Quince De Mayo

So...this was supposed to be a Cinco De Mayo post, but I just never got around to putting it up.  Therefore, you get to enjoy a Quince De Mayo post :) (for those of you who don't know - that's 15th of May).  Even though it's no longer Cinco De Mayo, it's never a bad day to have Mexican food and this meal was great!
Drink...

Mexican Bulldog Margarita
*recipe from: Cooking Stoned
These drinks seem to be quite the fad lately as I have seen them all over the place.  I have never actually tried one from a bar, so I can't compare the taste.  However, I thought it was quite delicious!  It was a bit sweet, so if you don't like your margaritas sweet, I would just add less simple syrup.
Ingredients:
(serves 6)

• 5 Cups Ice
• 1 Cup Tequila
• ½ Cup Grand Marnier (I didn't have this so I used Triple Sec)
• 5 Limes, more for garnish
• 1 Orange
• 1 Cup simple syrup
• 6 Beers, Corona (or I used Trader Jose's)
• ⅓ Cup coarse Salt

Directions:

1. Juice the limes and the orange in a large measuring cup, then add in the tequila, grand marnier (or Triple Sec), and simple syrup. Mix together.
2. Pour the salt into a shallow bowl. Using one of the juiced limes, swipe the outer rim of one of your glasses. Swivel the glass upside down in the salt until the rim is covered. Repeat for each glass.
3. Add a heaping cup of ice to the blender and just enough of the margarita mixture that the ice is not covered. Blend, adding more ice or margarita mix until the desired thickness is achieved.
4. Pour the frozen margarita into a salt-rimmed glass, pop open a Corona, and place it upside down in the glass, submerging it into the margarita. Repeat for each glass.  **Make sure your margarita is very slushy.  Mine wasn't thick enough the first time I made it and when I put the beer in it, it all came out of the bottle and overflowed in the glass. **

Dinner...

Spicy Mexican Shredded Pork Tostadas
*recipe from:  The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook
These might not have been as spicy as I would have liked, but they were amazingly delicious!! Plus, they're super easy because basically all you do is put the ingredients in and let them stew.  Make it - you won't be sorry!
Ingredients:
(serves 4-6)

for the shredded pork:

• 2 lbs boneless pork butt roast, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces (I couldn't find this cut, so I used a boneless pork tenderloin and it turned out great)
• 2 medium onions, 1 quartered and 1 chopped fine
• 5 medium garlic cloves, 3 peeled and smashed and 2 minced
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• salt
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 (14.5 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 tbs ground chipotle powder or 2 chipotles in adobo suace
• 2 bay leaves

for the tostadas:

• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 12 corn tortillas
• salt

 for the garnishes

• queso fresco or feta cheese
• fresh cilantro
• sour cream
• diced avacado
• lime wedges

Directions:
for the shredded pork:

1. Bring the pork, quartered onion,  smashed garlic cloves, thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 6 cups water to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low, partially cover, and cook until the pork is tender, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.  
3. Drain the pork, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.  Discar the onion, garlic, and thyme.
4. Return the pork to the saucepan and, using a potato masher, mash until shredded into rough 1/2 inch pieces.  Set aside.
5. Heat the olive oil in a large non stick skillet.  Add the shredded pork, chopped onion, oregano and cook stirring often, until the pork is well browned and crisp, 7-10 minutes.
6. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
7. Stir in the tomato sauce, chipotle powder (or chopped canned chipotles), reserved pork cooking liquid, and bay leaves.  Simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated, 5-7 minutes.  Remove the bay leaves and season with salt to taste.

for the tostadas:

1. Heat the vegetable oik in a skillet.
2. Using a fork, pierce the center of each tortilla 3 or 4 times to prevent puffing and allow for even cooking.
3. Fry one at a time, holding the metal potato masher in the upright position on top of the tortilla in order to keep it submerged, until crisp and lightly browned, 45-60 seconds (no flipping necessary). 
4. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and season with salt.

To serve:

1. Spoon a small amount of shredded pork onto each tostada and top with the garnishes.

Desert...

