Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Oreo Cupcakes

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Oreos are my favorite store bought cookies and when I saw you can combine them with cupcakes I had to try it. These turned out really good, but I was shocked that the cupcakes seemed to come out heavy and dense they didn’t rise much. I would probably use a different frosting too, sometimes cream cheese frosting doesn’t go with everything.

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
(Adapted from Annie’s Eats)
Yield: 24 cupcakes

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For the cupcakes:
24 Oreo halves, with cream filling attached
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 2/3 cup sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup milk
20 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped (I quarter them)

For the frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. heavy cream
For garnish:
Oreo cookie crumbs
24 Oreo cookie halves

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line the wells of two cupcake pans with 24 paper liners. Place an Oreo halve in the bottom of each liner, cream side up.

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In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir together with a fork to blend and set aside.

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In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

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Blend in the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition.

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Blend in the vanilla extract.

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With the mixer on low speed, beat in half of the dry ingredients just until incorporated.

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Add the milk and beat just until combined, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients.

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Gently fold in the chopped Oreos with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated, being careful not to over-mix.

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Evenly divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners.

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Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute.

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Blend in the vanilla extract.

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Beat in the confectioners' sugar until incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes.

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Add the heavy cream to the bowl and beat on medium-low speed just until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high and whip for 4 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

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Frost the cooled cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with Oreo crumbs and garnish with Oreo halves.

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Giveaway…Win a bottle of Bertolli Olive Oil

I love finding new apps especially cooking ones. I’m usually nervous about paying for apps because it’s such a gamble if they are going to be any good or not. I have to say this app you’ll love as much as I do. There’s recipes, videos and extra tips such as freezing a candle before your party and it’ll burn longer and slower. Who knew? If you’re a fan of Top Chef then you’ve seen the promos that Fabio has teamed up with Bertolli and it’s a match made in heaven! So here’s some details and my thoughts on the app along with a recipe from there too.

Ever wanted to cook alongside a Top Chef Fan Favorite?  The iPhone and iPad app -- Let’s Cook! – from Fabio Viviani is now available on the App Store for only $.99.

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Let’s Cook! features:

More than 5 hours of video right at your finger tips (no streaming required)

16 step-by-step video recipes in full HD

100+ recipes hand-selected by Chef Fabio

A dozen of Chef Fabio’s cooking and entertaining tip and menu suggestions

The engaging app brings Chef Fabio’s famously infectious style right into your kitchen, and has all the tools to learn to cook with passion and confidence.  

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Here’s one of the videos from the app:

Overall, I loved how easy the app is to use and I loved that there where so many pictures of the dishes too. The videos where a nice touch too and really made it easy to follow along in the kitchen or see how things such as making pasta are done. The following recipe is one that I tried using the Bertolli olive oils. I’ve never had oyster mushrooms which where really highlighted and delicious in the dish. I didn’t use pancetta which I think would have been better in the dish, but the bacon was just enough to not over power the other ingredients. Can’t wait to make this easy dish again.

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Fresh Fettuccine with Crispy Pancetta, Sautéed Mushroom and Cherry Tomato
(Adapted from Chef Fabio Viviani)
Serves 2, double ingredients for 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

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2 cups cherry tomatoes (20 small), halved and seeded
2 Tbsp. Bertolli® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces pancetta or bacon, diced
1 Tbsp. Bertolli® Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil
4 to 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
12 ounces oyster mushrooms, very thinly sliced
1/2 cup chicken broth, divided
8 ounces fresh fettuccine
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
Shaved Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 475°. Drizzle tomatoes with Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Arrange in baking pan and roast 5 to 10 minutes or until wilted.

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Sauté pancetta with Bertolli Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil over medium-high heat until crisp. Season with fresh ground black pepper and very little salt.

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Add garlic and mushrooms and sauté until golden brown.

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Add roasted tomatoes and 1/4 cup broth to sauté pan. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered.

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Add fettuccini to boiling water over high heat, stirring occasionally until it floats, approx. 5 to 8 minutes.

