Hanging up my apron for a bit…

http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2008/05/incentives.html

I just wanted to say thanks to all my loyal readers, but I will be taking a short break from blogging for a couple weeks. I am spending some much needed time with family and will be back up and running with tasty recipes in May.

Pls stay tuned for a lot of great recipes later this spring and summer!

ENJOY and HAPPY COOKING!

 


Chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes

WOW..that is all WOW! An unbelieveable recipe from Annie’s Eats..WOW!

ENJOY!

Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or bittersweet)

For the filling:
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 tbsp. light brown sugar, packed
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

For the frosting:
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
3½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ tsp. salt
3 tbsp. milk
2½ tsp. vanilla extract

For decoration:
Tiny chocolate chip cookies–I omitted but would be great!
Mini chocolate chips

Directions:
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24 total).  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  Stir together to blend.  Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated.  Blend in the vanilla.  Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cupcake liners.   Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the cookie dough filling, combine the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Beat in the flour, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the mixture has firmed up a bit, about an hour.

To fill the cupcakes, cut a cone-shaped portion out of the center of each cupcake.  Fill each hole with a chunk of the chilled cookie dough mixture.

To make the frosting, beat together the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until creamy.  Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth.  Beat in the flour and salt.  Mix in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.

Frost the filled cupcakes as desired, sprinkling with mini chocolate chips and topping with mini chocolate chip cookies for decoration.


Chicken breasts with caramelized onions, cranberries and balsamic glazed asparagus

What a great, clean eating meal. This was simple to put together and was very very filing. I would season the chicken breasts next time as they seemed plain, but overall this was a great meal! I found this recipe in the latest Clean Eating Magazine and was thrilled to find it wasnt only healthy, but one of their budget meals of the month!

ENJOY!

Ingredients: Serves 4
1 bunch asparagus bottoms cut off
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste
Olive Oil cooking spray-I used my Misto filled with evoo
1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
2 tbsp unsweetened dried cranberries
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded thin

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Place asparagus spears on a  nonstick cookie sheet or baking pan lined with foil. Drizzle asparagus with balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 mins.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over hight heat for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and mist with cooking spray. Add onion and cook until caramelized. Add cranberries and saute for another 2 mins. Remove from heat but keep warm.
Heat same pan over medium-high heat and add chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side until cooked thru. Season with salt and pepper and add cranberry-onion mixture to pan and cook for 2 more minutes.
Serve warm. I also served with brown rice.

Nutritional count:
Cals: 174
Total fat: 2 g
Carbs: 10 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 29 g


Salmon Burgers with Cilantro Mayo

I have never had a salmon burger and was always afraid to try them as I was afraid they would be too fishy tasting or get too dry. But when I saw this recipe and how Annie’s recipes are always winners, I knew I had to give them a try. They were a great and a great way to enjoy salmon.

ENJOY!

Ingredients:
½ cup red bell pepper, diced-I used green peppers
6 tbsp. panko bread crumbs-I used ww
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 lb. salmon fillets, skinned, boned and finely chopped
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1½ tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
¼ tsp. salt
1-2 tbsp. vegetable or canola oil

For the cilantro mayo:
1 clove garlic, chopped
½ cup mayo
½ cup cilantro
Dash of cayenne pepper
Squeeze of lemon juice

For serving:
Burger buns
Green lettuce
Sliced red onion-I omitted
Sliced tomatoes

Directions:
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the diced bell pepper, panko, garlic and salmon.  In a small bowl combine the egg white, soy sauce, lemon juice and salt.  Add the liquid mixture to the bowl with the salmon and toss gently until well incorporated.  Form the mixture into four equal patties.
To make the cilantro mayo, combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor.  Process until well combined and smooth.
Lightly coat a grill pan or skillet with 1 tablespoon of the oil.  Heat over medium-high heat until hot.  Cook the patties about 5 minutes per side, until cooked through.
Place the burgers on the buns, spreading one side of the bun with the cilantro mayo.  Top as desired with lettuce, onion and tomato.


Scallops and shrimp provencal

Once again H was asking for scallops and with me not being a scallop fan I need to always find ways to cook them for him. I did add shrimp to this recipe for myself and it turned out great. Easy to make, somewhat healthy and very good! I found this on Annie’s Eats and once again she didnt disappoint! I served it with ww pasta and steamed veggies!

ENJOY!

Ingredients:
1 lb. fresh bay or sea scallops
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided-I omitted I used evoo probably better with butter but I wanted to keep it as healthy as I could
½ cup minced shallots (about 2 large)
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2-3 tbsp. flat-leaf parsley, minced
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 lemon, halved

Directions:
If using bay scallops, leave them whole.  If using sea scallops, cut them in half horizontally (or, leave them whole and cook a bit longer).  Season the scallops with kosher salt and black pepper, toss with flour, and shake off the excess.
In a large skillet or sauté pan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over high heat until sizzling.  Add the scallops to the pan in a single layer.  Lower the heat to medium and allow the scallops to brown lightly on one side without moving.  Then turn and brown lightly on the other side.  This should take about 3-4 minutes total (closer to 8 minutes for sea scallops left whole).
Add the rest of the butter to the pan with the scallops and let it melt.  Add the shallots, garlic, and parsley to the pan and sauté for 2 more minutes, tossing the seasonings with the scallops.  Add the wine to the pan and cook for 1 minute.  Taste the sauce for seasoning and adjust as necessary.  Serve hot, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the scallops.


HAPPY EASTER!

My blog updates will resume after Easter! Have a blessed day!


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