Cupcakes for a Cure

What’s Baking Wednesday

Cupcakes for Cures is Asheville’s Cupcake Faceoff created a group of cupcake loving, cancer fighting Ashevilleans.
Professional bakers, amateur bakers and youth bakers compete for bragging rights and fantastic prizes all while raising funds to find cures for cancer. Bakers can enter multiple culinary creations in true Asheville categories like Best Beer Cupcake, Best Gluten-Free Cupcake, Best Holiday and Special Occasion Cupcake, Best Birthday Cupcake and Best Local Foods Cupcake.
About: We are raising money to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to find cures for cancer because it is projected that in 2010 over 1,000 Ashevilleans will hear the words, “you have cancer.”
Cancer affects everyone. It touches everyone. Me, my family, my friends EVERYONE! I am going to JUST DO IT! I have ALWAYS dreamed of competing in a Food Competition and I think this is MY CALLING!!! It is really soon and Lord only knows what I will pull out!!
To enter as an Amateur which I AM! You do a $30 tax deductible donation for each entry. I think I am going to do 2. My CLASSIC all time fav Very Vanilla maybe my 2nd fav Chocolate Orange Crush and maybe a BEER entry umm, that is 3 well, maybe 3. Huh?

What do you think???

 

Easter! Lollipops, Salad & my Tree!

I found this great idea back at Valentine’s Day and I thought that I would make them again for Easter. I got these awesome vintage lolli molds off ebay! I am so excited to make them for Jack’s Class.

LOLLIPOPS

2 c sugar
1/2 c light corn syrup
1/2 c water
1/2 tsp candy flavoring ( I used orange for Spring!)
Bring to 260 add color remove when temp hits 290 and add flavoring.

EASTER TREE

I saw all these adorable trees and I just couldn’t bring myself to buy one. Jack & I went out in the yard and found some great sticks. I put a rubberband around them and stuffed “grass” in the pail. I had all these fun eggs I found in Tina’s attic and I think it turned out so cute! Makes a great center piece!!

BROCCOLI SALAD

We are breaking tradition this year and I am NOT cooking the big meal. I am on a DIET! My Dad invited us to join them and as a lovely Southern Girl such as myself would never show up empty handed! I am making my FAMOUS (even if only in my own mind) Broccoli Salad. The trick to MY salad is that you blanch the broccoli for 2 mins to bring out the bright green color and to lighly cook. It is still crisp just more tender.

2 heads broccoli

6 slices bacon, crisp & crumbled

1/2 c golden raisins

1/2 c toasted almonds

1 small red onion, chopped fine

1 c mayo

1/4 c honey

2 Tb vinegar

Blanch broccoli for 2-3 mins remove submerge in cold water. Once cool add red onion and raisins to broccoli. Mix dressing and pour 1/4 to 1/2 onto broccoli mix and chill. Just before serving add almonds & crumbled bacon and additional dressing (if needed). Makes a great addition to any spring or summer meal. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to enter my GIVEAWAY! 

Rachael Ray 4-piece Bakeware!

Winner announced on Friday!

And check out all these great sites for Easter ideas!

Weekly Meal Plan

This week my meal plan is based on what is BOGO at Harris Teeter this week! I dug through my archives and found some great recipes I haven’t made in a long time. I hope you enjoy!!

Monday~ Lackey’s Ragu

Tuesday ~ Blushing Chicken

Wednesday~ Apricot/Mustard  Glazed Turkey Tenderloin

Thursday~ Pop’s Beef Stew

Friday~ Pizza Night

Don’t forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a Rachael Ray 4-piece bakeware set!! Please enter HERE!!!

For more great meal planning ideas pop on over to Org Junkie.

Easter SURPRISES & GIVEAWAY!!

I am so excited! I just figured out what I wanted to add to Jack’s Playroom. A KITCHEN! Duh, I know. How it took me so long to realize that as much as he loves to be in the kitchen he would LOVE  this! I looked and looked and then I stumbled upon the best website that has awesome KIDS FURNITURE and this AMAZING Vintage RED Kitchen!!  I love it! Don’t you?

It is going to be a great Easter Surprise!!!

Speaking of SURPRISE….

