Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Reviews On Yelp

You can find my reviews on Yelp.




Sunday, February 13, 2011

Rose Bowl Kitchen Finds

I went to the Rose Bowl today to look for some fun new kitchen toys and came away with a nifty toaster cover, 2 Fire King soup bowls, a stash of new hankies and two new cookbooks!  I was a little bummed that I didn't find any Corelle Crazy Daisy aka Spring Blossom to add to my collection, but at least I scored a few fun new pieces for my kitchen.  The green Fire King pattern in the soup bowls mixes in nicely with my current kitchen theme.





The Fire King soup bowls will get used really soon for french onion soup.  Who doesn't love rich french onion soup with a crusty cheesy top?

The cook books provide more entertainment value than anything else.  These were both published in 1959 so the focus is on all the bountiful canned and frozen foods that are now available to the busy career girl.  I'm tempted to through a 1959 themed tea party and only make confections found in the books.

My true love of the day was the toaster cover.  I think it's just perfect in my kitchen.


Off to prep my crock pot chicken for a Chicken Taco Bar dinner.  Monday's dinner will be simple & delicious.
 


Saturday, February 12, 2011

1/2 & 1/2 Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla, Chocolate & Cream Cheese Cupcakes



For the cakes:
1 stick of softened butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1.5 cups flour + 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (this mimics cake flour)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup well packed light brown sugar
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla paste or real vanilla extract
2 ounces Dutched Cocoa

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line your 12 count muffin tin with paper liners.

Sift the dry ingredients (except the cocoa)  together.  Cream the butter & sugar in a large separate bowl.  Add the dry to the wet.  Add the milk and vanilla.  Mix well.  Take out 2 cups of the batter and set aside.   Add in the cocoa powder and mix well.  The batter will be very brownie like. 



Spoon the chocolate batter into the tins.  Spoon in the vanilla batter.  Swirl with a toothpick.













Bake for between 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.




Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 brick of softened cream cheese
1/2 stick of room temperature butter
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
about 1/2 box of powdered sugar (it depends on the humidity)
1 tablespoon 1/2 & 1/2 or heavy cream

Cream together the cheese, butter & vanilla.  Slowly sift in the sugar until the frosting comes together.