rice.

Potato Latkes

Here is a little holiday recipe that is usually made at my in-laws house for Hanukkah. They make great appetizers, side dishes or even a part of the main meal, potato latkes or as others may know them, potato pancakes. They have a very similar taste to the hash brown patties you get in stores or fast food places. I don't know anyone, Jewish or not that doesn't like these. It take about 6 ingredients and about 15 minutes in total to make/cook.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups onions
1 large egg
1 1/4 tsp coarse kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, cut (roughly 4 medium potatoes)
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder


In med bowl, combine salt, pepper, egg

Line a colander/strainer with cheese cloth or paper towel.

In food processor finely chop onions and potatoes

Take potatoes and onion and place in colander and cover and press the liquid out.

Add a handful of potatoes and onion to mixture with the egg.

Blend the rest of the potatoes and onions until almost pureed

Mix remaining potatoes and onion in egg mixture along with flour and baking powder and mix well

Heat up a griddle or fry pan with some vegetable oil and fry until golden brown and crispy.

Goes Good With:
Applesauce
Pork or lamb chops
Sour cream
Bacon

 

Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

This is an appetizer for those who like a good kick to their food. The Jalapenos give a great spicy flavor and the mixture of cheeses and potato filling help cool down the pepper a bit. The bacon, well...who doesn't like bacon? You can use turkey bacon for those of you who don't like pork or can't eat pork because turkey bacon is just as yummy. They take little effort to make and little time to make too. Make a plate of them for your football nights and parties. I bake mine in the colder weather but once the warmer weather comes I toss them on the grill on the top shelf away from the direct heat.

Ingredients:
6 Jalapeño Peppers
3 tablespoon cream cheese
6 slices of bacon (uncooked)
1/4 cup cheddar, shredded (use 1/2 cup if not using other cheeses)
1/2 cup  Monterey Jack/pepper jack cheese, shredded (optional)
1 large potato
BBQ rub (optional)

Cut the tops off the peppers and remove seeds and core.

Combine cream cheese, cheddar, and pepper jack cheeses in a med bowl.

Peel and chop potato and boil it until it is almost fully cooked. Strain potato and add to the cheese mixture while potatoes are hot.

Mix the potatoes and cheese until cheese is melted. (You can leave some potato lumps in it)

Spoon mixture into peppers so that they are completely full. (you can poke holes in the bottom of the peppers with a toothpick so that the trapped air can escape the bottom.

Take 1 slice of bacon per pepper and wrap the pepper and putting a toothpick through it to hold the bacon on. Add BBQ rub to bacon if you have it and then place on a tray lined with foil. Place in the oven until bacon is cooked and center is hot.

**NOTE** You may want to wear gloves while working with the peppers. They will leave traces of their spiciness on your hands that is hard to get off.

Goes Good With:
Wings
Hot Dogs
Burgers
BBQ

Meat & Cheese Lasagna

One dish that everyone loves.  It can be a bit time consuming but needs easy to find ingredients. Here is my version of it.

Ingredients:
12 lasagna noodles cooked al dente
Red sauce of your choice (I use my homemade one)
1lb ground beef
3 spicy Italian sausages (casing removed)
23 oz Ricotta cheese
1/4 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 egg
Shredded Mozzarella



Preparation:
In small saucepan brown the ground beef, sausage, onions and garlic and drain excess fat.

Mix some red sauce into the meat.

In large bowl mix Ricotta cheese, a handful of Mozzarella cheese, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and egg

In baking dish or casserole dish coat the bottom with a very thin layer of red sauce and then lay the lasagna noodles across.

Spoon cheese mixture over the noodles and then lay more noodles over cheese.

Spoon meat mixture over those noodles and then cover with more noodles. (continue alternating layers until you run out of both mixes)

Pour red sauce over the top of the top noodles and spread evenly. Then sprinkle desired amount of Mozzarella cheese over the top.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.