FBF: Rainbow Farfalla

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

RAINBOW FARFALLA

click on image to see full post from 8/30/11

Banana Pudding Cupcakes

Made these for my 30th Birthday! Best cupcakes I've ever had! The frosting isn't too pretty, had a big mis-hap with the pastry bag (don't ask). But they still tasted just as good!!

BANANA PUDDING CUPCAKES

Cupcakes:
1 Betty Crocker® FUN da-Middles™ yellow cupcake mix with creamy vanilla filling
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 box (3.4-oz size) banana cream instant pudding and pie filling mix
12 vanilla wafer cookies

Frosting:
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 box (3.4-oz size) banana cream instant pudding and pie filling mix
3 tblsp heavy whipping cream
1 tblsp vanilla
2 tsp banana extract

Garnish:
1/2 cup crushed nilla wafers
12 whole nilla wafers

• Make cupcake batter as directed on cupcake mix box, using water, oil, eggs and adding 1/2 box of pudding mix. (Other half of box will be used in frosting.)
• Before filling paper baking cups as directed on box, place 1 vanilla wafer cookie in bottom of each paper cup. Fill cups as directed on box. Bake and cool cupcakes.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat frosting ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Frost cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle tops with nilla wafer crumbs; top each with 1 cookie.

recipe from Better Crocker Website

Wordless Wednesday {{linky}}

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

(not so wordless this week!)

We had a "spouses' day" at my husbands company. He's the commander for the Engineer K9 Company. They have dogs that detect MDD/SSD (in other words, mines). Its such a unique company, I wanted to know more and let other spouses see that as well. It was a wonderful day and it went just as planned! Here are a few pictures:

We were paired up with a handler and their dog for the day. This dog is Deno (dee-no)

We took them out for their walk, then cleaned their kennels

Next was the canine first aid, trying our hand on a fake dog leg

(I'm the red-head!)

Doing physical exams

And trying our hand in the dirty work.....I let someone else get "hands-on"

Poor dog got many "examinations" that day. Can't imagine whats going through his head!

Then they showed us how they train the mine dogs in their lanes....really cool!

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Chocolate Banana Coffee Cake

Can you tell I've had an access of ripe bananas in stock?

CHOCOLATE BANANA COFFEE CAKE

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 bananas, soft and mashed
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 packet Starbucks Instant Coffee "Via"
1 tsp vanilla

• Preheat oven to 350F, and grease a 10-inch Bundt pan. 
• In a large mixing bowl, combing flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. 
• In another small bowl, mix bananas and sour cream. 
• In yet another bowl, beat butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add eggs to the butter mixture, 1 at a time, mixing in between. Beat in espresso and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture, alternating with the banana mixture.
• Pour batter into bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes. Let cool before removing from pan.

Banana Latte Smoothie

SMOOTHIE MONDAY

BANANA LATTE SMOOTHIE

1 cup milk
1/2 packet of starbucks "via" instant coffee-to-go (or 1 tablespoon instant coffee)
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (or 1 tablespoon plain yogurt)
2 bananas
6 ice cubes

• Mix all the ingredients together in a blender. Process until smooth. Serve Immediately.

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!!

And the winner is.....

  

CONGRATS to Amber H. on winning these award winning hand-dipped candles!

Amber has 48 hours to respond, or a new winner will be chosen.

FBF: Blueberry Muffins

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

click on image to see full post from 8/23/11

Rosemary & Strawberry Shortcake Pizza

This is the best thing I've every had. Period. I would eat the entire pizza if no one else was around... I won't mention how many times I've actually made this... The bread is like a scone, and the honey with the strawberries accent the rosemary in perfect unison. Its the best right out of the oven, or the next day when the juices have soaked in completely. Don't go another day without trying this!

