Date Pinwheel Cookies

One of my favorite foodie things about the Holidays is the sweets, cookies in particular. This year I had the opportunity to bake one of my favorite cookies with my Grandma D. A moment that I will cherish for years to come. In my family, I'm sure in most families, we all have that one cookie we just can't get enough of. That one we just can't wait for! For me, it's the Date Pinwheel. A simple cookie that's just sweet and soft enough, but still has a nice crunch. Not to mention the delicious filling of dates and nuts. Perfect combination, if you ask me. While I may be a fan of many cookies, this one always makes me the happiest foodie. 

Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies

This year at work we tried something a little different and formed a committee to plan the Christmas party. We decided to change things up a bit from the previous years. We added a few games and etc etc. The most important change for me was of course food related. Instead of using the store bought cookies and cakes, the committee made desserts and brought them in! Silly me, I said I would bring in Whoopie Pies. 

A Thank YOU...

I  just wanted to drop a huge THANK YOU to all the viewers of my blog. I'm amazed at the amount of views I've received in the past month, especially considering I've not posted much. Thank you SO much for stopping by and checking out what I have here. 


I also wanted to post a little sneak peek of an upcoming post. This has probably been the busiest week of my life and it's not over, so I'll be posting next week. I recently made some Whoopie Pies for a work Christmas party and I want to share the recipe for the Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies. :-) Here's a picture of post that's to come. 

Beef & Vegetable Stew

Today I bring you a simple post with a simple recipe. While this recipe may be simple to make, it's by far the BEST beef stew I have had thus far in my life. 

Fall for Pumpkin Bread

As I sit here in the early days of Fall I feel an overwhelming sense of comfort and inspiration to write and share stories. When I started to write this blog post I had a flood of thoughts and memories. I tried to narrow all I wanted to say into a story that wouldn't take hours to read but still held a personal element. To think, all these words I want to say came from a simple post about my favorite season, Fall, and my favorite seasonal ingredient, Pumpkin. Cheers to the power of food!

Pumpkin goes with Fall like grilling fits with Summer. It's just a natural and universal fact. It's a perfect harmony. There is nothing I like more in the Fall than to be baking pumpkin bread, pumpkin whoopie pies, or even just a plain pumpkin pie. Once that oven starts to warm the spices there is just nothing in comparison. That's one good thing about having a small kitchen and apartment, the aroma just flows throughout. It's in the warming of those spices and the release of that spicy aroma that I find my state of bliss. That natural warming scent is one that not even the best candle can reproduce. 

When I think back on the pumpkin desserts I've made I think the Frozen Yogurt Pumpkin Pie has to be the strangest one I've made. It was a simple dessert; canned pumpkin mix combined with frozen yogurt and placed in a pre-made graham cracker crust (not exactly sure of measurements and added spices). It was delicious, don't get me wrong, just weird to have the cold pumpkin. That was a one time thing I made back when I really started to get into cooking/baking. Come to think of it, I think that's the same year I attempted to make Homemade Eggnog. That was an epic fail! I'm not exactly sure, other than my serious food love for it, what I was thinking when I decided to try and make eggnog. Regardless at least one good food experiment came from that Holiday cooking adventure. 

I have to say my favorite pumpkin dessert, so far, would be the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies I came across last year. Check out my version of the recipe here. You can't go wrong with the combination of pumpkin cake/cookie and cream cheese frosting! These Pumpkin Whoopie Pies have been in high demand by those around me that have eaten them. I get hassled all the time because I don't make them enough and share them. So, if you decide to make them and share, be prepared for some serious attention. :-)

As I've already made the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies a few times this season so I thought it was time to go back to a classic, Pumpkin Bread. I decided to take a look at a few recipes and I settled on one I found in a Southern Living Holiday cookbook I have. I did make two adjustments to the recipe. I split sugar measurements into half granulated and half brown sugar. Instead of Pumpkin Pie Spice I did a spice blend similar to the whoopie pie recipe because I love the amount of flavor the combination gives to the Whoopie Pies. After a few taste tests, I liked this recipe because it reminded me of a Pumpkin Bread I would have eaten growing up, with a little extra spice. 

