Thanks to my dear mother, I have yet another delicious dessert to share with you. This is not only delicious but it's fun because you can tell your guests it has Mountain Dew in it!
APPLE DUMPLING DESSERT
2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 small can Mountain Dew (about 2/3 cup)
Vanilla Ice Cream
Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauce from the pan over the top.
I love this, as does my mom's book group, so use this delicious recipe while apples are in season!
Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Thai Night - Pork Satay and Peanut Sauce
So, last night I made what we thought (and our guests agreed) was delicious!
First is the Pork Satay. I loved to death the satay at the Thai restaurant I worked at, so I definitely wanted to find a good recipe. I searched long and hard and found many different versions. The reason I went with this one was because 1) It seemed pretty authentic, 2) It seemed authentic without making me buy a bunch of ingredients I'd never used or even heard of from the Asian Market that I might have only used for this dish, and 3) It was made by Bobby Flay (he's on the Food Network and I think he's an Iron Chef), so I trusted it. I have a hard time using recipes unless I can read comments from many people who have made the same recipe (this is because I've been spoiled by allrecipes.com). So here it is, with my own comments.
Bobby Flay's Pork Satay
Ingredients
Marinade:
• 1 1/2 cups coconut milk - about 1 13.5 oz. can (I used Chaokoh brand)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (I used Adam's Natural Peanut Butter because I used that for the peanut sauce)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (I used bottled)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Thai chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped (I used jalepeno)
• 2 tablespoons cilantro
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch thick cubes (I used pork chops and cut it into strips. So tender and very easy)
• Wooden skewers
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, add pork and let marinate 2 to 4 hours.
Preheat the grill. Soak skewers.
Remove the pork from the marinade and thread on skewers. Grill for 7 to 8 minutes or until cooked through.
So there's the meat! Now for the dipping sauce. Here's the blog where I got the recipe. I really liked her blog. She also had an awesome way to make sticky rice without the traditional big bamboo steamer, so look that up. But I love this peanut sauce because a Thai person uses it, so obviously it's close enough in taste to the more complicated version, but easy!
Peanut Sauce
1 13.5 oz. can of Chaokoh coconut milk
¼ c. Thai Red Curry Paste (try Mae Ploy or Maesri)
¾ c. unsweetened natural peanut butter (I used Adam's - you want the ones that have the oil at the top that you have to mix in)
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cider or white vinegar
½ c. water
Bring everything to a gentle boil over medium heat, constantly whisking. Let simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes (make sure doesn’t scorch on bottom of pan). Can be refrigerated for several weeks.
This peanut sauce is so addicting. Last night, they even put it on their corn. At the Thai restaurant, my favorite thing to do was to dip sticky rice in it. This stuff is way similar to the peanut sauce they made, and it's so easy. So many authentic recipes told you to buy tamarind and made tamarind paste but it's purely for the acid, so why not just cheat and use vinegar? I don't doubt it could be better, but I loved it.
So, make this with some jasmine rice and you have a great meal!
First is the Pork Satay. I loved to death the satay at the Thai restaurant I worked at, so I definitely wanted to find a good recipe. I searched long and hard and found many different versions. The reason I went with this one was because 1) It seemed pretty authentic, 2) It seemed authentic without making me buy a bunch of ingredients I'd never used or even heard of from the Asian Market that I might have only used for this dish, and 3) It was made by Bobby Flay (he's on the Food Network and I think he's an Iron Chef), so I trusted it. I have a hard time using recipes unless I can read comments from many people who have made the same recipe (this is because I've been spoiled by allrecipes.com). So here it is, with my own comments.
Bobby Flay's Pork Satay
Ingredients
Marinade:
• 1 1/2 cups coconut milk - about 1 13.5 oz. can (I used Chaokoh brand)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (I used Adam's Natural Peanut Butter because I used that for the peanut sauce)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (I used bottled)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Thai chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped (I used jalepeno)
• 2 tablespoons cilantro
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch thick cubes (I used pork chops and cut it into strips. So tender and very easy)
• Wooden skewers
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, add pork and let marinate 2 to 4 hours.
Preheat the grill. Soak skewers.
Remove the pork from the marinade and thread on skewers. Grill for 7 to 8 minutes or until cooked through.
So there's the meat! Now for the dipping sauce. Here's the blog where I got the recipe. I really liked her blog. She also had an awesome way to make sticky rice without the traditional big bamboo steamer, so look that up. But I love this peanut sauce because a Thai person uses it, so obviously it's close enough in taste to the more complicated version, but easy!
