Caramel Apple Cupcakes (A sweet Fall Treat!)

So I'm going to tell you guys that I have a HUGE! sweet tooth! however; I'm not really into baking so much, but during the holidays and fall I feel so inspired to do so.  I want to be able to make memories with the family and let the kids get messy, and have them addicted to everything pumpkin and apple at this time of the year like I am.  So of course around this time I break out the flour and sugar and get to it!  Today my parents came over for dinner and I thought it would be a really nice idea to bake these cupcakes and have them decorate with us, and that we did!  We actually had a blast and sugar is always a great bribery tool to have the kids eat their dinner also!   So here they are my caramel apple cupcakes! I'm sure you all will love them just as much as we did!  from my kitchen to yours! Happy Eating! 

The fam decorating the cupcakes...what's my baby doing? "look mom no hands!" lol! 

Adapted from: www.yourcupofcake.com

What You Need:  

Apple Cake:

1 box white cake mix

2 tsp. cinnamon or apple pie spice

3 eggs

¼ C. butter, melted and cooled

¼ C applesauce

1 C. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 ½ C. peeled and chopped apple

This recipe makes about 20-24 cupcakes

Caramel Buttercream: 

1 C. butter, softened

2 Tbsp. caramel sauce

1 tsp vanilla extract

3-4 C. powdered sugar

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.

2. Sift cake mix and cinnamon in to a small bowl and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, butter, applesauce, milk and vanilla extract together.

4. Stir in cake mix until smooth.

5. Stir in chopped apples.

6. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full and bake for 17-22 minutes of until an inserted knife comes out clean.

7. Butter cream: Beat butter for 1 minute. Add caramel and vanilla extract and continue to beat. Slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.

8. Pipe butter cream onto cooled cupcakes and top with melted caramel.

Tip:  Let the cupcakes completely cool before you add the frosting otherwise the frosting will melt 

off the cupcakes. 

This past Sunday we had the fam over for our usual Sunday indulge fest.  They like to come over and I make all my famous foods, goodies, and salads.  But this salad I just threw together because I realized that I hadn't made a salad for our main course!  It's super easy unique and delish!  Enjoy! Happy Eating!!!

1 pack of prosciutto

1 cantaloupe cut and cubed

2 cups of mixed greens

1 cup of red grapes

Cut and cube your cantaloupe, thereafter wrap the cubed pieces of cantaloupe with one piece of prosciutto each.  Lay they cantatloupe on a bed of mixed greens, and garnish with red grapes.  Serve chilled for best taste. Emjoy!

Taco bread braids

Have you ever had one of those nights where you haven't been to the grocery store in about a week and your kids have eaten you out of house and home and you feel like there's nothing in your house but maybe a pack of ground meat? Well that was my issue the other night! and I didn't want to really put out a spread! So I found this online and made a few changes that make it a lot easier for quick dinners or even lunches!  Enjoy! Happy eating!!

 Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Taco-Braid

Ilb. of any lean ground meat ( I used turkey)

2 cups of Mexican cheese and 1/4 cup of queso blanco

Pillsbury pizza crust ( you can find this in the cooler isle of your market)

1 sweet onion chopped

1 bell pepper chopped

2 cloves of minced garlic

8 ounces softened cream cheese

2 cups of your favorite salsa

In a skillet put a good drizzle of olive oil, the onions, bell pepper, 2 cloves of garlic, and cook on medium heat until caramelized (which means they are softened and have a browned color)  then add the meat keeping the temperature on medium.  When meat is browned it is ready.  

Combine creme cheese and salsa together in a bowl and mix.  Then spread onto the pizza crust, which should be laying opened flat.  Then add the meat mix on top of the cream cheese spread.  On top of the meat, layer the cheeses as well.  

Pizza crust- You want to cut small pieces on the sides so that way you are able to braid the top part of the dough.  Braid dough by overlapping the loose cut pieces over each other.  Put in oven and bake as directed on back of the dough package.  Eat and enjoy.  Happy eating!!

Fish tacos with a mango chutney

The other day I was in the mood for some fish tacos and man oh man! are these things absolutely incredible! they are healthy and super tasty as well!  Enjoy! Happy eating!!!


Ingredients
 Fish
4 pieces of any white flaky fish ( I used tilapia)

Salt and pepper to taste

4 tablespoons Soy sauce

1 fresh juice of lime

vegetable oil

white tortillas

Marinate fish in in soy sauce and lime juice and then cook fish on medium heat for 3 minutes per side add fish into tortillas (for additional texture serve with chopped cabbage or romaine lettuce).  For additional flavor add the marinade in the pan to be cooked along with the fish.


