Chocolate Truffles

These are my favorite holiday treat! My brother-in-law told me last year that they were better than the fancy smancy truffles he bought from a chocolate shop. Oh and did I mention they are super easy to make?

Ingredients:
Insides
1 pkg. (8 sqaures) Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 pkg. (8 oz) Cream Cheese

Outsides
1 pkg. Semi-Sweet Chocolate
or
Powder Sugar
Cocoa Powder


1. Melt 8 chocolate squares. I melt my chocolate in the microwave in 10-30 seconds spurts just make sure you stir frequently and don't overheat.
2. Beat cream cheese into chocolate until creamy. It should look something like this. Now place in the refrigerator until firm. This takes about an hour or two, but you can leave overnight.

(Sorry this is where my camera battery died)

3. Using a cookie scoop or measuring spoon shape filling into tsp-Tbsp size balls. I scoop out a bit then roll them in my hands to make them round and smooth. Warning this gets messy as things warm up. (if things get too soft return to the fridge to harden again)

4. Melt 8 more squares of chocolate and using a fork dip truffles, then return to wax paper-covered tray. Refrigerate until firm.

Other options include rolling the truffles in cocoa powder or powdered sugar. (this is a faster, easier option)

So Much Baking!!!

I finally went to and survived the dentist so what to I do on the way home? Stop by the store and load up on all this sugar! I had to load up on baking supplies to prepare for this year's Christmas baking. Can I just say I love holiday baking! Every year I block out a whole day and turn my kitchen into a pastry shop. So if you haven't been bitten by the baking bug yet this year my next posts are for you. I'll post one treat a day until we take off for London so enjoy!

Here's some tips to help making your baking day faster and more enjoyable. First, a couple days in advance plan what you'll be making and stock up on supplies. Then, on the day of set them all out within easy reach. Something I learned a while back is to always have a glass of cold water close by when your baking sweets. All that sugary smell can really make you sick after a while and the water will also help keep you from "sampling" your goods all day long. I know those chocolate chips are calling to you, but if you eat them all day you'll regret it by the time everything is done.

Next, fill up a sink with very hot soapy water. If you start with really hot water you won't need to change it as often. I found that having this wash station set up is really helpful if your like me and only have one set of measuring cups and mixing bowls.

Tater Tot Taco Salads

This dish has quickly become a favorite at our house for quick weeknight dinners.

Tater Tots
Taco Meat
Lettuce
Tomato
Cheese
Other Taco Toppings such as: sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, avocado use your imagination

Bake Tater Tots in oven according to package
Fry hamburger in pan and season as taco meat
Place 1 serving of tater tots on plate, then spoon on meat, finish with taco toppings

This is really quick and easy but fun and unique. Enjoy!

Mmmm.... The Fall Baking Bug Has Bitten

After me and my husband ate all of the pumpkin chocolate chip scones yesterday I was once again craving some baking and nothing was in the house. This led me to my first self-invented recipe

Apple-Pear Muffins

1 c. rolled oats
1 c. buttermilk (or I used 1 tbsp vinegar the rest skim milk)
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. white cake flour
1 t. baking power
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. allspice
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. applesauce
1 apple diced
1 pear diced

1. Combine oats and buttermilk in a small bowl

2. Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and brown sugar.
3. Add oats mixture, applesauce, and fruit mix sparingly (gluten is not our friend here)

4. Pour into muffin tin. (Mine turned out best when filled level with the cup)

Optional sprinkle with oatmeal & brown sugar mix

5. Bake at 350 for 30 min.

Sourdough Bread

Here's our second try at sourdough bread. The loaves aren't very big but they look delicious.

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Scones

Being pregnant I haven't had any of what I would call strange cravings (not including that applesauce with peanut butter thing... gross!) but I will think of something that sounds good and that's it I have to make it. So this morning I was struck with the scone bug that lead to me trying to decide between cranberry orange, chocolate chip, or pumpkin. I decided everything is better with chocolate and I had some pumpkin I need to use up so here we are pumpkin chocolate-chip scones.

I searched Pinch My Salt for a recipe (this blog has single-handedly changed my cooking forever!) and found to my delight she had already done a lot of the work for me and already had a pumpkin scone recipe I threw in some chocolate chips and got ready for breakfast. They turned out amazing!!


Taken from: http://pinchmysalt.com/2007/10/18/pumpkin-spice-scone-recipe/

• Pumpkin Spice Scones
• 1 C. all purpose flour
• 1 C. cake flour
• 1 1/2 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 t. ground allspice
• 1/4 t. ground ginger
• 6 T. unsalted butter
• 1/2 C. chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/3 C. pumpkin puree
• 1/3 C. heavy cream
• 6 T. brown sugar
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Get out a baking sheet and line with parchment paper (not required but makes cleanup easy!). Cut the butter into small pieces, put it in a small bowl and put it back in the refridgerator. In a medium bowl, combine both flours, baking powder, salt, and all spices. Whisk together well. Place bowl in freezer (refrigerator is fine if you have no room in freezer).
• 2. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin, heavy cream, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk together well. Put this bowl in freezer (or refrigerator) and take the other bowl back out. Get the butter pieces out of the fridge and dump them into the bowl with the flour mixture. Cut the butter into the flour using a pastry blender or rub it in with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chipes if you are using them.
• 3. Get the liquid mixture out of the freezer and pour into the flour mixture all at once. Stir with a wooden spoon until everything is just moistened. The dough will be very crumbly, this is the way it should be. Turn the mixture out onto the counter and push the pile together with your hands. It should stick together fairly well. Knead it just a couple of times until everything is together. Don’t knead it too much or the dough will get too sticky.
• 4. Pat the dough out into a rough circle, 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Cut it like a pie into 8 pieces. Place pieces on the baking sheet so that they are not touching. Bake scones for about 15 minutes at 425 degrees. They should be light brown on the bottom, the tops will darken as they cool.