Peanut Sauce
1 13.5 oz. can of Chaokoh coconut milk
¼ c. Thai Red Curry Paste (try Mae Ploy or Maesri)
¾ c. unsweetened natural peanut butter (I used Adam's - you want the ones that have the oil at the top that you have to mix in)
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cider or white vinegar
½ c. water
Bring everything to a gentle boil over medium heat, constantly whisking. Let simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes (make sure doesn’t scorch on bottom of pan). Can be refrigerated for several weeks.
This peanut sauce is so addicting. Last night, they even put it on their corn. At the Thai restaurant, my favorite thing to do was to dip sticky rice in it. This stuff is way similar to the peanut sauce they made, and it's so easy. So many authentic recipes told you to buy tamarind and made tamarind paste but it's purely for the acid, so why not just cheat and use vinegar? I don't doubt it could be better, but I loved it.
So, make this with some jasmine rice and you have a great meal!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Natalie's Bridal Shower
So, this was several weeks ago, but life has been ca-razy! Seriously. Jed left to do window washing in California (for three weeks... it's been lonely). I had summer practicum, a visit to my brother who is acting in a dinner theater in Idaho for the summer, and just all around homework. I've also had some wonderful friends who have come over (even if it was to do laundry...ha ha) and who I've been able to spend time with shopping or at the gym. I even have a 15 page research paper (which is basically done! Yay!). So despite my husband being gone, life did not slow down for me. Oh and I have to get a root canal. But overall, we are very happy with life right now.
All that has nothing to do with what this post is really about, but I thought I'd give you a 30 second update on our life.
To the Bridal Shower:
Saturday, the 16th, I hosted my first party at my house! It was my long time best friend's bridal shower, which I hosted with Amy as well as with TONS of help from my mother and my great friend, Kyli.
So because I feel that I know Natalie quite well, I thought pizza would be a good food to serve because she loves pizza to death. So we gave Natalie some options of what she could choose, and so the menu was: margherita pizza, pepperoni, meat lovers, and bbq chicken. For dessert we had cinnamon sticks and fruit pizza. Oh and we served raspberry lemonade.
The morning of, Amy, Kyli, and later my mother came over to prepare the food. My kitchen had never been so messy (granted we've only lived here for two weeks, but still) and I had some moments of worry that we wouldn't get done in time as time flew by quite quickly! Luckily, everyone was fashionably late so we had time to clean and put out the food.
We also made the favors to give out at the end. We used one of Amy's wedding gifts, called Baby Cakes. It's this thing you put cake batter into, close the lid for like 5 minutes, and then out come perfect round cake balls! Then you can fill them, put sticks in, and cover with frosting or chocolate. It was amazing how well it worked, and I recommend anyone to go out there and buy this little contraption (Hint, hint to Jed.... Perhaps a future Christmas present...?). The favors turned out way cute and they were absolutely delicious. It helped that what we covered the cake balls in was white chocolate mint.... way addicting!
We chatted and ate, and then played a game.... jeopardy.... This was a game a took offline, a Jeopardy game for a bridal shower. It was silly, I'll just say it. I felt bad because I did not have time this week to make up new questions, but in the end, it was very fun and I think we all really enjoyed the giggling the game produced.
Then Natalie opened presents! I loved the variety. She got a present of kitchen gadgets (classic) and a couple of presents of lingerie (another classic). Then there were the others: a blowdryer with a diffuser and then the present of travel toothbrushes/paste/mouthwash. Ha ha so funny but both were things Natalie could use/needed!
I have to describe the present the freshman roommates gave to Natalie. After the cute and creative gift we gave Amy for her bridal shower, we had a hard time coming up with something different but equally as creative for Natalie's gift. I don't know if what we came up with was equally cute and creative, but it certainly was creative ha ha. So we fashioned it after a gift Amy got for a bridal shower. Someone gave her an umbrella, and when she opened it, there were dollar bills hanging on the inside "for a rainy day." So we got a big umbrella and hung lingerie in it "for a rainy day." Ha ha yeah.... we're not the most creative people. But it was cute and fun and Natalie was very surprised, which was exactly the idea!
She knew something was coming...
