Salted Caramel Cupcakes

One box chocolate cake mix (and the ingredients that go with it)
Sea salt
4-5 Skor bars or Heath bars
Caramel ice cream topping
Vanilla Buttercream (Recipe below)
Squeeze bottle

Bake your cupcakes according to package directions.

When the cupcakes are almost, make the salty caramel
Pour caramel into a measuring cup.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt per 8oz. of caramel.
Warm in the microwave for one minute.
Stir.
Pour the warm caramel into the squeeze bottle.

When the cupcakes come out of the oven, inject caramel into each one while warm

Cool the cupcakes completely. While they are cooling, smash the candy bars into tiny pieces.

Make the buttercream while the cupcakes are cooling

Vanilla Buttercream
1 stick of butter at room temperature
1lb. of powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbls. milk
pinch salt

Cream together butter and sugar. Add milk, vanilla and salt, mix together until creamy and thick.

Frost the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the crushed candy bars and drizzle with more caramel sauce.

Breakfast Cupcakes

How easy it is to make breakfast cupcakes. I always have every intention of making a bunch of these and freezing them for breakfast all week. Well, with 4 hungry men in the house, they never make it past the counter.

I use a muffin tin, mix up about 8 eggs, throw in some things like bacon (cooked) or sauteed mushrooms. They're kinda like mini quiches without the crust. Cook at 350 for about 10 minutes. They will puff up and you can tell they're done!

The Bread Machine!

I'm so excited to have a bread machine!!! Tonight we're experimenting with multigrain bread!



Multigrain Bread
1-1/4 cups water
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1-1/3 cups bread flour
1-1/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup seven grain or multigrain cereal
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1-1/4 tsp. salt
2-1/2 tsp. bread machine yeast

Place all ingredients in the bread machine pan in order recommended by the machine manufacturer. Select Whole Wheat or Basic/White Cycle. Use Medium or Light Crust Color. Remove bread from machine when done and let cool on wire rack.

Spider Web Cupcakes from Halloween!

Back Again!

I'm very embarrassed to come back and write on this blog. But, I am determined to start posting again. So, here we go!

Mad Hungry........

For my birthday Mike bought me a new cookbook. So, I'm trying to cook my way through it and try new recipes. It's called Mad Hungry - Feeding Men and Boys. It has really yielded some yummy food. I'll share some recipes soon.

Mega Turkey Nachos

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 pound ground turkey breast
1 tablespoon chili powder (a palmful)
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin (half a palmful)
1 onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small zucchini, trimmed of ends, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced into half moons
1 can sliced green chilies (4 ounces), drained
1 box frozen corn kernels (10 ounces)
1 can black beans (15 ounces), rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup cilantro or parsley leaves, chopped
Juice and zest of 1 lime
1 bag multi-grain tortilla chips
1 1/2 cups shredded pepper Jack or sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 avocado, cut in half, pit removed, flesh removed and chopped
PreparationPre-heat the oven 375ºF.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat with two turns of the pan EVOO, about two tablespoons. Brown and crumble the ground turkey for 3-4 minutes and season with chili powder and cumin. Add onion, garlic, carrot and zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stir in chilies, corn and beans, then heat through and adjust seasoning.

Stir in chicken stock and cook for 1-2 minutes more, remove from heat, then stir in cilantro, 1 teaspoon lime zest and the juice of the lime.

Arrange a third of the bag of chips on a baking sheet with edges, top with a third of the turkey-vegetable mixture and a third of the cheese. Repeat two more times, ending with the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, 5-6 minutes.

Top with tomatoes and chopped avocado garnish and serve. That’s right. You are about to sit down and have nachos for dinner!