In honor of Jack’s New Kitchen I thought it would be nice to ADD something to YOUR Kitchen! 

I am hosting a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY!

 

Rachael Ray’s Yum-O

4 Piece Bakeware Set

retails for $86

TO ENTER:

REQUIRED~ Visit KIDS FURNITURE  and leave a comment sharing something you would like for a child in your life.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1 bonus ~Become one of MY PEEPS
(follow this blog)

2 extra~ If you are already one of MY PEEPS
(As an extra thanks!)

3 entries~ Share this giveaway on your blog
(Linking to this post)

Share this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter
(worth 1 entry for each)

Become a FAN on Facebook or Follow ME on Twitter
(each worth 1 extra)

DON’T FORGET!!
For all extra entries, please leave an extra comment, and attach the appropriate links.
Winner will be chosen by Random.org and will be announced 1 week from today! GOOD LUCK!!

What’s Baking Wednesday?

Welcome to the 1st Edition of What’s Baking Wednesday! I am so excited to share all my fun baked goods and I thought it fitting to celebrate a BIG Birthday 90 years… WOW! What can I say? I was so honored to make this cake for the Matriarch of one of my favorite families!

This is the biggest cake I have ever made! I started with a basic chocolate cake recipe, tripled it and added my secret ingredients. I added clementine zest, orange juice & a little Gran Marnier to the recipe and then made Orange Cream Cheese Frosting. YUM!!

Chocolate Espresso Red Wine Meatballs {Crock-pot}

FEATURED CHEF TUESDAY

My dear friend Jen is such a great cook. She comes up with some fun combinations that are sure to please! This one is a keeper!
frozen or fresh meat balls (I use the HT fresh Turkey Meatballs)
Good Food brand espresso red wine steak sauce 
1/2 bottle red wine
8 oz of chicken or beef stock
4 to 8 oz sour cream
1/2 bar dark chocolate, good quality
cook all day. when you come home pull some of the sauce out and put into a pot. add chocolate, stir to melt, add a little corn starch or flour, then add sour cream. (however creamy you like it.)   Serve with rice or egg noodles. good luck girls.

For more great Tempt My Tummy recipes and Crock Pot Favs, Tasty Tuesdays & Tuesdays at the Table!

ENJOY ALL THESE GREAT LINKS!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY FOR THE RACHAEL RAY 4-PIECE BAKEWARE!

Meal Planning

I am still on my diet and will be out of the house 3 nights this week so I am planning EASY meals that if need be Hubs can (possibly) prepare.

Monday~ Jambalaya

(Zatarain’s Rice mix w/ Turkey Smoked Sausage)

316 calories per 1 cup serving

Tuesday~ Chocolate Espresso Red Wine Meatballs CROCK-POT 

{Featured Chef Tuesday~ Recipe to Follow}

Wednesday~ Chicken Stuffed Shells

(made about a month ago, froze the leftover stuffing!)

Thursday~ Sloppy Joe’s

Friday~ Hotdogs

I wanted to share with you guys something new that I am working on.

Whenever you see this

You will know that the recipe is HEALTHY, FLAVOR~FULL and UNDER 400 calories per serving! The weight loss plan that I am doing adds back dinner after Week 6 and it must be under 550 calories. I thought that it would be easier for me if I got a head start on planning recipes that would fit in this calorie range. I also wanted to try and keep the main component of the meal to be under 400 calories so that I could have a little room to play if I wanted to add a veggie or fresh salad greens. 

I hope you ENJOY and have a great week!!

For more great Menu Plans go HERE

Best Ever French Toast

I was watching the Food Network like I do so often and they were talking about all sorts of yummy breakfast items and I got to thinking about my favorite breakfast foods. I love a good piece of French Toast. This recipe is so yummy you can stuff the French toast for an even more sinful treat!

In honor of the WEEKEND I give you a BREAKFAST/BRUNCH French Toast

4 eggs

2-3 T half and half (whole milk, cream whatever you have on hand)

2-3 T orange juice

2 tsp cinnamon

Dash of triple sec, Gran Marnier or any fav orange liquor (Go wild! or not, it’s great either way)

Dash of salt & pepper

Sourdough Bread

Cook’s Note: These are JUST suggestions feel free to come up with your own favorite or go it alone and have just a simple Classic French Toast with Maple syrup.