Also, I must highlight a cute idea for decorations. My mother made these for the shower. You need a wiffle ball, plastic flowers, and a ribbon. She got everything from the dollar store. So basically (I probably am missing a step), but you just stick the flowers into the holes of the wiffle ball. The ribbon can be used to hang it up, but that's seriously it. I feel the step I may be missing is if you glue the flowers it, but I bet if you stuff them in tight enough, they'll stay. So here they are:
All in all, it was a fun bridal shower! We had a good time, and I was so glad to be able to throw that for my best friend. Now on to the wedding in less than a week!
(I'll end with this sequence of pictures I really like...)
All that has nothing to do with what this post is really about, but I thought I'd give you a 30 second update on our life.
To the Bridal Shower:
Saturday, the 16th, I hosted my first party at my house! It was my long time best friend's bridal shower, which I hosted with Amy as well as with TONS of help from my mother and my great friend, Kyli.
So because I feel that I know Natalie quite well, I thought pizza would be a good food to serve because she loves pizza to death. So we gave Natalie some options of what she could choose, and so the menu was: margherita pizza, pepperoni, meat lovers, and bbq chicken. For dessert we had cinnamon sticks and fruit pizza. Oh and we served raspberry lemonade.
The morning of, Amy, Kyli, and later my mother came over to prepare the food. My kitchen had never been so messy (granted we've only lived here for two weeks, but still) and I had some moments of worry that we wouldn't get done in time as time flew by quite quickly! Luckily, everyone was fashionably late so we had time to clean and put out the food.
We also made the favors to give out at the end. We used one of Amy's wedding gifts, called Baby Cakes. It's this thing you put cake batter into, close the lid for like 5 minutes, and then out come perfect round cake balls! Then you can fill them, put sticks in, and cover with frosting or chocolate. It was amazing how well it worked, and I recommend anyone to go out there and buy this little contraption (Hint, hint to Jed.... Perhaps a future Christmas present...?). The favors turned out way cute and they were absolutely delicious. It helped that what we covered the cake balls in was white chocolate mint.... way addicting!
We chatted and ate, and then played a game.... jeopardy.... This was a game a took offline, a Jeopardy game for a bridal shower. It was silly, I'll just say it. I felt bad because I did not have time this week to make up new questions, but in the end, it was very fun and I think we all really enjoyed the giggling the game produced.
Then Natalie opened presents! I loved the variety. She got a present of kitchen gadgets (classic) and a couple of presents of lingerie (another classic). Then there were the others: a blowdryer with a diffuser and then the present of travel toothbrushes/paste/mouthwash. Ha ha so funny but both were things Natalie could use/needed!
I have to describe the present the freshman roommates gave to Natalie. After the cute and creative gift we gave Amy for her bridal shower, we had a hard time coming up with something different but equally as creative for Natalie's gift. I don't know if what we came up with was equally cute and creative, but it certainly was creative ha ha. So we fashioned it after a gift Amy got for a bridal shower. Someone gave her an umbrella, and when she opened it, there were dollar bills hanging on the inside "for a rainy day." So we got a big umbrella and hung lingerie in it "for a rainy day." Ha ha yeah.... we're not the most creative people. But it was cute and fun and Natalie was very surprised, which was exactly the idea!
She knew something was coming...
Also, I must highlight a cute idea for decorations. My mother made these for the shower. You need a wiffle ball, plastic flowers, and a ribbon. She got everything from the dollar store. So basically (I probably am missing a step), but you just stick the flowers into the holes of the wiffle ball. The ribbon can be used to hang it up, but that's seriously it. I feel the step I may be missing is if you glue the flowers it, but I bet if you stuff them in tight enough, they'll stay. So here they are:
All in all, it was a fun bridal shower! We had a good time, and I was so glad to be able to throw that for my best friend. Now on to the wedding in less than a week!
(I'll end with this sequence of pictures I really like...)
Monday, April 25, 2011
Happy Easter!
Before talking about our pagan holiday traditions, I should say that we had a lovely Easter with wonderful talks and lessons about the real reason we celebrate Easter, which is Christ and His resurrection! We are both so grateful that Christ suffered through everything He did so that we have His Atonement so that we can repent of our sins, be forgiven, and then one day be resurrected and be reunited with our body, each other, and our family whom we are sealed to!
Now to the candy/egg/food part of our Easter!
I must give you a little background first. Our good friends Jordan and Kelsey are in between apartments right now, so they are staying with us! It's been way fun and honestly they could stay to the end of the week and it'd be great! But they leave us tomorrow...
