Please Cheese me!

Recipe from Hungry Girl. This is right up my ally!! I love mac-n-cheese but I don't like all the calories. This recipe caught my eye for many reasons: 1. it's mac-n-cheese 2. pasta 3. laughing cow cheese (I love it) 4. veggies.

Ingredients:

6 cups (about 24 oz.) frozen Green Giant Cauliflower & Cheese Sauce

2 cups uncooked whole wheat blend rotini pasta

3 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese

Optional: salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Prepare pasta according to the instructions on the box, and then drain well and set aside. While pasta is cooking, place contents of the cauliflower & sauce package in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave for 12 - 16 minutes, until sauce has melted and cauliflower is hot.
Once the bowl is cool enough to handle, remove it from the microwave and add cooked pasta. Set aside. Unwrap cheese wedges and place in a small microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth, and then add to the bowl.
Mix thoroughly, ensuring that the Laughing Cow cheese is evenly distributed and the pasta and cauliflower are coated in cheese sauce. If you like, season to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 cup Calories: 202 Fat: 4.5g Sodium: 825mg Carbs: 36g Fiber: 5g Sugars: 6g Protein: 8.5g
POINTS® value 4*

Best Buttercream frosting!!!

"the success of this frosting is in the technique, not the ingredients.

it's so creamy and not too sweet"

recipes from http://allrecipes.com

Prep time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 (2 9 inch rounds/24 cupcakes)

Ingredients:
2 cups butter, softened
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a large bowl, Whip the butter on high speed, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl. Whip until double in volume. this takes a very long time, approximately 10 minutes.
While still whipping, drizzle in the heavy cream. continue whipping until the mixture is stiff approx 2-4 minutes (it will look lumpy)
Add 1/2 the confectioners sugar and whip until smooth. At this point, you can taste the frosting and determine is you would like to add more sugar to taste.

I made 1/2 the recipe and have enough to frost 12 cupcakes with some left over. I used a piping bag with a large star tip.

To add the final touch and sprinkled cocoa powder on the tops!

Chocolate fudge cupcakes

"Rich chocolate cupcakes with a fudge-like consistency"

recipe from Allrecipes.com

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ready In: 60 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients:

2 (1oz) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans (I didn't use my HB doesn't like nuts)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. In the top of a double boiler, combine chocolate and butter.

Heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is melted ans smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
Sift flour and sugar together into a large bowl.

With mix on low speed, beat in eggs one at a time.

Stir in chocolate mixture, vanilla and pecans.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. DO NOT over bake.

Tops should be shiny but give slightly when touched.

This is the Best chocolate cupcake I have ever had. It is different from your everyday cupcake. Most cupcakes are fluffy this cupcake is a little crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside. I also discovered a great butter cream recipe that I will share that is wonderful. It's light and fluffy and doesn't leave a greasy feeling in your mouth!

Plan of Action-List

I am a list maker! I love list, I love crossing things off once they are complete. It gives me joy! Surprise I have a list for my cupcake dream.

• find a great recipe-(in process) I have searched and searched for several flavors of cupcakes. Instead of over loading myself I am going to start with a basic vanilla cupcake.
• find a great recipe for butter cream base frosting. I want a true BUTTER cream. If I have a great base to expand to other flavors
• Set time aside for working on my cupcakes.
• Once I have a great base for the cupcake and frosting start exploring flavors. Everyone loves the basic but I want to make unique cupcakes.
• Decide how far I want to take this. If I want to expand I need to research health codes, prices, packaging and what I want to come from this.

Here is the first part of my plan. I have so many idea's and plans for this adventure.

I would like to have a recipe mastered by 8/13 to take to my family.

Sweet dreams will come true

CUPCAKES!!!!!!

I have this idea of making gourmet cupcakes.

I love seeing beautiful cupcakes it makes me smile

I have sat back long enough and I am going to head out on a mission to make what I believe a great cupcake.

I want to try different flavors, decor, presentation

I have SO many ideas!!

I can't wait to start on the adventure of CUPCAKES!!!

Frozen LemonADE Me Pie

Frozen LemonADE Me pie

I found this recipe and thought what a nice way to cool (whip) down on a long HOT summer day! ***in picture they used orange concentrate****

• 1 graham cracker crust
• 1 8 oz frozen container of Cool whip
• 1 14 oz can of sweetened condense milk
• 1 12 oz container of frozen lemonade concentrate
  

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine frozen concentrate & condensed milk until blended.
2. Fold in Cool whip, don't let it get to soupy, don't over mix
3. Pour filling in crust. Freeze for 6-8 hours

Ideas:

• you could use your favorite concentrate (orange, cranberry, fruit punch)
• use a shortbread crust (I think I will use for the lemonade pie)
• lighten up the recipe use low-fat or fat free cool whip, light sweetened condense milk & light concentrate

Week ahead

Thanks to a good friend I am on my way on making grandma's zucchini bread

The other day I found two zucchini's on my counter and what great timing!

On Saturday before heading out of town I shredded one and stuck it in the freezer and this week I am planning on making bread!!

I plan to use the other on the grill one night this week.

Already this week is filling up:

Monday- no plans (grocery shop)

Tuesday-work until 7:30 (not home until 8)

Wednesday- meeting up w/ a girlfriend to catch up

Thursday- going out w/ another couple to catch up

Friday- work until 2 then hopefully heading home to do things around the house

Saturday- have to work in the AM then off to a BBQ!!!!

WOW!!!

I did make PB/Chocolate chip cookies last week instead of the same old CC cookies

I am hoping tonight that I will clean out the pantry and frig and start my list to stock up on supplies.

Shout out to ALLY!!!

Happy Birthday friend!!!!!!

Wendy

It's been a while and life has been very busy.

I have been traveling cross country enjoying the West & family

trying the new and improving the old

I am going to get back in the swing of things and return back to why I started this Blog.

It has been SO HOT here that I have not been cooking/baking

I have been making light summer meals or grilling up a storm!!!

New favorite grill meal:

marinate teriyaki rib eye steak grilled for 2-3 minutes each side and make a great sandwich!!!

Some new things I am going to try are:

1. soaking corn on the cob in a brine and cooking on the grill

2. making my grandma's zucchini bread

3. breaking the routine of chocolate chip cookie every week for lunch's and baking a new flavor for 4 weeks!

4. take inventory of my pantry and stock up!!!

5. try new products and write reviews