Yeesh…

I hate to say it, because I always do… but it’s just been one of those weeks. Thank goodness, tomorrow is Friday. I’m definitely looking forward to the weekend!

But other than that, I’ve been busy, and unfortunately haven’t been making some creative meals. I will admit that there may have been a night of cereal or smoothies and take out Chinese… I blame J for that one. :P

But I do have to say that the meals that I did make were pretty gosh darn good!

J and I did our shopping at Trader Joe’s last week and while we were there, I picked up a bag of small Yukon Gold potatoes. I knew these would be the best if I roasted them. I also saw on Janetha’s blog some yummy looking chicken tenders. Coated with whole wheat flour and pulverized oats, with lots of seasoning, they were pretty good. J loved them!

004

This was another winner… Stuffed Zucchinis! J told me that he would eat whatever vegetable as long as I made this stuffing. I just browned up some turkey breast, brown rice, onions, tomato sauce and seasonings, stuffed into some zucchini and topped with cheddar and baked at 400 for 15 minutes. These were super good, definitely a winner and a good alternative to stuffed peppers (which are insanely expensive and just don’t agree with me). I know this will be a repeat!

001

Last but not least, a small preview of a trial for Iron Cupcake: Milwaukee… perhaps a little bacon in my life :D

046

A Little Something…

I know, I know, I’ve been a slacker… well with updating at least. But here is a little morsel until I get my photos together for a new post.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel held a Bacon Bake-Off, and while I did not win, I did recieve an honorable mention for my Salted Caramel Bacon Brownies, the recipe can be found in the article.

http://www.jsonline.com/features/food/83317832.html

Scones!

Late Saturday night, I decided that I needed to make something awesome to gove to my friend Biz when we met on Sunday, plus it was something that I’ve been wanting to make for awhile now.

Pursuing Cooking Light, I found a recipe that sounded good and was relatively simple. Little did I know what a hit they would be.

012

Classic Scones

From Cooking Light

  • 2  cups  all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
  • 3  tablespoons  granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  baking powder
  • 1/2  teaspoon  salt
  • 5  tablespoons  chilled butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1/2  cup  fat-free milk
  • 1/4  teaspoon  vanilla extract
  • 1  large egg white
  • 1/3  cup  dried currants
  • 2  teaspoons  fat-free milk
  • 2  teaspoons  turbinado or granulated sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; stir with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Combine 1/2 cup milk, vanilla, and egg white in a bowl. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist (dough will be soft). Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle surface of dough with dried currants. With floured hands, knead 4 times or just until the currants are incorporated.

Pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut dough into 12 wedges, cutting into, but not through, dough. Brush 2 teaspoons milk over surface of dough; sprinkle with 2 teaspoons turbinado sugar. Bake at 425° for 17 minutes or until golden. Serve warm, or cool on a wire rack.

 

I substituted chocolate chips for the currants, and the second time around I made them whole wheat with success. I definitely recommend this recipe if you are looking for something tasty and easy for brunch or even a snack.

Bloggies?

So this last week has gone without so much as an exciting new dish on the table here in my house… Some of it is due to poor planning, the other because J is gone lately trying to finish up his latest car project. (That boy and his cars… :) ) So, I’ve been cleaning up what I can out of the fridge, and in the event that J stays home, making something comforting for the both of us.

I have to say though, that the highlight of the last week was having a blogger meetup with Biz and her daughter, Hannah. These two were some of the most fun lunch dates that J and I have had the chance to meet. We met up at The Lucky Monk, (which I must say is the perfect pre-IKEA fuel stop!) because J had gotten a peek at the burgers that they served there and decided that he needed one ASAP!

He definitely got what he wanted… A 9 oz burger complete with an egg on top! (If you guys read Biz’s blog, I am sorry for the repeat of pics, I must have been wearing my dunce cap yesterday, since I left my SD card in my computer).

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Me, I’m a total sucker for anything that comes on a pretzel roll. The twisted chicken came with just that, although without the avocado and mayo… Not a fan. Biz was totally right about one thing, the fries there were amazing too!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The best part about the lunch, it was not awkward at all. It’s funny because most people who know me well would never tell you that I am shy, but when I get around new people, I can be; which is ironic since I work in sales. It definitely felt like we were old friends, and I know that if we were closer in geography, we would be. The good thing though? It’s not super far away, and J with his car obsession always finds a way to get me to go with him… (I think it’s because he bribes me with IKEA) so chances are, we will have to do it again.

mel 010

Although, Biz, did you convince Tony that we weren’t serial killers? (Biz told us that Tony was joking because we were from WI that we might be, obviously we aren’t).

After lunch, J and I took the time (3 hours!) to browse IKEA, which if you didn’t pick it up yet, I may have a slight obsession with. We finally broke down and got art work for our walls. When it’s all hung, I will make sure to take pictures… There are two frames that require me to actually get the pictures I want in them made, it’s such a pain. But the bright side, IKEA frozen yogurt for only a $1! My favorite part…

And I’m off for a new adventure, which for whatever dorky reason I’m excited for… We’re getting new library cards! Woo, I am excited for new books! :D

A New Winner!

Since the last winner that was picked never responded, I’ve decided to pick a new winner for the Pillsbury Crescents package!

According to Random.org:

Here are your random numbers:

6

Timestamp: 2010-01-22 01:35:44 UTC

BIZ!! Please send me your info to bitesoflife@gmail.com!