Anyways, after church, we decorated Easter eggs! Jordan and Kelsey made some pretty cool designs with lines and tape and things, while Jed and I simply made cool colors, which we decided were some of the planets. Once that was decided, Jupiter needed its spot, Mars needed a rocket, and Earth needed some flowers and things (the decorating kit came with stickers).
Then, we had an Easter egg hunt! Two, actually. First, we girls hid the eggs for the boys to find, and then the boys hid the eggs for the girls to find. We girls were too easy on the boys, and so they won the hunt (by finding the eggs much faster than the girls...). Granted, we only hid the eggs in the living room, and the boys hid them all over our apartment. It was quite the adventure! The boys still think we lost an egg and will find it when we move out, but I (who bought all the plastic eggs) think they just miscounted :)
The victors...
And then, before dinner at my Grandma Grace's house with (my step-dad) Tony's side of the family, I had to make the cupcakes I promised! On Saturday the cupcakes were baked, so all that was left was the decorating. Luckily, I had two wonderful assistants to help me, Jordan and Kelsey. Jordan and Kelsey decorated the rabbit cupcakes and I did the many grass cupcakes. In the end, I think they turned out super super cute!
Now to the candy/egg/food part of our Easter!
I must give you a little background first. Our good friends Jordan and Kelsey are in between apartments right now, so they are staying with us! It's been way fun and honestly they could stay to the end of the week and it'd be great! But they leave us tomorrow...
Anyways, after church, we decorated Easter eggs! Jordan and Kelsey made some pretty cool designs with lines and tape and things, while Jed and I simply made cool colors, which we decided were some of the planets. Once that was decided, Jupiter needed its spot, Mars needed a rocket, and Earth needed some flowers and things (the decorating kit came with stickers).
Then, we had an Easter egg hunt! Two, actually. First, we girls hid the eggs for the boys to find, and then the boys hid the eggs for the girls to find. We girls were too easy on the boys, and so they won the hunt (by finding the eggs much faster than the girls...). Granted, we only hid the eggs in the living room, and the boys hid them all over our apartment. It was quite the adventure! The boys still think we lost an egg and will find it when we move out, but I (who bought all the plastic eggs) think they just miscounted :)
The victors...
And then, before dinner at my Grandma Grace's house with (my step-dad) Tony's side of the family, I had to make the cupcakes I promised! On Saturday the cupcakes were baked, so all that was left was the decorating. Luckily, I had two wonderful assistants to help me, Jordan and Kelsey. Jordan and Kelsey decorated the rabbit cupcakes and I did the many grass cupcakes. In the end, I think they turned out super super cute!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Recipes from Amy's Shower
Ravioli with Pine nut Sage Sauce
1 pkg. frozen ravioli with cheese (Costco)
1 stick butter
1 clove minced garlic
1 c. pine nuts
1/2 - 3/4 c. fresh sage leaves
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 c. chicken broth
Grated parmesan cheese to taste
Cook ravioli in salted water as directed; drain. Meanwhile in a large skillet heat butter over medium until golden brown. Add garlic and nuts, saute for 2 minutes. Coarsely chop sage and add along with salt and broth. Cook for 1 minute more. Add ravioli, stirring to coat with sauce. Cook just to heat through. Place on serving platter and sprinkle with parmesan.
Spinach Artichoke Dip - I have to give the credit for this recipe to Keri Herrmann. It was the thing everyone loved most at the shower!
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach
15 oz. can artichoke hearts
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. cream (or 1 c. sour cream)
1 1/2 c. grated parmesan
1 1/2 c. grated jack or mozarella cheese (save 1/2 c. for top)
1/4 c. diced onion
1/4 c. diced pepper (red is pretty)
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Dash Tabasco sauce (or red pepper flakes or cayenne)
Combine and heat in the oven (heat around 375 or 400) and cover with foil so you don't brown it.
Caprese Salad
6 large vine-ripened tomatoes
2 bunches fresh basil (you will need about 40 leaves) thinly sliced
1 ½ to 2 lbs. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick
2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 ½ c. extra virgin olive oil
Places slices on a platter, alternating tomato, basil, and mozzarella slices. Place in fridge up to 8 hours. About one hour before, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.
**I adapted this because I didn't want to buy fresh basil. I used grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and tossed it all in pesto.