Mango chutney

1 ripe mango cut in small square pieces

1 red pepper chopped

1/2 red onion chopped

1 handful of cilantro chopped

2 cloves of fresh garlic

3 leaves of fresh mint chopped

1 juice from a lime

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients into a bowl and then serve over fish tacos

Lime sauce

1/2 cup of plain yogurt

2 tbsp of mayonnaise

1 juice from a lime

1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped

1 fresh garlic minced

salt and pepper to taste

mix all ingredients into a bowl and serve on top of fish tacos

Fried Ravioli

I was a little intimidated when I decided to make this.  Just the shear thought of fried ravioli sounded hard to me, but come to find pout it's super duper easy!!!  All you need its a few ingredients, which is always, a plus for me!  Enjoy! and happy eating!

1 package of fresh ravioli ( you can find it where your market has the fresh pastas)

2 cups of Italian bread crumbs

2 eggs (beaten)

1 cup of half and half

vegetable oil

1 jar of store bought marinara sauce

Pour about 2 cups of vegetable oil into a deep pan, heat the oil on medium heat.  Meanwhile while the oil is heating begin the breading process for the ravioli.  Dip the ravioli into the eggs and half and half and then dip ravioli into the bread crumbs until the ravioli's are covered completely   Then put a few raviolis at a time into the oil, and they will be ready when outside of the ravioli turns golden brown.  put fried ravioli on a plate that has a paper towel on it so that the remainder of the oil from the ravioli drains   Then heat you sauce and serve it on the side for dipping the ravioli.  Eat and enjoy!  Happy eating!

Monster cookie dough dip

We had a typical get together the other day, and I was making the usual fixings for Hor d'oeuvres such as the veggie sticks and chips and dip.  But I really wanted make something different, so while browsing around I cam across this monster cookie dough recipe.  Now I'm going to warn you that "you will not be able to stop eating this!"  I recommend that you serve this with graham crackers or sliced apples....or you can just take spoonfuls of it like we did!.  Happy Eating!

Source: http://www.skiptomylou.org

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 Cup Butter, softened
1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
3 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 Cup Oats (regular or quick)
1 Cup    Plain M&Ms
1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup of sprinkles on top


With a hand beater, beat cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter together.  Next add powdered sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla, slow add and mix in with hand mixer.  Then add the oats slowly until you have reached your desired thickness, and then mix in chocolate chips and M&Ms add sprinkles on top for more color, serve with graham crackers or sliced apples.  Eat and enjoy!

Game day buffalo chicken nachos

This past Sunday was game day....however I really don't follow it like the rest of my family does.  My mom, my hubs, and my son were all watching the Dolphins verse.....I think the Jets, I'm shocked that I even knew that! and they were all "starving" "withering away to nothing" so they said! So I whipped up something easy peasy for them.  This is when I threw open my fridge door and found some leftover buffalo chicken that we had picked up from the market, and saw some tortilla chips; and then I had an epiphany to make the nachos.  These are super easy to make and take very little effort.  Put it this way...if your able to slap some things on top of some chips, well then this one is for you!.  Enjoy! Happy eating!

Ingredients:

1 bag of Tortilla chips ( I used blue tortilla chips)

Pre-cooked buffalo chicken from the market (  the chicken already warmed through preferably )

1/2 cup Buttermilk ranch dressing

15 ounce can Black beans

30 ounce can of re-fried beans  (drained and rinsed)

1/2 Diced sweet onion

Sour cream  (a dollop; which is about 1 tablespoon)

1 Diced tomatoes

4 Chives

2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese

Hot sauce of your choice (Just a drizzle)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Coat bottom of pan with re-fried beans. Next put tortilla chips on top of the re-fried beans.  Scatter onions and black beans on top of chips then scatter cheese. Next top chips and other ingredients with cut up buffalo chicken strips. Then drizzle the ranch dressing and hot sauce over the chicken and chips.  Next place the pan filled with the chicken, chips and all the fixings inside the oven to bake at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes; to warm through beans, onions and ranch dressing.  When you are done warming the nachos, top with a dollop of sour cream,  chopped chives, and  diced tomato.  Serve hot and enjoy.

  

Sunday Salad

My parents came over today for what is known as "linner" this is lunch and dinner combined "our unrefined version of brunch", and one of my family favorites is a caprese salad.  It's super easy to make, takes minimal effort, and is ready in minutes.  Sometimes I will just make this for my dinner and I'll be good to go.  But today this was our appetizer prelude to "linner".  Create and enjoy!  Happy eating!

Ingredients:

4 tomatoes (I used heirloom)

1 lb of mozzerlla cheese

Basil

oil

 Balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Cut tomatoes and make sure you cut them thick.  Then cut up mozzarella cheese thick as well so you can place them on top of the tomatoes. Take individual basil leaves and place them on top of the cheese (see picture).  Top with a drizzle of  olive oil and balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy! 

