Orange Blueberry Quick Bread

So, I couldn't possibly bake something for someone else and not bake something for Hubby, now could I?

One of Iain's favorite snacks is the blueberry loaf from Starbucks... so he asked if I could make him one.. uh.. ah... well... why not? I can try to come close, I guess!

So, I grabbed some Krusteaz Wild Blueberry Supreme Muffin Mix and saw the recipe on the back for Orange Blueberry Quick Bread and thought we'd start there!

Here's the details:

PREHEAT oven to 350F. Spray 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Prepare batter as directed on box, adding 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest. Place into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

COOL for 10 minutes and remove to wire rack. Cool completely and drizzle with vanilla glaze if desired. Store in airtight container.
Vanilla Glaze: Whisk together 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon water and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.

Again, I can't do anything the way the recipe tells me to! So, instead of their Vanilla Glaze, I used a trick that my Mom taught me.. I poured a little bit of powdered sugar into a bowl and added some Vanilla flavored coffee creamer and mixed.. if it's too runny, add more powdered sugar, if it's too thick, add more creamer, until you get the consisitancy you want. Yummy!And the verdict is... "It's great!"

Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcakes

Oh Yum! Who could resist Chocolate AND Coffee? I made these to take to my sweet friend Callie when I go visit her this week.. so keep your fingers crossed that the crazy Spring Blizzards in her area go away, so I can make the drive!!
Anyway.. here's the recipe (found in Famous Brand Names Easy-To-Bake Cookbook, pg 184)

1 package (about 18 ounces) chocolate cake mix
1/4 cup instant coffee, divided
2 teaspoons hot water
1 container (16 ounces) ready-to-spread cream cheese frosting
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

PREHEAT oven to 350F. Place baking cups in muffin pans; set aside. Prepare cake mix following package directions for 24 cupcakes, adding 2 tablespoons instant coffee before mixing. Spoon batter into baking cups. Bake as directed. Cool.

DISSOLVE remaining instant coffee in hot water. Stir frosting into coffee mixture until smooth. Frost cupcakes.

MICROWAVE chocolate morsels and oil on HIGH power in a small microwave-safe dish, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring once, until chocolate is melted.

DRIZZLE melted chocolate over frosted cupcakes. Let stand until chocolate sets.

Makes 24 cupcakes

So, I changed it up, just a tad... I didn't do the whole melted chocolate thing, because I wanted to add the chocolate covered coffee bean on top, so I sprinkled the tops of each cupcake with chocolate jimmies and added my coffee bean!

I hope Sweet Callie likes them!! I think they're pretty! I haven't tried one yet, but Iain said they are quite tasty!

I found this...

AWESOME BLOG!

How To Eat A Cupcake

Now, who doesn't think this blog is just for me?? hehe!

Can you believe she just posted a Beer & Peanuts cupcake??? Might have to try that one day!

Enjoy!

Shop once... eat all week #5

The last in the "Shop once... eat all week!" series. Don't worry, though! I have more recipes marked in my books that I want to try!

Tonight we had Beef Fried Rice.

We used the left over steak from the Sirloin Steak with Fruity Cole Slaw dinner, the left over cole slaw mix from the same dinner, and the leftover asparagus from the Ham & Cheese Pasta meal.

This was a quick and easy meal to make!

Iain really enjoyed it! Emily wasn't interested in the least! I liked it, but I wasn't too fond of the asparagus. Maybe take that out next time, and Iain says to use chicken next time.

Here's the photo... I don't know how food magazines make the food look sooo yummy in the photos! They must spend forever arranging each piece of rice and asparagus to make it look just right! Anyway, my photo doesn't look too appetizing, but it was yummy - promise!

A recipe I want to try

Well, I have to say that I'm addicted to the Starbucks Mint Brownies! And since I know that they are only around during the holidays, I think I need to figure out how to make them! So, I went to my Taste Of Home/Simple & Delicious website and found this recipe:

Chocolate Mint Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 can (16 ounces) chocolate syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• FILLING:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
• 3 drops green food coloring
• TOPPING:
• 1 package (10 ounces) mint chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, cubed

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in syrup and vanilla. Add flour and salt; mix well. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes (top of brownies will still appear wet). Cool on a wire rack.
For filling, in a small mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar; add the water, extract and food coloring until blended. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until set.
For topping, melt chocolate chips and butter. Cool for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread over filling. Chill. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator. Yield: 5-6 dozen.

I'm so excited to try this and see if they are as good (or better) than the one's from Starbucks! I have to go shopping for a few things - chocolate syrup, mint extract and mint chocolate chips - but, suprisingly, I think I'm pretty well stocked for this recipe!

Wish me luck!

So, everyone else is doing it - why not me? Hehee!

I've had a lot of fun this past week making my "Shop once... eat all week" meals! I may not do that exact thing again for a while, but I am hoping to try a new recipe out once a week!

I'll find a recipe, try it out and post it here, with my review - and how the family liked it!

I'm excited about my friends' recipe blogs, too! So, I'll have to try out some of those recipes as well!!

Thanks for stopping by - and have fun!