Friday, January 27, 2012

Repeat for Lisa

 I was telling my teacher friend Lisa (Lisa T's rock!) that we were having these pulled pork sandwiches tonight for dinner.  I thought I'd make it easier for her to search for this recipe (:

Notes:  I didn't buy a full 6-8 lb roast.  I think mine was darn near 4 lbs.  I still used the full amount of spices.  Extra yumminess!  

Click here for the stolen recipe for Crockpot Pulled Pork.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Key Lime Cupcakes with White Chocolate Coconut Frosting


Staff potluck.  I signed up to bring cupcakes.  I knew there would be tons of food so I figured mini cupcakes would be manageable on a buffet plate.


Oh and it was a tropical theme so I thought something fruity was in order.  Key limes were available so I was on the search for a recipe that included key limes.  I did find one and I was amused that it is a Paula Deen recipe.



 The hardest part of the whole recipe was peeling the zest from these little %#@*$%&!!!  I think I spent 25 minutes doing this.  Oh and then squeezing the precious juice from them.  Honestly, I think I just need a new zester.


The cake was light and fluffy, not too heavy on the lime flavor.  The white chocolate frosting was very sweet.  Too sweet?  I don't know.  I think I've shocked people before by saying this but I'm not really a frosting fan.  I put a substantial amount on cupcakes for others (who do enjoy it) or to make the cupcakes look pretty but I'm never offended if someone is tempted to scrape off half the frosting.  It's a personal preference, yo, and I want to do the same thing myself.


Toasted coconut makes it pretty too.  It's really the only coconutty part of the cupcake.  I was tempted to make coconut cupcakes originally but I know not everyone is a fan.  I had a better chance with the key lime!



This isn't even all of them!  Mini cupcakes are 1/3 the size of regulars, and this was a larger than normal cake mix so I ended up with darn near 100 minis.  I guess the other time consuming part was the 4 batches of cupcakes to bake, piping the frosting on each mini, and then carefully arranging the coconut on top.  I love to bake though (:


 I didn't really get to see anyone enjoy a cupcake.  I went home sick that day from work so I asked a few of my coworkers to replenish the smaller plate of cupcakes on the buffet table.  Oh and to take home the extras.  I did find the empty baking pans when I returned Monday so I'm hopeful they made it into some bellies!

I joke that I rarely repeat recipes unless they have salted caramel...  But would I make these again?  Yes, especially if someone requested something with key lime.  Fruit cupcakes aren't a special favorite so maybe these are special occasion cupcakes!

Click here for the stolen recipe for Key Lime Cupcakes with White Chocolate Coconut Frosting.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bacon

 Did you know that you can BAKE bacon?  Seems silly that I've never tried this.  I ran across two different articles in the same day, about how this is how the pros and restaurants do it.  It's low fuss, allows for you to make more at once, and the bacon bakes into long, perfect flat slices.

350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes on a rimmed cookie sheet, with an oven safe cooking rack placed inside if you have one.   Mine took longer because I used thick sliced bacon.  Oh, and the pieces should not overlap.

Results: chewy, flavorful and flat bacon!  Definitely doing this more often!

I would imagine it'd crisp up the longer you bake them.

Click here for an interesting article (and manly website).

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Sick food

 I wasn't feeling I'll when I made this Tortilla Soup but I was glad to have it the next day.  I think it's colorful and tasty.

 My stomach was in upheaval so I was thinking about the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce?, toast). I figured tortillas are Mexican bread so I toasted some up quickly in the oven (chips!) and mashed my leftover avocado with a bit of lime, salt, and salsa.  I think after not eating all morning it was heaven-sent!

 I feel better tonight.  I don't think I got the major flu bug that's been going around...