Tomato basil soup

Today was super gloomy, not much sun shining today and we were all just hanging out watching movies and the hubs asked me to make some tomato soup.  It's a really quick easy recipe which is also loaded with major flavor!! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!.  Happy eating!

Ingredients

1 32 ounce box of chicken stock

24 ounces of crushed tomatoes

1/2 cups of  half and half

12 fresh basil leaves chopped

1/4 cup parmigiano cheese (fresh)

salt and pepper to taste

Add chicken stock, and crushed tomatoes to large pot.  Turn the heat on the stove to medium.  Add half and half, fresh basil leaves and parmigiano cheese and salt and pepper to taste.  Let ingredients come to a rapid boil, then turn on medium low heat.  Serve and enjoy!! Happy eating!!

Cake batter chocolate chip cookies

Today I made cake batter chocolate chip cookies.  I never really realized that you could make an amazing cookie from cake batter.  What  I will say is that the cookies are super light, moist, and doesn't give you that heavy feeling in your stomach after you eat them.  But the only bad thing I can say is that you may want more then 1 or 2! I hope you enjoy these as much as we did! I made 2 dozen and I have zero left! Enjoy! Happy eating!

Ingredients:

1 box 18.25 ounces of yellow cake batter

1 tsp of baking powder

2 eggs

1/2 cup of vegetable oil 

1 cup of milk chocolate chips.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Add all ingredients into bowl mix together until you have a dough like consistency.  Spoon the dough onto a greased baking sheet (I used non stick spray) but butter will work just as well.  Cook for 10-15 minutes until cookies are golden brown.  When cookies are baked transfer them to a metal cooling rack.  Then eat and enjoy!! Happy eating!!

Saturday morning breakfast biscuits

This morning we were in a rush, we had to take the baby to the doctor, and then my son had a laundry list of outdoor activities that we were all about to embark upon today, until the rain....the glorious rain! that canceled all of our activities for the day. It was like a monsoon outside, but it was early yet and we were all cozied up in our pajamas, me and the hubby were drinking our coffee and the kids were relaxing watching the tube. What seemed like after 100 cups of coffee I decided to cook us some grub, and I wanted to make a "one pot wonder" so I didn't have a multitude of dishes to clean afterward, ya know to keep the lazy morning momentum going!.  So I made these breakfast biscuits now these are not your ordinary biscuits; Because they are filled with tons of flavor and meat and eggs.  They are super delicious flavorful and filling, they are also a nice on hand item to grab and go if your in a rush in the mornings.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!  Happy eating! 

Ingredients:

2 cups of AP flour

2tsp baking powder

3 pinches of salt

1 tbsp garlic salt

3 chopped bulbs of fresh chives ( you can also used dry if you don't have fresh -equivalent 4tsp)

1 cup Mexican cheese mix

1 egg beaten

1/2 cup milk

1.2 cup vegetable oil

1 sausage patty chopped up finely ( or you can the pre-crumbled sausage)

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

In one bowl add the egg first beat it; then add the milk, vegetable oil, mix together.  Then add the remaining ingredients and mix together. Spoon in ingredients into a cupcake pan that is well greased with butter or non stick spray.  Cook at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Well cooking is finished take out the biscuits and let them cool on a metal cooling rack.  Happy eating!  

Crock pot Chicken tortilla soup

We all have been battling whatever has been going around this week, kids are coughing up a storm and by no surprise I'm getting a touch of what they have too.  So I decided that I would make some soup, but not just any ordinary soup it's chicken tortilla soup.  It's loaded with flavor, protein, and high in fiber.  Enjoy my chicken tortilla soup! you won't be disappointed  Happy eating!!

Ingredients:

Crock pot

2 tomatoes diced

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 32 ounce box of chicken stock

1lb of chicken thighs (boneless/ skinless)

2  15 ounce cans of black beans ( drained,rinsed and washed)

2  15 ounce cans of corn ( drained, rinsed and washed)

1 tsp of crushed red pepper

1 diced medium sweet onion

1  20 ounce can of tomato sauce

Salt and pepper to taste.

lemon juice

Mexican cheese

Sour cream

Tortilla chips

Cook time 6-8 hours

Add all ingredients to slow cooker, cook on high for 4 hours then finish cooking on low for the remaining time.  about 2 hours before the cooking is finished take out the chicken and pull it apart and then put chicken back into the crock pot for further cooking.  

When ready to serve put lemon juice on top of the soup for additional flavor, also sour cream, and chives for topping it also goes great with tortilla chips on top!  Happy eating Enjoy!

Once in a blue moon wind down.......Once in a blue moon hypnotini.

Once in a blue moon hypnotini

So it's Fridaayyy....It's Fridayyyy.... I'm doing my happy dance what about you?  Well here's a drink that you can kick back and relax with.  This is my once in a bloo moon hypnotini.  Enjoy and happy eating!!

