Thai Red Curry

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks (You can also make this vegetarian buy omitting the chicken and adding more veggies or tofu)
1 tbsp coconut oil
3 cups coconut milk, light or regular
1 1/2 cups water
3 tbsp red curry paste
2 baby bok choy, chopped
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1″ knob ginger, grated
1 cup chopped snow peas
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4″ thick pieces
1 1/2 tsp sugar
2 tsp fish sauce
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp salt
cooked rice or quinoa for serving

Directions:

1. Heat the coconut oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium high heat. When hot, add the ginger and saute until fragrant — 2 minutes.
2. Add the chicken and sear until not quite cooked through. Then, add the curry paste. Mix the ginger, chicken and curry paste together and continue to saute over high heat for another two minutes.
3. Pour in the coconut milk and water, then add the bok choy, bell pepper, chopped snow peas and sweet potatoes. Bring curry to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Stir in the fish sauce, salt, lime juice and sugar. Continue simmering over medium/low heat until veggies are soft. This will take about 10 minutes.

Serve curry over rice or quinoa!

Sweet Potato and Kale Pizza

My latest obsession!

ingredients

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 package (21 ounces) prepared whole-wheat pizza dough (I use store bought pre-prepared pizza crust)

1 bunch curly kale, stemmed and torn into bite-size pieces

1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan

Directions: 

1. Heat oven to 425°F. 

2. Boil a large pot of water. Cook potato in water until fork-tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and let cool 5 minutes. 

3. In a food processor, pulse potato, 1 tablespoon oil, red pepper and a pinch of salt until sauce is smooth. 

4. Spread potato sauce evenly over dough. Toss kale in remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil; top pizza with goat cheese, kale and Parmesan. 

5. Bake until crust is golden, 10 to 15 minutes,

Chicken in Mustard Cream Sauce

Ingredients

4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
3 whole Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 cup Brandy (or White Wine If Preferred)
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Grainy Mustard
1/4 cup (to 1/2) Heavy Cream
1/4 cup (to 1/2) Chicken Broth
 Salt And Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. 1. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts
2. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken breasts on both sides until nice and golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and keep on a plate.
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic to the pan and saute it for a minute, stirring to make sure it won't burn. Next pour in the brandy (I use white wine) being careful if cooking over an open flame. Then just let the booze bubble up and cook until it's reduced by half.
4. Throw in the mustards and stir to combine, then pour in the cream. Stir in chicken broth, adding more if the sauce seems too thick. Taste sauce and adjust whatever you think it needs. Add chicken breasts back to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Allow sauce to cook for another few minutes, shaking the pan if needed to move things around.

Crock Pot Balsamic Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is great choice when you're tired of chicken and you're not sure what else to cook. This recipe was so easy to make and didn't require a whole lot of ingredients but it was fancy enough to serve for date night. Pork tenderloin, with restaurant-style potatoes and a mixed green salad was a delicious date night meal.

Ingredients

 

1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds pork tenderloin

 

Directions:

1. Mix the first five ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Rub pork tenderloin in dry seasoning mixture.
3. In a large saute pan heat oil, ¼ cup balsamic and garlic on medium heat until hot.
4. Add pork to saute pan and sear, browning meat on all sides.
5. Reduce heat to low.
6. Transfer pork to crock pot.
7. Pour remaining balsamic into saute pan continuing to stir for a few minutes to de-glaze pan.
8. Pour juices over the top of the tenderloin in crock pot.
9. Cook on high 3 hours or until meat thermometer says 170 degrees.
10. Let rest 5-10 minutes then slice.
11. Serve or return slices to crock pot and keep warm.

Sausage and Peppers in Foil

I love recipes where you can just throw a bunch of veggies and a protein in a pouch of foil, put it in the oven and viola! dinner is ready in a half hour. This is one of those recipes. It's also really adaptable, you can pretty much throw whatever you have on hand in there and it'll turn out just fine.

Ingredients:
1 Polish sausage, (or whatever sausage you prefer), sliced
1-2 Yukon potatoes, sliced thin
1 zucchini, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions 

1. Place sliced Polish sausage, potatoes, zucchini, red pepper and red onion in aluminum foil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and seal shut.
2. Cook on the oven shelf of a grill at medium-high temperature for about 30 minutes. Or bake in a 400-degree oven for about 20 minutes.