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread        [Printable Recipe]

adapted from: Southern Living Christmas Cookbook

Yields 2 loaves

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1 15 oz can pumpkin
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla

Direction:

1. In the bowl of a mixer combine the sugars and oil. Mix until incorporated. 
2. Add the eggs, one at a time, be sure to mix well after each egg.
3. Stir in pumpkin.
4. In a separate bowl combine the flour and the rest of the dry ingredients. Whisk together and add to pumpkin mixture alternating with the water.
5. Stir in vanilla.
6. Pour batter in prepared pans . Bake at 325 for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool pans on a wire.

Single Serving: Baked Mac & Cheese 1

As Fall is setting in I know most everyone is thinking about comfort food. What better comfort food is there than Baked Mac & Cheese? There is just something extra comforting about a good Baked Mac & Cheese. 

Simple Cheesecake - No longer fear baking a cheesecake!

Do you just excited, maybe even start to feel a food high, when certain ingredients are involved in a dish/meal/dessert? Cream Cheese is one of those ingredients that gets me excited. It's never just the cream cheese alone however. In this case it's the combination of cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla…that gets me to that place of bliss. Of course, there are some more ingredients and a bit of time to get to the place a bliss, a cheesecake. 

Baking in a small place for a Big cause. Part 2

So I know I've mentioned Karing for Kids a few times here on my blog but I feel it's time to take a deeper more personal look into why it's so close to me. I would also like to share my latest Cake Pop photos/adventure with you. 

Update!

After some time away from blogging and worry about what to cook and share, I'm back. At some point I just got a little busy with life and took a step back. After some thought and chatting with those close to me, I asked myself WHY DID YOU DO THAT?


Being in the kitchen and sharing my finding/recipes through the blog is very therapeutic for me. Getting the chance to create some great food and then write about it, it's a balance in my life. 


I've spent the last few days I've had off work in the kitchen. I cooked an amazing dinner and dessert last night! I'll be sharing the dessert recipe along with a few other recipes in coming posts.

I've decided to start the new posts with Cake Pops! I did them a few weeks back for a Karing for Kids fundraiser. Along with some photos of the Cake Pops (and a few tips) I want to share a more personal story that goes along with Karing for Kids. I want to share why it's so important to me. Below is a sneak peek of the Cake Pops and list of what recipes are to come...


Stay tuned for the coming post! 


- Lion, Bear, and White Chocolate Drizzle Cake Pops
- Baked Mac & Cheese
- Simple yet Delicious...Cheesecake!!

Single Serving: Asian Chicken over Ginger Cilantro Rice

This dish is a take on a favorite recipe of mine, Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. I know that I've mentioned this before, but Red Ginger is one of my favorite restaurants. I first tried Asian Chicken Wraps there. Unfortunately, there is no Red Ginger closet Fort Wayne. However, lucky for me (and now you) someone worked out the recipe and I tracked it down online (sorry I don't remember where I found this recipe!). I've made the wraps a few times and I decided to change it up a little. The wrap recipe uses ground chicken and a few different ingredients and the vegetables are more minced than diced. With this recipe I used chicken tenders and then shredded them. I also added green pepper, green onion, and left the vegetables more diced than minced. Also, I served the chicken over some Ginger Cilantro Rice. I tried to make this a single serving, but you really do get two healthy portions from the recipe. Which for me, worked just right because it took care of dinner and then lunch the next day. ;-)

*Note* - I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of Minute Rice, but I certainly didn't want to take the time to cook up a single serving of rice. I really think that the dish as a whole works really well and I could look past the Minute Rice. 

Ginger Cilantro Rice

To make the rice I simply followed the directions on the box, but cut one serving in half. After the rice is added to the boiling water to set I added the ginger and about 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro. The ginger is all to your taste. I personally like a ginger flavor, yet want it all to be balanced. This dish would also be just as good over plain white rice.

