Adorable Minion Cupcakes

What better way to celebrate the return of the Twinkie and Disney's new movie Despicable Me 2 than with Minion cupcakes!

The other day a good friend posted this on my Facebook page which was a share from a page called Recipes Galore. They were so cute that I had to make them tonight for the kids as they watched the first Despicable Me flick.

Note: If you cannot find Twinkies per say, here in the northeast we have the Tastycake version called Dreamies.

Wishing you all a great weekend!!!

XO

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ADORABLE MINION CUPCAKES

Baked Pork Chops with a Savory Blueberry Sauce

OK I was a bit skeptical myself, but this sauce is so savory despite the 4 tablespoons of brown sugar that it takes on a life of it's own!!! I used a combination of some fresh and dried herbs. The pork chops are given a quick browning in the pan and then finishes cooking in the oven

Ingredients:

4 boneless pork chops

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. fresh cracked pepper

a dash of cayenne pepper

flour for dredging

1 cup fresh blueberries

4 T brown sugar

1 tsp. fresh parsley, minced

1 tsp. fresh sage, minced

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. Balsamic vinegar

Season the chops with the garlic powder, pepper and cayenne pepper and then dredged the chops in the flour. Set aside. Heat olive oil in an oven safe pan, (I used olive oil infused with garlic and rosemary but plain is fine too) and add the chops, cooking about 4 minutes on each side until they turn brown. Place the entire pan in the oven heated to 350 degrees F. Cook for roughly 10 minutes or until the inner temperature of the chops reached 170 degrees F. 

In the meantime mix together the next six ingredients. Once the pan is removed from the oven move the chops to a plate and cover them with tin foil. Add the blueberry mixture to the hot pan and heat on the stove top. Cook until he blueberries begin to break down. Take any juice that has drained from the pork chops on the plate and pour into the blueberry mixture. Cook for about 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with your chops!!!

 Enjoy!!!

XO

BAKED PORK CHOPS WITH A SAVORY BLUEBERRY SAUCE

Delicious Blueberry and Lemon Cheesecake Squares

You know those little paperback recipe books you always see at the checkout line of the supermarket? Well I am a sucker for them, especially if I have to wait any time for my order to be rung through.

So yesterday I hit the food store after dropping Michael off at summer rec and yes...I just had to pick one of those little books up...it had been awhile since I broke down and bought one anyway. The book I grabbed for a mere $4.99 was Betty Crocker's ...cobbler pies & more. Oooh and did I have fun flipping though those pages. The first recipe I decided to make was this fabulous looking Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Squares. The recipe was actually from a blog called Inspired Taste.

This is a very simple recipe to execute and the taste of these little treats is fantastic.

Ingredients:

For the Crust

9 graham cracker rectangles

2 T sugar

2 T lemon peel

1/4 butter melted

For the Filling

2 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 T lemon peel

juice from one lemon

1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

For the Topping

1 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

6 T unsalted butter, cold

Heat oven to 325 degrees F and spray an 8 or 9 inch square baking with cooking spray.

In blender or food processor pulse together the cracker, sugar and lemon peel  until crumbs form. Add the melted butter and blend until it is mixed in well. Press this mixture into the bottom of your pan and bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then let cool for about 10 more minutes.

Clean out your blender or food processor and add the cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, the eggs, 2 tablespoon of the lemon juice and the lemon peel.  Blend until the filling is nice and smooth then pour over the cooled crust and top with the blueberries.

Finally, in a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar and flour then cut the cold butter into the two ingredients until the entire mixture resembles crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over top the filling and bake in the oven set at 325 degrees F for about 40 minutes. (The center should slightly jiggle when done baking.) Remove from oven and let cool for on cooling rack for about an hour and then chill in the refrigerator. Cut 3 rows by 3 rows to yield 9 squares. Store covered in the frig.

Enjoy!!!

XO

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BLUEBERRY AND LEMON CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Simple Summer Drink

This is so super easy and the kids will love it! All you need is the 1:1 ratio of white grape juice and 7-Up. I used diet 7-Up to cut the calories. Then fill it with frozen fruit and pour.

You could also use frozen grapes and orange slices

I added a few star shaped ice cubes as well.

Enjoy!

XO

Easy Weeknight Dinner ~ Parsley Pesto Tossed with Pasta

I am a huge fan of pesto...all kinds. And last month's issue of Bon Appeitit had this wonderful looking parsley pesto with pasta right on its front cover...ooooohhhh now how could I resist giving this recipe a whirl?

So easy too...all you need is...

1/2 cup of unsalted roasted almonds

4 cups of flat leafed (Italian) parsley

3/4 cup fresh chives

3/4 extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1/2 grated Parmesan, (I like Locatelli)

freshly ground black pepper

1 lb of spaghetti or any one of your favorite pastas

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water and stir occasionally to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. In blender or food processor, pulse the almonds until fairly smooth. Add the parsley, chives, EVOO and Parmesan and again pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (I used sea salt)

Toss pesto with cooked pasta and again season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Ciao 4 now!!!