ROSEMARY & STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE PIZZA

1 Quart Strawberries, rinsed, then halved or quartered (4 cups)
¼ cup honey 
3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
4 ½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
1 ¾ cups whipping cream
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp. sugar
Sweetened whipped cream

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
• In large bowl, combine strawberries and honey. Let stand, stirring occasionally, while preparing shortcake.
• For shortcake, in food processor combine flour, ¼ cup sugar, rosemary, baking powder, and salt; pulse to mix (Or whisk together in large bowl.) Add butter to flour mixture; pulse several times. (Or cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives.) 
• While pulsing, add cream, pulsing until dough begins to come together. (Or make a well in center of flour mixture. Pour cream into well. Mix with fork until dough is evenly moistened.)Turn out dough in lightly floured surface. Knead quickly. Roll dough to 9x13 inch rectangle (1/2- inch thickness). 
• Transfer dough to large parchment-lined baking sheet. With sharp knife, score dough (cutting not quite through) in 1 ½ -inch squares. Brush dough with egg white; sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. sugar. 
• Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer shortcake and parchment to wooden board or platter. Spoon strawberries on shortcake. Drizzle with juices.

Recipe directly from ABC Chanel 7 News in Chicago, IL on June 7th, 2012

LAST DAY TO ENTER! Don't miss your chance!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

I'm not participating in the hops this week, too  much going on. :/ However, here is a few pictures of my kittens I'm fostering! "Jack" & "Jill"

   

And don't miss your chance to enter this wonderful giveaway!!

1st Anniversary of my 29th Birthday GIVEAWAY

Alright my friends, I've turned the big three-OH! I'm attempting....ok, trying realllly hard to set up "30 days of AWESOME" for the blog! So my FIRST awesome is oh-so-perfect for birthdays....

Key Candles is made up of a pair of candle makers living in Minneapolis, Minnesota with over ten years experience combined. All of our products are made with renewable waxes (soy or beeswax) and 100% cotton wick in order to create candles with the finest and cleanest burn possible. Our candles are meant to be simple yet functional for light, fragrance, and decoration. You can find Key Candles in their Etsy Shop or on FaceBook. They have a wide variety of these beautiful candles to choose from!

Giveaway includes 1(One) pack of 10 mix wax sets in a pink-white-blue color combination.

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK! And Happy Birthday to Me!

Giveaway starts on August 18th at 12:00pm and ends Friday, August 25th at 12:00pm and winner will be announced. Winner has 48 hours to reply, otherwise a new winner will be selected. Winner will be chosen at random using Random.org and will be notified by a post on Cookin' for my Captain and by email.

~This blog may accept free product samples, gift cards, or cash to review a product or host a giveaway. Opinions expressed on this blog are still that of the blog owner and are not edited, reviewed, or influenced by the paid sponsor of a product review or giveaway.  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. Any product claim, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

FBF: Chicken Stir-Fry

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

CHICKEN STIR-FRY

click on image to see full post from 8/16/11

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!!

WE HAVE A WINNER!

CONGRATS to Liberty B. for winning "Bacon is Meat Candy" tea towel! Please look for an email from me! If you haven't received it, please contact me at cmclain0517 [at] gmail [dot] com

Winner must respond in 48 hours to claim prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Crock-Pot Potato Medley

CROCK-POT POTATO MEDLEY

1 pound of mixed potatoes, (such as red potatoes, golden potatoes and purple potatoes, and the combination is usually called a "medley")
2 tblsp butter, plus 1 tblsp
2 tblsp olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary

• Wash and slice potatoes in half or into similar sized pieces. Toss in olive oil, thyme and rosemary.
• Melt butter and pour into bottom of crock-pot. Add potatoes on top. Dice the 1 tablespoon into small pieces and place over potatoes.
• Turn crock-pot on low and cook 4 to 4-1/2 hours or until fork tender. Turn to warm until ready to serve

Wordless Wednesday {{linky}}

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

I played softball on the post Women's League for the last couple months. I played softball all my life, and it was nice getting back into the sport. Love getting out and get my exercise when I can! Even if it WAS 110 degrees every time we played or practiced.

I play 1st base =)

Don't laugh...

...I like the high ones!