Cider
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 large orange, quartered with peel
2 quarts apple cider
World’s Greatest Cream Cheese Brownies
Filling:
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
¼ c. sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Brownie Batter:
1 c. unsalted butter, softened and cut into chunks
2 c. sugar
4 large eggs
1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
Frosting:
1 c. sugar
5 Tbsp. usalted butter
1/3 c. milk
One 6-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips
To make filling, put ingredients in a mixer and mix until smooth. Remove from the work bowl and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. To make batter, combine the butter, sugar and eggs a mixer and mix until smooth. Add the cocoa, mix, and then add the flour and mix until combined.
Spread half of the chocolate batter over the bottom of the prepared pan; dot with the cream cheese filling, then top with the remaining chocolate batter, and swirl the batter and filling with a spatula. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out with some crumbs adhering to it, 35-40 minutes.
To make frosting, combine butter, sugar, and milk. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate pieces until smooth. Pour over the warm brownies. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes and, while still warm, cut into twenty-four 2-in squares. Can refrigerate for up to two days—remove one hour before serving to bring it to room temp.
1 pkg. frozen ravioli with cheese (Costco)
1 stick butter
1 clove minced garlic
1 c. pine nuts
1/2 - 3/4 c. fresh sage leaves
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 c. chicken broth
Grated parmesan cheese to taste
Cook ravioli in salted water as directed; drain. Meanwhile in a large skillet heat butter over medium until golden brown. Add garlic and nuts, saute for 2 minutes. Coarsely chop sage and add along with salt and broth. Cook for 1 minute more. Add ravioli, stirring to coat with sauce. Cook just to heat through. Place on serving platter and sprinkle with parmesan.
Spinach Artichoke Dip - I have to give the credit for this recipe to Keri Herrmann. It was the thing everyone loved most at the shower!
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach
15 oz. can artichoke hearts
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. cream (or 1 c. sour cream)
1 1/2 c. grated parmesan
1 1/2 c. grated jack or mozarella cheese (save 1/2 c. for top)
1/4 c. diced onion
1/4 c. diced pepper (red is pretty)
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Dash Tabasco sauce (or red pepper flakes or cayenne)
Combine and heat in the oven (heat around 375 or 400) and cover with foil so you don't brown it.
Caprese Salad
6 large vine-ripened tomatoes
2 bunches fresh basil (you will need about 40 leaves) thinly sliced
1 ½ to 2 lbs. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick
2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 ½ c. extra virgin olive oil
Places slices on a platter, alternating tomato, basil, and mozzarella slices. Place in fridge up to 8 hours. About one hour before, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.
**I adapted this because I didn't want to buy fresh basil. I used grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and tossed it all in pesto.
Cider
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 large orange, quartered with peel
2 quarts apple cider
World’s Greatest Cream Cheese Brownies
Filling:
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
¼ c. sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Brownie Batter:
1 c. unsalted butter, softened and cut into chunks
2 c. sugar
4 large eggs
1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
Frosting:
1 c. sugar
5 Tbsp. usalted butter
1/3 c. milk
One 6-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips
To make filling, put ingredients in a mixer and mix until smooth. Remove from the work bowl and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. To make batter, combine the butter, sugar and eggs a mixer and mix until smooth. Add the cocoa, mix, and then add the flour and mix until combined.
Spread half of the chocolate batter over the bottom of the prepared pan; dot with the cream cheese filling, then top with the remaining chocolate batter, and swirl the batter and filling with a spatula. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out with some crumbs adhering to it, 35-40 minutes.
To make frosting, combine butter, sugar, and milk. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate pieces until smooth. Pour over the warm brownies. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes and, while still warm, cut into twenty-four 2-in squares. Can refrigerate for up to two days—remove one hour before serving to bring it to room temp.
Jed had a birthday, shout hooray!
So, Friday (April 8th) was Jed's 23rd birthday! It was such a fun day. I love love love to do lots of surprises, so I had fun thinking up several things to do.
Thursday we were up late, so at midnight, I blindfolded him and drove him to Del Taco for a midnight run, something he used to do all the time with him roommates. Then we slept in very late... very late ha ha. Then we had lunch at P.F. Chang's, which he's never been to! My cousin Josh was our server, and so overall, it was a delicious and fun lunch. Then poor Jed had to work.
After work, we went to a party. Not for Jed, but for my Grandma's 80th birthday! I made potato salad, and because everyone loved, it, I am going to give you the recipe!