Asian Chicken         [Printable Recipe]

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 chicken breast tenders
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
• 1 glove of garlic, minced
• 1 cup diced mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 Tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon green onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 Tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 2 Tablespoon water
• 2 teaspoons sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and sugar in a small bowl and mix. Set aside.
2. Warm 2 Tablespoons oil in a saute pan and add chicken. Cook chicken until completely cooked, set aside.
3. Saute onion (not green onion) and green pepper in pan until onions are almost translucent. Add garlic and mushrooms.
4. Add the ginger, cilantro, green onion and cook for 4-5 minutes.
5. Add sauce and stir. Cook for just a few minutes and add the water. 
6. Enjoy!

Animal Birthday Cake!

Baking in a small place...for a big cause. Part 1

Who just adores and loves their best friend? ...Silly question, I know. My best friend Stephanie holds a very special place in my life and heart. The past 7 years of my life have been brightened beyond anything I could imagine because of her existence in my life. 

I'm such a sap sometimes. ;-) 

Me and my dearest Stephanie getting ready to make dinner. :)

Stephanie and I love nothing better than to spend an evening, day, or whenever we can manage to get together in the kitchen and COOK! We would both love to own a restaurant and create/cook to our hearts content. Maybe someday our dream will come true...not maybe, it will if we want it to! 

....

The Cause: A benefit auction.

The benefit auction was for Stephanie and her husband, Matt. Matt was recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. After some doctors visits, tests, and a few surgeries, the medical bills began to pile. While they both work they are not offered health insurance. The auction went well and Stephanie and Matt were incredibly thankful for all that they did receive. :-)

When Stephanie asked me to do a dessert for the benefit auction she was having for her husband, there was no way I could say no. At first we had discussed a cake to just serve along with the meal available for purchase. In the end with decided to go with cupcakes, easier clean up and we could sell them separate! I wanted to make sure we had a variety so I managed to make 4 different cupcakes. 

The Baking: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes!

I have to admit that for these cupcakes I did cheat a little and use box mixes from the store with added ingredients to make them a little better. While they may not taste to bad, I'd much prefer to make cakes from scratch. It's worth the extra effort when they turn out and taste delicious. I say when they turn out because I seem to have a difficulty getting the cake/cupcakes to turn out every time. This is what happened this time around...

fell in the center. look below for an even worse example. 

Here's the deal, I have no AC downstairs in my apartment and I have a small kitchen...it was HOT! I think I allowed the butter to get to warm so therefore it resulted in those cupcakes. Butter needs to be at room temperature (65-68 degrees) to get the correct amount of air into the batter. Lesson learned.

Now, on to a better picture of what I did manage to create...

While all the cupcakes did turn out, I'm just going to share one recipe (it was the best one). The Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake! The chocolate cake recipe was one I found here and it's been quite popular. I came across this recipe because making chocolate cake/cupcakes from scratch has yet to be a true success for me. I really do like this recipe, with one adjustment. I decided to not add the chocolate chips...It's still really great! The frosting recipe comes from a traditional whoopie pie filling, I just had the idea of adding peanut butter. Let me just say, I could eat that frosting all day. It paired perfect with the cupcake. To make this a Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake I simply filled the cupcake liners about half full and then placed a Reese's Mini (the new tiny ones) in the center and finished filling the cupcake liner. It was my plan to also add a peanut butter cup on top of the cupcake, but someone (don't look at me) ate too many Reese's ;-) Here are the recipes...be sure to check out the website here for any questions on the recipe...they give step by step photos!

Happy Baking!

The Best Chocolate Cake Ever

Recipe from http://www.kevinandamanda.com

1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 small pkg Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a very large bowl, mix together everything except chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into cake pan of choice (I normally use two 9-inch pie pans). For cooking time, I use the cooking times on the back of the devil’s food cake box as a guide and usually add 10 mins to whatever it says. Then I do the toothpick check, and if it’s not done, I check on it every 5 mins after that. It usually takes around 45 mins for two, 9-inch pie pans.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1 cup vegetable shortening

2 cups powdered sugar

1 small jar marshmallow creme

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat shortening, marshmallow creme, and peanut butter. Mix until combined. Slowly add in powdered sugar followed by the vanilla. Mix until smooth. 

