Sunday, June 26, 2016

Rhubarb Vinaigrette

What do you think of when you think of rhubarb?  In my kitchen, I think dessert.  Rhubarb can be used in so much more than just desserts.  How about a beautiful salad dressing?  Tart rhubarb makes a delicious base for a vinaigrette.  I neglected to get a photo in the jar but if you look closely you can see how beautiful it is from this photo.



Rhubarb Vinaigrette
Recipe Courtesy of Dinner with Julie

1 rhubarb stalk, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar (red wine or raspberry vinegar would work well too)
2 tsp. grainy Dijon mustard (or to taste)
1/4 cup canola or mild olive oil

Directions
In a small saucepan, simmer the rhubarb with 1/4 - 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes, or until very soft. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Put the rhubarb into a blender with the honey, vinegar and mustard. Pulse until smooth. With the motor running, slowly pour in the oil.



Sunday, June 19, 2016

Smoked Gouda Potatoes

If you live in a city where the temperatures are soaring into the upper 90's or 100's, this probably isn't a recipe you want try.  Trust me, though, it's a good one to save for when the temperatures cool down.  The smoked Gouda gives these a wonderful flavor ... cheesy goodness!! 



 
Smoked Gouda Potatoes
Ingredients
  • 1 clove garlic, halved
  • cooking spray
  • 2 pounds peeled and thinly sliced potatoes
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • salt and black pepper
  • 1 cup grated smoked gouda
  • 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325.
  2. Rub the inside of a casserole baking dish with garlic. Spray with cooking spray.
  3. Layer half the potatoes in the dish. Pour over two tablespoons of the melted butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then 1/2 cup of the smoked gouda. Repeat for second half of potatoes. Pour milk over potatoes.
  4. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes to brown. 

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

For the June edition of Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned, Nichole of Cookaholic Wife.  Nichole says, " I get a great sense of satisfaction when in the kitchen, whether it be cooking or baking, although baking is what I do to relax. Nothing makes me happier than feeding people. It's not enough to cook dinner for Tom and I throughout the week. I bring baked goods into work nearly every Monday morning."  Now this is the kind of coworker we all wish we had!!

The trend here at Little Bit of Everything has been to bake using cake mixes and today's post is no exception.  For June's Secret Recipe Club, I wanted to find a "summer" recipe.   I love all things pink and these cupcakes caught my eye.  What a fun recipe for a picnic or little girl's birthday party.  These cupcakes were fun and easy to put together and oh so delicious!



Pink Lemonade Funfetti Cupcakes
Recipe adapted slightly from Cookaholic Wife
Yield: 20 cupcakes

Ingredients:
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 1/2 single-serve packets of Crystal Light Pink Lemonade drink mix (I used raspberry Crystal Light)
    • 18.9 oz. box funfetti cake mix
    • 1 stick of melted butter (Nichole's recipe used applesauce, much healthier!)
    • zest from 1/2 a lemon
    • 1 drop pink food coloring  (I didn't need this)
    • sprinkles
Directions:
1. Stir together the water and the pink lemonade mix.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 and line cupcake tins with paper liners.
3. In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the cake mix, applesauce, lemon zest, vegetable oil, food coloring and pink-lemonade mixture. Mix until all of the ingredients are combined.
4. Scoop the batter into the cupcake pans. Top with additional sprinkles and bake for 22 minutes.
5. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

I topped these with cream cheese frosting and additional sprinkles.

 
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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Cinnamon Roll Cookie Bars

I feel like I say this frequently, I love to bake but sometimes after work I am just too tired.  I've discovered there's so many treats you can make using a boxed cake mix.  Needing to make treats for a coworkers birthday, I found this recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cookie Bars.  Who doesn't love all things cinnamon roll?  These were delicious and tasted just like cinnamon rolls, not to mention quick and easy to make. 




Cinnamon Roll Cookie Bars
Recipe courtesy of Blissful Whimsy

Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

Icing
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions
Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9"x13" baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
When perfectly baked remove from the oven and pour icing over the top.