Pinata Cookies
*recipe from: She Knows Food and Recipes
These cookies have a lot of steps in the directions, but they aren't really too hard.  Don't get intimidated by the number of steps, because they have a great wow factor and are so fun!  I couldn't find a donkey cookie cutter, so mine are star pinatas!  The website I got the recipe from has a great step-by-step tutorial with pictures, so be sure to check it out.
Ingredients:

• bright colored food coloring
• sugar cookie dough
• mini m&m's or other mini candies
• frosting (I used a mixture of powdered sugar with a tiny bit of milk)

Directions:

1. Separate the sugar cookie dough into 4-6 equal parts.  
2. Color each part of the sugar cookie dough a different color.
   
3. Line a small plastic container with plastic wrap.
4. Split up the colored dough and begin layering it in the container, alternating colors.
5. Cover and freeze the dough for 4 hours or more.
6. Remove the dough from the freezer and unwrap.
   
7. Slice the dough into pieces about a 1/4 inch wide
8. Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake according to directions on the cookie dough package.
9. Immediately after taking the cookies out of the oven, use the cookie cutter to cut out the shape of the pinata (work quickly because the dough needs to still be warm so it doesn't crack).
   
10. When cutting out the middle cookies, hollow out the center by using a small cookie cutter.  This is where the m&m's will go.
11. Let the cookies cool.
12. Lay one solid cookie down and line it with frosting.
13. Place a hollow cookie on top of it.
14. Fill the hollow cookie with mini m&m's.
15. Line the hollow cookie with frosting.
    
16. Top with another solid cookie so you have three cookies stuck together and the m&m's in the center.
17. Eat and enjoy as the pinata breaks open!

Autumn is in the Air!

My favorite season has arrived!!  Since it has been feeling more and more like fall here, I decided to make a seasonal dinner.  There are a lot of spices and flavors in this meal that make me feel nice and cozy on crisp fall day!
Drink...

Ginger Apple Cocktail
*recipe adapted from: The Tampopo Post
I have to admit, I was a little unsure of how this one would taste.  Plus the original recipe calls for bourbon, and I didn't have that, so I used Irish Whiskey instead.  However, no need to fear...this drink is delicious and full of Autumn flavors!  The whiskey also worked really well with it.
Ingredients:

• Apple Cider
• Ginger Beer
• Bourbon or Irish Whiskey

Directions:

1. Put 1 part whiskey or bourbon, 2 parts apple cider, and 2 parts ginger beer into a glass with ice.
2. Stir.
3. Garnish with a dried apple or an apple slice.

Dinner...
This was a perfect Fall meal!  The squash was delicious and ridiculously easy.  It had just the right amount of sweetness and flavor.
The pork was incredibly tasty.  The apples add a nice sweetness while the prosciutto added a good salty flavor.  
This is a recipe to impress for your next Fall Fete! 

Pork with Dried Apples & Prosciutto 
*recipe from: Eating Well
Yum, yum, yum.  So simple, yet so delicious!  I thought this was perfect except that I might add a little more cider and chicken broth because my sauce reduced a lot and I was wishing there was a little more for the pork.
Ingredients:
(serves 2)

• 2 thin-cut boneless pork loin chops, (8 ounces), trimmed of fat
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 thin slices prosciutto, (1 ounce), chopped
• 1 cup apple cider
• 3/4 cup chopped dried apples
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided (see Tips for Two)
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage, or 1/4 teaspoon rubbed dried sage
• 2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions:

1. Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook until browned on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring constantly, until browned, about 1 minute. Transfer to the plate.
2. Add cider, apples, 1/4 cup broth, vinegar and sage to the pan and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened, 4 to 6 minutes.
3. Stir together mustard, cornstarch and the remaining 1/4 cup broth in a small bowl. Add to the pan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Return the pork and prosciutto to the pan and simmer, turning the pork to coat, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar Butter Sauce
*recipe from:  Savory Sweet Life
I have had similar recipes before that were a little to sweet.  I liked this one because my squash was slightly sweet, but it didn't taste like I was eating dessert.  I also loved it because instead of having to roast in the oven for 45 minutes, the squash first cooks in the microwave for 15 minutes and then just goes under the broiler.  So simple!
Ingredients:
(serves 2)

