monkey cupcakes

this is more of a tip than a recipe but makes the most adorable monkey cupcakes. my boyfriend loves monkeys so when i saw this in a cupcake decorating book i had to replicate it.



you will need:
box cake mix (i like using chocolate or devils food cake but you could do marble cake or yellow if you prefer)
store-bought chocolate icing
vanilla wafers
nutter butter cookies
m&m's
twizzlers


directions:
1- bake cupcakes from a box cake mix
2- after cupcakes cool, ice with chocolate icing
3- make the ears of the monkey by slicing nutter butter cookies in half
4- make the mouth of the monkey by cutting a little off of a vanilla wafer
5- make the eyes by using m&m's (make eyes by putting a little of the chocolate icing on with a toothpick)
6- make the nose by using chocolate icing on a toothpick to make 2 dots
7- either use chocolate icing to draw on a mouth (using a toothpick) or slice up the twizzlers to make a mouth and tongue
8- to make the hair (optional) i put a dab of icing on the top in different designs for whatever hairstyle i wanted the monkey to have

pie tartlets

one my favorite "easy to make but looks like a ton of work" recipes is pie tartlets. for not a ton of effort, they look like you've been slaving all day. my only tip for these is that they don't tend to keep for very long. so be sure to only make as much as you need or eat them all within a day or so.



ingredients:
pre-made rolled pie crust
canned pie filling (i like cherry, peach, or apple but you can use any kind at all)
a little flour (for rolling)
(seriously that's it!)

you'll need:
rolling pin
cupcake pan

to make:
preheat oven and defrost the pie crust (per the instruction on the box). use a little flour and roll out the pie crust. cut rounds out of the pie crust so they fit a little bigger than the cupcake tins (i like to use a cup flipped upside down but the bottom of the pie filling can works well too). push the pie crust rounds into the cupcake tins. then poke holes in them with a fork. bake at the pie crust until lightly browned. let cool slightly. spoon pie filling into the tart shells. you can then put them back in the oven (if you'd like to serve warm) or you can just leave them and let them cool. i like to top them with a little whipped cream (because it's so pretty) but that is totally optional.

bean burgers

i love this recipe. it may not sound like the best recipe but is actually very delicious. and most of the items in the recipe come from the pantry. no meat but you won't miss it. great recipe to make a double batch of and freeze. when you are ready to make, just pull one (or however many you need) burger(s) out of the freezer and put them in the fridge about 6-12 hours ahead.

you will need:
1 can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed, then crushed by hand so all of the beans are split
1 1/2 cups of tortilla chips crushed (take a bag of tortilla chips and put them in the food processor until the consistency of large breadcrumbs, or just put them in a zip bag and pound with a rolling pin)
1-2 eggs (depending on the size)
3-4 tablespoons chopped green onion (can use red or yellow onion if that's what you have handy)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (more or less according to your taste)
1-2 cloves minced garlic (more or less to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
guacamole (i prefer pre-made but you can make your own)


to make the burgers:
first take about 1/4 of the crushed tortilla chips and put them on either a plate or a container you are going to store the burgers on / in.

then mix the beans, egg, onion, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper together (either by hand or GENTLY in a food processor). then form into burgers and place on the bed of crushed tortilla chips. then cover with more crushed tortilla chips to form a crust on the burgers.

to cook:
coat a nonstick frying pan with vegetable oil over medium heat. cook burgers until outside is nice and brown. serve with guacamole on the side.

best brunch salad

i wanted to make something for my boyfriend and i for brunch one day but was not in the mood for something too sweet. came up with this delicious salad which is a spin-off of a spinach warm bacon salad. it's great for brunch but i also love it for lunch or a light dinner with a glass of wine.



for the salad:
salad greens (i recommend baby romaine, baby spinach, 50/50 baby mix, or spring mix, whichever you like best)
bacon, cooked in strips and then cut into bite sized pieces
goat cheese, crumbled
tomatos (either slices if roma, beefsteak, or on the vine tomatoes or halved if grape or cherry tomatoes)
onion (red or white, whichever you like, or optional)
walnuts (in pieces)
poached egg

for the dressing:
dijon mustard
finely diced shallot (or garlic if you don't have shallot)
white wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, whatever you have on hand)
olive oil (or bacon fat from cooking bacon, whichever you prefer)
splash of lemon juice (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

to assemble:
mix the dressing in a jar and shake well to combine. place greens in serving dish and top with the other salad toppings putting poached egg on top. drizzle with dressing.

black forest cupcakes

before this recipe i'd only heard of black forest cake. but when i found out it is my boyfriend's favorite cake i knew i had to make it for him for his birthday. unfortunately i didn't have any cake pans (only cupcake pans). so i had to do a bit of research on the internet and get creative. they actually turned out so awesome i knew i had to share this recipe. if you make these, i promise you won't be disappointed.







black forest cupcakes

ingredients:
1 box chocolate (or devil's food) cake mix
eggs and oil (as instructed by the box mix)
1 can cherry pie filling
1/4 cup kirschwasser (or you can leave it out if you don't feel like buying it)
pint (to maybe a quart of) heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
cherries (fresh with stem on)
coating chocolate (can find on the baking aisle in a microwavable cup) *i've used milk chocolate and dark chocolate, both are good, so whichever you like best (or can find)
chocolate springs (optional)

steps:
1- bake cake mix according to directions into cupcakes and let cool
2- wash and dry cherries. melt coating chocolate. holding cherry by stem, dip into coating chocolate. place on piece of cling wrap to cool. place in fridge until cool.
3- brush tops of cupcakes with kirschwasser (if using) and let stand for 15 minutes
4- cut a small round bit out of the top of each cupcake (like a V shape going down) and remove
5- fill cupcake with cherry pie filling (don't overfill too much)
6- whip cream and powdered sugar until stiff and place in piping bag
7- cover top of cupcake with cream, top with a few chocolate sprinkles, and put one chocolate covered cherry on top
8- devour the most delicious cupcake you've ever eaten!!