Friday, April 29, 2011

Baby Shower Cupcakes

Last weekend I helped my very pregnant friend and her sister make cupcakes for her baby shower. We had loads of fun baking, talking, making blue frosting and toasting coconut, most of it we ate because it is that yummy. 


 These little guys are super cute, time consuming and drove me crazy with their little beaks that looked soooo easy to do, not.  We were so happy with the out come.


Thank you Martha Stewart for the idea!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Nuts for Nutella

Nutella is a downfall for me. I love it's creamy chocolaty unhealthy goodness. With the jar almost empty what better way to finish it off then in a batch of cookies. The recipe has been floating around the house for a couple weeks now but I couldn't bear to empty out the jar. I don't buy it that often because I don't like having it in the house, I have little self-control when I open the jar of happiness and kid myself that it's not that bad if I'm eating it with bananas and strawberries.

So here we go..... 

Chocolate Nutella Cookies
  1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup dutch-process cocoa
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon hazelnut extract
1/3 cup Nutella
1/3 cup milk



1. Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and cocoa, set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and sugars. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about two minutes. Add the vanilla and hazelnut extract and beat until extracts disappear. Add the Nutella and mix until batter is smooth.



2. Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternately with the milk in one batch, mixing well. Chill dough for at least 15 minutes before baking. You can make the dough a few days in advance, just wrap it in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

3. When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Take a tablespoon of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Place on lined baking sheets and gently press down on the dough ball. Continue making dough balls until the cookie sheets are filled-leave two inches in between cookies.


4. Bake cookies for 10-11 minutes or until soft, but starting to set. Remove cookies from the oven and let cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies


Yummmm

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Anthro Fashion Passion Update

Here's the latest addition to my summer wardrobe and I might add, the smallest size too!


Hot Day at the Beach in April?


A beach day with Carissa is just what I needed to end a disappointing and depressing week of a much anticipated trip being canceled and work being crazy slow didn't help either. 

Any day at the beach will cure the blues for me but with the high being in the 80's it made for an even more lovely day.
Picnic lunch of  lemonade, grapes and homemade chicken avocado sandwiches :) 


 Carissa had a little to much lemonade and sun, hehehe

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Cilantro Dressing = Love

A while back one of the lovely ladies I work with told me her Mom's recipe for cilantro dressing. I've wanted to make it for the longest time but never really had the impulse to make it......until I saw Trader Joe's cilantro dressing and had to try it (of course it was delicious and got my wheels turning to create an amazing salad) I figured the homemade version would be healthier and taste better too. So with that I got out the Vita-Mix and went to town and this is what I came out with.



I'm not going to deny it, I've had this salad three times this week and don't feel bad admitting it at all! I don't have exact measurements for the dressing but it's better that way in my opinion because you can add as much or little of certain flavors that you love.

Laura's Mom's Cilantro Dressing

  • 1 Avocado
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 1 clove garlic
  • Plain yogurt 
  • A splash of olive oil
  • Salt & Pepper to taste 
Blend together and enjoy! Shred romaine lettuce, dice tomatoes and onions, add black beans, grated cheese, homemade tortilla strips and chicken for the best salad ever with this dressing.