Thursday, January 26, 2012
Ribs, Smashed Potatoes and Carrots - Mozza Cookbook
A couple of years ago we celebrated my son's 30th birthday at Mozza. This was one of my all time favorite meals and restaurants! For the past two years there's been talk of a Mozza cookbook. When I saw it had finally been released, I immediately put the book on my Christmas list! The second cookbook I received was Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream's at Home. I will be blogging about the first recipe I tried soon!
If my first recipes are any indication, this cookbook rocks! Being a Kansas City girl, ribs to me mean BBQ ribs. When I saw the recipe for Pork Ribs with Fennel and Apple Cider Vinegar, I was intrigued. The recipe didn't disappoint, these ribs were fall off the bone tender and delicious.
Rounding things out for an all Mozza dinner, I tried the Smashed Potatoes with Rosemary and the Roasted Carrots. Roasting has taken on a new meaning in my kitchen. My new oven has a convection roast setting. The end result is perfectly roasted veggies in less time! This is a meal I will be adding to list of recipes to prepare when we are having dinner guests. Delicious and ones that do not require a lot of hands on prep!
If you're interested in these recipes, send me an email! I am linking this to Foodie Friday.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
Christmas week I wanted to make something for my neighbors. Pumpkin is perfect for the holidays but I wanted to make something different. I searched and found Paula's recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread. The cream cheese gives the bread a more subtle pumpkin flavor. I chose to omit the nuts and raisins. It's a great spin on traditional pumpkin bread.
Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread
Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3/4 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup raisins
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans.
In a medium bowl and with an electric mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add sugar, beating until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and next 5 ingredients, stirring to combine. Gradually add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture, mixing until blended. Stir in pumpkin, pecans, and raisins.
Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans, and allow to cool completely on wire racks.
I am linking this to Foodie Friday, Full Plate Thursday, Sweet Tooth Friday and Let's Do Brunch!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Mint Filled Brownie Cupcakes - MSC
The recipe called for bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. I love dark chocolate, so I decided to use that instead. After you make the batter, you scoop one tablespoon into the cupcake pan, put a peppermint patty on top and scoop on more batter. I didn't have peppermint patties but I did have Andes peppermint chips. They worked out as a great substitution. The mint pairs nicely with the chocolate and these are a dense chocolately "cupcake". These are more like a brownie in a cupcake wrapper. Regardless of what you decide to call to call them, give this this recipe a try! It's a keeper!
Thanks to Rebecca of The Baking Sisters for choosing a winner! You can find the recipe on Martha's website and links to all of the MSC bakers here!
I am linking this to Tasty Tuesday!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Asiago Breakfast Bake
This one particularly caught my eye. I am always looking for make ahead breakfast recipes, especially those that are good for company. I decided to make this for Tim and I for New Year's Day. We stopped at Panera to pick up Asiago Bagels and unfortunately they were out. The asiago bagel bins at Hy Vee were also empty. While debating whether to use plain bagels or make the recipe another time, I spotted Asiago dinner rolls. I decided to give them a try, they worked fine. This is a delicious make ahead breakfast dish. The next time you have company or want to make something special for Sunday morning breakfast, give this one a try!
Asiago Bagel Breakfast Bake
8 large eggs
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups whole milk
1 tsp fresh chopped tarragon or 1/2 tsp dried
1/4 tsp paprika
freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 oz Monterrey Jack Cheese, grated
6 oz. Asiago cheese, grated
4 Asiago Cheese bagels
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, milk, salt, tarragon, paprika and season with pepper. Grate and mix the cheeses in another bowl. Cut the bagels in bite-size pieces. Grease a 2 qt casserole or souffle dish. Starting with the bagel pieces, alternate layering the bagel pieces and grated cheese into the dish. Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 and bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour til eggs are set and top is golden brown.
I am linking this to Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Drunken Smokies
I joined our BUNCO group the first month after we moved in. I was welcomed with open arms, everyone is so friendly. This just reconfirmed what I already knew, Tim and I made a great decision moving to Riverside Lakes. December BUNCO was a pot luck and a yankee gift exchange. I was lucky enough to draw number one! I got to choose from all of the gifts, or at least the ones that hadn't already been stolen twice. I chose a high heel cake server!
It so happens Gayla who brought the cake server for the gift exchange also made a delicious appetizer, Drunken Little Smokies! I made these for Tim and I for New Year's Eve. They're a fun change from the typical BBQ Smokies.
DRUNK BACON & BROWN SUGAR LIL SMOKIES
one pack Lil' Smokies
one can cola
one cup brown sugar
spiced rum
one pack of bacon
Toothpicks
1. Cut bacon into 2-1/2 to 3 inch strips.
2. Wrap Lil smokies in bacon; Place toothpick through center.
3. Place cup of brown sugar, Cola and rum in a saucepan over medium-low heat (until sugar has dissolved). Reduce to low heat and continue to cook until sauce thickens.
4. Preheat oven to 400°F.
5. Place Lil' Smokies on a baking sheet, brush with Sugar-Cola mixture and bake in oven until bacon is crisp.
6. Remove from oven and dip in Sugar-Cola sauce. Place in slow cooker to keep warm. ENJOY.
I am linking this to Tasty Tuesday.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
Recipe Courtesy of Baking Bites
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 15-oz can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup half and half (or evaporated milk)
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper or silicone liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and half and half until well combined. Add in dry ingredients and whisk until no streaks of flour remain and batter is smooth.
Fill each muffin cup with approximately 1/3 cup of batter.
Bake for 20 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pan. They will sink as they cool.
Chill cupcakes before serving. Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Makes 12
I am linking this to Foodie Friday, Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday and Sweet Tooth Friday.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Devils Food Cupcakes - Club Baked
I double checked the recipe and am positive, I used the right measurements but my cupcakes didn't rise. Instead of the Angel Frosting the recipe called for, I added cocoa to some leftover cream cheese frosting that was in my fridge. It complimented the deep devils food flavor nicely. Despite their appearance, these cupcakes are delicious. They are light and fluffy with a deep chocolate flavor. I will be making this one again soon!
You can find the recipe at Just About Food Today. Thanks Natalie for a great choice of recipes!! Check out the links to the other Club Baked bakers cakes here!