My Story in Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect

Hot Air Balloon Cake Pops

3/29/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Cake pops are my new creative outlet and they're easier to make than you might think.  
Picture
​Follow my simple step by step instructions and can create cake pops of your very own.  Be careful though - they can be very addicting.  
​Bake your favorite cake in a 9x13 pan.  I tinted a yellow cake with  blue food coloring because I wanted to make blue cake pops for a baby shower.
​Cool cake and crumble into a large bowl.
Picture
Picture
​Add 1 cup of frosting.  (Either from a can or your favorite recipe.)
​Stir with a spatula to combine.
Picture
Picture
​
​Using a small cookie scoop to portion out the dough and shape into balls with your hands.  I shaped mine into tiny hot air balloons.
Picture
Chill for 1 hour.  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
Melt 1/4 cup candy melts in the microwave.  Dip a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then push it halfway into the cake ball.  
Picture
Picture
Chill for 1 hour.  AGAIN, DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
​

​Melt candy melts and dip each cake ball into the melted chocolate until coated.
Picture
Picture
​


​I never invested in a cake pop stand before and I tried to use a styrofoam block.  I probably don't have to tell you how that ended up but just know that it was VERY unsuccessful.  Trust me... the $3.50 cake stand is WELL worth it.
​Once the cake pops are dry, decorate with melted chocolate.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​I am no expert at making cake pops but I'm completely addicted.  There are so many creative ways to decorate these fun desserts.  Have you tried making them?  Post a comment on my blog and let me know how they turned out.  

Ciao! 
1 Comment

Spicy Paprika Lime Chicken

3/26/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
​I'm always looking for new ways to marinate and flavor my grilled chicken.  I ran across this Paleo recipe on Pinterest last month and it looked really interesting.  I added a few ingredients of my own which meant that it wasn't a Paleo recipe anymore but it came out pretty darn tasty.  For those of you who are trying to follow a Paleo diet, I will give you both versions of the recipe - mine and the Paleo version.
Spicy Paprika Lime Chicken 
6 thins sliced chicken breasts
5 Tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
2 limes, zest and juiced
2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
Combine all ingredients except chicken in a bowl.
Picture
Picture
​Lay chicken on a waxed paper lined baking sheet and brush with marinade.
Picture
Picture
​I put mine in the frig for the afternoon.  The longer it sits in the frig with the rub on it, the better it will taste.  Cook chicken on the grill.
Picture
Picture
Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Chicken Cordon Blue

3/25/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
We are living on make ahead dinners lately.  Baseball games and soccer games are consuming most evenings.  By the time we get home at night, everyone is starving and way too hungry to wait for me to fix dinner.  My solution?  Make dinner at noon and put it in the frig until dinnertime.  It only takes a few minutes to reheat a meal in the microwave and evenings just run smoother once everyone has had a warm dinner.  This Chicken Cordon Blue recipe was inspired by Bobby Flay and it's a fantastic make ahead dinner.  I cooked the chicken at lunchtime and let it cool before putting it in the refrigerator until dinnertime.  It reheated beautifully in the microwave and everyone really liked it.  
Picture
Chicken Cordon Blue
4 chicken breasts skinless and boneless
4 thin slices prosciutto
1/2 pound Gruyere, sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely minced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
Extra-virgin olive oil
Lay the chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, gently pound the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness
Picture
Picture
Picture


​​Remove the top sheet of plastic and lay 1 slice of prosciutto neatly over the top to cover the breast.
Picture
Picture
Lay the cheese slices over the prosciutto.  Tuck in the sides of the breast and roll up tight like a jellyroll inside the plastic wrap. Squeeze the log gently to seal and twist both ends tight to form a nice log. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Picture
Picture



​​Season the flour with salt and pepper. Mix the bread crumbs with thyme, garlic and kosher salt, pepper, and melted butter. The butter will help the crust brown. Beat together the eggs.
​Remove the plastic wrap. Lightly dust the chicken with flour, dip in the egg mixture and gently coat in the bread crumbs.  Lightly coat a baking pan with olive oil and carefully transfer the roulades onto it.
Picture
Picture
​Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Picture
Picture
​It's nice to have dinner waiting for us when we get home from a game.  These were a nice treat after a recent baseball game.  And just in case you were curious, I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures from the game. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