Shrimp and Corn Chowder (With Bacon!)

E,

Another wonderful soup recipe (via Lucy's Pearls) for these long winter nights.  I was so surprised by how much I love this soup. It was a tad spicy, but had wonderful bacon flavor and was rich and creamy and the perfect meal for a snowy day!

Ingredients:

4 slices of bacon, cut into pieces
1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 medium white onion, diced
* Seasonings: adobo, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, minced garlic, old bay, garlic powder, lawry’s, maggi, poultry seasoning & black pepper (I used a couple dashes of each: old bay, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, and seasoned salt, but add whatever you have on hand!)
2, 8 3/4 oz cans of  Del Monte Whole Kernel corn (no salt added)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 pint of heavy cream
butter to saute onionns
olive oil

1. Soak the shrimp in lemon juice. Drain, then season with old bay. (Or cajun seasoning if you don't have old bay... which is a sin on the east coast)
2. Over medium heat, add your torn up pieces of bacon to the flying pan. Fry until the edges are golden. Taste test! Drain and set it aside. Save some of that fatty oil for later.
3. Pump up the heat to medium-high and add your shrimp and sear until edges are golden brown, about a minute on each side. Remove and set aide.
4. Add butter to the pan and saute your onions with all of the seasonings mentioned above for 5 minutes
5. Add your corn to the fiesta and saute for another 3 minutes.
6. Now. Game changer. Add your broth and cream into a pot. Stir while it’s heating up. Add your onion & corn mixture to the pot. Let that simmer for another 30 minutes.
7.  While that is happening, remove two cups from the pot and place it in the blender. Blend until smooth and return to the pot. Add shrimp and bacon back the pot. Simmer until heated through and enjoy!

Restaurant Style Mashed Potatoes

E,

I'm not sure where I first came across this recipe but it has become my go-to recipe for mashed potatoes. First off, it used red potatoes instead of Russet, which I like because I don't have to peel them. Peeling potatoes is a huge pain in the ass. These mashed potatoes are delicious but I'll warn you -- they aren't very healthy. Oh well.

1/2 pounds red potatoes (about 8 small), quartered, skin left on
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions

1. Place potatoes in a large pot or dutch oven. Add enough water to cover the potatoes. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer about 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, sour cream, Parmesan cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer.
3. When potatoes pierce easily with a paring knife, remove from heat and drain. Add potatoes to the bowl with the other ingredients and mix on medium speed until mostly smooth (there may be some lumps, but we usually don't mind that). Serve.

Sesame Chicken

E,

I love Chinese food and as you know, it is near impossible to find good Chinese food in the city. Damn you, DC! Sesame chicken is my favorite so when I found this recipe I was super excited! I tried to make sesame chicken in the crockpot a few years ago and it was a total and complete disaster. When I came across this recipe, it just looked so delicious and was crockpot free so I gave it a try. I'm so glad I did, it was easy and super delicious! I served it with rice and it was a truly great dish.

For the Marinade:
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch chunks

For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon chili paste (can substitute a couple pinches of red pepper flakes)

For the Coating & Frying:
3 egg whites
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 cups vegetable oil, for frying
Sesame seeds, to garnish
Scallions, sliced, to garnish

Directions:

1. To make the marinade, whisk the chicken stock, water, soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, cornstarch and sesame oil in a bowl. Of this mixture, place 6 tablespoons into a zip lock storage bag and add the chicken; seal and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Set aside the remaining marinade in the bowl.

2. While the chicken is chilling in the marinade, heat the 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat until simmering. Saute the garlic, ginger and chile pasta until fragrant (about 2 minutes). Add 2 cups of the reserved marinade to the skillet and simmer, whisking constantly, until the mixture has become a darker brown and thickened. Remove from the heat and cover.

3. To prepare the chicken for coating and frying, whisk the egg whites in a shallow dish until foamy; set aside. Combine the cornstarch, flour, baking soda, and remaining marinade in a second shallow dish; mix using a fork until it resembles coarse meal.

4. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and from the marinade. Pat the marinated chicken dry with paper towels.

5. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat until the oil registers 350 degrees.

6. While the oil is heating, prepare the chicken for frying. Toss half the chicken into the foamy egg whites until well coated, then dredge the chicken in the cornstarch mixture, pressing to adhere. Transfer the coated chicken to plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.