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All-American Cherry Pie

We are headed to the shore this weekend and will be down there through the fourth of July! Last year we spent the 4th riding our bikes around historic Cape May New Jersey and then the evening listening to the Cape's ragtime band play an bunch of the early 1900's tunes in the town's gazebo. 

So to help celebrate our nation's birthday I started today by making this homemade cherry pie.

Wishing you all a very happy and safe 4th of July!

XO

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Strawberry Banana Jam Corn Biscuit

While I was sitting in the dentist office today waiting for Michael to finish up with his appointment, I was flipping through  one of their magazines, this month's issue of Bon Appetit. and came across a recipe they had for strawberry jam biscuits. The jam is baked right into the biscuits it is suggested to pair them with vanilla ice cream! How Yummy!!! I actually had just put up several jars of strawberry banana jam last week to give away to bus drivers and teachers as end of the school year gifts, so I thought why not try out this recipe with my homemade jam! I asked the receptionist at the office if she could copy the recipe for me but she told me to just go ahead and take the entire magazine!

Then on the drive home I had another idea, I love corn bread so I decided to make the biscuit a corn biscuit instead of a plain biscuit! And of course I did pair them with good old vanilla ice cream!

To make the jam click here...this will take you to the link for my jam recipe over at my other blog 21 Rosemary Lane. Or you could just omit the banana and use jarred jam from the supermarket. (But it is better with the banana)

For the biscuits...

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces, plus more for topping, if desired
• 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mix all the dry ingredients together first and then cut the butter into the dry mixture with a pastry blender until the butter disappears. Add the buttermilk and mix well with your hands.
  
  
  On a piece of parchment paper, roll out your dough until it is 1/2 inch in thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutter or the rim of a glass. Place each biscuit on a jelly roll sheet lined with more parchment paper. Make a small divit with a spoon or your thumb and spoon 1.2 tsp or a bit more into the divit. Bake in an oven preheated to 400 degree F. and bake for 15-18 minutes.
  
  
  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
  This recipe yielded 10 muffins.
  
  
  
  
  
  XO
  
  
  
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Classic Recipe ~ Chicken Marsala with Mushroom Sauce

For father's day I made my hubby this delicious chicken Marsala dish for dinner. This recipe is actually out of a cookbook I purchased 25 years ago titled Wine in Everyday Cooking by Patricia Ballard. It is a book about "cooking with wine for family and friends". Of course I did take liberties with the original recipe and changed a few things down through the years, but it is basically the recipe published by Ballard. I didn't know it then but wine was to eventually become one of my absolute favorite ingredients to cook with. 

Chicken:

1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken breast, skinned and pounded thin

2 large eggs, whisked

 seasoned bread crumbs

olive oil 

and butter for sauteing

Sauce:

2 1/2 cups Riesling

1 cup sweet Marsala

2 cups low sodium chicken broth

 3 T. lemon juice

2 T arrowroot or cornstarch

1 lb mushrooms cleaned and thickly sliced

2 T. gravy seasoning and browning

Heat oil and butter in a pan. The easiest thing to use is to use an oven proof pan or cast iron skillet. Dip the chicken into the eggs and then roll it in the breadcrumbs until well coated, place in hot pan. Brown the chicken on medium heat about 4 minutes on each side. Remove each piece from the pan and place on a plate, or if you are not using and ovenproof skillet, place chicken in an oven proof baking dish.

Wipe clean the pan of any remaining breadcrumbs which may have burned. Add the Riesling and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and add the Marsala, broth and lemon juice and bring back to a low boil. Remove a ladle full of the hot liquid and mix it with the arrowroot or cornstarch. Stir until the dry ingredient is blended and then return the blended mixture to the boiling liquid in the pan, stirring as you are pouring it into the pan. The pan liquid will begin to thicken. Add the sliced mushroom and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the gravy seasoning and remove pan from the burner. Add the chicken back to the pan, or pour the sauce over chicken in a baking dish, and place in an oven heated to 350 degrees. Bake the chicken uncovered for 20 minutes.

Every time I make this dish I am amazed at how easy it it to create such a delicious meal. This is a true tried and true recipe...I hope you enjoy it as much as we do here at 

TheBigGiantFoodBasket.

XO

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A Special Treat For Dad ~ Bacon Peanut Brittle

Here is a peanut brittle just for dad! The salty flavor of the bacon mixed with the sweetness of the brittle is absolutely yummy together. I found this recipe in this week's issue of Women's World magazine. It was actually a recipe submitted by another blogger and is billed as "...a must try recipe for peanut butter fans." I made two attempts in making this brittle. The first time around I am not quite sure what I did wrong but the brittle wasn't really brittle at all, it was much more soft and bendy, and the color was not attractive. To be honest it was the flavor combination that made me want to give this treat another try. 

After giving it a little thought,  I decided to go back and use my own reliable peanut brittle recipe. What I did to adjust the original recipe was to reduce the brown sugar and made sure the bacon was very well drained. I also left the peanuts whole instead of chopping them so you got the full flavor of the peanuts along with that of the bacon!

1 lb. bacon

brown sugar to spread over the bacon

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 cup roasted peanuts

1 T unsalted butter

1 tsp. brown sugar

2 T. peanut butter

2 T. heavy cream

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

Line jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and place a rack on top. (I used the rack from my roasting pan.) Place bacon on top and spread the top of the bacon with the brown sugar, about 1/2 tsp on each strip.) Heat oven to 375 and back bacon for about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and flip bacon. spread another 1/2 tsp. of brown sugar on the strips and return to the oven for another 10 minutes. Remove strips from rack and let them drain thoroughly on paper towels. Pat with towels as well. Cut bacon into small pieces and set aside.

Next place the sugar, light corn syrup and the pinch of salt in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 3 minutes. Remove and stir in the peanuts and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from microwave, add butter and brown sugar and cook for another 45 seconds.  Stir in the bacon and then quickly spread the mixture out onto another jelly roll pan generously sprayed with cooking spray. Let cool in frig for about 15-20 minutes. Once hard break the brittle into pieces. 

In the meantime in a small saucepan, mix the peanut butter and cream on medium heat until blended and then add the confectioner's sugar. If the mixture seems a little dry add more cream and blend until smooth. Let cool slightly and then put the mixture into a sandwich bag and snip one corner.  Pipe the peanut butter mixture over the bacon peanut brittle. Yields about 15 - 18 pieces.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!!!

XO

The Liebster Blog Award

A few weeks ago Lynne from the sweet blog Turnips 2 Tangerines had awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. The Liebster Award is an award given to bloggers by other bloggers. Kind of a "High Five" your doing a "Great Job" award.  It's a great way to get to know the blogger and to recognize fellow bloggers. It's like a fun chain letter in the blog world that helps bloggers connect and support each other and to discover new blogs. The award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and there are a few rules. (Which are always subject to change in whatever way you like to change them.)

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
3. Pass the award on to 11 other blogs, who have less than 200 followers, and link them in your post.
4. Ask the blogs you nominated 11 questions.
5. Go back to their blog and tell them you have nominated them.

11 Random Facts About Me~ 

1. My favorite sport to play is basketball 

2. In high school a twirled a baton

3. I am a registered x-ray technologist

4. I love toffee

5. I've run two marathons (one was New York City in 2011, the day before my 50th birthday)

6. I went back to college at age 38 to become a registered nurse

7. I have been to 25 of the 50 united states

8. I drink way to much ice tea

9. I  adore old movies 

10. I love to dance

11. I've worked as a jeweler 

11 Questions from Lynn are~

1. What is your favorite color? Green

2. What is your favorite dessert? Creme Brulee

3. What month were you born in? November

4. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Rocky Road with peanuts

5. What is your favorite snack food? (Chips, Popcorn, Doritos etc.)

Kettle Cooked potato chips

6. Regular or Dirt Soda? Diet

7. What is the name of your favorite fast food restaurant? Not really fast food because I don't really eat fast food but I love Applebees and Chipolte.

8. What are your favorite 3 ingredients to use in cooking? Olive oil, chicken and pasta

9. What is your favorite herb? Basil

10. What is your favorite craft? Making burlap wreathes

11. What was your best thrift store find?  A beautiful red transferware pitcher and saucer for only $10

Now for my nominations: (I am keeping the nomination list to just 5 as it was when the award was first created.)

Leslie from Leslie's Garden and other Delights
Leslie's passion is gardening and spending time with her family. I have been following her for a while now and she has the most tranquil and beautiful posts on her blog...definitely worth checking out.

Emma from Crafty Girl and Foodie
Emma is a 10 year old blogger who loves to cook and do crafts. All I can say is that if she is this good now I can only imagine what her blog will be like in just a few short years.

Allison from Vegan Mommy Chef
Allison is a mommy of two beautiful children who happen to have many food allergies. Allison has to be creative in her cooking to keep it safe without sacrificing taste for her family.

Millie from Lean & Luscious Corner 
Millie is an Area Director of Weight Watchers and the author of the Lean and Luscious Cookbook series of which I have had Volume II of the series in my arsenal of cookbooks for about 20 years now. I was thrilled to find Millie's blog!

The Mom and Daughter team from Flavors by Four
These gals love cooking, baking and sharing new recipes with one another. Consequently their readers get the chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor as they blog about their wonderful recipe finds.

Now for my Questions to the nominees:
(Again I am keeping the number to just 5)

1. What is your favorite blog to follow?

2. Where do you seem to find the most inspiration?
(for your blog or life in general)

3. What is your favorite candy?

4 If you could meet anyone who would you choose to meet?
(living or departed)

5. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you choose to go?

Thank you again Lynne from Turnips & Tangerines for this very sweet award and I hope you my nominees take the time to pass this award along to other bloggers to help encourage them to "Keep on Blogging" 

Have a wonderful day!
XO