Minion Cupcakes

Minion Cupcakes are a sure hit to any children's party. 

They are quite easy to put together.

These are so cuuuuute! It's almost a shame that they have to be eaten

What you need:

baked cupcakes -- any flavor, any recipe-- maybe a good idea to make it banana flavored?

blue frosting - I used the tube ones that are ready with a decorating tip!

brown sprinkles and candy eyes -- you can get them at Walmart or  Michael's

a small tube of brown or black decorating icing or gel -- I used Wilton brand

Twinkies - the most important add-on is another layer of cake!

Enjoy!

PEEE-DO-PEEE-DO-PEEE-DO!

Easy as Quiche

I wanted to make just one quiche this weekend, but since a package of pre-made pie dough always comes in twos, I had to make 2 quiches!

Quiche is a beaked open faced pastry with a filling thickened with eggs. No, it is not an omelet, because in an omelet you fold in the egg over the filling. I think it is more closely related to a frittata, which is closely related to the omelet, because in a frittata you mix in the filling with the eggs rather than folding it, but in a quiche you seem to have a mixture similar to a frittata but baked over a dough or crust.

Does that make sense? It does not really have to, because all that really matters is the savory taste and how easy it is to make. So shall we skip all this and get to the recipe already?

So there’s two quiches in this picture, one a Roasted Red Pepper with Feta Cheese and Garlic Quiche, and a Cheesy Eggplant Quiche.

Roasted Pepper Quiche

You will need:

A small jar of roasted pimientos, drained

A small container of crumbled feta cheese (about a cup)

1 Tbsp Garlic powder

some chopped basil (optional)

3 eggs

salt and pepper

1 Premade pie crust/dough

What to Do

• Preheat oven to 350
• Prepare your pie plate by unrolling and laying it onto the plate. You do not need to grease the plate.
• Beat 3 eggs, add some some salt and pepper. Add the garlic powder. Set aside. 
• Chop your pimientos and basil. Put this on the pie dough together with the feta cheese. Pour over the egg mixture and bake in the oven for about an hour. 
• You will know your quiche is ready by doing a “stick test”. If the stick comes out clean after you poke the quiche in the middle, the egg mixture is set and done.

Cheesy Eggplant Quiche

You will need:

1 large eggplant, peeled and chopped

Chopped parsley (optional)

¼ cup onion flakes

¼ cup olive oil

‘½ cup grated Mozarella cheese

¼ cup parmesan cheese

3 eggs

salt and pepper

1 Premade pie crust/dough

What to Do

• Preheat oven to 350F
• Prepare your pie plate by unrolling and laying it onto the plate. You do not need to grease the plate.
• Seasoned the chopped eggplant with salt. Let it stand for 20 minutes and then rinse and squeeze the excess liquid, set aside. This will take out some of the bitter taste in the eggplant.
• Then, in a skillet heat up the olive oil and sauté the rinsed and drained eggplant. Add the onion flakes, parsley, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Beat 3 eggs and mix in the cheeses. Set aside.
• Put the sautéed eggplant on the pie dough. Pour over the egg mixture and bake in the oven for about an hour. 
• You will know your quiche is ready by doing a “stick test”. If the stick comes out clean after you poke the quiche in the middle, the egg mixture is set and done.

Easy right?

Enjoy!!!

Here are other easy quiche recipes you can make at home!

Turkey, Sundried Tomatoes and Mushroom Quiche

Turkey, Spinach and Cheese Quiche

Hubby’s Honey-Lemon-Ginger Antidote to Sickness

Whether the weather is cold or hot or both in the same day, your body can take a beating. Usually the first sign that you’re about to get sick is a runny nose, a headache due to an inflamed sinus, or a tickle in the throat.

My ever loving husband, concocted what I think is an anti-sicky warm cocktail of honey lemon and ginger to counteract the effects of whatever “bug” I caught. 

Honey and lemon are already a popular alternative to easing the discomfort of having a cold, it does not cure the cold (because there is no cure) but it will help ease the discomfort. Staying hydrated while on the cold is as important as getting a lot of rest, as a hot drink, it loosens the phlegm and clears the sinuses. Honey leaves a coating that is soothing and the vitamin C in the lemon will help shorten the duration of your cold. The ginger acts as a booster for your immune system, it is also said to have antihistamine properties and the “spice” in it mixed in with the honey will not only soothe that croaky throat of yours, but also help in decongestion as you breathe in the steam from your warm drink.

With all this natural healing properties of honey, lemon and ginger mixed together, I find this brew as a great alternative to medicines, and something I feel safe and comfortable with giving to my own children instead of medicines. Now, if you already are sick (and I hope not yet), this will help ease that I-just-got-hit-by-a-bus feeling.

Here’s how to make it…

You will need:

1 cup Honey

2 Fresh lemons

1 thumb Ginger

Slice the lemons into really thin wedges and add crushed ginger. Put these in a jar and add the honey.  To make the antidote all you need is a cup of hot water and a spoonful of the mixture. Drink it and feel the soothing effect of the ginger, lemon and honey. Store it in the fridge, it should last you about 2 weeks, but if you drink it twice a day, you’d probably need to make more (or your husband would have to make you more).

So there… Enjoy!... Be well!

Kid-Stuff Christmas

Preparing for your Christmas feast is one busy feat. An idea to make it a bit easier on you is to get the kids busy while you prepare for your holiday spread.

Here are a couple of ideas.

Get the kids busy starting with having them make their own breakfast on Christmas morning. Have them make…

Reindeer Sandwiches

Mid-day is also crucial task-filled time especially when you are hosting your holiday party. Have the kids make their own creations while you make some magic happen in your own kitchen. Get them to create some

Marshmallow Men

When all the guests have arrived, greetings are done, gifts are opened, and food have been served, some catching up with invited friends and family usually commence.  While you and your guests get a chance for some adult time, have all the kids do a little get together of their own by decorating

Oh So Sweet ChristmasTrees

Oh So Sweet Christmas Trees

You Will Need:

Ice Cream Cones

Tub/s of Frosting (White or Green)

Paper Plates

Pieces of Candy

The first thing I ask the kids to do is to spread the frosting on the plate. I usually use white for a snowy landscape, then have them use green to spread all over the cone. Green frosting, however, is hard to come by. So I would put a drop or two f green food coloring on the white frosting and just mix it until all the green is evenly distributed. You can, of course, go all-white, for a White Christmas effect, or just all-green and tell them it’s for a grassy field or meadow! 

When the frosting has been put on the plate and on the cone. Invert the one over the plate. This will be the tree. Then use the candy pieces to decorate.

I just used the extra choco chips and M&Ms from the Reindeer Sandwiches, and what was left over from the Marshmallow Men, and added a little bit extra from what I could find in the pantry (think left over Halloween Candy!)

So the kids are a bit more invested in the creative process, tell them the best Christmas Tree wins a prize! When everything is decorated and done, have the children set all their creations on a table or corner and call in grandma to be the judge. The best one wins a special prize!

Marshmallow Men

You Will Need:

Toothpicks

Marshmallow in different sizes (during the holiday season they also come in different colors and Holiday flavors!)

Tube icing (optional)

This one is easy. All the kids need to do is use their imagination (which they seem to have an abundant supply of) to put together the marshmallow pieces and hold them with toothpicks. Use tube icing to make little dots for the eyes or mouth.

They need not create just one Marshmallow Man (or woman), they can make their own army of Marshmallow People! Or a whole herd of Marshmallow monsters, or Aliens. Let get carried away with their creations, but DON’T let them poke each other with the toothpicks!