Fav Stuffing's:

The Elvis: peanut butter & banana

Tutti Frutti: Cream Cheese & raspberry puree (my fav)

If you chose to stuff I prefer to make a sammie. Like you would a grilled cheese then dredge in egg batter mix and place in buttered skillet. The key to perfect toast is DO NOT flip but once! Wait till it is golden brown & flip. ENJOY!!!

What are you making for breakfast?

Ms. T’s Orange Cream Cake

 

Happy Birthday Ms. T!!

Ms. T is Jack’s pre-school teacher and when I heard that the teachers were planning her a birthday party I had to volunteer to bake the cake! I was so excited to try out some of the techniques I learned in my Cake Decorating Class! When I started, I was thinking I was going to make a lemon cake but, then when I saw the beautiful Clementines in my fridge I thought ORANGE! 

3 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 1/2 c sugar

1 c butter, softened

5 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 c orange juice

3/4 c milk

zest from 1 clementine*

In stand mixer add all dry ingredients and blend for a few mins to lighten up. Add softened butter and mix 2 mins.  Add vanilla to milk & juice and add a little liquid then egg and rotate ending with milk mixture.

Put in greased & floured cake pans. Bake 350 for 35-45mins

ORANGE CREAM FROSTING
1 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1 T orange juice

zest from 1 clementine *

4 to 6 c powdered sugar

Cream all ingredients except sugar with mixer and slowly add sugar 1/2 c at a time.

*Clementine may be substituted for orange, nectarine what ever you have on hand.

For more great baking recipes pop on over HERE!

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

How cute are these little green cupcakes?

I did my Favorite Cream Cheese Butter Cream Frosting with 2 tsp of key lime juice added to the mix. It is just yummy with some great sprinkles on top!!

I am these for a fundraiser at my favorite lunch spot Cafe Gouda they raised $10,000 for Pediatric Cancer in the 1st Annual St. Baldricks Event! Way to go girls!

Food Revolution {PSA}

Jamie Oliver’s FOOD REVOLUTION is premiering on Sunday at 10pm on ABC. PLEASE set the dvr and watch it with your family. Also GO HERE and sign Jamie’s petition.  I can not tell you how much I support this project! It is so IMPORTANT to teach our children to be healthy.  After watching FOOD INC I have been on a mission to try and help spread the word. I am so excited about what the can mean for everyone!

From Jamie: “The American FOOD REVOLUTION needs to start now! If you care about your country and the health of its children please help us make a difference. We need your support to get people back in touch with food and keep cooking skills alive before it's too late. We want to make sure every kid gets good, fresh food at school. It's proven that real food promotes more effective learning. If you want better health for your kids the junk food must go. I need to be able to show The President and industry how many of you out there really care about this issue so please don't wait, sign up today. It will only take 30 seconds.”

SO, I am asking you what do you do to make a Healthier America for your family?

I AM:

1. Planting my Garden

2. Shopping Locally (farmer’s mkts are a great source)

3. Buying ORGANIC even now at Wal Mart

4. Cooking fresh food for my family!

How about you?

Meal Planning

Well, Mommy is sticking to her diet even though it has been the uckiest weekend EVER! Not only has it rained on & off all weekend long but, Jack got a stomach bug on Thursday a case of what Hubs refers to as the Texas Jack-knives. Then  Hubs came down with the same thing on Saturday and dang if Jack didn’t get sick again last night!

CALGON….. TAKE ME AWAY!!!

I can’t figure out if I am getting the BUG or just nauseous from cleaning it all up!

Did I completely just kill YOUR appetite? Because I sure don’t have one. I apologize.

This week I am again trying to cook from the freezer since my DIET requires me to not really eat I am trying to make it easier on myself by not cooking. ALL of these recipes freeze wonderfully which is such a bonus. It is WAY cheaper to make 2 of 1 thing then 2 different things. Therefore, I typically make enough of most meals to feed us twice! Saves Time & Money!!

