Wanted...IDEAS!

HELP NEEDED!

       Ok, for all you ladies who do cake decorating I need some help! The other day was my son's birthday and  he wanted a soccer ball cake. So I set out on what became a disasterous adventure, but the outcome was not a soccer ball. Thankfully my little guy is sweet and understanding and he loved the cake anyway.

The outcome of the "soccer cake"

      So here is what I need from ya'll...IDEAS. We have two more Birthdays rapidly approching, for two very sweet girls. Eryn wants a Princess cake, and Maryanna wants a Strawberry Shortcake cake! I have no idea where to start. So I would like some of your favorite cake decorating websites, and some of your own experiences. Please and Thank you!

Chili

                  

 The weather here in Greenland  is getting really cold! So I will be making more soups and chili. My chili is simlpe but my family loves it, so I thought I would share my recipe.

2 cans pinto beans
2 cans tomato paste (16oz)
1 can corn (of 1/2 pkg of frozen corn)
1/4 cup bell pepper
1 small onion, chopped
A clove of garlic, chopped
1 pound hamburger meat
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
chili powder (to taste)

I like to use my crock pot for my chili, it makes clean up a lot easier!

So you brown the hamburger meat with the onion and the garlic, drain it, and combine all the ingredients in the crock pot. Cook it on low for a couple of hours.  It's that simple and it's the ultimate comfort food.

Also the leftover chili makes great chili nachos! All you do is spread a bag of nachos on a baking sheet, pour the chili over the nachos and sprinkle cheese on top and bake on 350 until the cheese is bubbly!

ENJOY!

There’s an App for that!

Being here in Greenland I am not always able to find the cooking supplies like I could in America so I have to make substitutions for things.

One thing I like is an app I got from the iTunes store, before coming to Greenland, for substituting while you cook! It’s called Merillat, Kitchen Helper and it was free! It has been really nice to be able to find the substitutes whenever I can’t find what the recipe calls for. So far all the substitutes have been accurate. So just in case you were wondering, yes, there is an app for that!

Here are a few of the substitutes I’ve used…

½ tsp of cream of tartar can be substituted by using 1 ½ tsp lemon juice

1 cup light corn syrup can be made by combining the following:

            7/8 cups sugar

            2 Tbsp. warm water

1 cup marshmallow cream is equal to 16 large melted marshmallows

¼ cocoa can be substituted with 1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate

These substitutions can be easily adjusted for your baking needs by just doing to a little math.  UNLESS you have the app, then it will do it for you! J

These are just a few that they offer and there are more contained within this super easy to use app.  Or you can go to their website to download it: www.merillat.com/kitchen-helper

Chocolate Chip Muffins

½ bag chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or dark)

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 beaten egg

¾ cup milk

¼ cup oil

Streusel topping (optional) (recipe below)

1)      In a medium bowl mix all the dry ingredients, including the chocolate chips.

The dry mix.

2)      In another bowl mix egg, milk, and oil. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir until just  moistened (batter should be lumpy)



Egg mixture



Mix it up!

Batter will be lumpy



3)      Spoon the batter into the muffin cups. About two-thirds full.

4)      Bake @ 400 for 18-20 min. Remove and cool on a wire rack for 5 min. Serve warm!

Yummy!

Here is the streusel recipe:

Combine 3 tbsp flour, 3 tbsp brown sugar, and ¼ tsp ground cinnamon. Cut in 2 tbsp butter until mixture resembles course mixture.  Sprinkle on top, before baking and enjoy.

I also like to use fruit in the muffins also, I use frozen blueberries and blackberries. Just add a little bit more sugar to counteract the tartness of the fruit. (2 tbsp extra sugar) The streusel topping is great on the fruit muffins!

         

Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Chocolate….need I say anymore?

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

½ tsp baking soda

½ cup (1 stick) softened butter

¼ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

¼ tsp salt

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

¾ cup mixed nuts (optional)

1)   Melt chocolate on low heat and stir constantly, until smooth. Set aside and cool to room temp.

2)   In a small bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt.

3)   In a larger bowl mix butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla.

4)   Add the eggs to the butter mixture, one at a time, mixing well after each egg is added. Then mix in the melted chocolate and mix until well blended.

5)   Gradually beat in the flour to the chocolate mixture, until smooth.

6)   Drop dough by rounded tbs. onto ungreased baking sheet, bake at 350° for 8-12 min. The middle will still be soft, after you pull them out let them stand for 2 min. Then put them on a cooling rack until completely cool.   

Eli said, "I LOVE THEM!!"

They will be chewy and OH so chocolaty!

Sharing is an option! J