Also became a foster mom to these little guys! They are "Jack" & "Jill", only 5 weeks old. I'm taking care of them until they are old enough to get fixed and then adopted out. I just love them this small!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't miss a chance to win in this fabulous giveaway too!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Sauteed Chicken in Mustard Sauce

SAUTEED CHICKEN IN MUSTARD SAUCE

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine, or chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried tarragon

• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. 
• In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and saute chicken for 10-12 minutes or until done, turning once. Transfer to plate and keep warm.
• Pour wine into hot skillet and cook for 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, whisk cream, tarragon and mustard until combined.  Add to the wine in skillet and cook for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add any juices that pooled on the plate from chicken.
• Remove sauce from pan and drizzle over chicken. 

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Don't forget to enter DAILY for the giveaway!

Bacon is Meat Candy GIVEAWAY! [ends 8/17]

Its about time I do another giveaway on my blog..haha! So, when I saw this I knew that it would be PERFECT! I love bacon...and I mean I LOVE. I hope all of ya'll do too!

Giveaway ENDS Friday, August 17th at 12:01am, winner will be announced by noon that day.

Kathryn attended the Columbus Collage of Art & Design, in Columbus Ohio. Having moved from Ohio to CA,NV, CO,TX, and now back to CA nature has always inspired her. The experience of living in so many states has given her an appreciation for being self employed as an artist. Her job travels with her everywhere she goes. Design and beautiful arty creations are her passion. She creates everyday working on new designs for Sweet Bohemmian Life and her other Etsy store kathryngreenwald.etsy.com painting upcycled purses and bags. Art is always on my mind. I'm so grateful to get up every day and create as my job.

We are giving away ONE (1) "Bacon is Meat Candy" Teatowel, one of the most popular prints in her shop.

It's 100% cotton, flour sack towel. Printed with eco friendly, water based ink

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway starts on August 10th at 12:00pm and ends Friday, August 17th at 12:00pm and winner will be announced. Winner has 48 hours to reply, otherwise a new winner will be selected. Winner will be chosen at random using Random.org and will be notified by a post on Cookin' for my Captain and by email.

This blog may accept free product samples, gift cards, or cash to review a product or host a giveaway.  This blog discloses what product samples, gift cards, or cash were received for a product review or giveaway within the specified blog post.  Opinions expressed on this blog are still that of the blog owner and are not edited, reviewed, or influenced by the paid sponsor of a product review or giveaway.  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. Any product claim, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

FBF: Cherry Limeade

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

CHERRY LIMEADE

click on image to see full post from 8/11/11

Shrimp Scampi

More shrimp!

SHRIMP SCAMPI

• 1 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white vermouth
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice [about 1/2 lemon]
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Put the shrimp on a large pie pan or plate and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter to the skillet. When the foaming subsides, raise the heat to high, and put the shrimp pan all at once. Cook the shrimp, without moving them, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Turn the shrimp over and cook for 2 minutes more. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
3. Return the skillet to the heat and pour in the vermouth and lemon juice. Boil the liquid until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir the zest and parsley into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the shrimp, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and toss to combine. 
4. Divide the shrimp among 4 plates or arrange on a platter and serve with lemon to squeeze over top.

Wordless Wednesday {{linky}}

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

This past weekend we had the honor to join our Command teams in the Battalion in Kansas City for weekend full of activities! Saturday was the highlight. The KC Chiefs are in the middle of their training camp practices so we were treated like family, given a personal tour of the campus where they are practicing. In the end, our group was honored on the field before practices began. It was sooooo cool!

I got to meet some "famous" players and owners, but my hubby is the sports fan....I'm horrible at remembering names. Haha

BELOW: Guy in the yellow is a coach, guy in grey shirt is a player

Help me out if you know their names!! My hubby is the one on the right end.

The PR team also "tweeted" about us that day while we were getting the tour!

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Featured on FoodGawker

FoodGawker is a very popular site that allows you to submit entries of your food. Submissions go under a very crucial eye, and its taken a lot of practice and patience to get a photo of my recipes that they will take. You can say they have to be "magazine" quality. I know photography comes natural to some, and I have learned so much of the past 2 years of photographing and blogging my recipes. I'm part of several cooking communities, but being accepted on this particular one is what I constantly strive for. I'm in the process of putting my cookbook together, and I only want my favorite recipes and the best pictures.

So here are just a few of my favorite ones, but click HERE to see my entire gallery!