7. Fry half the chicken until golden brown, about 3 minutes, turning each piece halfway through cooking. Transfer the cooked chicken onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Return the oil to 350 degrees. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

8. Warm the sauce over medium heat until simmering. Turn off the heat and add the fried chicken piece. Toss to coat and serve, sprinkling with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
 

Perfect Chili

It's been super cold in the DC area for the past couple weeks and I thought a nice bowl of chili would be fabulous. It totally hit the spot :)

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic, chopped
One 8-ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup masa harina ( corn flour, found in the Mexican food section of many supermarkets)
Shredded Cheddar, for serving
Chopped onions, for serving
Tortilla chips, for serving
Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Place the ground beef in a large pot and throw in the garlic. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain off the excess fat, and then pour in the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne. Stir together well, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes overly dry, add 1/2 cup water at a time as needed.

After an hour, place the masa harina in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and stir together with a fork. Dump the masa mixture into the chili. Stir together well, and then taste and adjust the seasonings. Add more masa paste and /or water to get the chili to your preferred consistency, or to add more corn flavor. Serve with shredded Cheddar, chopped onions, tortilla chips and lime wedges.

Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce

Erin,

So.... I haven't blogged in 3 months. Have you noticed? Oops! I kept meaning to but would always put it off. Anyway, I am fighting a nasty cold today and decided this would be a perfect time to catch up! So let's get started ;) I found this recipe via the Pioneer Woman (duh) and it has instantly become one of my favorites. It's easy to make and I almost always have all the ingredients on hand. The sauce is tangy but creamy and it is absolutely divine. I love to pair this chicken with steamed broccoli and pour extra sauce on top. This recipe serves 4, but I always cut it in half when it's just the two of us. 

Ingredients:
4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
3 whole Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 cup White Wine
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Mustard
1/2 Heavy Cream
1/2 Chicken Broth
Salt And Pepper, to taste

Directions: 
1. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken.
2. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken  on both sides until nice and golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and keep on a plate.
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic to the pan and saute it for a minute, stirring to make sure it won't burn.
4. Next pour in the wine being and let it bubble up and cook until it's reduced by half.
5. Throw in the mustards and stir to combine, then pour in the cream. Stir in chicken broth, adding more if the sauce seems too thick.
6. Add chicken breasts back to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Allow sauce to cook for another few minutes, shaking the pan if needed to move things around.
 

Biscuits and Gravy

E,

I never used to be a big fan of biscuits and gravy, I'm more of an eggs and bacon girl. At brunch a few weeks ago, S ordered biscuits and gravy and I literally couldn't get enough. I rushed home (stopping by the store first) and tried to recreate them! I am pretty pleased with how these came out :) It's super basic but it gets the job done. In the future, I'm sure I'll find a way to make it fancier.

Ingredients:

6-8oz breakfast sausage
1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup milk, ( I used a little more because I like runny sauce)

salt and pepper
6-8 warm biscuits (I was planning to make these from scratch, but I'm lazy so I just used Pillsbury!)

Directions:

1. In a iron skillet, over medium heat, cook the sausage; breaking it up with a wooden spoon.  When the sausage is cooked remove from skillet with slotted spoon; let drain on paper towel lined plate.  Do not drain the oil.  You should have at least 1 tablespoon of oil left, if not add some butter so that it equals a tablespoon.
2. Add the flour to the oil and cook for 1 minutes, stirring constantly.  Slowly whisk in the milk.  Let simmer until sauce starts to thicken.  Add the sausage back into the skillet and season with salt and pepper.  Let simmer for another 3-5 minutes or until the sausage is heated through.  Pour the gravy over the biscuits....Enjoy!

Zuchini Squash Bake

Erin,

I found this recipe on Pinterest and it looked so delicious! This is really great dish if you are looking for something vegetarian, but it also works as a great side dish. It takes a while to roast but it's totally worth it.

