Chocolate!

OK, my cupcake recipe is pretty simple - usually goes along the lines of: 1 box cake mix, mixed to directions and baked till just done but still moist, and frosted with a can of frosting! Pretty simple, yes? Still, it's easy to add your own touches!

For instance, a dash of vanilla and a tiny pinch of salt add more vibrant flavor to the cupcakes! And chocolate chips (or perhaps even white chocolate chips) added to the cupcakes and sprinkled on the frosting, well, that's just decadence.

That being said, a cake mix can also become brownies. How, you ask? Well I'm glad you asked!

Brownies are basically just richer, fudgier cake, right? So a simple chocolate cake mix (or devils food cake mix, or dark chocolate cake mix - you get the idea) can easily become brownies.

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
Extra chocolate

So basically mix together, bake about 20 minutes at about 350 degrees. I say about, because of course that changes based on the size of your pan, the added chocolate, etc.

I added chocolate chips AND white chocolate chips, and ended up with triple-chocolate brownies that were to die for. Not even kidding.

Steaks on the Grill

Few things are as iconic of summer as the scent of meat on a grill...the smell wafting through the neighborhood, making everyone in the near vicinity begin to drool! My hubby is the grillmaster of the house, and wow does he know how to cook a fine piece of meat on the grill!

Last weekend we splurged on a feast: New York strip steaks, mashed potatoes, cheesy biscuits, and grilled carrots, with lemon squares for dessert. As I promised those protesting my facebook picture, here are the recipes!

Oh yes...oh my yes!

Steak Rub:
1/4 olive oil, a few splashes Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and a generous amount of steak seasoning, coated on the steaks before and during grilling.

Mashed potatoes:
Okay I confess, they were Betty Crocker dry mix garlic mashed potatoes...but I added extra melted butter and garlic to make them especially creamy and flavorful!

Grilled baby carrots:
2 Tbsp melted butter, a splash olive oil, a Tbsp lemon juice, garlic powder, and Mrs. Dash onion and herb seasoning; placed on aluminum foil and grilled about 10 minutes till barely tender.

Cheesy biscuits:
2 cups Bisquick, 2/3 cup milk, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder and Italian seasoning, baked 10 minutes at 450 degrees, with garlic butter brushed on top.

Lemonade:
1 cup bottled lemon juice, 1 1/4 cup sugar, about 9 cups water, mixed and chilled


The meal was a success - a good deal of work but SO worth it. We'll definitely be doing it again!

Breakfast Egg Muffins

Once again, the idea started out when my honey made eggs, bacon, and sausage for breakfast one morning. We feasted like kings, then put the leftovers in the fridge. What to do with leftover breakfast? Make more breakfast, of course! And so, the breakfast egg muffins came into existence.



Ingredients:
1 cup hash browns, or 36 tater tots
1/3 cup cooked sausage patties, torn
10 bacon strips, torn
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.

Lightly cover the bottom of each muffin cup with hashbrowns (or 2-3 tater tots). Distribute the sausage and bacon till the cups are nearly full. Mix the eggs, milk, and Bisquick and distribute* evenly among the cups. Sprinkle cheese on top, bake 20 minutes.


*After several messy attempts with a spoon, my honey brilliantly suggested a turkey baster. Much less mess, although a little more difficult to wash.

Breakfast Quesadillas

 The idea started when my honey made eggs, bacon, and sausage for breakfast one morning. We feasted like kings, then put the leftovers in the fridge. What to do with leftover breakfast? Make more breakfast, of course! And so, the breakfast quesadilla came into existence.

Of course, the best foundation to any quesadilla is cheese. Lots and lots of warm, gooey cheese. Several different kinds of cheese, preferably. I like to use American and Cheddar as my base, and add mozzarella and provolone or whatever I have handy.

I find it easiest to alternate ingredient types when making quesadillas: e.g., American cheese, scrambled eggs, provolone cheese, torn sausage and bacon bits, and a lot of Cheddar cheese. This keeps the quesadilla together by sealing in the ingredients between the melty cheese.

So, to recap:

Ingredients per individual quesadilla:
2 tortillas, burrito size
1/4 cup Cheddar cheese
1 slice American cheese
1/2 slice provolone, mozzarella, etc.
1/4 cup scrambled eggs
1 sausage patty, torn
2 bacon strips, torn

Cook on low heat till cheese is melted and both sides are crispy and lightly browned. Yum!

Pancakes with Bisquick

The basic Bisquick pancake recipe is simple:

2 cups Bisquick
1 cup milk
2 eggs

However, that's really bland. We like to add a little cinnamon, vanilla, and honey, which gives them flavor and texture.

My mom likes to add a dash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of baking soda to help them rise into fluffier, lighter pancakes.

However you adjust them, make sure you start your skillet or griddle at pretty low heat and adjust as necessary. We like our pancakes cooked through and golden brown on the outsides, and higher heat can lead to the outsides cooking too fast and burning. Remember to flip them when the edges turn light brown and they should flip with little to no mess.

Lemon Squares

1 cup butter, softened 

1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 lemons juiced or 2/3 cup bottled lemon juice

Powdered or confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.

In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden.

In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust. 

Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Original recipe credit: Allrecipes.com