Chocolate Mint Cookies

1/2 cup butter 1 Cup brown sugar 1 Tb. Water 1 cup chocolate chips 1 eggs 1 1/4 cups flour 3/4 Tsp. baking soda 1/4 Tsp. salt Andes Candies (1 box) 1.  In a saucepan (Med heat), cook sugar, butter and water, stirring occasionally until melted.  Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted.  Let cool for 10 minutes. 2. Pour chocolate mixture into large bowl, beat in eggs one at a time.  Combine flour, baking soda, and salt, add to mixture and refrigerate for an hour. 3.  Preheat oven to 350, lightly grease cookie sheets, roll dough into 1" balls (the dough will actually be fudge-like consistency), bake for 8-10 minutes (don't overbake!) 4.  When the cookies come out of the oven, put one candy on top, let it begin to melt and swirl with a knife. Makes about 25 cookies.  Enjoy!  These cookies are a definite keeper!  Chewy, chocolaty and minty, not much can beat it!

Penne with Vodka Sauce

 In need for some excellent Italian comfort food on a Sunday evening.  Penne with vodka sauce and eggplant parmesan will hit the spot.  You will want to make it an early dinner so you have time to digest all the deliciousness.

Ingredients

• 1-28oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1-28oz can tomato sauce
• 1-28oz can tomato puree
• 1 1/2 cup vodka
• 2 cups heavy cream, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup grated Ricotta Salata
• 3 cloves of garlic; whole
• 1 tb. basil
• 1 pound penne

Directions

Simmer the tomato sauce, vodka, garlic and basil in a large pot over low heat until the mixture reduces by 1/4, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir the cream into the tomato and vodka sauce. Simmer over low heat until the sauce is heated through. 

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the sauce, and toss to coat.  Top with grated ricotta salata!

This recipe made a ton of sauce so I was able to freeze more than half of it :)  Perfect for another night!

We tried eggplant parmesan with the vodka sauce and it was yummy!  The perfect Sunday meal :)

Enjoy :)

Valentine's Dinner!

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Nothin' says love like a full and happy belly! 

Prime Steak, Sauteed Spinach & Crispy Onion Rings

PRIME STEAK:

2 prime tenderloins

fresh cracked pepper

sea salt

butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Generously season all sides of steak with salt and pepper.  In a cast iron skillet, heat (on high) until hot and add butter.    When butter is melted, sear steak on all sides.  About 2 minuets on each side.  Place in oven for 6 minutes, flip steaks and bake for another 6 minutes.  Let steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving.  

SAUTEED SPINACH:

1 package of baby spinach

2 cloves of garlic; minced

1tb olive oil

Salt and pepper

Heat olive oil and garlic in a pan.  Add spinach and saute in pan until bright green and wilted.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve hot!

CRISPY ONION RINGS

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons instant mashed potatoes

big pinch of cayenne

1 cup cold club soda

2-3 cups Panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs), or as needed

salt to taste

vegetable oil for frying

2-3 yellow onions, cut into 1/4-inch rings

Mix flour, corn starch, instant mashed potato and cayenne pepper.  Add cold club soda, mix and let it thicken up.  Put panko in a separate dish.  Heat the vegetable oil in a pot about 2 inches worth of oil.  Dredge the onions in the batter then in the panko.  When the oil is hot fry the onions in the oil for at least 3 minutes.  Season the onion rings with sea salt when hot.  

Enjoy :)

Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Moist and Delicious Vanilla Cupcakes you won't be able to resist!

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12 cupcakes:

1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
½ cup sour cream
1 large egg , room temperature
2 large egg yolks , room temperature
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin/cupcake tin with paper or foil liners.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add butter, sour cream, egg and egg yolks, and vanilla; beat at medium speed until smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix by hand until smooth and no flour pockets remain.

3. Divide batter evenly among cups of prepared tin. Bake until cupcake tops are pale gold and toothpick or skewer inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from tin and transfer to wire rack; cool cupcakes to room temperature before frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

yield: enough for 12 cupcakes

1/2 cup butter at room temperature

2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups confectioners sugar

2-4 tablespoons milk

1.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, vanilla, and cocoa powder

2.  Blend in the sugar in two batches, beating well after each addition

3.  Beat in the milk, adding until desired consistency is reached and continue mixing on medium high speed until light and fluffy.

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

I never thought to saute beet greens, but this proves again anything is possible with garlic and oil!  So easy and very nutritious for you!

4 beets with greens

2 garlic cloves

olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut stems off beet and wash.  Leave skin on the beet and put in aluminum foil with olive oil.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Let cool.  Remove skins and cut into bite size pieces.

In a skillet, saute olive oil with garlic cloves. Cut beet greens up and saute.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add beet pieces.  

Top with crumbled goat cheese.  Enjoy :) 

Philly Cheesesteak Calzone

My favorite red meat is probably flank steak, which is why this recipe is veryyyy tasty! 

• 1 pizza crust, cut slices in edges to wrap over...

• 1 medium onions, sliced thinly
• 1 medium green pepper, sliced thinly

• 3-4 oz steak, sliced thinly (I used flank steak) 

marinate steak in 2 cloves of garlic sliced thinly, Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki sauce, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil.  (grill or bake)
• 1/2 C shredded mozzarella cheese and provolone cheese mixture

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Meanwhile, slowly caramelize the onions and green pepper over medium heat.
Top with the caramelized onion, peppers, cheese and steak.  Finish off with a sprinkle of cheese, and a little salt and pepper. 

 

 Make an egg wash (1 egg and a splash of milk) and lightly brush over dough.  This will give the dough the golden color!

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the crust is golden!