
Sunday, August 8, 2010
In Mourning

Friday, August 6, 2010
Easy Lunch
I recently hosted a bridal shower for a friend of mine, the lovely Steph and made what felt like 40 pounds of this chicken salad. I've pared the recipe down (lest you make 40 pounds too) and decided to share the chicken salad that received rave reviews!
Steph's Chicken Salad
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups cooked and chopped chicken meat
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- 2 chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- optional: 1/8 cup dried cranberries
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
mmmmmuffins!

- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk (I use 2% but whatever)
- 1-1/2 cups blueberries
Streusel
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter, chilled
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line your muffin tin with liners (use them, you savage). In a small bowl, take 1 tablespoon of flour and toss it together lightly with your blueberries until coated - this will make sure they distribute through the muffins and don't just sit on the bottom of the muffin!
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy and well mixed. Add in the eggs, one at a time - beating the batter until the egg is concorporated before adding the next egg, and then add in the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, stir together the baking powder, salt and flour and set aside. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, stirring between each addition until just combined. Fold in your blueberries last and then spoon the mixture into the muffin tin - filling each cup 3/4 the way full.
In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of flour, brown sugar and the cinnamon. Cut in the butter using a fork until mixture resembles course crumbs and sprinke over the unbaked muffins. Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick in the middle comes out clean.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Kitchen Tip #3

Saturday, July 31, 2010
For Jamie :)

- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, SERIOUSLY cold
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to mix it thoroughly. Next, take your butter and cut it into small cubes and drop into flour. Work it into the mixture with a fork or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add in raisins and toss to combine.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and the egg until smooth. Then, using a fork stir the egg mixture into the flour until a large ball of dough forms. You may need to get your hands in there and press it around the bowl. Trust me, it's enough liquid.
Turn out the dough onto a floured board and pat into an 8 inch circle. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar and use a super sharp knife to cut the dough into 8 triangles. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let rest for at least 7 minutes before eating. It'll be difficult but at least you won't burn your tastebuds off!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Taco Time!

- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
Optional: for added heat, add in 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
Mix together. Voila! Taco seasoning!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Cool Drink in the Hot Summer

- 1 lemon
- 1 lime
- 1 orange
- 1.5 cups white rum
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 bottle dry red wine (like Blackberry Merlot)
- 1 cup pulp-free orange juice
Cut the lemon, lime and orange into thin rounds and place into a medium sized bowl or shallow baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together the rum and the sugar and pour over the fruit. Let it "marinate" for two hours in the fridge before pouring into a glass pitcher. Mash the fruit up a bit with a wooden spoon, then pour the orange juice and the wine over the top of the fruit and stir.