A Different Kind of Spaghetti

Spaghetti Squash Pesto

This is a great healthy side.  It's not actually spaghetti but a spaghetti squash (my husband isn't a huge fan so I've tried to find ways to cover up the taste).  This recipe involves making a quick pesto in the food processor.  It's one of the first pestos that I've found that doesn't have some form of nuts in it.  I would like to try using this pesto in a pasta dish .

Squash Recipe

Tacos with a Twist

Apple Turkey Picadillo

An odd combination of flavors with turkey, tart apples, cloves.  It's like nothing I've ever tasted before.  I chose to leave out the green olives, the only way I'll eat those is on a tiny sword floating in a beverage.  Don't forget to wrap it up, so much better that way!

Picadillo Recipe

Baked Jalapeño Popper Dinner

Jalapeño Popper Chicken

Don't be scared! This chicken is a like a jalapeño popper filling, minus some of the heat and all of that fried fattiness.  Plain baked chicken is so boring even with that good old packet of shake and bake.  This chicken is anything but boring!  Be careful when working with jalapeños!  I wear contacts and if I forget to take them out before dicing my jalapeños I'm screaming & crying later trying to take them out.  I have yet to buy some gloves which I always say I'm going to, but I highly recommend it. The dog also got a taste of jalapeños, kept him from stealing food for about 15 minutes and then he was back to doing the next pain in the ass thing (he must have a stomach made of garbage and all of my old wooden spoons).

Chicken Recipe

Aloha Burger

Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger

I'm really not a fan of a plain old burger since there's so much you can do with them, stuff it, top it, or dress it.  These burgers have all kinds of veggies and spices in the mix.  The sauce adds a nice saltiness to the sweetness of the grilled  pineapple.  For all you crazies who are afraid of fruits, grow up! Caution, caution, caution: watch out for the siracha it will kick your .....!

Burger Recipe

Kung Pao!

Kung Pao Chicken Tacos

Get ready for a Kung Pao explosion in your mouth! My new favorite Asian dish and oh so easy.  For those of you that supposedly "don't know how to use the oven" you're in luck (or maybe not).  There's no excuses here because the sauce is done in the microwave.  The only thing to remember is that the chicken marinates in soy sauce for about 30 minutes first.  I left the nuts out since my husband isn't a fan of eating them.

Taco Recipe

Pasta's Look-a-Like

Broccoli Walnut Penne

I absolutely love Pastabilities in Armory Square (downtown Syracuse).  With all of the things that I cook, this is one restaurant that I still can't get enough of.  Their spicy hot tomato oil is out of this world on freshly baked bread and their duck bacon pizza is absolutely amazing! One of my favorite pasta dishes there that seems pretty simple is the broccoli walnut sauce.  Cook up your favorite pasta (I used whole wheat penne) in salts water.  Steam a few heads of fresh broccoli florets.  Toast some walnuts in the oven on a cookie sheet.  For the sauce, I mixed up olive oil with both minced and sliced fresh garlic.  Add salt and pepper to taste as well as a handful of Parmesan cheese.  Cook garlic in olive oil until fragrant.  Add the broccoli and well-drained pasta to the pan; toss until coated.  Top with toasted walnuts and grated Locatelli cheese.  This meal is great for the night before a big race, or just because, and so simple!!

The Best Cupcakes for my Best Friend

Lemon Cupcakes, Raspberry Filling, and Whipped Vanilla Buttercream

Four years ago I married my best friend, our cake was a stack of purple white and yellow fondant presents.  I made a cupcake reminiscent of our special day.  It may be coincidence, but this turned out to be my absolute best cupcake ever! The cake was moist, the filling was tart made from real berries, and the sweet whipped frosting to die for.  For a whimsically romantic touch, I added two-toned frosting and homemade chocolate letter toppings. Just look what you can do when your heart is in it  :-)

Pita Salad

Greek Pita Salad

I had a whole pork tenderloin left over from dinner and I needed something different to do with it.  I whipped up a Greek pita salad.  Feta cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers give this salads a great Greek feel.  I toasted wheat pitas on the grill sprayed with cooking spray and sprinkled with garlic powder.  Looks almost as good as one I've had at Chili's before.

Fishy & Fruity Tacos

Shrimp Tacos with Green Apple Salsa

A different flavor combination than you've ever had in a taco.  The spiciness of the shrimp, tart sweetness of the apple, and saltiness of the cheese all seem to meld together nicely in this traditional Mexican recipe.  Don't shy away from the jalapeño, it really doesn't make the tacos that spicy but adds a nice amount of heat.  Also be sure to drain any liquid from the shrimp before putting it in the tortilla shell.  Also, the queso fresco works much better shredded rather than crumbled like the recipe calls for.

Shrimp Taco Recipe

Skinny Queso

Skinny Queso Dip

I love to treat myself to Moes's Queso every once in a while but, as with every fast food restaurant, it can't be that healthy for you.  This new twist on Queso is much lighter, full of veggies, and still loaded with flavor.  Great for dipping chips!  We also made quesadillas with this as the filling, absolutely delicious!

Queso Recipe

Best Meatloaf Ever!

Cheesy Meatloaf Minis

There's no need for ketchup on these cute little loafs.  They're loaded with flavor minus all the grease.   When I've made a traditional meatloaf in the past, it always ends up floating in a greasy mess.  These meat loaves are cooked on a broiler pan (or my ghetto version of one, a cookie sheet with cookie racks on top) which allows the grease to drip through.  Don't worry, they are anything but dried out.  Another plus to making minis is that they cook in just 25 minutes rather than the usual hour.

Meatloaf Recipe

Pretty Pretty Princess Cupcakes

Bridal Shower Cupcakes

One of my best friends is getting married and asked me to do her cupcakes.  Of course they needed to she beautiful and tasty.  I've never put roses on cupcakes before but they looked beautiful.  The only set back is how much time it takes to make each individual rose.  From experience, I would say to make sure your frosting is soft enough or you'll end up feeling like you have arthritis at 26 like me.  I was asked for a "whippy" frosting so I made my usual buttercream with less powdered sugar and whipped the butter with a whisk.  This is my new favorite frosting, light and creamy.  The flavors I made were lemon with fresh lemon zest, red velvet with a cream cheese filling, and rich chocolate.  Putting them on a cupcake tree adds a nice touch.

Crabby Patties

Baked Lump Crab Cakes with Chipotle Lime Sauce

Normally crab cakes are fried and battered in oil which takes away Fromm the sweetness of the crab meat.  These cakes are baked to golden perfection and loaded with veggies.  The sauce is quick, easy, and an absolute must.   It adds a great tang and is a nice alternative to mayonnaisey tarter sauce.

Crab Cake Recipe

Shortcake Treats

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

I love shortcake and I love cupcakes so I combined the two to get this sweet treat.  I used a traditional spongy shortcake cupcakes with the center cut out.  For the filling, I mixed freshly chopped strawberries with a little sugar.  Just know that fresh berries in a cake do not stay fresh for long.  To top it all off I used a traditional whipped cream but added gelatin for stiffness.  When the hot days of summer bring red ripe strawberries these cupcakes are a must.