ICM: Beer- The Recap

I’m going to warn you right now that I do not have many pictures from the event, it was dark and super busy. Most of the ones that I have J took and he admits that they aren’t the best since he doesn’t really know how to use my camera. But check out some professional pics here: http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com

After I had signed up for the challenge, I began the pursuit of finding the perfect beer. J had taken me shopping a few times but it was fruitless. I knew that I needed to get something different, and on a random store audit with a coworker, we decided to peruse the beer section and happened to come across this:

images

Yes, a crème brulee stout. I will tell you this, not something I would ever want to drink but it was very vanilla-y. From this, came the idea of crème brulee cupcakes, playing off the vanilla of the beer.

Alison had posted a couple weeks earlier a recipe for a caramel sauce using Magic Hat #9, and thought why not make that but with this beer? So into the pan it went and out came a thick, dark colored caramel that was not too sweet and had good flavor. (Thanks for the recipe Alison!!) Using an idea from another cake, I used a chopstick and poked holes into the cupcakes and poured caramel into them to get this:

001

I topped it with a vanilla cream cheese frosting (which I had to remake 2 hours before the competition!) and a vanilla candy.

001 I will tell you, I was nervous for the competition. Add in the fact that my car died at work when I was trying to leave, and had to beg a ride home from a friend, having to get gas in the other car to go to Target to get a candy thermometer, making the candy topping and having my frosting go horribly wrong and having to remake it, I was really worried. Plus, I will totally admit, I wasn’t too wild about the cupcakes either, I almost didn’t take them there.

But I made it… and it was busy.

034032 026

I made 10 dozen minis and was out in quicker than I would have liked, but thanks to a tip from another competitor, I saved two cupcakes, one for each of the special judges, Joe from Blatz Liquor and Michelle Garcia, from Bleeding Heart Bakery.

It was a good thing that I did…

The judging was over, my mom, J, some friends and I were all hanging out, talking. My friends had managed to get their hands on a “Beer and Bratwurst” cupcake and made J try it. I wish I had my camera out, his face was priceless. Let’s just say it was not his favorite.

They began announcing the winners, Michelle’s favorite first. For those of you who don’t know Michelle is a Food Network Challenge veteran and her bakery has won numerous awards, so having her there was a HUGE deal. As I was cleaning up, I heard her call out my letter! I was amazed that I was her favorite cupcake! I got a cool gift basket with some awesome t-shirts and other goodies, including some Cakespy things! Next up was the Partner’s Pick, which was Blatz Liquor’s owner Joe, which much to my surprise, he picked my cupcake again!! I was astounded! I was amazed that I got a few votes for Best Tasting, much less these two awards! Not too shabby for a first timer! :D

I was super ecstatic and already have signed up for February’s Challenge, BACON! Let’s just say there are some interesting recipes in the works, and I’ve got my friend Chris signed up as my official taste tester!

ICM: Beer

I promise that I will recap this tomorrow… But a little something to ponder:

Iron Cupcake Milwaukee: Beer

AMY L… I still have not received an email with your information for the Pillsbury giveaway. Please send me your information ASAP, or else I will have to pick another winner!!

Just a little teaser…

Baking ridiculous mounds of cupcakes today… Frosting will be tomorrow afternoon…

Easy Does It…

That would be the theme of my life for the last couple of weeks, since it’s been crazy around here. Between work and everything else going on, J and I haven’t been home much, which has led to many dinner consisting of oatmeal, cereal and eggs, which is easy to make and good too.

But I have to say that I have cooked a few good meals, and some that just didn’t turn out.

I tried a new recipe for this casserole with rice and vegetables, something similar to the one on the Campbell’s soup can, but homemade. But it just didn’t click, it was kind of bland and not at all creamy. J still ate it up, so it couldn’t have been too bad, but not something that I would post on here. :)

012

We also has something that was so simple but was so good. Whole wheat ravioli, with grilled zucchini and tomato sauce. Please, please don’t buy the jarred sauce, it’s so much better and cheaper to make your own!

024

This sauce was just a can of crushed tomatoes, half an onion, clove of garlic and some Italian seasoning with salt and pepper. Took 5 minutes to put together and just cooked while the pasta cooked.

And completely off this topic…

This Monday is Iron Cupcake Milwaukee with the secret ingredient of beer… I’ve already started the process that I’m sure will take up the bulk of my weekend… Just a sneak peek of something in process:

006

If you guys are in Milwaukee (Alison, Jackie, Lo.. hint, hint), tickets are $7 and $1 of each ticket is going towards Earthquake Relief in Haiti. Here’s the details:

IronCupcake:Milwaukee
BEER Challenge
with Blatz Liquor
MONDAY, January 18 at 6 p.m.
MOCT Bar
240 E Pittsburgh Ave
Milwaukee’s Fifth Ward

Winner, Winner…

According to Random.org:

Here are your random numbers:

3

Timestamp: 2010-01-14 03:10:40 UTC

Amy L! She said:

I’d make a veggie appetizer pizza. I’ve had this at parties and it’s yummy!

Congrats! Please send me your address and your prize pack will be on it’s way! (bitesoflife [at] gmail.com

A big thanks to all of you guys for leaving comments about what you would make, they left me hungry! :D

Next Page »