Better with Booze - Kahlua Cupcakes

The statement stands for itself. Everything is better with booze. Beer sausage, whiskey BBQ sauce, muscles in white wine reduction, coffee with Baileys. This isn`t limited to food either. in most cases, booze makes everything a little bit better. Parties, first dates, Saturday mornings, sex.

I digress.

My point is, when I was looking for something a bit more jazzy then your typical chocolate butter cream icing (which is still awesome, I`m not knocking it) I turned to booze. More specifically, I turned to Kahlua.

Never Say Never - Seared Scallops with Pink Grapefuit

"I will never eat grapefruit" These words have crossed my lips more times then I care to count. I hate the stuff, it's sour and tart. Why would anyone want to eat that, especially when you can eat so many other wonderful things. People have tried to convince me that I should give it another go. What can I say, I'm a willful soul. Plus, I hate the stuff - right?
Wrong.
I made this tonight and I have reevaluated my opinion.

B-B-B-Bennie!! - Easier Eggs Benedict

If someone were to say to you "Sunday Brunch", what would come to mind? Of course! Eggs Benny. I order it everywhere, I have tried it a few times at home, but just always seems like such a hassle. Now, I have to make it clear, I love Julia Child's hollandaise sauce the best, but it takes time. So, when your in a rush and need something a little quicker then full frontal french cooking, try this. It's awesome, easy fast. This makes enough for four servings, but it's easy to work with for more or less.

Unexpected Company - Bocconcini BItes

Next time you have company descending on you, now, whip these little morsels up. They are awesome, easy and sure to please.

This particular dish is absurdly easy. I love bocconcini. Especially when paired with hothouse cherry tomatoes. For this dish, i simply halved the mini bocconcini and slivered off the ends of the tomatoes to make them a bit more manageable. Serve drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Photo Post - Too Many Chimichangas

Sugar Rush - Maple Baked Brie with Walnuts

(photo coming soon)
I love party pieces. Especially when it requires minimal effort and yields maximum results. Baked brie falls into this category with ease. You have the ability when serving this dish to be amazing,you can whip it up quickly, wearing a fabulous LBD and sky-high heels with no mess, no fuss in no time at all. I have tried a few different kinda of baked brie, but I only feature my favourites. Try this, and fall in love.

Photo Post - Truce at the Watering Hole

For The Love of Veggies - Tempura

Tempura is so easy. I never took any notice before, but it really is. And again, like most easy things (muffins, sloppy joe's, gravy...) you could go to Safeway and pick up a tempura mix, add water and go. But (again), why would you when this is so much easier and better? I will admit that while I was making this for dinner for myself the timing was a little tricky, word to the wise - asparagus and carrots take the longest. I used a wok filled with canola oil, but if you have a deep frier, that would work perfectly too. I do believe that you could do a gluten-free version of this, I will let you know what I find. I suppose this really isn't the healthiest way to enjoy veggies, but some days - like today - that just doesn't matter.

Slow Sunday - Sloppy Josephs

Everyone is lazy on Sunday. And what better way to celebrate being lazy then to share a slow cooked, easy meal with your family?

Sure, you could buy a package at Safeway that you add to ground beef to make it into sloppy joe's, but why would you, when this is so much better?

Photo Post - Happy Birthday to Me!

Don't Run or Burn - Maple Dressing

I know what you're thinking.

"Don't run or burn"? What the heck does that have to do with salad dressing??

Well, it's not a long story, but certainly an entertaining one.

Mom and George were down in small-town Minnesota for the 4th of July, George was wearing a CN Rail hat and traded with a local woman who took a fancy to it. The hat he got in exchange is American beyond words. I love it. And plan to steal it when he's not looking.

Not that the hat story has much to do with maple dressing, but it was on this trip that my mom discovered it and she swears it's the best salad she has ever had. I found this in a 2002 edition of Bon Appetite magazine,. I have paired with the spinach, apple slices, strawberries and pecans, but try it with whatever takes your fancy.