Ingredients:
6-7 medium zucchini or yellow summer squash
2 Tb canola oil
2 Tb minced garlic
2 tsp dried thyme
4 eggs
2/3 C light sour cream
1 C crumbled feta cheese
1/2 C fresh parmesan cheese
2 Tb lemon juice
salt and pepper

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a large casserole dish with nonstick spray.
2.  Slice the squash into 1/4" slices.  If they are larger squash, cut them down the middle before slicing. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan.  Add the squash, garlic and thyme.  Saute and stir just until the squash is starting to soften slightly.  Don't cook too long or it will be mushy after it bakes in the oven. Remove from the heat.
3.  Beat together the eggs, sour cream, cheeses and lemon juice in a medium sized bowl.  Place half of the squash into the bottom of the casserole.  Sprinkle on some salt and pepper (remember the cheeses are salty!) then spread 1/2 of the egg mixture over the top.  Repeat with remaining squash and egg mixture.
4.  Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and slightly set.  Serve hot.

Chocolate Mousse

E,

This is the mousse recipe I was telling you about a few months ago, (that I totally forgot to post, sorry!) This mousse is so awesome. It takes only a handful of ingredients and it's so rich and creamy and yummy! I know it seems weird that there is tofu in it, but I promise, it takes amazing. (Chocolate Covered Katie)

Ingredients:
1/2 package or 6 oz silken tofu
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
3/4 c chocolate chips
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp milk of choice
1/16 tsp salt

Directions:
1. Melt the chocolate, either on the stove or in the microwave. Then throw everything into a  and blend until super-smooth! 

Skillet Lasagna

Just like lasagna but without all the mess! This is a perfect weeknight meal. Easy to make, it's ready in less than half an hour and relatively easy clean up! Score! (Courtesy of No. 2 Pencils)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 pound of Italian Sausage, Italian Turkey Sausage or Lean Ground Beef
1/2 a medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
28 oz can of whole peeled tomatoes, crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken broth
2 9 oz packages of Buitoni four cheese ravioli, from the refrigerated section
8 oz of fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese
Flat leaf parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Add olive oil to large skillet.
2. Sautee onions and garlic, over medium heat, until onions are soft and translucent.
3. Add sausage and cook, breaking up with wooden spoon while it browns.
4. Once sausage is cooked through, add tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and ravioli.
5. If using whole peeled tomatoes, use kitchen shears to chop them up while still in the can before adding to skillet.

Chicken Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

It doesn't get much better than spaghetti and meatballs. It's just so familiar and comforting. I saw this recipe on Pinterest (One Lovely Life)and I was instantly intrigued. Chicken meatballs? Sounds a bit strange. But it was delicious and a different take on the average meatballs. I'm so glad I tried this recipe, and it came with an excellent tomato recipe too!

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 1 lb. ground chicken breast
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 Tbsp bread crumbs*
• 2-3 Tbsp fresh basil, minced
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ¾ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp garlic powder

For the sauce:

2 (10oz) containers cherry tomatoes, halved

Olive Oil
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
8oz sliced mushrooms
about ⅓c fresh basil, minced (more or less to taste)
salt and pepper, to taste
water, if desired

Directions:

For the meatballs:

1. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, basil, mustard, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder with a fork and toss until just combined.
2. Using your hands or a small scoop to form 1″meatballs. You’ll end up with around 20-25 meatballs, depending on how large or small you made them.
3. Place meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil, careful not to have any of the meatballs touching. Bake at 400 degrees 15-20 minutes, or until just browning and fully cooked through.

For the sauce:

1. First off, roast the tomatoes by tossing tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil and roast at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes, or until wrinkly with slightly charred edges

1. Let the tomatoes cool a bit then pulse with tomato sauce in a blender or food processor until you’ve reached your desired consistency.
2. Pour tomato mixture into your largest saute pan or a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add mushrooms and cook until tender, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in basil. Taste sauce and add additional basil, salt, or pepper, as desired. If the sauce seems a bit thick, you can thin it with a little water, adding about ½c at a time.
3. When meatballs have finished cooking, transfer them into the sauce and toss to coat. Serve with pasta

Avocado Chicken Enchiladas

If you can't tell by now that I'm obsessed with enchiladas, then this will probably solidify your suspicions (and P.S. I have TWO more enchilada recipes I tried last week I haven't even posted yet!) Enchiladas are just so easy to make and always turn out great. This recipe was a real winner. Sam was totally, head in heels in love with these enchiladas. He actually said it was one of the best dishes I've ever made. And I couldn't agree more! (This recipe is courtesy of Six Sister's Stuff and if you haven't checked them out yet, you should totally do it!)

