Back in the wisking of things...

So it has been quite a while since I've posted something hasn't it? Well I haven't really been cooking anything exciting up but I did make my chocolate peppermint fudge cake for Chistmas! It was sooo yummy! Really easy to make too. It's always a hit at any party and if you don't want to make and frost a big ol' cake then cupcakes are always fun!

chocolate peppermint fudge cake:
-1 box chocolate fudge cake mix
-1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Make according to directions on the box. Pour into cake pans and bake. I use 2 circular pans but you can use 3 or a 13x9. Whatever you like. Make sure to cool completely before frosting your cake.
white chocolate buttercream:
-1 stick of softened butter
1 pound of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons milk (as needed)
8 oz. white bark chocolate, chopped
In a large bowl mix together butter and powered sugar (1 cup at a time) until creamy. Add vanilla and half the milk.
Add half and inch of cold water to a medium sauce pan. Place a larger bowl on top of the saucepan. Make sure it does not touch the water. Bring to a high simmer and add chocolate to the top bowl. Melt the chocolate slowly, stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn. Once melted take the bowl off the sauce pan and cool the chocolate for a few minutes. Add immediately to the frosting. Add the rest of the milk if needed to make the texture smooth and creamy. You don't want it too thick. It will set up once on the cake.
Add a small spoonful of frosting to your cake plate to insure the cake does not move once it's on the plate. Frosting between the layers and all around the cake. Use all the frosting!
Crush up a peppermint candy cane and sprinkle on top for garnish if desired.

It didn't turn out toooo pretty. But it sure was tasty!

Homemade Pizza

Made my first pizza! It was pretty yummy, aside from the crust... Not sooo crusty. It was more like a biscuit. But I did use bisquick. I was in a pinch, ran out of flour and it was the only thing I had. But I fulfilled my dream of eating a meatball pizza!
Seriously...I really had a dream about a meatball pizza. And it was the best meatball pizza in the whole world! As soon as I went in for a big bite.....I woke up.

So for the crust I used:
2 1/2 cups of bisquick
3/4 cups of water
1 pack fast acting dry yeast

Dissolve yeast in water. Mix with bisquick until combined. Knead 20 times on lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 2 pieces and roll out.
Feel free to use your own recipe, or store bought. I didn't care tooo much for this so I probably won't be using it again.

Let's get saucy!
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
8 oz. tomato sauce
1/4 tsp oregano
salt & pepper
1 tbsp olive oil

sauteé garlic and shallot in oil until tender, 4 minutes. Add sauce, oregano and salt and pepper. Cook on medium-low until sauce had slightly thickened.

That's a spicy meatball! (said in cheesy italian accent!)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup italian bread crumbs
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp oregano
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 lb. ground beed

Mix all ingredients together and roll into 1 inch balls. I had 12 balls total. Cook in 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
I like to put a lid on them and let them steam then take the lid off and brown them, turning the heat to med-high for browning.
Cool to room temp and cut into slices.

Sprinkle italian bread crumbs on a baking sheet and top with rolled out pizza dough. Spoon sauce all over the dough. Top with meatballs and whatever toppings you like! I put tomatoes and onions on mine. Sprinking with shredded parmesan cheese and be generous with the mozzarella. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 450 degrees. When the crust is golden turn off the oven and turn the broiler on high. Broil until cheese is slightly golden.

Roast Pepper Chili

Sooo good! And good for you :)
You will need:
1 pound ground sirloin
1 purple onion (chopped)
2 poblano peppers
1 red, yellow, & green pepper
2 tbsp freshly minced garlic
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
14 oz. petite diced tomatoes
14 oz. black beans (drained but not rinsed)
14 oz. kidney beans (drained but not rinsed)
1 12 oz. beer
2 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1.5 tbsp: garlic powder, onion flake, paprika, salt, black pepper
1 tbsp cumin, ancho-chili powder, cayenne pepper
2 packages chili seasoning

Wash and dry the peppers, put the onion in the freezer. Put the peppers on a preheated grill or grill pan,  high heat, cooking until the skin is slightly charred and looks wrinkled and pulls away from the meat of the pepper. Rotate the pepper to ensure even, all-around cooking. Make sure to cook the bottom and the top as well. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the pepper.

When the peppers are nice and charred put them in a baking dish and cover with plastic wrap to cool. The plastic wrap allows condensation to form and the peppers stay moist. This allows to the skin to peel more easily.

Preheat a large stock pot or dutch oven to medium high heat. Add olive oil. Take the onion out of the freezer, chop, and add to the pot. Turn the heat to medium and cook until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add sirloin. While the meat is cooking peel and seed peppers. Dice the peppers and add them to the onions and sirloin. Add all your spices and seasoning. Mix well. Add the beer and cook until almost completely evaporated. Add the beans, tomatoes, and stock. Stir to mix everything together and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Let simmer for at least an hour.                                                    

Cupcakes!!

I volunteered to host a bake sale at work in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. It is October and breast cancer is all the rage this time of year. So for a good cause, as you know baking is not my thing, I put on my best game face and took a challenge. With the help of the box mix I was successful! Remember my last baking venture?

Yea... Not my best work. Well this time around I made pretty, delicious cupcakes! And I have proof.

I made all kinds of goodies for this bake sale. I baked for hours! Hard labor I know... Here's what I created!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip with Peanut Butter Frosting

Cake:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1/4 cup peanut butter chips

Make according to box directions. Spoon into paper cupcake holders and sprinkle on the peanut butter chips. Bake according to box.

Frosting:

1/2 stick of butter

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3-4 cups powdered sugar

splash of milk if needed to insure proper consistency 

Cream butter, cream cheese and peanut butter together. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Add milk if necessary, if frosting is too thick. 

See! Pretty! 

My other creation was just a plain ol' chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. I put red food coloring in the frosting to make it pink!! 

They're ta-ta-tastic cupcakes!

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

I love my mom's hashbrown casserole. I can never make it quite like her but mine is pretty tasty. It has all the components of a great casserole: sour cream & cheese!!!! Lots of cheese!
It's great for breakfast... lunch... dinner. Yes, dinner. I have altered the recipe some to make it dinner friendly. It's a little more savory, equally delish.
To make this you will need:

• 1 bag diced potatoes. (I like the kind with peppers and onions. Or you can get the shredded kind. Whatever you like)
• 2 cans Campbell's Chedder Cheese soup
• 12 oz. sour cream. 
• 1 cup shredded chedder cheese, divided.
• salt & pepper. 

Break up the hashbrowns and pour them into a large mixing bowl. Stir in sour cream and chedder cheese soup and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. You probably won't need to add much salt.

YUM!

If it doesn't look this creamy feel free to add more sour cream.

Put it in a glass casserole dish. Cover it with the rest of the shredded cheese.

Put it in the oven.

I made two small ones. But feel free to make one large one. It's yummy no matter what you put it in.

Bake at 350 degrees until it's bubbly and the cheese is melty and golden. About 20 minutes. But just use your eye. If it's bubbly and golden, it's done!

And it will look like this: