Florida

In October Tony and I went to Florida for a few days. We met up with my friend Tanya for two of the days. It was nice to see each other again and catch up. Tony and I went to Busch Gardens. We did not go on any rides because of Tony's shoulder blade. It was really neat to see all the exotic animals! More Pictures on facebook.

Ybor City

Cranberry Fruit Conserve

I found this recipe in Good Housekeeping magazine. It is a change to the normally cranberry sauce. It calls for regular sugar. I used splenda for baking and wish I would have used regular splenda. The berries make it sweet enough so not a lot of sugar is needed. Makes 4 1/2 cups.

Cranberry Fruit Conserve

Ingredients

1 bag(s) fresh cranberries, picked over, rinsed

1 3/4 cup(s) sugar

1 cup(s) water

1 orange

1 lemon

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped

3/4 cup(s) raisins

3/4 cup(s) chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions

1.In 4-quart saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and water. Cook on medium 5 to 10 minutes or until cranberries begin to pop, stirring occasionally.

2.Meanwhile, into small bowl, finely grate peels of orange and lemon, then squeeze juice. Stir into cranberry mixture, along with apple. Cook 15 minutes longer.

3.Remove from heat and add raisins and nuts. Let cool, then refrigerate up to 1 week. Serve chilled.

Pizza Time!

Tony and I had pizza night last week. I made a Chicken Burrito Pizza I found in Shape Magazine and I made a Margherita pizza. Recipes Below! Enjoy.

Chicken Burrito Pizza

Ingredients

2 T. salsa (more if desired)

Pizza Crust (use your favorite recipe, or store-bought)

1 cup low fat mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 chicken breast, grilled and diced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

For the Pico De Gallo

1 large tomato, diced
1 small green chili, diced
1 T. chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 red onion, diced

Salt

For the Guacamole
1 large avocado
1 T. chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 red onion, diced

juice of 1 lime

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread salsa over the prepared dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with the chicken, black beans and onions. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are golden brown. Meanwhile, combine tomato, chili, cilantro and onion in small bowl. Season with salt. Set aside. Halve an avocado, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh into small bowl. Using a fork, mash the avocado. Mix in cilantro, onion, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Slice pizza and top each slice with a spoonful of guacamole and pico de gallo.

Margherita Pizza

IngredientsRomano Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Olive Oil
Fresh Basel
Two small Romano tomatoes

Directions
I really did not follow any directions but here is what I did. Cook pizza crust according to directions. Over cooked dough, brush olive oil and top with Basel. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the pizza to your liking. Place sliced tomatoes over the top. Bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees.

Chicken Smothered with Bacon and Cheese

I love it when I create things on my own! I had some Honey Dijon Mustard Dressing that was about to expire so I had to get creative to use it. This was really easy and really good. I served it with Sweet Potato fries.

Chicken Smothered with Bacon and Cheese

Ingredients:
Two chicken breasts
Honey Dijon Mustard Dressing
Four slices of Bacon
2-4 slices of Provolone Cheese

Directions:

Marinate chicken breasts with dressing. The longer the better. I think mine was 10 hours. Cook chicken in the skillet over medium high for about 10 minutes or bake at 400 for about 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Cook bacon in the microwave for about 3 minutes.

Place each chicken on a plate. Top each breasts with two slices of bacon. Place provolone cheese on top of the chicken an bacon. The amount of provolone you need depends on the size of the breast.

Chocolate Cake

I love this chocolate cake recipe. It never fails. I first made it when I found a recipe for Oreo cake. I made the Oreo cake for Tony's birthday a few years ago. I saved the recipe for the chocolate cake - it really is the best recipe I found. For the pumpkin cake below I used the filling recipe. It really is just a cream cheese frosting. I get so many compliments every time I make this cake.

Oreo Cake (use cake recipe and filling recipe for regular choclate cake)

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 16 mins
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients
Cake:

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1-1/4 cups buttermilk

Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 box (16 ounces) confectioner's sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons milk

Frosting:
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups crushed Oreos

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour; shake out any excess flour.

2. Cake: In a medium-size bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together until well blended; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter, sugar and vanilla for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. On low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture in three additions, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour; beat 1 minute. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 36 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; let cool completely.

5. Filling: In a large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, then milk. Beat for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.

6. When layers have cooled, trim off any crowned cake from the tops and discard. Cut each layer in half horizontally with a serrated knife. Place one cut layer on a cake stand and top with one-third of filling; spread evenly over top. Repeat with 2 more cake layers. Place last layer on top, cut side down. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until filling is set.

7. Frosting: In a large bowl, with mixer on high, beat heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Generously spread whipped cream all over cake, using the back of a spoon to make swirls and peaks on top. Place chopped cookies in a large bowl and carefully hold cake stand over bowl. With cupped hands, gently press cookie crumbs onto the sides of the cake to cover. Brush excess crumbs off stand before serving.

Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken

So if you cannot tell already I LOVE honey mustard. I am so disappointed I lost the recipe to this before I posted it! I know it was super easy. I am going to post how I remember it and hopefully it works out!

Ingredients:
2/3 cup Honey
2/3 cup Honey Mustard
1 tsp red pepper
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 3-4 pound chicken

Directions:
In a medium bowl mix honey, honey mustard, and red pepper - separate into two bowls. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Using one of the bowls brush glaze on the chicken. Pour broth on the bottom of the baking dish and inside the chicken cavity. Cook chicken according to the directions on the package. Glaze every half hour. Use extra glaze for serving.

Buffalo Quesadilla

Buffalo Quesadillas make a great appetizer or meal. I used two giant tortillas that were not the easiest to flip or you can use four small tortillas.

Ingredients:
Two chicken breasts
Buffalo sauce
Blue cheese
Tortillas

Directions:
Slow cook the chicken covered with buffalo sauce. Should take about three hours or so. Shred the chicken and top with more buffalo sauce. Place one tortilla on the bottom of a fry pan. Top with the chicken and blue cheese to your liking. Flip once to brown both sides. Serve with blue cheese dressing and whatever toppings to your liking.

Honey Mustard Brie, Ham, and Apple Sandwich

As disgusting as this sounds this sandwich is amazing. I had it at an Irish Pub a few years back. When I served the sandwich to Tony he devoured it. I used butter spray on each side of rye bread. On top the bread I placed ham, brie, sliced apples, and honey mustard dressing. Grill it until medium brown on each side of bread.

Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi is super easy. All you need is shrimp, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and rice. In a pan I heat the olive oil and add the shrimp - tails removed. You can use fresh garlic or some times I use Tastefully Simples Garlic Garlic. I bought shrimp that is already precooked so really I am just heated it up. I served it over rice.

Long Break

Sorry I have not been around! My new job is sucking the life out of me but I love it. I am still cooking and baking. I have the pictures and just need to get them posted.