Ingredients for Enchilada Sauce:
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp flour
1 cup chicken stock  - (you could use vegetable stock)
2 teaspoons of cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup mild or medium salsa verde (depending on how hot you want it)
1/2 cup fat free sour cream

Ingredients for Enchilada Filling:
3-4 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped or shredded
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
3 avocados, peeled and chopped
8 flour tortillas


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In medium sauce pan, saute garlic in butter  for about 1 minute on Medium - High Heat. Stir in flour let it cook for about 2 more minutes.
2. Next stir in the chicken broth, cumin, salt, pepper and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream, salsa verde and cilantro until smooth (or at least as smooth as you can get.)
3. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Add about 1/2 cup sauce to the bottom of the pan. and spread out until bottom of the baking dish is evenly coated.
4. Lay out a tortilla and add chicken, shredded cheese, and avocado to the end of the tortilla and roll. Then place the rolled tortilla seam-side down and repeat until the pan is full.
5. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas. Cover with 1 cup of cheese and bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.

Fresh Green Beans

E,

I decided to make a nice meal last week to celebrate my new job. I served a roasted chicken (which turned out B-E-A-U-Tiful by the way), some mashed potatoes and I grabbed some green beans on my out of the grocery store. Upon returning home and getting ready to fix dinner, I decided I had no idea how I wanted to prepare them. Steam them? Boil them? Saute them in bacon grease like I usually do? Nah, I was looking for something different. That's when I came across a recipe from the Pioneer Woman (IS THERE ANYTHING THIS WOMAN CAN'T COOK??) Anyway, it was a really fantastic dish. Easy and delicious!

Ingredients:
1 pound Green Beans
2 Tablespoons Bacon Grease (can Substitute 1 Tablespoon Butter And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil)
2 cloves Garlic
1 cup Chopped Onion
1 cup Chicken Broth
1/2 cup Chopped Red Bell Pepper (I didn't have any red bell pepper so I omitted this ;))
1/2 teaspoon (to 1 Teaspoon) Kosher Salt
Ground Black Pepper To Taste

Directions:

1. Snap the stem ends of the green beans
2. Melt bacon grease in a skillet over medium low heat. Add garlic and onions and cook for a minute. 3. Then add green beans and cook for a minute until beans turn bright green.
4. Add the chicken broth, chopped red pepper, salt and black pepper. Turn heat to low and cover with a lid, leaving lid cracked to allow steam to escape. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until liquid evaporates and beans are fairly soft, yet still a bit crisp.

White Russian Cupcakes

Erin,

White Russians have quickly become my new favorite cocktail. There is nothing better than watching The Big Lebowski on a Saturday night with a white russian in hand. I came across this recipe the other day and it sounded super complicated, but it's not at all! It was simple and delicious and tasted like actual white russian. Great cupcakes for when you want to impress someone in your life ;) (Makes 12 cupcakes)

Cupcake Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup sugar

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1 large egg and 1 egg white

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

1/8 cup Vodka

1/4 cup Kahlua, divided

Cupcake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a seperate bowl or in a stand mixer, beat together the sugar and butter until combined. Add egg and egg white, one at a time. Then add the vanilla, Vodka, and 1/8 cup of Kahlua. Gradually add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk in two additions, ending with the flour mixture.

3. Bake 17 -20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcakes comes out clean. While the cupcakes are still warm, brush the tops with the remaining 1/8 cup Kahlua. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. 

 

Kahlua Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:

1 stick of butter, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

pinch of salt

3 - 4 tablespoons Kahlua

 

Directions:

Beat butter until creamy. Add salt. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating until combined. Add Kahlua 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach desired consistency.

Clean Eating Pasta Salad

What you will need:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
8 oz whole grain penne pasta
4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to directions
2. Let pasta cool
3. Mix olive oil and lemon juice and soak tomatoes in mixture for 15 minutes
4. Combine all ingredients and serve cold

Greek Orzo Salad

What you will need:

2 cups orzo pasta

1/4 cup kalamata olives

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/4 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 

Directions:

1. Cook orzo according to directions on box; drain

2. Put in large bowl and add olive oil to prevent from sticking

3. Toss olives, pepper, onion and cheese into the pasta

4. Add vinegar

 

Serve cold

I usually cook this the night before work and take it for lunch with grilled chicken and black beans. It's so good!