Monday, April 30, 2012

Sweet Potato cupcakes

Well just like the White Winged Dovehere I am made it thru my busy weekend. You know I've always like Stevie Nicks and this song goes thru so many different transitions. There are alot of stories folded into this tune. Ya'll know I'm a big fan of songs that tell stories.

I recently stumbled upon a great lil recipe for sweet potato cupcakes,and I had to try it.This
recipe is very simple. I had never even heard of tablespoon.com, had you? The only thing I changed was the frosting. I didn't use cream cheese because I could not find it.I used Betty Crockers vanilla and added brown sugar and all spice to it. It piped up very well!! I am kinda busy today and I gotta blow out of here so I'm just going to post the final product....and I think I might make this for my bday.





Awww so cute! So yummy. These is gonna be my new go to cupcake.


Friday, April 27, 2012

Breakfast week conclusion!( my spin on a cheesecake factory meal)

This song has been in my head for a few days, I think maybe because I caught the tail end of it a while ago. Cruel Summer by Ace Of Bass is just one of those relatable songs that I especially like because it sounds like it should've come out in the 80's. Yeaaa I love the 80's.

This will be the conclusion if breakfast week. I was at the Cheesecake factory on easter and I tried something new and delicious. It's called the Baja Chicken Hash. I liked it so much I created my own remixed my own a few days later.Here's what you'll need:





You'll need on idaho potato, but for reasons un-beknowst to me, its not pictured.

1) Dice the potato put into a microwave safe bowl cover with water and micro for 2 mins.
2)Fry the tortilla on med heat then drain on a paper towel.



3) At this point begin to cook the potatoes,on low heat,season with cayenne pepper,after they have begun to brown throw in the bacon and onions.
4) Now start poaching the eggs.I like my eggs poached hard! throw the broccoli into the pan and season with garlic pepper.
5. Once everything is cooked sprinkle on the chihuahua and asiago cheese's. Then place the eggs on top and season with salt and basil.



The fried tortilla goes  down first, then load everything else upon it. It was so good. This type of thing is one of my favorite things to do; find something you really like and remix it. Now I'm off to a busy weekend. I'm donating to the world hunger bake sale and I'm catering a gallery event tomorrow. See ya next week!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Simply Delicious breakfast quiche

You all know how much I love me some Anita Baker right? Well today I bring you one of her finest moments in the song You Bring me joy .This is the ultimate jam and when you hear this you know this woman can sing. Opps I meant saang.

This week I bring you breakfast. Yes today I bring you...a quiche or a tart if you will. It feeds 4 and takes all of 25 mins. Pair it with a really nice Bellini and you've got brunch with friends. Here's what you'll need:






Yes all of this..it's not that much tho. I only used 2 eggs.

1. Saute the onions and spinach then drain them real well. 
2. Mix the spinach & onions with the eggs and half of the parmesan and feta cheeses. Season with basil,salt & pepper. Not too much salt, the cheese speaks for itself.
3. Begin to form the crust. I used Mizz. Crocker's! The crust goes into the same pan you sauteed the spinach in, it makes for a nice flavoring. 



4. Pre-heat the oven to 375 and then in go the ingredients.On top goes the remainder of the cheeses.Bake for about 12 mins ir until eggs are firm.



It will look like this, and it will be yummy. Be sure and come back later this week for another yummful breakfast!! 

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Lemon Poppy seed Shortbread

Ok I have to preach to ya'll about today's song. So take a seat and grab a fan.I'm a big Frankie Beverly Maze fan I've been to their concerts and they rocked my sox!! I have always loved their song Golden Time of day
tho I've never really understood it until now. Let me tell you I am completely enjoying my golden time of day. It doesn't mean that everything in life is perfect; it means that you have come to a place of peace and happiness with who you are. You know that God has big plans for you, you've realized that rushing is pointless. God has created this path for you, enjoy it and enjoy your golden time of day.

I was flipping thru a better Homes & Gardens cookbook that I've had for years and saw a really simple recipe for Lemon poppy seed shortbread, I just had to make it. It was really crumbley when I went to cut it out to bake, is it supposed to be like that? Regardless it was additively delish. Here's what you'll need:




It's a very straightforward recipe:
1 1/4 th c all purpose flour
3 tblspns granulated sugar
1/2 c butter
1 tblspn poppy seeds
1 tspn lemon peel
Now let the shortbread games begin!

