Easter Inspired Dinner

Lamb, Asparagus and Couscous. 

I did put my own twist on the Lamb.

Lamb

1 lb of Lamb Stew Pieces
1 Tsp of Ginger (if you are daring you can use fresh)
1 tsp of Onion Powder
1 tsp of Garlic Powder (or you can use fresh garlic)
6 Fresh Mint Leafs


Mix all of the above in a bowl and cover. Sit aside so the flavors absorb into the meat.

 
Asparagus
After taking an inch off of the the bottom of the clean Asparagus take 1/4 cup of Olive Oil or Veggie Oil and lightly coat the Asparagus.

Lay it on your foild baking sheet.

7 turns from a Sea Salt Grinder (if you do not have one then 1 tbps of salt)

Bake at 375* for 10 mins.
You can do this on the BBQ if you like them grilled.

Now that you have the asparagus prepared and in you can now start cooking the Lamb. 

Take 1/4 cup of Olive Oil or Vegie Oil. Preheat it in your frying pan.

Lightly dust your lamb with a handful of flour.

After the oil has started to sizzle, turn the heat down and cook the Lamb for about 20-25 mins. keep and eye on it so it does not burn, and keep turning it so it cooked evenly.

Couscous


2 cups Couscous
1 1/4 water
2 tps of butter

Bring the water to a boil then add the butter so it melts. Add the Couscous to the boiling water, cover then remove the pan from the heat. Let the couscous stand until the water has absorbed.

Then you can add your own seasonings to it.

This is a very easy meal that you can have any time of the year. It is something that can be tweaked to meet your needs and tastes. 

Start to finish approx 45mins.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Pumpkin Pankcakes with Caramel Apple Topping

I am a huge fan of pumpkin anytime of year. Vivianne was asking me for pancakes, so I decided to whip these amazing, melt in your mouth pancakes up. 

 

 Pumpkin Pancakes:

• 2 cups of Bisquick
• 2 large eggs organic eggs
• 1- 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup  sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Take everything and combined it until the mixture is some what smooth. Pre-heat your skillet on medium heat. Using a 1/2 cup scoop the batter on to the skillet and let cook for about 3 mins, then flip them and cook on the other side for about a 1 1/2 mins. Just make sure they do not burn.

This will make about 12 good size pancakes.

(Double the recipe,if you are feeding more people.)

Caramel Apple Topping:

• 3 Honey Crisp Apples, peeled and diced
• 3 tbs butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and dissolve the sugar. Add the apple and cook until tender, add the cream and continue to cook until creamy. 

You can make this ahead of time, or while you are making the pancakes. Depending on how well you can multitask.

Got Steak?

So February 14th, you might know it as Valentine's Day, Single Awareness Day, or just another day of the year.

 Here is a dinner that you can have anytime of the year. 

I took 2 Rib Eye Steak and seasoned them and sat them to the side covered, so the seasoning would soak into the meat until I was ready to cook them. 

I cooked the steak on the BBQ.  4-6 mins on each side, depending on your preference on how you like the steak cooked.

Then I took small Yukon Potatoes cut into fourths and baby carrots. Drizzle with veggie oil, and spread out evenly on the cookie sheet, sprinkle rosemary all over. Cook at 400 for about 20-25 mins, untill the potatoes turned golden brown and cooked all of the way.

 Gnocchi!!! Its awesome!!! fallow the directions on the box, then saute the tomatoes and put the Gnocchi in with and let simmer for about 2-3 mins.

You can add salt and pepper to taste.

From start to finish it takes about 45 mins. Sit down and enjoy!

Banana Cupcakes

So I was super bored the other night and found a box of Yellow Cake Mix, and I was in the mood for something with bananas. Which was convenient because I had a bunch of bananas in my kitchen. 

They are super moist, just the right amount of banana flavor, and hit my sweet craving!

