Keeping my promise!!

I am keeping my promise to blog weekly. I think about it everyday but usually don't even have the energy to turn on the computer at night. I have had a busy week though. I've been preparing almost all week for a dinner party I had Thursday. Monday night I tested a recipe for Pineapple upside down cake. I am in the final testing stage of this recipe and hope to post it soon. Tuesday I made a mocha cheesecake. Wednesday I made Grand Marnier whipped cream and topped the cheesecake. I also made meatballs for my spaghetti and meatballs. Then Thursday was the dinner party. I started with Green Onion and Bacon Cheese Fondue, Mixed Green Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Zest, and finished with my Mocha Cheesecake. I would like to share my Green Onion and Bacon Cheese Fondue. Its a great recipe and such a crowd pleaser!!

3/4 Cup White Wine - Preferable Riesling

8 0z Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

8 0z Shredded Sharp White Cheddar Cheese

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 tablespoons of finely chopped cooked bacon

2 tablespoons of chopped green onions

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp pepper.

Heat the wine in a fondue pot until just before the boiling point. Whisk the cheese 1/2 cup at a time until melted. Add mustard, bacon, green onions, salt, and pepper and stir to whisk to combine.

Cinnamon Rolls - Ooh La La

I've had a busy weekend. I at to be in the city by 8:00 A.M. Saturday for the Juvenile Diabetes Walk then back home that night. I woke up around 11:00 today and decided I had to be somewhat productive. I decided to make the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. I would like to give her 100% credit for this recipe. I think it was very easy to make and they turned out fantastic. I have a few recommendations that I would change if you were to make this recipe. First, I like a little brown sugar in my filling so I did half white sugar and half brown sugar. It worked great!! Second, I added the cinnamon to the sugar to make it easier to sprinkle on top of the dough. Lastly, I would cook these rolls on 350 or 375. I think her normal temperature of 400 is way to high. I did notice that she has edited the recipe on her blog to state 375 vs the 400. I will not post the recipe on my blog without permission. I recommend that you go to her site and search for cinnamon rolls to get the recipe. I hope you enjoy!!

My Kitchen

Let me first start by saying I am not rich and live in a big fancy house with a maid, butler, and gardner. (Wouldn't that be nice?) I live in a nice middle class neighborhood and have an average home. My kitchen however is very small. It was the only thing I hated about my house when I bought it!! It works for a starter home. Recently I re-arranged my kitchen and I would like to share the pictures with everyone!! :)

Carrot Cake

Here's a recipe me and mom have been working on!!! Its delicious.

Carrot Cake - Carrot Cake Cupcakes

For the cake:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour for walnuts and raisins
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons fine salt
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 cups grated carrots
1/4 cup minced or crushed pineapple that has been drained on paper towel (do not add to batter wet)
1 1/2 teaspoon Orange Zest


For the frosting:
1 block cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.
Or use cupcake wrappers to make cupcakes. Makes 20 cupscakes.
For the batter:
Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light yellow. Add the vanilla and orange zest. In another bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Toss the raisins and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour. Fold in the carrots and pineapple. Add to the batter and mix well.
Divide the batter equally between the 2 pans. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. For cupcakes, use a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop or measuring cup to place batter into cups. (must be 1/4 cup- to much or to little with not allow for even rising of the batter) Bake cupcakes, exactly 27 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans set over a wire rack.
For the frosting:
Mix the cream cheese, butter, orange zest, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Sift confectioners sugar until light and airy. Add the sugar and mix until smooth. About 2 minutes.

My Favorite Author

Virginia Willis!!! She has a certain je ne sais quoi about her that makes her highly addictive. I promise that if you pick up her book you will not be able to put it down. I think I have read "Bon Appetite Ya'll" at least 1000 times!! Well Tuesday "Basic to Brilliant, Ya'll" was released and boy has seen gone and done it again. (Pardon my southern accent) This is an awesome book. I just love her style. I think I would call it the new south. I think most people think of really dense, overly sugary, and butter coated dishes when they think of southern food. DISCLAIMER: Let me say that I do not dislike dense, overly sugary, and butter coated dishes one bit!! I am just saying that sometimes we get a bad reputation for the food we make. I think Virginia has a way to take classic southern dishes and rework the ingredients to make something Brilliant!!! Her recipes are serious now!! I mean they always come out perfect and just like you imagined. If reading her stories about every recipe doesn't get your mouth watering then just try making something from her book!! Anything.... you will love it!!! It makes southern food so refined and elegant. I want everyone to know that I just adore her and think that if you haven't picked up her book than you need to get in the car and head down to your book store or log on and order... now... right now!! When you get the book in turn to page 150 and make the Spicy Caroline Pork Shoulder. This recipe is amazing. Its get it's spice from red pepper flakes and vinegar but the bourbon is where it is at!!! Don't skimp on the bourbon!!! Also make sure you bring this recipe up to brilliant and make the Tomato Bourbon Jus, its so easy to make, you will be glad that you did!!! Virginia, thanks again for another great book!!!

That's life......

My life has changed so much since my last post. In case you didn't notice my last post was about two years ago. Why did I quit blogging? Honestly, I just fell into a routine of laziness. There is absolutly no excuse to document my life and journey into food. My life has changed so much since my last post. Here is the Reader's Digest version. My last post of Dec 12, 2009 and Christmas was weeks away. I was scheduled to fly to Mississippi on Christmas Eve until snow and ice hit Kansas City. I was hours away from take off when my flight was "CANCELLED"!! What was I to do? I loaded up in the car and drove 12 hours south. I made it to Jackson around 11:00 on Christmas Eve. I believe that trip I had a new found respect for family. It made me realize it didn't matter where you live, home will always be where with your family. My New Year's resolution for 2010 was to buy my first home. I started looking at the end of January. Boy, was this a nightmare. I honestly don't know how I got through it. I twas the hardest thing I have ever done. Everyone was telling me not to buy but my guy told me now was the time. I finally closed on my home in April 2010 and haven't looked back. I still believe that it was the right decision at the right time. I feel like it has help me plant my roots in North West Missouri. I may never adapt to this crazy Missouri weather but as the locals say if you aren't satisfied with the weather one minute stick around it will change. I feel that life kind of works like that! If you aren't happy with your life and the way things are going stick it out and it will eventually change. I hope that I can commit to writing this blog at least once a week. I honestly don't care if anyone is reading this but it's something I need to do for myself. I think that it would be nice to look back in a year and see what I have done with my life. I can't guarantee that every post will be food oriented but I do promise I will make mention of my culinary world. Tonight I want to take a minute (moment of silence) and introduce my favorite author in world, Virginia Willis.

Its Christmas Time!!!

This past week as been so busy!!! At the end of the business day Friday I was still in need of much Culinary Therapy. My sister wanted me to make holiday candy and ship for company Christmas Party. On the menu is: Dark/White Chocolate Peppermint Bark, White Chocolate Peppermint Divinity, and Chocolate Sandwich Cookies dipped in White Chocolate with peppermint sprinkles!! Lots of Peppermint. This years Christmas theme, for myself, is peppermint. How nostalgic? Why not bring back everyones childhood favorite candy? I will be posting pictures later!!! I now have dishes to wash!! Oh I am sure you want recipes!!! I will post those when I post pictures!!!