Thank You Cake

I was  asked to put together a cake for my Aunt this weekend. She wanted to say Thank You to all those who have helped her with the Relay for Life events she did this past year. I was just going to go simple but decided to go ahead and try to make the logo. I think it worked. It's not perfect, but good enough. :-)

4 Easy Appetizer Recipes!

Welcome to A "House" Warming Party!

It took me almost 2 months to finally have my "house" (apartment) warming party, but I think it all worked out well. ! stressed for a week or so about the menu but I did come up with some great recipes. I couldn't have pulled the menu off without my best friend Stephanie's help because, well, we just kick a$$ in the kitchen. My aunt helped us as well, she came up with a few good suggestions when we couldn't decide. ;-)

Single Serving: Blueberry Crumble

Time for another Single Serving recipe!

Single Serving: Roasted Cauliflower & Carrots

Here it is! The first Single Serving post!

Eat. Discover. Live.

I bring you this post today because I feel I need it to tie into a new series of posts that I want to start and just to give you a little glimpse into my life, as it is right now. 

Eat. Discover. Live.

These days inspiration has come from here and there and all the places in between. The biggest inspiration for me is the decision to rediscover, or maybe discover for the first time, the person I am. While I've never really lost who I am, I do feel I let parts of myself be hidden. Whether I let this happen out of fear or making sure those around me were happy, I have yet to find out. Regardless of how or why I chose to not be completely myself, that chapter has been closed and a new one has opened. 

I have to say that a part of that motivation came from reading Eat. Pray. Love. and the stories she told about life lessons. I do wish that I could experience some of the things she did, however, I know I will in my own way. I don't have the means of travel (truly wish I did) that she did and the freedom to just be gone from normal life, but I want to step into my own journey. And I'm stepping into that journey with these simple thoughts...

Eat.

Food, food, food! I can't seem to stop being inspired to cook and eat. I want people to see that food is more than just a means of survival. I want people to be excited about what they eat and really care about what they are putting in their bodies. Not just eating because they have to. I wish people would realize how they can make quick/healthy meals and skip (STOP) eating all that horrid fast food (McD's I'm talking to you!). My desire to start this culinary journey has been going on for about a year now, all of my life really but with the most emphasis this past year. I have always found cooking/baking to be very therapeutic for me. It's a time when I just get to be calm, for the most part, and take in great aroma and tastes. Above all I get to be creative. With all that is my day to day life I haven't been able to put as much into this as I would love to, but I think I do alright with what time I do have. I am making some strides to become more knowledgable and work in some more time. Youtube and the internet are simply amazing learning tools. :-) 

Discover.

At this point in my life I truly feel that with cooking, writing for the blog, and getting back to my creative side I am EXACTLY where I am meant to be. The blogging has really helped me rediscover how therapeutic writing is for me. I used to write poetry all the time and somewhere along the passed years, I lost it. I know I'm not some fantastic writer here on the blog either, but I feel that I'm getting better. I also feel I still have plenty to learn and discover about myself. Above all, I have never been so happy and I truly believe that the years to come will be some of the best. Now I know that with looking into oneself and while discovering life there will be times of sadness and times of loneliness. I am prepared, as much as one can be, to deal with all that comes. It's how I chose to deal with those triumphs and struggles that make me grow or fall behind. I want to GROW.

Live.

I try to stress the point to people that you must grab the reins of your life and steer the way. While you can't control everything, you can hold the power to your life. So GO, grab the reins to life and make yourself happy, it's simple. Just GO for it!

With all of that said, I'm ready to introduce the new series... 

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I hope that these posts will be an inspiration to people, single or not, to get in the kitchen and cook. While my idea of creating or modifying recipes for one isn't an original idea I know of people who don't cook because they don't feel a meal for themselves is worth it. It's time to change that frame of mind. Cooking can be simple and fun even it's just for one! 

I will have the first post for Single Serving up in just a few days. Stay tuned for that and others to come. I'm off now to finalize my menu and list for my "house" warming. And yes, I'll share those recipes and hopefully some photos after the party. :-)

On This Side: Photography - Weekend at the Lake

A glimpse into my weekend away at the lake...

No Bake Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries

What a way to kick off the warm weather (We finally have some here in Indiana) than with fresh Strawberries and a simple No Bake Cheesecake!

