Eggs in a Basket

on October 15, 2011
My husband taught me this recipe a couple years ago, I think one of the guys he was working with at the time told him about it. It's basic eggs and toast, but with a twist!


Scrambled Version
Ingredients:
1 slice of bread
1 large egg
1 tbs butter
Salt, pepper or other seasonings

Directions:
Heat the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cut a hole in the middle of the bread. You can use a cookie cutter or a small glass (like I did).

Two ways to cook the eggs:

Scramble - whisk the egg w/seasonings in a small bowl until combined
Leave the egg whole (add seasoning on top of the egg after added to skillet)

At this point you want to put the bread in the skillet and pour the egg in the hole (scrambled or whole). Cook on the first side form 1-2 minutes or until you can flip it without making a mess. Fry the egg on the other side for an additional minute. (I like to "toast" the cut-out parts of the bread in the pan too.)  

Ta Da! Eggs in a Basket! 

Best Thai in Frisco

on October 14, 2011
Best Thai
8897 Coleman Blvd
Frisco, TX 75034

So it's Friday night and it's time to try out a new restaurant…decisions, decisions. The Mr. and I wanted something close, casual and different than are recent American & Mexican choices. We decided on Best Thai in Frisco.


The place was simple, but nice. We went early (around 5:30pm) so it wasn't very busy. 


There were a lot of dishes to pick from and I had trouble choosing. I decided to go with a classic "Sesame Chicken" and Chris got the "Jungle Noodle". He liked the name, LOL. When it comes to Asian dishes I typically pick a dish with rice and the husband picks dishes with noodles. We always share though so it works out. 


Look at the rice in a heart shape, very cute! Though I was hoping for more vegetables, I really enjoyed this dish. 75% of how I judge an Asian restaurant is by their meat and this place passed my pickiness! Big chunks of nice white meat with little to no gristle, perfect. The sauce was also great, pretty much the taste you would expect from Sesame Chicken.


Jungle Noodle: Fresh big flat noodles stir-fried with white onion, jalapeno, green bean, tomato and sweet basil (with your choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu)

I really liked this dish too, it had the perfect amount of spiciness! They asked on a scale of 1 to 5 how spicy you want it. Chris got 2. It was perfect. All of the flavors went together very well.

Great place, I can't wait to go back!

Side note: I got my iphone 4s in today and the pictures are complementary of it! I LOVE this phone!

Flip Flop Cake & Tropical Cupcakes

on October 4, 2011
My mother-in-law is a flip flop fanatic so for her 50th birthday what did I decide to make her? A flip flop cake of course :)



Strawberry Cake
Ingredients:
1 (18.25 oz) box white cake mix
1 (3 oz) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
1 (15 oz) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil and water; beat at medium speed until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks. 


Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter @ room temp
1 8oz bar cream cheese @ room temp
1 1/2 lbs shifted powder sugar 
1 tbs vanilla 

Directions:
Cream together all ingredients except sugar. Slowly add the sugar to cream cheese mixture. Make sure that all the sugar is mixed in well. 

*If to stiff of a consistency use less sugar or add a little milk
*If to thin add more sugar 


Marshmallow Fondant
Ingredients:
8oz miniature marshmallows (about half a 16oz bag)
1/2 pound powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting
1/2 tbs water
Shortening
Food coloring, optional

Directions:
Put marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl and add 1/2 tbs water. Microwave on high for 1 minute, until the marshmallows are puffy and expanded.

Stir the marshmallows with a rubber spatula until they are melted and smooth. If some unmelted marshmallow pieces remain, return to the microwave for 15-30 seconds until the mixture is evenly smooth and free of lumps. If you want colored fondant, you can add several drops of food coloring at this point and stir until incorporated.

At this point you want to use a mixer that has dough hook attachments. Grease up the attachments with the shortening. Add about half of the powdered sugar to the melted marshmallows and mix on medium speed until incorporated.

Then pour the rest of the powdered sugar into the bowl of fondant, grease up your hands and continue to knead the fondant by hand. Keep kneading until you have a firm ball with little stickiness. Add more sugar if necessary.

For best results grease the fondant and wrap it in plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge overnight before use. When it's time to used the fondant take it out of the fridge, unwrap it and place in in a microwavable dish. Put in microwave for only 5 seconds at a time until pliable enough to knead with your hands. WARNING it will melt very fast so be very careful when microwaving.

To use the fondant roll it out and cut your desired shapes or designs.

Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

on October 2, 2011
Recipe from BettyCrocker

Oh Betty how I love you! You make baking so much easier and you taste delicious too. Yet another BC recipe that I will continue to make. The only thing I might try next time is to use fresh apples instead of the canned filling (canned still tasted great).



Ingredients:

1 pouch Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix
1/2 cup firm butter or margarine
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 (21oz) can apple pie filling
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom bottom and sides of 13x9 inch pan with baking spray.

Place cookie mix in large bowl. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly and coarse. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture; pressing remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.

Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked crust. In a medium bowl mix pie filling and cinnamon. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Sprinkle with walnuts if desired.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden light brown. Cool about 30 minutes, refrigerate and chill for at least two hours.