 

Cupcakes

1	box (15 oz) Betty Crocker® yellow cake mix
1	cup mashed ripe bananas ( I used 2 large bananas)
1/3	cup butter, melted
1/3	cup water
3	eggs, beaten
2	teaspoons vanilla extract  ( I use a pure vanilla from mexico, so if you have pure real vanilla only use  1 teaspoon)

 

Frosting

1/3	cup butter*
3	cups powdered sugar
1	teaspoon vanilla
3	to 4 tablespoons milk

1. 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cups in each of 17 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, stir cupcake ingredients just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups.
2. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. 3 In 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat just until light brown, stirring occasionally. (Watch carefully because butter can burn quickly.) Remove from heat. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
4. 4 In medium bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk until smooth and spreadable. Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes.

Out Side The Box.... Blackberry Cupcakes

Everyone likes cupcakes, instead of doing chocolate or vanilla cupcakes.

Why not think out side of the box?


Here is a delicious Blackberry Cupcake.

This makes 24 amazing cupcakes.

18 oz blackberries - pureed and strained to remove seeds
1/3 cup milk
7 large egg whites
2 1/4 cup cake flour

1 3/4 cup sugar
1.5 sticks of butter, softened

Puree blackberries in a food processor or blender. Scrape into a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl. With a rubber spatula, work the blackberries through the sieve, leaving seeds behind. 

Beat the egg whites, lemon juice, and 3/4 cup sugar in a bowl until soft peaks. Then separately beat the butter with the 1 cup sugar, and add in the rest of the ingredients, beating well. Remove 1/4 cup of blackberry puree for the frosting and pour the rest into the bowl. At the end, fold in the egg whites mixture. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes, or till a toothpick comesout with crumbs, not wet batter attached.  

Let cool completely then frost. 

Blackberry Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/4 of the Blackberry puree

3/4 of a package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)

3 Tbsp of Sweet Butter (softened)
1/2 - 1 cup of Confectioner Sugar

Mix all the in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Start only with the 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar, taste then add more if you would like it sweeter.

I'm Out Of Salad Dressing!

I wanted a BLT sandwich yesterday. I get the bacon out, the lettuce, and the tomatoes out; and I realize I have no bread! So looking around my kitchen, I decided on having a BLT salad instead.

Then I realized I only had ranch dressing!!! (It wasn't my day.)

So I decided to make my on kind of salad dressing!


Honey Dijon Dressing

1/4 cup of Honey Dijon Mustard
1/3 cup of Olive Oil
1 tsp of sugar

Its super easy! Mix these all together untill it is smooth!

Pour on your favorite salad!

4 pieces of Cooked Bacon (Chopped up)
1/2 sliced Tomato
2 cups of Organic Green Salad
1/2 a cup of Cran-rasins
1/3 a cup of Honey Dijon Dressing!


Enjoy!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers

4 BellPeppers
1 pound of Ground Turkey
1.5 cups of Instant Brown Rice
2 large Tomatoes (Chopped)
1-1 1/2 cups of Chicken Broth (or turkey if you can find it)
1 bag of Kraft Mexican Cheese ( Solid White Cheese)
Onion Salt
Garlic Powder

Turn your oven on Broil.

Cut the tops of the peppers off  and place them cut down in a bowl of 1/2 inches of water and microwave on high for 8 1/2 mins.

While the peppers are heating, in a frying pan cook the Ground Turkey (takes about 5 mins). Then pour the Instant Brown Rice on top of the turkey, then the Chicken Broth, top with the chopped Tomatoes.

Bring the contents of the pan to a boil then cover with a lid and turn the heat down so it simmers for 5 mins.

Take the pan off with the lid still on and let the pan rest for 5 more mins so the rice can absorb the rest of the broth and puff up.

Pour out the excess broth out of the pan. Mix in 1-2 cups of Cheese into the meat and rice mixture, stir untill the cheese has melted.

Stuff the Peppers as well as you can to the top ( it is okay if you pile more on top), placing them in a cassarole dish (or a broilng pan). Cover in cheese. Place in the oven on the 3 to the top of the oven, so the cheese melts ( this takes 1-3 mins)

Take out and enjoy!!