Ingredients:

Tip: To ensure that your drink is ice cold without the ice, make sure you pop the liquor in the freezer for about an hour before preparing.

1 glass

1 ounce of hypnotic

1/2 ounce of vodka (I used Grey Goose)

1/2 ounce of pineapple juice

Combine all ingredients all ingredients into glass and give a quick stir, sit down relax and enjoy!

Pico de gallo perfection

My pico de gallo perfection will be your go to recipe for you next family gathering as a dip;or to use as a topping for chicken fish and steak ! it's delicious and easy to make! Enjoy!! Happy eating!

Ingredients:

Pico de gallo

2 chopped tomatoes

1 lime (juice only)

1 half sweet onion

4 chopped up jalapeno's from the jar

5 sprigs of cilantro

salt and pepper to taste.

Add all ingredients together in bowl mix and enjoy!

Bodacious morning burrito with a home made pico de gallo

This morning my husband was home from work and I wanted to make him something special for breakfast.  Which is how I cam up with this concoction, my bodacious morning burrito!.  This is not your typical burrito, but one that is full of healthful and delicious flavor that will perk up anyone's morning.  Enjoy!




Ingredients:

Pico de gallo

2 chopped tomatoes

1 lime (juice only)

1 half sweet onion

4 chopped up jalapeno's from the jar

5 sprigs of cilantro

salt and pepper to taste.

Add all ingredients together in bowl mix and enjoy!

Burrito

Ingredients

I cup of egg whites

1tsp Greek yogurt

Pico de gallo

2 pieces of  chopped and cooked turkey bacon ( I bake mine @ 500 degrees for about 10 minutes)

1 half of an avocado (chopped)

Pinch of queso fresco

2 chopped bulbs of chives

1 whole wheat burrito

Cook egg whites on medium heat for about for about 7-10 minutes until egg whites are firm. Mean while take your burrito and add the following:  Greek yogurt on the bottom portion of the burrito.  Take  cooked egg whites and place them on top of the Greek yogurt.  Then add your chopped turkey bacon, pico de gallo and avocado, fold burrito and place on top chopped chives and a pinch of queso fresco cheese  Happy eating!!

The perfect pair; Pear and walnut crostata

There's nothing more then delicious than a crostata, think of it as a rustic pie before they had canned fillings. I'm not really a baker, but what I can tell you is this is a really amazing recipe and not to mention super easy!! This could be breakfast or just a snack that you have with your coffee.  How will you eat your crostata? I hope you enjoy it! Happy eating!

Ingredients:

Heat oven to 425 degrees

1 Pillsbury pie crust (these can be found in the cooler section in your grocery store)

2 Bartlett pears sliced thin

1 cup of granulated sugar

1 tbsp. of cinnamon

A pinch of nutmeg (a little goes a long way)

1 tbsp of lemon juice

1 tbsp of  melted butter

cooking spray

1 cup of chopped raw walnuts

 Put sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl and add the sliced  pears.  Squeeze 1 tbsp of lemon juice onto the pears inside the mixing bowl, and fold all ingredients together.  Unwrap the pie crust place it onto a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray, and place the pears on top of the pie crust, then pinch the remaining outside crust together.  Before you place it into the oven brush the melted butter on the top crust and then sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture onto the  top outside crust.  Lastly in the center put your crushed walnuts and be sure to sprinkle some sugar mixture on them as well.  Bake for 15-20 minutes on 425 degrees. Enjoy!

Not your average chicken salad.

So it was a hot day here in Florida today roughly in 90's, anyhow I decided to make some chicken salad.  Not just any chicken salad, but one that has a wonderful flavor and the comfort of a old fashioned chicken salad as well.  Not only is this salad delicious it is also super healthy as well!  You can enjoy it on a bed of mixed greens like I am.  Or you can put on bread, or eat just as is.  Happy eating! Enjoy!

So easy even the little ones helped!

Ingredients:

Tip: If you don't feel like cooking your own chicken you can buy a rotisserie chicken at your local market pull it apart and then add the ingredients.  

1 5.3oz of plain Greek yogurt ( I know this may sound a bit off, but it works and taste delish!)

1LB of any boneless skinless chicken (I used thighs)

Poach the chicken for about 15 minutes

Pull chicken apart or cut it up and put it in a bowl (Let it cool first)

Add Greek yogurt

1 cup of cut up raw walnuts

1 cup of cut up grapes

3 stalks of  celery

3-4 chive bulbs depending how strong of an onion flavor you prefer (I used 3)

3 springs of  fresh thyme chopped finely

1 sprig of fresh  rosemary chopped finely

Salt and pepper to taste.

combine all ingredients together mix and enjoy.