1. Combine flour, sugar and poppy seeds. Add the lemon zest to the butter, and cut butter into flout mixture.



2.Continue to cut until all is combined. Ok this is where things started to get crumbley. I had to smash the dough together with a spoon to get it all together so I could cut it into stars.



Yes thats what I wound up with. Literally I smashed all together with a spoon and thats exactly how it came "together" hehe. 
Bake on 325 for 15 mins and you get these



From that one batch I believe I got about 14 stars but it really just depends on how you cut them.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

My favorite Frittata

Does anybody remember Keith Washington or Chante Moore? I don't know where they went either but that did this one duet, that will forever go down as one of my fav duet's. Candlelight And You epitimize's that 90's R&B that I miss soooo verrrry  much. Good music real and actual talent, what ever happened to that?

I absolutely love making frittatas. You can do so many different things with them. This blog is just about my most beloved frittata, please feel free to experiment do whatever you'd like. You know I love nothing more than a kitchen remix! Here's what you'll need:

1 Idaho potato
1 tblspn rosemary
1 tblspn sage
1/4 th c onions
3 pcs turkey bacon
1 quarter of a bell pepper
1/2 c feta cheese
2 tblspns romano,parmesan,asiago cheeses

1) Dice up the potato and put it int a microwave safe bowl, then cover the potatoes with water pop it in the micro for about 2 mins. Meanwhile begin the chopping.


 2) When the potatoes come out begin to saute them with 3 cap fulls of olive oil. After they've browned a bit put in the onions & pepper.



3
 3) Season this with dill and rosemary.After the onions have begun to brown,in goes the bacon and sage. Season with salt and garlic pepper. Now preheat the oven to 400, now!
4) Let the oven pre heat for about 8 mins then whisk together 3 eggs with basil and pour that into the pan. then sprinkle on half of the cheeses. Let bake for 10mins.




And there it is. Some ppl flip the frittata and serve it, but I like it right side up. What do you put in your frittata?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Exploding Chicken Breast!

Alanis Morrissette in my humble opinion is not a singer, she's a lyricist. You oughta Know is an anthem for so many people exiting a bad relationship. I think she wrote this song for me, and I know sooo many other folks feel that way. Really tho, she wrote it for me.

Today we have the story of the exploding chicken breast. I stuffed it with goodies, but I forgot to pound it out before stuffing so... yea. Nah it didn't really explode but it came close. Here's what you'll need:





1) DOn't be a dope like me and forget to pound out the chicken breast.The green beans were frozen, so I rinsed them under some warm water and drained them. I used cheddar cheese, but feel free to experiment. (The poultry rub was on sale at world mrkt, but feel free to use whatever seasonings you'd like)

 2) Pre- heat the oven to 375 then stuff the chicken and make sure you have at least 5 toothpicks to secure the meat with. Now rub the meat with a mixture of 2 tspns salt,1.5 tblspns olive oil, and 1 tblspn poultry rub.



3) Now its ready to bake! Bake on 375 for about 25 mins.






There it is, in all its glory and it was damn good! The cheese was spilling all over the cookie sheet I baked it on, (always use foil or parchment paper) and a few of the green beans were trying to come out. It was yummy tho.


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Cheddar Biscuits

Sweet sticky thing by the Ohio Players is a song that has eluded me for years. Meaning I grew up listening to them, my grandparents had their records. This particular song I didn't quite come to understand until recently. Even now I can only make out the chorus of the song...but I've gotten a pretty good feel for this tune. Sexual, but not overtly, cute but never cutesy. My kinda song.

Wanna hear a story? Here is goes. One Sunday afternoon I was sitting home and had a hunkering for cheddar biscuits. What was I to do? The nearest Red Lobster is a whopping 8 mins away and I didn't feel like losing my parking space. I did what I had to do and I made them myself, and man were they good! The recipe is from Betty Crockers Best Loved recipes.