• 1 acorn squash, cut in half with seeds removed
• 1/2 cup water
• a couple pinches of salt
• a couple pinches of nutmeg
• a couple pinches of cinnamon
• 2 – 1 Tablespoon pats of butter
• 4-6 Tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven on HIGH-Broiler.  
2. Pour water in a microwavable casserole dish large enough to accommodate the squash.  Place the acorn squash flesh side down in the dish and microwave for 15 minutes.  Remove from microwave carefully because the dish will be hot.  
3. Remove the acorn squash and transfer to a baking sheet with the flesh side facing up.  Place a small pat of butter in each half and rub the entire flesh sided surface.  Any remaining butter should be left in the middle of the squash.  
4. Sprinkle the squash with salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Finally sprinkle between 2-3 Tablespoons of brown sugar around the rim of the squash and allow the remaining sugar to join the butter in the center (This will be your brown sugar sauce).  
5. Broil on high heat for 5 minutes.  You should seem some the rim of the squash with caramelization.  If not, broil for an additional 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and enjoy!

Dessert...

Maple Walnut Cupcakes
*recipe from: Martha Stewart
These are not your typical cupcakes.  They're not super-sweet at all.  When I first tried them, I thought they tasted more like a buttered muffin than a cupcake.  However, after eating them every night for the past week, I have really grown to love them and their subtle flavors.  I typically like things much, much sweeter, but these are a nice change of pace.  
Ingredients:
(makes 2 dozen cupcakes)
For the Cake:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups (5 1/2 ounces) walnuts, chopped medium-fine

For the Maple Buttercream:

• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 cup pure maple syrup, best quality
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces

For the Candied Walnuts:

• 1/2 lb walnut halves
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3 tbs milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Make the cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners. Into a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until combined. With the mixer still on medium speed, add the flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour. Stir in walnuts with a wooden spoon.
1. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until cupcakes are golden and a cake tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool slightly. Invert cupcakes onto the rack; then re-invert and let them cool completely, top sides up. Frost tops with Maple Buttercream and garnish with candied walnuts. 
2. Make and Frost with the Maple Buttercream:
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes; set aside. In a small saucepan set over medium-high heat, bring the maple syrup to a boil, and cook until it registers 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. With the mixer running, slowly pour syrup down the side of the bowl in a slow, steady stream, until completely incorporated, about 1 minute. Continue beating until bowl is just slightly warm to the touch, 4 to 5 minutes. Add butter, one piece at a time, until thoroughly incorporated and the frosting is fluffy, about 4 minutes more.
3. Make and top with the Candied Walnuts:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread nuts in a single layer over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until the nuts start to turn brown and the smell of roasting nuts fills the kitchen.
2. Stir together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla immediately. .
3. Add walnuts to sugar syrup, and stir to coat well. Spoon nuts onto waxed paper, and immediately separate nuts with a fork. Cool, and store in airtight containers.

A Very Merry Dinner!

The holidays are my favorite time of year, and there is nothing I love more than Christmas!  My family does not eat a traditional Christmas dinner (we usually have beef tenderloin, potatoes, and vegetables).  But, for the blog I wanted to try to make a typical Christmas dinner.  I did a little research and found that a lot of people eat turkey and stuffing for Christmas (which seems strange to me because we just had that meal at Thanksgiving)!  I am too intimidated to cook meat with bones in it (especially since I don't have the right cooking materials for that), so I decided to modify the dinner slightly.  I thought maybe they would have some kind of boneless turkey breast roast, but I couldn't find that (maybe it doesn't exist, but I think it should), so I decided to go with a pork tenderloin.  I used the same spices and herbs that I would have used on turkey and it turned out great (even though it probably would have tasted slightly better on turkey).

Drink...