Wow! It's been awhile!

I could not believe I had not blogged anything since July!!! Where have I been? Oh yeah that's right moving across country and "brewin' a human" (phrase courtesy of some random guy at Walmart) Ok well here's what I've been up to this week.

Date Night:
Me and my husband try to have a date night once a week, but we are also trying to stick to a fairly minimal budget so Friday night was movie night at home.

The Food:
From Left to Right.
Cheddar Bacon Potato Skins, Beef Taquitos, Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Bits

Cheddar Bacon Potato Skins
Several Small Potatos
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Canola Oil
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
Butter
Sour Cream
Chives (dried or fresh)

1. Wash Potato skins really well.
2. Rub potato skins with canola oil then roll in kosher salt and black pepper.
3. Bake in oven at 350 for an hour
4. Allow potatoes to cool until you can handle them easily
5. Slice potatoes in half and scoop out the inside using a spoon. Leave about a 1/4 in. of potato remaining on the skin.
6. Brush potatoes with butter and bake at 400 for 10 min.
7. Fill potatoes with cheese and bacon
8. Bake at 400 for 10 more min. or until the cheese is melted
9. Mix chives into sour cream and top potatoes with mixture.
10. Enjoy :)

Beef Taquitos
Taken from http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/baked-chipotle-beef-taquitos.html

Baked Chipotle Beef Taquitos
Recipe by OurBestBites.com

3 C cooked, shredded beef roast*
4oz green chilies, undrained
1/4-1/2 t minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (I use 1/4 t for mild heat. See note below)
3 t adobo sauce from the canned chipotle peppers
1 t garlic powder
1 t coriander
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
zest from one lime
1 T fresh lime juice
1 package Queso Fresco (about 12 oz)
white corn tortillas ---- inch...
olive oil or cooking spray
kosher salt

Note: If you don't want to work with the chipotle peppers, or can't find them, try adding some Chipotle Chili Powder. You can find it by the other spices in the grocery store. It will still give you a smoky spice, so start with a little and increase to taste.

*I created this recipe to use up left over roast from things like pot roast and french dip sandwiches. If you're cooking a roast strictly for use in these taquitos, then just mildly season it with things like salt, pepper, onion, and garlic before cooking.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Slice any larger pieces of roast across the grain so the beef is shredded into 1/2-1 inch pieces.
Combine chilies, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, garlic, coriander, cumin, chili powder and lime zest and juice in a bowl. After stirring to combine, gently toss together with shredded beef.

Wrap a pile of about 10 tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave for 1 minute to soften. (after those are used, do the next 10)

Working with one tortilla at a time, crumble about 1T queso fresco in a line across the center of the tortilla. Top with 1-2 T shredded beef mixture. Tightly roll and place seam-side down on a lightly sprayed baking sheet. Continue to roll until all of the tortillas are filled.

Use cooking spray, olive oil spray, or lightly brush olive oil on the top of each taquito. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.

Serve warm with sour cream and guacamole. Makes about 20 taquitos.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Bits
Taken from http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/chicken-bacon-stuffed-pizza-rolls.html

1 roll refrigerated pizza dough* (or make your own)
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
1 T olive oil or melted butter
sharp cheddar cheese (I used 75% sharp cheddar and 25% mozzarella)
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
about 1 C shredded, cooked chicken.
3/4 C mayo
3/4 C milk

First take 1 teaspoon of your ranch dressing mix and combine it with 1 1/2 T parmesan cheese. Set aside. Combine the remaining ranch mix with 3/4 C mayo and 3/4 C milk and place in the fridge to chill.

Preheat oven to heat specified on pizza dough package. Usually it's 400-425 degrees.

Unroll your pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll the dough so it's about 12" by 8". You're going to want to cut it into 24 squares, so just eyeball it if you need to. Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 24 squares.

Place cheese and desired toppings on each square.

When all of your dough squares have cheese and toppings on them, carefully lift up each square and wrap the dough around the toppings.

I grab the four corners first and then squeeze the seams shut. Then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed pie pan (or similar sized dish). Brush with melted butter or olive oil and sprinkle with the parmesan-ranch mixture.

Place your rolls in the oven. I've noticed baking time really depends on the type of dough I'm using. Whether it's different brands from the store, or homemade dough, they all take different amounts of time. Set your timer for 10 minutes and check on them after that. They may take up to 15 or 20 to be done. Take them out when they're lightly golden on top.

Serve them warm with a side of freshly made ranch dressing for dipping.