Tangy Dill Potato Salad
Ingredients:
3 pounds new potatoes, scrubbed and
quartered (I used red potatoes)
1/2 cup Italian-style salad dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain, mix with Italian dressing, and set aside to cool.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, green onions, dill, mustard, lemon juice, and pepper. When the potatoes are cooled, stir into the bowl until coated. Refrigerate for a couple of hours to blend flavors before serving.
It was way good and I highly recommend it.
After the party, we went home and Jed opened presents!
This one was from me: a 50 minute professional massage and afterwards, dinner at Five Guys Burgers and Fries!
His parents gave him a great book, Supersonic Saints, and a really cool DVD set called Life, and his sister Haley gave him a funny present: six cans of chocolate frosting. She read my post a little while ago about how much Jed likes frosting, and decided to give him that. It was super funny. Jed also got two cards, one from his brother's family in England, and one via email from his other sister, which I thought was way cute!
The next day was my step-dad Tony's birthday. So my he, my mom, Jed, and I went out to Happy Sumo for dinner for sushi which was delicious! Then we went home for presents and cake. My family gave Jed a really cool Star Wars book that he had wanted and a huge rolling cooler!
So the cake. I had been planning this for weeks! I was so excited. My sister helped me decorate it, and I think it turned out great! The cake was an Xbox 360 and then I made a rice krispies Xbox controller that we also decorated with frosting.
And so ends all the birthday festivities for my husband. I hope he had a great birthday! I certainly enjoyed planning it!
Thursday we were up late, so at midnight, I blindfolded him and drove him to Del Taco for a midnight run, something he used to do all the time with him roommates. Then we slept in very late... very late ha ha. Then we had lunch at P.F. Chang's, which he's never been to! My cousin Josh was our server, and so overall, it was a delicious and fun lunch. Then poor Jed had to work.
After work, we went to a party. Not for Jed, but for my Grandma's 80th birthday! I made potato salad, and because everyone loved, it, I am going to give you the recipe!
Tangy Dill Potato Salad
Ingredients:
3 pounds new potatoes, scrubbed and
quartered (I used red potatoes)
1/2 cup Italian-style salad dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain, mix with Italian dressing, and set aside to cool.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, green onions, dill, mustard, lemon juice, and pepper. When the potatoes are cooled, stir into the bowl until coated. Refrigerate for a couple of hours to blend flavors before serving.
It was way good and I highly recommend it.
After the party, we went home and Jed opened presents!
This one was from me: a 50 minute professional massage and afterwards, dinner at Five Guys Burgers and Fries!
His parents gave him a great book, Supersonic Saints, and a really cool DVD set called Life, and his sister Haley gave him a funny present: six cans of chocolate frosting. She read my post a little while ago about how much Jed likes frosting, and decided to give him that. It was super funny. Jed also got two cards, one from his brother's family in England, and one via email from his other sister, which I thought was way cute!
The next day was my step-dad Tony's birthday. So my he, my mom, Jed, and I went out to Happy Sumo for dinner for sushi which was delicious! Then we went home for presents and cake. My family gave Jed a really cool Star Wars book that he had wanted and a huge rolling cooler!
So the cake. I had been planning this for weeks! I was so excited. My sister helped me decorate it, and I think it turned out great! The cake was an Xbox 360 and then I made a rice krispies Xbox controller that we also decorated with frosting.
And so ends all the birthday festivities for my husband. I hope he had a great birthday! I certainly enjoyed planning it!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Here's what we had for dessert tonight...
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH CUPCAKES
Special thanks to my mommy for the platter and my sister for the decorating tip/bag.
Here's the recipe if you want to make it--it was delicious so I highly recommend it!
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate
chips
1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup canola oil
3 eggs
DIRECTIONS:
1. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt; set aside. Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add 1 egg and the vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls; place onto a baking sheet, and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. **Or just use pre-made cookie dough. Saves time!
2. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
3. Beat 3 eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer to break up. Add the cake mix, water, and canola oil; continue beating for 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each 2/3 full. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion of the cupcake (not the cookie dough ball) comes clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH CUPCAKES
Special thanks to my mommy for the platter and my sister for the decorating tip/bag.
Here's the recipe if you want to make it--it was delicious so I highly recommend it!
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate
chips
1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup canola oil
3 eggs
DIRECTIONS:
1. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt; set aside. Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add 1 egg and the vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls; place onto a baking sheet, and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. **Or just use pre-made cookie dough. Saves time!
2. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
3. Beat 3 eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer to break up. Add the cake mix, water, and canola oil; continue beating for 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each 2/3 full. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion of the cupcake (not the cookie dough ball) comes clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Apple Cupcakes
Despite the name of this blog, the cupcakes were not apple flavored. Just vanilla.
So it was cute Kristine's birthday at work, and so I made cupcakes! I had a grand ole' time choosing which cupcake to make from my two cupcake books, but finally decided on the cupcakes decorated like apples.
So here they are! The pictures should help you figure out how I get the shape and I'll just tell you that the stems are tootsie rolls and the leaves are Frooties (green apple flavored even!)
While I wouldn't say they were the most tasty cupcakes I've made, they certainly were adorable!
You like? I love them!
So it was cute Kristine's birthday at work, and so I made cupcakes! I had a grand ole' time choosing which cupcake to make from my two cupcake books, but finally decided on the cupcakes decorated like apples.
So here they are! The pictures should help you figure out how I get the shape and I'll just tell you that the stems are tootsie rolls and the leaves are Frooties (green apple flavored even!)
While I wouldn't say they were the most tasty cupcakes I've made, they certainly were adorable!
You like? I love them!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thanksgiving and Christmas Decorating!
Hey hey hey! So I have two things to tell you about. First, I never posted these cute, cute little turkeys we made at our Primary activity this month. So they're pretty self explanatory, but just so you know, the head is an extra large malt ball.
So for family home evening last night, Jed and I decorated for Christmas! My mom got new garlands this year, so she kindly is letting us have her old garlands. So we thought we'd hang them all around the room, and then I thought we could hang Christmas ornaments on them! Jed has gotten an ornament every Christmas from his parents every year, so he has a lot, and our tree, as you can see, is little...
So I measured, hung up hooks (thank you 3M for your Command strips), hung the garland, then Jed hung the Christmas ornaments, and then we plugged it in. Yeah, we didn't even think to plug it in before all the hanging and decorating. So you could probably guess what happened. It didn't light. It was funny, really, how we really should have thought of plugging them in to make sure they worked BEFORE doing all the decorating. But oh well. Better luck next year.
(P.S.... FHE was last night, and today I turned them on, and half of them work! Now to just figure out the other half...)
So for family home evening last night, Jed and I decorated for Christmas! My mom got new garlands this year, so she kindly is letting us have her old garlands. So we thought we'd hang them all around the room, and then I thought we could hang Christmas ornaments on them! Jed has gotten an ornament every Christmas from his parents every year, so he has a lot, and our tree, as you can see, is little...
So I measured, hung up hooks (thank you 3M for your Command strips), hung the garland, then Jed hung the Christmas ornaments, and then we plugged it in. Yeah, we didn't even think to plug it in before all the hanging and decorating. So you could probably guess what happened. It didn't light. It was funny, really, how we really should have thought of plugging them in to make sure they worked BEFORE doing all the decorating. But oh well. Better luck next year.
(P.S.... FHE was last night, and today I turned them on, and half of them work! Now to just figure out the other half...)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
London Broil + Marinade = AMAZING and EASY = happy housewife because dinner was a sinch but still delicious
Hey.
Yesterday, I went to Smith's because they were having a great sale on meat. It really was wonderful. I got lots of kinds of meat for under $2/lb. While there, I bought some meat: the London Broil. I have heard of this, but most definitely have not cooked it before. Meat has always scared me. I'm really not sure why. I think it may be that there are just so many different cuts that I have no idea what to do with them all, so it's just easiest to stick to chicken breasts and ground beef. It has taken a while for me to get adventurous with my meat cooking, and so making this london broil was a good step for me. (Next thing I hope to try: a whole chicken, or even better, a game hen!)
Last night, I started to marinate the meat so that we could have it for dinner today. My favorite part was the fact that I had to score the meat so there were pretty diamonds all over it. Loved it.
Today, I cooked the meat. Thank goodness for the two sided griddle we got from some good soul for our wedding. My sister-in-law and her husband both mentioned to me this summer how much they love their griddle, and I could not agree more. While we don't quite use it every week, I used it twice last week and several times before that. It is just so handy! You should get one. I used the grill side and seared both sides so that we had a deliciously cooked, but still pink in the middle, piece of meat.