Christmas Cocoa

This is a delicious holiday drink!  I would love to snuggle up by the Christmas tree with this!
Ingredients:
(serves 1)

• 8 oz hot chocolate
• 2 oz Baileys Irish cream (I used the original Baileys, but the one with mint in it would be extra good here!)
• whipped cream
• crushed peppermint candy

Directions:

1. Prepare the hot chocolate. 
2. Add Baileys.
3. Top with whipped cream and crushed peppermints.

Dinner...

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Holiday Stuffing

I was very impressed with myself after making this meal because it involved cooking a lot of things I have never made before.  It was pretty easy and it turned out soooo good!
Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Perfect Gravy
*recipe adapted from Disney Family

Like I said earlier, this would probably be slightly better on turkey, but it was still super good on pork and very easy.
Ingredients:
(serves 2-3)

• 1 lb pork tenderloin
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• grated zest from one orange
• 1/2 stick butter, softened
• gravy
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• Drippings from pork
• 1/8 cup flour, whisked into 1/2 cup of chicken stock until smooth
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• Salt and pepper 

Directions:

1. Mix salt with herbs and zest and rub liberally on the pork tenderloin.
2. Place pork in a large Ziplock bag or wrap in foil. Refrigerate for 24 hours.  ( I only refrigerated mine for about 5 hours and it was still great).
3. Remove pork from fridge and let sit at room temp for at least a half hour before roasting.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
5. Rub entire surface of the pork with softened butter, and place on a rack in a roasting pan.  Put it on the lower oven rack. 
6. Roast for about 35-45 minutes. 
7. Remove pork to a carving board, and cover with foil and allow to rest for up to 30 minutes. 
8. Make gravy: 
1. Place roasting pan over two burners on the stove. There should still be some brown bits clinging to the pan.
2. Turn heat to medium, then pour in wine, scraping up all those brown bits. 
3. Add flour/stock mixture and stir constantly until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes. Add more turkey stock to thin gravy as necessary, turn burners to low, and continue to stir occasionally until you are ready to pour into a serving vessel.
4. Taste for seasonings. You probably won't need to add salt, but a good pinch of pepper will be necessary.
9. Carve pork and serve immediately.  

Holiday Stuffing*recipe adapted from AllRecipes.com

I love stuffing and I think this was one of the best I have ever had!  I really wanted to use roasted chestnuts in it, but they were ridiculously expensive, so I went with chopped walnuts instead.  Next time I will try the chestnuts to make it even more Christmas-like!
Ingredients:
(serves 4-5)

• 2 1/2 cups cubed white bread
• 1/2 pound ground turkey sausage (I used Trader Joe's smoked Chardonnay Apple Chicken Sausage and it was perfect!)
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1 1/4 teaspoons dried sage
• 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or chestnuts)
• 1/4 cup dried parsley
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until evenly toasted. Transfer toasted bread cubes to a casserole dish.
3. In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onions over medium heat, stirring and breaking up the lumps until evenly browned. Add the  sage, rosemary, walnuts, and thyme; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
4. Pour sausage mixture over bread. Mix in chopped apples, dried cranberries, and parsley. Drizzle with chicken stock (you may not need all the stock.  Just enough to make the bread moist but not soaked) and melted butter, and mix lightly. 
5. Cover with aluminum foil and back for 40 minutes.
6. Uncover the stuffing and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Dessert...

Candy Cane Cookies

*recipe from Kraft
These are the perfect end to a Christmas dinner!
Ingredients:
(makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies)

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened 
• 3/4 cup  butter, softened  
• 1 cup sugar  
• 2 tsp.  vanilla  
• 2-1/2 cups flour  
• 1/2 tsp.  baking soda  
• 4 squares Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted  
• 1 pkg. White Chocolate Chips, melted  
• 12 hard peppermint candies, crushed

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat first 4 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Blend in melted chocolate. (Dough will be stiff.) 
3. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into 52 balls; roll each into 3-inch-long rope. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets, bending top of each slightly to resemble candy cane. 
4. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until puffed and set; cool 5 min. on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. 
5. Melt white chocolate; drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with crushed candy. Let stand until chocolate is firm.