Here’s what I’ve got COOKING this week:

Monday~ Mrs. B Shaker Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuesday~ Swedish Meatballs  (meatballs are frozen sauce is so quick & easy!!)

Wednesday~ Fiesta Chili

Thursday~ G's Fav Lasagna

Friday~ Pizza Night

What do you have cooking this week?

Want to share a Recipe?

I’d LOVE to feature different readers each week as MY FEATURED CHEF TUESDAY!!

Leave me a comment and you can be next!

Amazing Vanilla Crusted Grouper

STAR STUDDED/ SPECTAULAR / Award Winning (not really, but I bet it could), Impress your friends & family, this is an Amazingly easy and YUMMY recipe. I know you will die when I tell you what to did but I promise, it is DELISH. Just trust me on this.

Start with a piece of fresh Grouper and put a few scoops of vanilla ice cream on it. Allow to marinate 20mins or up to a few hours.

Then remove fish from cream and dredge in Italian bread crumbs.

Pan sear in 1 Tb each of olive oil & butter. Apx 3-7 mins on each side then slide in the oven for apx 15-20mins until fish is flakey.

This is one of the best pieces of grouper I have ever had! AMAZING!!! It will IMPRESS!

How do you like to prepare fish?

Chicken Curry in a Hurry

You guys have probably noticed that I heart Trader Joe’s and I love how they are always tasting new items. Last time we were down there they were tasting Biryani Curried Rice Dish.

It is great and best of all Jack loved the sample! It is super healthy with no nasty additives. It’s best when you put a little oil in either your wok or sauté  pan for 5 mins! That’s it!! Told you it was fast!! I added diced leftover chicken and it is great!!

Enjoy!!

Can’t Live Without…

Kitchen Gadgets

Today, I am talking about some of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

These are the things I can not live without.

A good Dutch Oven. It is a MUST and believe it or not I JUST got this for Christmas. I have used it tons! It is pricey but so freaking worth it!

Cuisinart food processor

I HEART my Kitchen Aid Stand MixerI really couldn’t make smooth icing and all the great cupcakes & cakes without this. 

A 2 inch ice cream scoop MUST have to get perfect cupcakes

a Lazy Susan (I use them for decorating cakes, organizing spices, cleaning supplies everything!)

1 piece spatulas/parchment paper/Baker’s Joy 

Great Knife Furi Chef Knife is My Fav

These are just a few of my favorite things to use in the kitchen.

What’s your “can’t live without” kitchen items?

Menu Planning {from the freezer}

I have to start by telling you all that I am starting a weight loss journey tomorrow and my menu planning may not be as fun as it typically is as I will NOT be eating any of it!

I am cooking from the freezer ALL week long in hopes to make my first week a bit smoother. I have decided that it will be much easier to just include EVERYONE in on my DIET  life style change.

I watched FOOD INC and have been obsessed  slightly concerned with what we eat and with the fact that I have gained a lot of weight and I want to be healthy. I am STILL going to share lots of yummy recipes, I am just hoping to share some HEALTHIER OPTIONS.

If you would like to read about my road from flab to fab you can pop on over to read what I can promise to be a very honest and humorous account of my weight loss journey.  For all the World to read. I have LOST my mind! No, it was lost long ago sometime around the summer after graduation. If I tell the World my story then

1. I will stick to it (because I wouldn’t want my friends to think I failed)

2. This makes it REAL

3. Maybe, someone will relate to me and share 

 

“Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels” THEY say

The Boy’s Menu: {aka Freezer Cooking}

Monday~ Brunswick Stew

Tuesday~ Mema’s Potato/Tomato Soup

Wednesday~ Chicken Chili

Thursday~ Tacos

Friday~ Chicken Curry in a Hurry

Ben’s Batman Birthday!

Happy, Happy  BELATED Birthday to Ben!           Ben’s Mommy is a great friend of mine and due to the amazing amounts of SNOW we have had we are FINALLY getting to CELEBRATE Ben’s 4th Birthday!! He is really into Batman right now so I had a great time making these. We made Ben his own cake and all his friends get cupcakes!  I used fondant to make all the bats, his name & the 4!  I am still a novice with the fondant but, I am getting better!

What’s Baking?

ALIEN Cupcakes!