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!

Tortilla Pizzas

This was a hit in our home! I was also able to get my  9-year old involved in making dinner for the family, AND the best part is that it is SOOOOOO easy! Easier than the Quiche I made way back.

You will Need:

Flour Tortillas

A jar of pizza sauce

mozzarella cheese, grated

pizza toppings such as sliced mushrooms, chopped bell peppers, fresh basil leaves, sliced olives, mini pepperonis, chopped ham, bacon bits, pineapple tidbits, minced garlic, chopped onions, etc. – practically whatever you like! 

What to Do: 

Start by setting your oven to broil.

Then prepare your baking trays by spraying it with some non stick baking spray. Set the tortillas flat on the baking tray/s.

Spread about a tablespoon up to about a tablespoon and a half of pizza sauce over the flour tortillas.  

Top the prepared tortillas with some grated mozzarella cheese.

Top you tortilla pizzas with any combination of toppings that you like.  

Place the tortilla pizzas in the oven until just about the cheese gets melted and bubbly. Probably about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how you want your crust to be (chewy, toasted, or crispy… your pizza your choice really.)

Take them out and serve fresh from the oven.

I promise you will enjoy it.

Kahlua Truffles

You Will Need

1 lb bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

2 tbsp butter

½ cup heavy cream

‘3 tbsp Kahlua

¼ cup Cocoa powder

On a double boiler, melt the butter and mix in the heavy cream.  Add the chocolate chips and whisk until everything is melted and turns into a smooth and soft consistency. Add the Kahlua.

Pour into a bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours until firm. Think play dough like consistency.

Use a measuring spoon ( I used ½ table spoon) to scoop some of the mixture onto the palm of your hand and shape them into balls.

Roll in cocoa powder.  Keep cool until ready to serve. 

Balloon Chocolate Bowls

A friend shared this YouTube video with me and so I decided to spend my weekend to try and make them, because the video just made it look so easy.



What you will need:
A double boiler
a bag of chocolate chips
vegetable oil
bowl
balloons - inflated
cookie sheet
waxed paper

What to do:
Melt your chocolate in a double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler, you can use a small and a big pot. Put water in the bigger pot and let that boil. Put the smaller pot into the bigger one and use that to melt your chocolate.

Add some vegetable oil to make it more smooth. For each cup of chocolate chips I added about a teaspoon. Make sure that your pan and spoon are completely dry (not even damp) or else your chocolate will not melt in a smooth finish, but rather, turn into clumps.

I poured the chocolate into a bowl so I can get more chocolate onto my balloon when I dip it in. Make sure that the bowl is wide enough to fit the round end of the balloon. Make sure that the melted chocolate has cooled a bit 'cause otherwise your balloon will pop (and you would deal with chocolate splatter, not pretty!). Adding some vegetable oil, bought you the extra time you need to let the chocolate cool for a bit but not set into a solid.

While you are waiting, prepare the surface where you will set your chocolate balloons. I used a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.

Take about a spoon full of chocolate our into onto the waxed paper to make flat chocolate discs. This will be the base of your bowl.

Then dip the round end of your balloon into the melted chocolate and set it on top of the chocolate disc. Let the chocolate cool and set into a solid. If you space in your fridge, you can let it sit and set there. This may take hours. (Waiting is the hardest part of this process!!!)

When the chocolate has set, use a safety pin to pop the balloon. (This is the fun part, so I suggest you get the kids involved in this.) If you chocolate is not ready, it will curl up with the balloon and not retain its shape when you pop it. So do a trial first.

Your chocolate bowls are done. Use it to serve ice cream.  

Crispy Spinach

Today, I had this strong craving for something crunchy, but we didn't have any chips nor crackers at home. We did however, have an egg and an opened-half-filled bag of spinach, which I believe will go bad if I don't use it.

So... with a little elbow grease, I turned them into something crunchily satisfying.

What you will need:
Cooking oil
spinach leaves
egg - separated, will use only the whites
a pinch salt and a dash of pepper

Other things you will need:
* a pan
* tongs
* a strainer or platter lined with paper towel to drain spinach after frying.

What to do:
Separate the egg white from the yolk. You will only need the whites.

Beat the egg white until frothy. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a pan with oil in it.

Dip each spinach into the egg white.

Then pan fry the spinach one at a time. Turn over to cook both sides. It should be cooked when spinach turns into a dark green color and egg white turns a bit golden.

Drain excess oil in a strainer or on a platter with a paper towel.

Serve right away.

This should be good on its own, but sometimes I do dip it in a creamy vinaigrette dressing.