Just a few hours ago, Jed and I ate our london broil. It was sooooo good! I will attribute part of this fact to it being Fast Sunday, but I mostly just want to write this post to share the marinade because it was delicious. It had two of my favorite things to use in cooking: soy sauce and garlic. So here's the recipe, which I highly recommend trying out sometime, and for those of you who are scared of meat just like I am (was), london broil was easy!
London Broil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 pounds flank steak
Directions
1. In a small bowl, mix together garlic, salt, soy sauce, ketchup, vegetable oil, black pepper and oregano.
2. Score both sides of the meat, diamond cut, about 1/8 inch deep. Rub garlic mixture into both sides of the meat. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil, and refrigerate for 5 to 6 hours, or overnight. Flip meat every few hours.
3. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
4. Place meat on the prepared grill. Cook for 3 to 7 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.
Yesterday, I went to Smith's because they were having a great sale on meat. It really was wonderful. I got lots of kinds of meat for under $2/lb. While there, I bought some meat: the London Broil. I have heard of this, but most definitely have not cooked it before. Meat has always scared me. I'm really not sure why. I think it may be that there are just so many different cuts that I have no idea what to do with them all, so it's just easiest to stick to chicken breasts and ground beef. It has taken a while for me to get adventurous with my meat cooking, and so making this london broil was a good step for me. (Next thing I hope to try: a whole chicken, or even better, a game hen!)
Last night, I started to marinate the meat so that we could have it for dinner today. My favorite part was the fact that I had to score the meat so there were pretty diamonds all over it. Loved it.
Today, I cooked the meat. Thank goodness for the two sided griddle we got from some good soul for our wedding. My sister-in-law and her husband both mentioned to me this summer how much they love their griddle, and I could not agree more. While we don't quite use it every week, I used it twice last week and several times before that. It is just so handy! You should get one. I used the grill side and seared both sides so that we had a deliciously cooked, but still pink in the middle, piece of meat.
Just a few hours ago, Jed and I ate our london broil. It was sooooo good! I will attribute part of this fact to it being Fast Sunday, but I mostly just want to write this post to share the marinade because it was delicious. It had two of my favorite things to use in cooking: soy sauce and garlic. So here's the recipe, which I highly recommend trying out sometime, and for those of you who are scared of meat just like I am (was), london broil was easy!
London Broil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 pounds flank steak
Directions
1. In a small bowl, mix together garlic, salt, soy sauce, ketchup, vegetable oil, black pepper and oregano.
2. Score both sides of the meat, diamond cut, about 1/8 inch deep. Rub garlic mixture into both sides of the meat. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil, and refrigerate for 5 to 6 hours, or overnight. Flip meat every few hours.
3. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
4. Place meat on the prepared grill. Cook for 3 to 7 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Bread, Bowling, and Sunflowers
This was a busy Labor Day weekend!
Saturday my wonderful friend Natalie helped me get started with my bread making! I'm hoping to make bread every couple of weeks so that we can save money instead of buying bread from the store! Also, it's whole wheat bread so it's healthier. Basically, I make two loafs and then about a dozen rolls. Here's how it turned out!
That afternoon I made some cupcakes from my book "Hello, Cupcake" for a woman I visit teach (it was her birthday) and then also for dessert on Sunday with Kyli (see previous post for that story...). I had SO much fun making these! I think I made a little noise of excitement after every single one. I seriously can't wait for the next birthday to come up so I can try out another one from the book! So here are my sunflowers:
They're cute, right?
So Monday unfortunately I had to work, but that evening Jed and I went with my family to dinner at the One Man Band diner and then bowling. My family is not exactly talented at bowling, so I think Jed was the only person to get over 100.
Saturday my wonderful friend Natalie helped me get started with my bread making! I'm hoping to make bread every couple of weeks so that we can save money instead of buying bread from the store! Also, it's whole wheat bread so it's healthier. Basically, I make two loafs and then about a dozen rolls. Here's how it turned out!
That afternoon I made some cupcakes from my book "Hello, Cupcake" for a woman I visit teach (it was her birthday) and then also for dessert on Sunday with Kyli (see previous post for that story...). I had SO much fun making these! I think I made a little noise of excitement after every single one. I seriously can't wait for the next birthday to come up so I can try out another one from the book! So here are my sunflowers:
They're cute, right?
So Monday unfortunately I had to work, but that evening Jed and I went with my family to dinner at the One Man Band diner and then bowling. My family is not exactly talented at bowling, so I think Jed was the only person to get over 100.
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