raspberry-topped lemon muffins

Our lemon tree is still producing lemon so my search for more lemon recipes continues. This unassuming muffin really packs a lot of flavor. Not too sweet and so delicious and dare I say... healthy tasting.

Raspberry-topped Lemon Muffins
(adapted from epicurious)

ingredients

1 1/8 cups sugar, divided

4 tsp finely grated lemon peel

2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 1/2-pint containers (about) fresh raspberries

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line 14 standard muffin cups with paper liners. 

2. Mash 1/8 cup sugar and lemon peel in small bowl until sugar is slightly moist. 

3. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. 

4. Using electric mixer, beat remaining 1 cup sugar and butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in egg. Beat in buttermilk, then vanilla and half of lemon sugar. Beat in flour mixture.

5. Divide batter among muffin cups. Top each muffin with 3-4 raspberries. Bake muffins until lightly browned on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

 

Read More

Seafood Cucumber Cups

This blurry photo doesn't do the dish justice, but we totally forgot to snap a photo of it and this was the best I could find. We actually simplified this recipe even further by purchasing premade seafood dip. This is a great and fast little appetizer to whip up for a party.

Seafood Cucumber Cups
(adapted from domesticfits)

ingredients

• Cucumbers
• Santa Barbara Seafood Dip - Costco

directions

1. Remove the peel from the cucumbers using a vegetable peeler. Cut the cucumber into 2 inch slices. Using a small melon baller, scoop out most of the inside. You want to leave the walls and a thick portion of the bottom intact.

2.  Fill each of the cucumber cups with the seafood dip. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve within 2 hours of making.



yeah.. it's THAT simple.

Read More

Mini Baked Spinach Dip

The original recipe actually shows you how to make the spinach dip, but since I was making mini bites for a party for 20, I needed a faster method to make these yummy morsels. Even though I took a major shortcut, they turned out great! Everyone loved them!  I'm guessing  it's because the pre-made dip we got was really tasty already.

Mini Baked Spinach Dip

(adapted from picky palate)

ingredients

• 13.3 oz roll of refrigerated french bread loaf, I used Simply Pillsbury
• 1/3 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tub of Santa Barbara Spinach Dip -- from Costco

directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray 10 muffin cups with non stick cooking spray.  Unroll package of french bread loaf and slice into 10 equal size slices, about 1 inch thick.  Press each slice into about a 3 inch round, I did this by pressing in between my hands.  Press into the bottom and up sides of the muffin cup and fill with premade spinach dip.

2. Top evenly with shredded cheese and bake for 15-17 minutes until just turning brown on edges.  Remove and let cool for 3-5 minutes before removing from oven.

Read More

Ground Chicken Minced Meat

So this is a total classic in my family, it's one of those dish that gets The Husband home faster than normal...  :D  It's amazing how such a simple dish can bring so much delight to our family.  Over rice, on noodle, it's just delicious any way you serve it.

Ground Chicken Minced Meat
ingredients

• 2lb Ground Chicken - we use ground chicken in our family because it's less fatty
• 6 Dried Black Mushroom, reconstituted & chopped
• 1 clove Garlic
• 1 tsp little Dried Shrimp, chopped OR 2 Dried Scallops, reconstituted & shredded
• 1 tsp Dried Onion Flakes
• 5 Spices Powder
• Rock Candy or Brown Sugar
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce*
• Oyster Sauce*

directions
1. In a large pot (we use a clay pot), add a little oil and saute the ground chicken with garlic, slowly breaking the meat apart. Cook the ground chicken apart until it is crumbly.
2. Add some Oyster Sauce, this is just to darken the meat.
3. Add Soy Sauce, then Sugar and lastly 5 Spices Powder, season to taste.  With the 5 Spices Powder, you want to add little by little so it doesn't overpower the flavor of the meat.
4. Let the meat simmer, taste and season to liking ...  then add the mushroom. Let this simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Lastly add the dried onion flakes.


*Notes on Soy Sauce
Because not all soy sauce are created the same or with the same saltiness level, so if you only have 1 type of soy sauce and it's a very dark and salty one, it'll work to replace the 2 required. 

Read More

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

These were a huge hit!  I wanted to serve pizza, but not in the usual by the slice form, these were perfect as a side dish and packed a lot of flavor.

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs
ingredients

• 3/4 c. flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 Tbs Italian seasoning
• pinch of salt 
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 3/4 c. whole milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 c. cubed pepperoni
• 1/2 c. store-bought pizza sauce

directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375F and grease a 24-cup mini-muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, salt and red pepper flakes; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella, Parmesan and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through. Serve the puffs with the pizza sauce for dipping.

Read More

Red Velvet Cookies

As you know, red velvets are all the rage, what bakery and home kitchen isn't making some version of a red velvet cupcake?  I was hosting a baby shower and as part of the favor and desserts, we decided to do an assortment of cookies.  I wanted to give the guests some of the usual, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, but also something different. Here's the wonderful and amazingly simple recipe for moist red velvet cookies.

Red Velvet Cookies
(adapted from bakerella.com)
ingredients

• 1 box red velvet cake mix
• 1/2 C. butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 eggs 

directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix ingredients until combined.
3. Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about two inches apart.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes and cool.

Cream Cheese Filling
ingredients

• 1/2 C. butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 1lb. box of confectioner’s sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

directions
1. In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.
2. Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.

Read More