Cake Pops

So I couldn't wait anymore to get this post up! If you haven't heard of Cake Pops then look no further and LISTEN up! :)

Welcoming Spring! (Lady Bug and Butterfly cookies)

Today I bring you a post to, hopefully, help ring in Spring!

Camera Cake! (My first 3D cake)

So here is a quick post on my first 3D cake. It was a tricky one to do. It didn't turn out perfect but I don't think it's horrible. And the Birthday Boy was happy with it so that's all that really matters. 


I had planned on posting a tutorial to go along with this camera cake because there really aren't many online. However, I had so much trouble trying to get it done. There was no way I could take photos along the way. I still have a lot to learn about fondant. I love the way fondant looks but man is it difficult to deal with sometimes. I really think it was the thickness that was my problem. And I really shouldn't have tried to use one piece to cover the whole cake. DUH!


All that aside, I managed to get a decent cake out of the adventure. Here are a few photos...

I used sugar to make the lens and flash.

The picture was just printed off the computer and then laminated. I attached it with royal icing.

Baby Shower Cake

Doggie Delights! Mini Bonz

Today I bring the debut of Doggie Delights! 

This first recipe I have to share still needs a little work, but they did turn out and Cooper just loves them!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies...Two Ways!

Who doesn't just love Oatmeal Raisin Cookies? I think they are probably one of my favorites. Although I don't think anything can top a sugar cookies with some buttercream frosting!!

Sneak Peak...

Hello!


It's been far too long since I've had a new post! 


I'm here tonight just to give a heads up on what's to come. I've been rather busy between work and baking/cooking projects. I can't wait to share some of the stories and recipes with everyone! Here's a sneak peak at what's to come in the following week...

A NEW! Idea...Doggie Delights!

In this upcoming post (and there will be more to come) I'll share a few recipes I've used to make treats for my dearest Cooper. I might even have a few adorable pictures to share of Cooper.

Oatmeal Cookies - Two ways!

                          

I took a few recipes I found online in the food blog realm and changed them just a tad and the outcome was WOW!

I'm always baking and searching for inspiration so there will be more and more to come!

Thanks and have a GREAT day!!

Going bananas! (for Banana Whoopie Pies!!)

A new way to have a scrumptious banana?

Edamame & Mushroom Risotto

Today I bring another Italian inspired dish. Risotto! 

This dish is one that I'd been planning on making for days, but for one reason or another, it didn't happen. The dish also took a slightly different direction while I was in the kitchen with the addition of Edamame.

A day in the kitchen...

...and what a day it has been!


I've had a few days off to just relax, haha! Well relax as much as I can. I decided that today I HAD to make something sweet. I was in serious freak out mode last night when I couldn't find any cookies or cake! It was serious! :)


I've been craving lemon for some reason so I decided to try a new recipe for a lemon layer cake. Here was the outcome. I  may post about this one soon...

Lemon Layer Cake

While I was in the kitchen today I decided to go a head and make some cookies. After making the cake and all its pieces I decided to go really simple with a cookie! I didn't even bake them! haha I made 2 different recipes of No Bake Cookies. I will have a post about this soon! 

2 version of No Bake Cookies. The second is hiding in the background! :)

Check back soon for the new post about the No Bake Cookies!

Tiramisu Two Ways

Photo courtesy of Christian Rottensteiner from Wikipedia

Oh Italy! I KNOW that there will come a day I will visit this beautiful country. And that day, I can NOT wait for! However, while I'm stuck here in the snow of the lovely midwest (Indiana to be exact) I decided to take a dessert trip to Italy. The country known for some great cuisine is the apparent home of the dessert Tiramisu. I just recently read an article about the origins of Tiramisu and it seem the story is a foggy one, but most fingers (are those lady fingers? haha) point to Italy as the origin of this fantastic dessert. All the foggy history aside, I'm just glad someone came up with this brilliant dessert. I decided to do two different version of it for my last Christmas dinner. I went with a traditional recipe and I decided to make a Gingerbread Tiramisu as well...

Poinsettia Wedding Cake

Here's the latest cake I've done! Poinsettia Wedding Cake.