Hoisin Honey Ribs

I've had this recipe bookmarked for ages and finally got around to making it.  MMmmm.  These ribs were really good and totally moist and tender and flavorful and yummy.

Hoisin and Honey Ribsfrom Smitten Kitchen

3 1/2 pounds pork of spareribs, halved crosswise, preferably by a butcher, and cut into individual ribs OR boneless pork ribs (which is what I used.)
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 large garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

In a kettle of boiling salted water simmer the ribs, covered, for 30 minutes and drain them well. (Watch closely, mine boiled over BIG time!)

In a large bowl whisk together the honey, the soy sauce, the garlic paste, the hoisin sauce, the mustard, the vinegar, and black pepper to taste, add the ribs, and toss the mixture well, coating the ribs thoroughly. Let the ribs marinate, chilled, for at least 1 hour or overnight. (I marinated mine overnight and the marinade seeped into every pore of the ribs – yum!)

Remove the ribs from the marinade, arrange them in one layer on the oiled rack of a foil-lined broiler pan, and broil them under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat, basting them with the marinade, for 3 minutes. Turn the ribs with tongs and broil them, basting them with the marinade, for 2 to 3 minutes more, or until they are browned well and glazed. Discard the marinade.

Raisin Nut Bran Cereal Muffins

My mom used to make these when we were kids and they were always a hit wit us, smothered in butter of course.  I searched out the recipe and made them for the first time myself, just as yummy for breakfast or snack as I had remembered.

Raisin Nut Bran Muffins

Ingredients

2 cups Raisin Nut Bran Cereal
1 cup milk
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Heat oven to 400.  Line muffin pan with paper baking cups.  Mix cereal and milk in large bowl.  Let stand until cereal is softened, about 5 minutes.  Beat in oil and egg.  Mix in remaining ingredients just until moistened.  Divided batter between cups and bake about 18-23 muffins or until toothpick comes out clean.

Chicken Ranch Pizza

Chicken Ranch Pizza
Annie's Eats


1 pizza dough
1 very large chicken breast or 2 medium ones
grarlic clove, salt, pepper, olive oil/margrine
3-4 roma tomatoes, diced
1 bunch green onion, chopped
bacon bits ( I prefer Hormel's)
ranch dressing
mozzarella cheese, grated
cheddar cheese, grated or crumbled

In a med hot frying pan add marg. or oil.  Stir in garlic.  Add chicken breast and season top with salt and pepper.  When ready to turn over, season other side as well.  When chicken is cooked through, remove and cut into chunks.

I like to precook my dough a little ( ~5-10 minutes) so that when all of the toppings are put on they won't make the pizza soggy.  Remove precooked dough and let cool for a couple minutes.

Spread ranch over pizza, then chicken, then drizzle a little more ranch over it.

Layer bacon bits, green onion, tomato, mozzarella, and cheddar.

Bake until crust is golden and cheese is melty!

Yum.

Green Chili and Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I made these for dinner tonight and they were as good as Pioneer Woman said they would be.  If you aren't familiar with Pioneer Woman yet here's your chance because I'm just going to give you the list of ingredients and then refer you to her blog for the rest.  Follow her directions exactly and enjoy her shameless, joyful style.  I love this blog.  We loved this sandwich and I can't wait to make many more of her recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard, to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise, to taste
• 1 whole Tomato
• 1 whole Red Onion, Small
• 2 slices Mild Cheddar
• 1 can (4 Oz.) Whole Green Chilies
• 2 slices Provolone
• 2 slices Rye Bread
• Butter

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Icing

I made these for Logan's third birthday and they were scrumptious.  The cupcakes have chunks of fresh strawberry throughout (the batter tastes like strawberry shortcake, mmm.  Sorry, I like batter. Samonella, Shpamonella.)  And the fresh strawberry puree, cream cheese frosting is sooo yummy!  Even if, for some reason, mine didn't turn out as thick and piping perfect as Annie's. 

 **As a note, I really don't know what I did wrong with my icing.  Annie's was so pretty and I think I followed her instructions exactly.  Maybe my cream cheese was too room temp or maybe I added too much puree, but the result of mine was more of an icing, an absolutely delicious icing.  But I was hoping for a frosting thick enough to pipe and had to add like six cups of powdered sugar to get it thick enough and even then it still sort of melted once it was on.  This, even with refrigerating the frosting and cupcakes prior to icing.  Anyway, I will say that the frosting is better without all of the extra powdered sugar that I ended up adding, the strawberry flavor comes through stronger and that was really yummy.  So hopefully if you're looking for a thicker frosting your attempt will be more successful than mine, and if it is please let me know what you did.  Either way, I will definitely make these again.

***Also, here is a link to how I made the butterflies.  Mind you mine were quite amateur.

Strawberry Cupcakes

Annie's Eats blog

Yield: about 18 cupcakes

Ingredients:For the cupcakes:
2 ½ cups cake flour
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup unsalted butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup buttermilk
¼ cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups chopped strawberries

For the frosting:
½ c. strawberries
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ¾ cups powdered sugar, sifted
½ tsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. vanilla

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Sift flour, salt and baking soda into a medium bowl.  Set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time until combined.  Add buttermilk, oil and vanilla and beat until combined.  Add flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Fold in chopped strawberries.  Fill cupcake wells ¾ full with batter.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For the frosting, puree strawberries in food processor.  Strain through a mesh sieve to remove seeds, and set aside.  Beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth.  Add lemon juice, vanilla and strawberry puree.  Adjust the amount of puree to achieve your desired consistency.  Frost cupcakes when completely cool.

Source: adapted from Good Things Catered

Lemon Mousse

As soon as the weather starts warming up I start thinking lemon.  This mousse was a perfect, cool lemony treat.  Both Jon and I really enjoyed it and I am just waiting for a good opportunity to make it again for a crowd since it makes quite a lot.  Next time I'll top it with fresh blackberries as garnish, so pretty.

Lemon Mousse

Recipezaar # 61829

• Ingredients
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 ounces butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon, zest of
• 
  

1. Beat eggs and sugar until pale, about 5 minutes.
2. Beat butter into sugar mixture in a thin stream.
3. Add lemon juice.
4. Pour into top of double-boiler.
5. Cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
6. Place piece of plastic wrap directly onto surface of custard to prevent skin from forming.
7. Transfer custard to a medium bowl and refrigerate atleast two hours.
8. Beat cream until soft peaks form.
9. Fold into chilled custard.
10. Serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

I have had these bookmarked for a while, just waiting for a good occasion to make them and the baby shower that Sheri and I hosted for my sister-in-law, Sarah was the perfect opportunity.  Honestly, they were good, though a little too sugary perhaps for me.  But, my opinion aside, everyone else liked them and Mark, the Daddy loved them!

Chocolate Cookie Dough Truffles
Annie's Eats blog


Ingredients:
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
2¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1½ lb. semisweet (or bittersweet) chocolate, coarsely chopped
Mini chocolate chips (for garnish)
Directions: 
Combine the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Beat in the flour, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the mixture has firmed up enough to form balls.

Shape the chilled cookie dough mixture into 1-1½ inch balls.  Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  Cover loosely, transfer the pan to the freezer and chill for 1-2 hours.

When ready to dip the truffles, melt the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water.  Dip each chilled truffle, one at a time, coating in chocolate and shaking gently to remove the excess.  (If at any point during dipping, the cookie dough balls become too soft, return to the freezer to chill for 30 minutes.)  Transfer to a wax-paper lined surface.  If using mini chocolate chips for garnish, sprinkle on top quickly after dipping each truffle before the chocolate sets.  Once all the truffles have been dipped, store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.