Pumpkin Icing

 

 

Pumpkin muffins without the cream cheese topping/filling is simply like not having cheese with your macaroni. Yesterday I ventured off to Michael's craft store, and bought a new decorating tips: 8B,230, and more pastry bags. I am no expert on piping (someday), but this is where you just get creative and make it your ''own''. I simply took tip 230 and inserted it into the pumpkin muffin (all the way to the bottom) and filled it with the cream cheese mixture. Then I took tip 8b and piped the top of the muffin. You can even take some carmel and drizzle on top as well, yum!

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Philadelphia
• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 5 tbsp brown sugar

combine all your ingredients until smooth.

You can use a spatula to ice the cupcakes or you can pipe them.  

Enjoy!

Country Fried Steak

I've Gotta bring that southern charm to the wild wild west! You might be asking what is so charming about country fried steak, eh? Well everything from the grease, to the flavorful batter, and the side of mashed potatoes with homemade gravy. And to top it off, a nice large glass of sweet tea to wash it all down.


My Grandma ''Tuck'' as we call her back home would be so proud of me for making this dish. I remember as a kid that I would get frustrated with her greasy cooking (she never has changed, but I like it that way!) and would take the dish around the corner and pat all the grease off of the food, then hide my greasy napkins in the cabinet until I could throw them away later without her knowing. Horrible, I know.

Oops: Forgot to take a picture of the mashed potatoes :(

Ingredients:

3 pounds cube steak

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cups vegetable or canola oil for frying

3 cups of all purpose flour

2 tsp Lowry's seasoned salt

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

(if you like it a little spicy, add more)

1 1/2 tsp black pepper

Homemade Gravy:

2-2 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup all purpose flour

Take 3 separate plates and lay them out in a line on your counter. 1st plate: Steak 2nd: Egg & Milk mixture (go ahead and beat them together) 3rd: your flour mixture (mixed well)









Take your preferred oil and place it into your skillet or choice frying pan. Maintaining the perfect temperature for frying is very important. You will want your oil to be on a med-high temperature. To know if your oil is hot enough, pinch your flour mixture over the oil, if it sizzles, you are good to go (you might want to wear a apron to prevent oil getting on your clothing). 

1. Take your meat and coat it well on both sides in your egg/milk mixture. 
2. Then take your steak and coat well on both sides in your flour mixture.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2

You will want a nice thick coat around your steak. If you have to go back a third time go ahead, your fingers are going to get MESSY, but that's the joys of cooking! 

After you have coated all your steaks, prepare a paper towel lined plate, then you are ready for FRYING!

Take two steaks and place them gently into your oil. Cook each side for about 3-4 minutes, until edges start turning golden brown. Then flip to the other side and cook 3-4 minutes. If you are still unsure if your meat isn't cooked all the way, you can take your knife and cut 1'' in the center of the steak to check if meat is well done. After your steak is done cooking, place onto paper town lined plate and continue to cook the other steaks.

Homemade Gravy 

Cook time 10-15 minutes

Pour your grease into a heat proof bowl. Without cleaning the pan, place it back onto your stove on medium heat, and add 1/4 cup of grease into pan (Let grease re-heat for 3-4 minutes). 

Take 1/3 cup of flour and sprinkle it over grease. 

Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, it will create a golden brown paste. If you paste seems to be still really oily add one more tablespoon of flour to your mixture, and whisk it together (consistency. consistency. consistency).

After a few minutes of whisking it will turn that beautiful golden brown color and you are ready to rock-n-roll! Pour in 2 cups of milk, whisk to combine, then let the gravy come to a slow boil. Let the gravy thicken, if it seems too thick, add a little bit more milk, while continuing to whisk together. Season your gravy with salt and pepper and serve on top of your steak and mashed potatoes! 

 

This southern favorite wouldn't be complete without a glass of sweet tea! 

 

Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Muffins

This recipe wins a award for the longest recipe name so far. These little treats are my husbands absolute favorite. I really don't care for nuts, so I will substitute them for chocolate chips. You can't go wrong with a little chocolate first thing in the morning.

Pre-heat oven @ 350

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

4 banana's

2 eggs

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Spray your mini cupcake pan with cooking spray

Combine in order

Mix till smooth

 

You know you want to sample some of that batter!

pour evenly into cupcake pan, and sprinkle a little sugar over each one.

bake 10-15 minutes

Let them cool for about 10 minutes

gently turn muffins while still in pan, then take back of spoon and pop them out. Place on a cooling rack.

 Love my new anthropologie measuring cups.

Enjoy your scrum-diddly-ump-tious muffins! 

Homemade Pumpkin Muffins

Fall is amongst us, what better way to start off the season with homemade pumpkin muffins, yum! These were definitely a hit in the house tonight, looking forward to making these for upcoming parties!

Ingredients:

Pre-heat oven @ 350

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 1/4 cups of sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup canned 100% pumpkin (Libby's)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

Topping:

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Line your muffin pan with baking cups. 

Lightly spray non-stick cooking spray over liners.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin spice, sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk until smooth.

In a small mixing bowl mix together cinnamon and sugar.

Divide batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top of each muffin.

Bake for 25-30 minutes

Let them cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

A little sample of the batter is a must!

It seemed like the longest 25 minutes.

All the dishes were cleaned by the time the buzzer went off, hooray! 



Click below for:
Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana + Nutella

Nutella = MY WEAKNESS!

Nutella is a staple in this house. We never run out of this creamy, delicious spread. If you haven't tried it out yet, you're missing out on half of your life. And if you don't like it, your taste buds are out of whack, just sayin'! 

This is by far one of the easiest recipes to make, simple & tasteful. All you need is: 

• Whole Wheat Bagels
• Nutella spread
• Banana's

Place your bagel in your toaster (we love to press ours on the panini) and toast it to your preference. Next, spread the nutella onto your bagel and top with banana's, enjoy!