2 c Bisquick Original baking Mix ( I didn't have it I used krusteaz pancake mix)
2/3 c milk
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese ( Used a cup, cause I have an addiction)
1/4 c butter
1/4 tspn garlic powder ( more like a tblespn and a half, also I used pepper not powder)

1)Heat oven to 450

2) Mix baking mix, milk and cheese to make soft dough.(I added garlic pepper)Mix well and drop onto ungreased cookie sheet. (I greased it)

3) Bake for about 10mins. Mix butter and remaining garlic pepper ( about half a tblspn) and brush onto biscuits.




The pancake mix was really something I tried on a whim and it worked!




It goes with any breakfast really well.


Monday, April 9, 2012

Lunch With a Friend Pt. 2

Lay your Head On my Pillow isn't that a sweet thing to say? I think so. Then you listen to the rest of the lyrics and you realize...well they might be doing a bit more than laying..yea. Tony,tone,Toni always did have a way with words tho didn't they.

So today we complete my lunch with a friend blog, now lets get to gettin!
First the brownies, I apologize that I didn't take more pics. The recipe is super straight forward. You can find it here. I didn't use chocolate chips because I already had a hunk of chocolate laying around so chopped it into chunks.
 Again I'm sorry but I was rushing and thats the only pic I got,I just sprinkled confectionery sugar on top. 
Here's what you'll need for the pasta salad + an ear of corn that is not pictured. Yes its fine to use frozen, but at the time I had fresh and wanted to use it before it went bad.





Again I was rushing so I only have one pic, please forgive me! I like to boil the pasta then rinse it in cold water then drain and just let it sit in the strainer for about 10 minutes. Then I toss the salad in a bowl along with olive oil to coat,1/2 tblspn garlic pepper and salt. Then the corn and 1/2 tblspn basil. Never ever skimp on the feta cheese. Just dont.



There is goes. My friend loved it so much he had to have seconds!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Lunch W/a friend Pt.1

Well it's Good Friday and I can't think of a better song to play for ya'll. Nobody,nobody sings Mary Don't you Weep like Aretha Franklin. The song needs no introduction, just listen.

Last week I had a friend over for a spot of lunch. I wanted something light but of sustenance but not a sunday meal. I decided to make my own sangria (for the first time) ahi tuna sandwiches, pasta salad and brownies. Today we will just focus on the sangria and the sandwiches.

Ok so after scouring the net for random red wine sangria recipes I kinda would up making my own. Does this surprise you? It shouldn't ya'll know I like to remix everything. Here is what you'll need to hunt and gather:




I used a standard sized carafe filled 3/4ths with Shiraz then in went the grapes (1/2 c) and 4,5 slices of orange. Then cut half the pear into chunks and toss it in. Then in goes about 1c of the pomegranate juice. Stir this very well then put it in the fridge ASAP. If you'd like freeze the grapes for about an hour then put them in the drink.



It turned out really well, you can barely see or taste the grapes and that pisses me off but it was really tasty..Now it's sandwich time.

If you watched my previous post you'll know that I've only cooked tuna once in my life prior to last week, but I can't wait to do it more often. I marinated it just for a few hours and boy that made a hell of difference. For the marinade you'll need:

1 tblspn lemon juice
1 tblspn herb salt ( ground really well)
2 tblspns olive oil

Mix all of this very well and put in a ziploc bag along with the tuna and set it in the fridge for about 3 hrs.
1)When you get ready to cook it, get a non stick pan on med heat and pour in a cap full of olive oil. 
2) the tuna only needs to be cooked on each side for about 4 mins



Before....



after.... yes this is just one steak cut in half!!
As far as the bread goes I just got a french roll toasted it slightly and rubbed herbed butter all over it, and the inside as well.



We will cover everything else next week. But how's this for a light lunch?

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Why I love Trader Joes

Ohhh how I love Earth,Wind & Fire. Don't we all? The combination of them together with Chicagos own Ramsey lewis =Sun Goddess 
This is an awesome song, no lyrics just syllables and pure music. This is how all music should strive to be.

My vlog today is about why I love Trader Joe's I had just gotten back from shopping there and wanted to show you guys what I purchased..oh and that wine is soooo good,watch the video,you'll see.
Part 1 and Part 2