3/23/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
​When Cook's Country publishes a new chocolate sugar cookie recipe - I can't help but try it.  This recipe is not for people who like chocolate.  This cookie is meant for chocolate LOVERS.  It is absolutely jam packed with rich, deep, dark, intense chocolate flavor.  You WILL need a glass of milk to best enjoy this decadent treat.
Picture
Picture
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
14 Tablespoons butter
1 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
Picture
​Microwave 10 Tablespoons butter until melted.
Picture
Picture
​

​Stir in remaining 4 Tablespoons unmelted butter. 
Picture
​Allow to cool.  Whisk brown sugar, vanilla and salt into butter. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Whisk in egg and egg yolk. 
Picture
Picture


​Combine flour, baking powder, cocoa and baking soda.  Stir in flour mixture. 
​
Picture
Picture
​Use cookie scoop to form dough into balls. 
​Roll in sugar and place on baking sheet.  
Picture
Picture
​Use the bottom of a glass to flatten each cookie to 2 inches.  Sprinkle with more sugar. 
Picture
Picture






Bake 15 minutes at 350.
​

Picture
Picture
Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Cereal Treats

3/22/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
​I was doing a little spring cleaning on the blog and I found this blog post that somehow got overlooked.  I had intended to post it a couple of weeks ago.  Better late than never.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Well, wrestling season is officially over.  We ended the season at the state tournament last month in Macon.  It was exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time.  (And I wasn't even the one who was wrestling!)  My wrestling son did extremely well - he finished 4th in the state!  
Picture
Picture
​He had worked really hard to keep himself on weight during the season but after his last weigh out on Friday night, all diets were off.  (He started the weekend at 129 pounds and I he ended the weekend at nearly 135 pounds.)  Luckily, I had anticipated this drastic change in his eating habits (not my first wrestling season) and armed myself with chocolate caramel peanut butter rice crispy treats.  If that didn't satisfy his craving for something sweet, nothing would. 
Picture
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Cereal Treats
3 Tablespoons butter
10 ounce bag marshmallows
1 Tablespoon vanilla
7 cups Rice Crispy Treats
14 ounce bag caramels
2 Tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
12 ounce bag semisweet chocolate
Place 3 tablespoons of butter and the marshmallows in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until melted.
When completely melted and smooth, stir in vanilla. 
Picture
Picture
Turn off heat and stir in cereal until completely coated; the mixture will be very sticky.
Pour into buttered pan. Coat hands with butter and press in mixture firmly. 
Picture
Picture



​Place in the refrigerator to chill.
Picture
Place caramels in saucepan with water.  Heat on low heat until melted.  
Picture
Picture
Add 1 cup of the peanut butter to the caramel and stir until completely blended. 
Pour onto the chilled Rice Krispies mixture and spread to the edges. Place pan back in the refrigerator.
Picture
Picture
​Over low heat, melt the chocolate in a saucepan, stirring frequently and being careful not to scorch the chocolate.
When melted, add in the remaining ½ cup of peanut butter, stirring until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture over caramel layer, spreading to the edges in an even layer.
Picture
Picture
​Place dessert in the refrigerator and allow to set up for about 1 hour or until chocolate is firm to the touch.
Picture
Picture
Cut into squares or rectangles when firm.
Picture
​These traveled really well in a Tupperware container all the way to the wrestling tournament.  What happened to them after the boys got a hold of them, I will not say.  I will tell you that they were well received.  
Picture
Picture
Bars are easiest to cut when cold but are best eaten at room temperature or only slightly chilled.

You don't have to be a wrestler to appreciate these chocolate caramel peanut butter rice crispy treats.  Trust me. 

​Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
1 Comment
<<Previous
    Like my page on facebook.

    Follow me on Instagram


    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    30 Minute Meals
    30-minute-meals
    Big Green Egg Recipes
    Chocolate
    Christmas Classics
    Comfort Foods
    Crock Pot Meals
    Fall Favorites
    Healthy-choices
    Healthy-choices
    My Favorites
    Springtime Treats
    St Patrick's Day Goodies
    Summertime Specialties
    Thanksgiving Classics
    Valentine Treats
    Vegetarian
    Winter Warm Ups

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

Photos from Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, Texas_Custom_Patios
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect