Monthly Archives December 2012

Starbuck’s Pumpkin Pound Cake

December 30, 2012 Posted in Breakfast, Cake, Dessert

Recipe Source: Fast Food Fix, by Devin Alexander
I doubled this recipe so I could do one with cream cheese frosting and one with the powdered sugar glaze.
Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 c. All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt
  • 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
  • 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground Cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 c. Sugar
  • 1/2 c. Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt
  • 3 Egg Whites
  • 1 c...
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P.F. Chang’s Spicy Green Beans

December 28, 2012 Posted in Side Dishes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

P.F. Chang’s® Spicy Green Beans
By Todd Wilbur
Menu Description: Stir-fried with Sichuan preserves, fiery chili sauce and garlic. Here’s an easy side dish that you can start on a day or two before you plan to serve it. Planning ahead like this will allow the spicy Sichuan mixture some quality chill time to pickle in the salt and acids...
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North Shore Acai Bowl

December 23, 2012 Posted in Dessert, Fruit, Summer

One of my favorite treats on earth is the North Shore Bowl from Bowl of Heaven in La Verne, CA. They are closed the next few days for the holiday season so I decided to recreate this treat because I am REALLY craving it. You can get all of the ingredients from Trader Joe’s except for the Sambazon. I found that at Albertson’s. You can make this without Sambazon if you can’t find it...
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Turtle Cookies

December 19, 2012 Posted in Cookies, Dessert, Holiday

Makes about 30 cookies
Source:  Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa powder)
1/4 tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) butter, softened
2/3 c. sugar
1 large egg, separated, plus 1 additional egg white (throw out 1 yolk)
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. pecans, finely chopped
Caramel Filling:
14 soft caramel candies (I used Kraft)
3 Tbsp...
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Snowman Sugar Cookies

December 17, 2012 Posted in Cookies, Dessert, Holiday

Thank you to my dear friend Lynette for sending this creative idea!
Happy Holidays!
Ingredients:
1 bag of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie – Cookie Mix (17.5 oz.)
1 stick of butter
1 egg
1 tub of Cream Cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 bag of bite sized Reese’s peanut butter cups, cut in half to form snowman hat
Mini chocolate chips for snowman eyes
1 container of orange tic-tac’s for snowman nose
Twizzler or Red...
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Bacon Wrapped Turkey

December 10, 2012 Posted in Bacon, Chicken, Holiday

Who doesn’t like Bacon? The bacon helps the turkey stay juicy. Season to your own taste. We like to taste the turkey so we don’t use much seasoning.
Ingredients:
1 Turkey – I used a 6.64 lb. bird with guts and wings removed
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper (Optional: your favorite seasoning)
1.5 lbs. Thick Cut Bacon strips
Stuffing if you want to stuff the bird – Recipe below:
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Italian Sausage Stuffing

December 10, 2012 Posted in Holiday, Italian Food, Side Dishes

My Mother in Law makes this casserole every holiday and it’s my personal favorite stuffing! Best in the West!

Ingredients:
1 cup; butter (2 sticks)

1 cup; white onion, finely chopped

1 cup; celery, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups; chicken broth

1 box = 16oz; Mrs. Cubbison’s Herb Seasoned Cube Stuffing

1 pound Spicy or Sweet Italian Sausage, about 6 links (casings removed) – We used spicy sausage from Claro’s in U...

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Zaatar Rub “The Everything Seasoning”

December 10, 2012 Posted in BBQ & Grilling, Spices & Seasonings

Here’s an easy, savory-tart rub that’s great as a seasoning for Grilled Meatball, Halloumi, and Baby Squash Skewers or to use with grilled chicken breasts, lamb chops, steak, or veggies (just brush them first with oil, then coat with the rub). I also add it to my turkey burgers, turkey stir-fry, and many other things! Use your imagination.
Ingredients:
·         1 pound of Ground Lamb
·  ...
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Crockpot Tex Mex Carnitas

December 4, 2012 Posted in Crock Pot, Mexican Food, Pork

I got this recipe from the 30 night’s of Paleo Crock Pot Meals website. First recipe I made off this sight and it was a huge hit. The leftovers taste even better!

http://hollywouldifshecould.net/2011/11/a-month-of-paleo-crockpot-recipes/

Ingredients:

2-3 lbs. pork butter or shoulder (I used 2.71 pounds of Pork shoulder blade, Boston Roast

1/4 cup diced yellow onions

1/4 cup diced chilies or 4 oz. can

2 ts...

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Peach Baklava Strudel

December 2, 2012 Posted in Dessert, Fruit

Combines the flakiness and nutty flavors of baklava with the fruit of a strudel. If your apricots or peaches are very ripe, don’t let them sit in the honey syrup too long before you assemble the strudel–they’ll turn to jam. But if they’re a little firm or very tart, let them macerate a bit longer to soften and absorb the sweetness...
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