Add cooked fettuccine to sauté pan and remaining broth. Increase heat and drizzle with Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add parsley. Simmer 2 to 5 minutes.

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Top with shaved Parmesan and serve. I also added some extra parsley I had on hand.

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Here’s your chance to win a 17 oz bottle of Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil to cook up a great meal.

For your first MANDATORY entry, tell me your favorite way or thing to use olive oil in. Giveaway ends 12-11-11 at midnight, US residents only.

Bonus Entries:

+1 Like Bertolli’s Facebook Page and leave me your FB name (1st name & last initial ok)

+2 follow me on Twitter @crazystar_allie leave twitter ID in comment

+1 (can do daily) tweet this giveaway, Share my giveaway on twitter and leave me a link in a comment (Click on the time stamp and copy the link in the address bar).

+2 additional entries become a Finding Inspiration In Food follower and leave a comment that you do. Be sure to leave 2 separate comments telling me your a follower!!

+2 additional entries “like” Finding Inspiration In Food on Facebook and leave a comment that you did. Be sure to leave 2 separate comments telling me you liked the page or already do!!

+1 add this to any giveaway linky, sweeps site, & leave link so I can check it out.

+2 add my button to your blog sidebar, or put me in your blogroll

+2 Leave a comment any non-giveaway post and let me know in a comment which one you left it on.

+1 Blog, Stumble, Digg or share this giveaway on any open public forum and leave me the link to it.

+1 per item pinned. Pin one of Finding Inspiration in Food’s items on Pinterest. Post the link here.

That's it! You can do as many or as little as you want-it's all up to you! Good Luck!!

Disclosure: The app and two bottles of Bertolli Olive oil where provided by FKM Agency. I was not paid or told what to write in my review. All opinions are my own.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a lovely time with their friends, family and loveones. And if you haven’t had Thanksgiving yet, best of luck. I’m taking today off from blogging to enjoy the things in my life that I’m thankful for. Of course I’m thankful for you guys following along and I hope you enjoy all the recipes and experiences I share with you!


I’m grateful for everything in my past from the people who have come and gone in my life to the things I’ve experienced and done. I appreciate the presence with all of the people I surround myself with and all of the goals I am achieving and I am thankful for the future, being able to live each day the fullest I can.


See you back on Monday and……..there’s a giveaway!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Buffalo Wing Eggrolls

IMG_6450 This has to be one of my new favorite appetizers. They are easy to make ahead of time and pop in the oven when guest arrive. I baked them to make them a little more “healthy”, but I think frying them would be better to crisp them up more. Either way, you’ll love these if you like buffalo wing dip. You could even try these with leftover turkey if you are in need of ideas.

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Buffalo Wing Eggrolls
(Created by Finding Inspiration in Food)

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3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
½ bottle Frank’s Buffalo Wing sauce
3 chicken breast, cooked
1 cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese
8.5 ounce bag coleslaw
1 cup blue cheese
16 eggroll wrappers

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lay egg roll wrappers on a clean work surface. In a small bowl, stir cream cheese and Frank’s sauce together until combined. Add in shredded chicken and toss until well coated.

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Fold in shredded cheese.

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Begin by placing two tablespoons of the coleslaw on the diagonal of the bottom right corner of one of the wrappers. Next, top with shredded buffalo wing chicken evenly on top of the slaw. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the blue cheese crumbles over the chicken. Do not overfill.

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To fold: Fold the bottom right corner over the stuffing mixture so that it covers it completely, with the tip of the corner now pointing to the center of the egg roll wrapper. Fold in the bottom left corner, followed by the right, so that you now have formed an envelope. Roll the wrap upward one time, leaving the top left corner open. Wet your index finger in the small bowl of water and press to moisten the top left corner. Now fold that down on top of the filled roll, sealing it like you would an envelope.

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You can also wet the sides and fold in, then roll up.

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Repeat with remaining rolls.

Place the rolls on a wire rack set on top of a cookie sheet (or just on a greased cookie sheet) coated with nonstick cooking spray. Spritz each roll evenly with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the rolls crisp and turn a light golden brown. Serve with ranch for dipping.

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