Oreo Cupcakes

Did you know there are rules about making cupcakes? The first rule is you should share cupcakes if you make them. If you don't want to share, then you should make a cake and tell everyone that you licked the top. It usually will deter some from eating your cake. The second rule is if you decide to make extra sweet frosting then the cupcake shouldn't be to sweet. The third rule is do not over bake the cupcakes as my oldest daughter learned. I guess most people do not like crispy or dry cupcakes. If your cupcakes are too crispy or dry cupcakes, then do not follow the first rule.

Oreo Cupcakes 1 cup salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 egg whites 
1 Tbsp vanilla extract 
3 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk 3/4 cup crushed Oreo

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add the egg whites and vanilla. Combine until just incorporated. 
5. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. Slowly, add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture. 
7. Add 1/2 cup milk to the butter mixture.
8. Add the remaining flour mixture to the bowl.
9. Add the remaining milk to the butter mixture. Mix until combined.
10. Fold in the crushed Oreo cookies.
11. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full with the batter.
12. Cook the cupcakes for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 

Recipe adapted from here. Frosting recipe posted here.

One year ago........................Muffin Tops with berries and cream.

Did you already know...........
-When baking, the ingredients need to be measured properly.
-When measuring flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and level off. Do not pack down.
-When cooking with powdered sugar, always sift if not there will be lumps in your frosting.

Sugar Cookies Ice Cream Sandwiches

Yes, I know that I just posted a sugar cookie recipe but they had frosting on them. They didn't have ice cream in the middle with sprinkles on the edges. Plus this recipe the cookies are perfect to make up some ice cream sandwiches. The frosted sugar cookies were requested by my youngest daughter. These sprinkle cookies were made for my niece for her birthday party. Since I had doubled the recipe, I softened some ice cream and sandwiched it between two of these cookies. Then I rolled them in some more sprinkles. I am pretty sure my oldest daughter was eating one a day. I picked a red, white, and blue theme since it is so close to the 4th of July.

Sugar Cookies Ice Cream Sandwiches
Sugar Cookies (made with red, white, and blue sprinkles)
Ice Cream (made with no added cookie dough)
Sprinkles

Directions:

1. Take the ice cream out of the freezer and allow to soften. If it is a hot day, the ice cream will soften within minutes.
2. Shape the ice cream into disks the size of the sugar cookies.
3. Place the ice cream on top of one sugar cookie and top with another sugar cookie. 
4. Press down lightly but be careful not to break the cookies.
5. Place the sprinkles onto a small plate.
6. Roll the sides of the ice cream into the sprinkles.
7. Wrap up the ice cream sandwiches or place in freezer bags and freeze until harden. 

Tip: If it is hot day, the ice cream sandwiches should be made in batches.

One year ago..............................I made roasted chicken.

Did you already know.................
-In July 1776, there were about 2.5 million people living in the American colonies.
-Last year, the U.S. population was almost 314 million. 
-President Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4th, 1872.

Flag Cookies

I am so happy summer has arrived. Do you have any plans this summer? Our big plans are my children are attending camp during the day. At first, they really didn't want to go but now love it. Also, my sister is staying with us for the summer with her two girls. I love having them around but the best part is when we have dinner at night with all the kids. They really enjoy listening to my husband's stories about when he was young. Do you share a lot of your stories at dinner time too?

My abstract flags

Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 Tbsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
3. Add one egg at a time and mix well. 
4. Add the vanilla and scrap down the bowl.
5. Slowly, add the flour mixture. Mix until incorporated.
6. Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
9. Scoop about 1/4 cup of chilled dough and roll into a ball.
10. Place on the parchment paper and flatten slightly.
11. Space the cookies about 3 inches apart.
12. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies are just set. Don't over bake.
13. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring onto a wire rack. Allow to cool completely.

Frosting:
5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla extract
7 Tbsp milk (more if needed)
Sprinkles red and blue if making the abstract flags

1. In a medium bowl, add the sifted powdered sugar.
2. To the bowl, add the melted butter, vanilla, and the milk.
3. Whisk the mixture until smooth. 
4. Frost the cooled cookies and top with the sprinkles.

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats.

One year ago......................I made Virgin Bloody Marys.

Did you already know........
-Summer solstice for this year was June 21st.
-Today the moon was closest to the Earth than it will be all year.
-Since the moon will be a full moon when it is this close to the Earth, it is called a Supermoon.          

Radish and Potato Soup

Yes, you did read the title right. I made radish and potato soup. Yes, I know I normally make a lot of sweets but I have to surprise you once in a while. I will admit radishes aren't my vegetable of choice but I received a lot of radishes lately in my CSA share. The radishes had the leaves still attached and I hadn't realized the leaves are edible. When I made the soup, the kids liked it. They even had a second bowl. Just remember, this soup is very mild but comforting. Yes, I would make it again but I probably will add some sausage to it.

Radish and Potato Soup
1 Tbsp butter, unsalted
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 cup radish leaves
4 cups chicken broth 
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
optional garnish: thinly sliced radish

Directions:

1. In a large pot, melt the butter.
2. Add the onion and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes.
3. Add the potato and saute for 1 minute.
4. Stir in the radish leaves and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the chicken broth and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Remove cover and from heat. With a potato masher/Immersion Blender, mash for a few minutes.
7. Stir in the milk. Season to taste and serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

One year ago................................I made Red, White, and Blue cupcakes.

Nice Photo!

Did you already know..................
-Since 700 B.C., radishes have been cultivated.
-The Ancient Egyptians and Greeks ate radishes.
-From seedling, radishes take only 30 days to harvest.

Steak Stir Fry

This summer I joined a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA). I prepaid for my produce for the summer and each week I pick up my share. Besides making us eat more vegetables, we also are trying new vegetables I normally would not purchase at the grocery store. The best thing is we normally eat a lot of salads (to counter the sweets) so we are just eating more salads. Since I had a lot of bok choy with spinach and broccoli this week, I decided to make a stir fry. 

Steak Stir Fry
2 tsp vegetable oil
8 oz. Strip Steak, cut into bite size pieces
1 green onion stalk, chopped including the white parts
1 Tbsp ginger, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. bok choy, in bite size pieces
1 carrot, shredded
1 cup spinach, chopped in large pieces
1 cup broccoli, chopped into large pieces
1 Tbsp water
optional toppings: wonton noodles or toasted almonds

Directions:

1. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium high heat.
2. Add the oil and then the steak for about 2 minutes.
3. Add the green onion, ginger, and garlic. Stir for about 2 minutes.
4. Add the bok choy, carrot, spinach, broccoli, and water. Stir well.
5. Cover and allow to cook for about 2 minutes.
6. Stir and cover. Allow to cook for 2 more minutes or until vegetables and steak are cooked to the desired taste.
7. Serve over rice or pasta with additional toppings.

Recipe adapted from Steamy Kitchen.

One year ago...................................I made mini fruit crostatas.

Did you already know.....................
-CSA is a way for farmers to sell their produce directly to the consumers before the crops are harvested and the community shares some of the risk.
-There are thousands of CSA farms throughout America.
-Some CSA provide eggs, mushrooms, flowers, fruit, and other items.