Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Coca Cola Frosting

<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ShO5_Xe5nAPWL2fPL_HGmXecxfs8e2Lssd9FAFtGUftrhRBA_lJ86zejx9yUIU4r8ELhgtEliF9PfgdBENIIO-nZTMpaaVSlF3Pxaj6oKjEX1Vo9veW1LUAchJLaU8_BatIr8dnwWx4/s1600-h/cupcakes.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812177143635234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ShO5_Xe5nAPWL2fPL_HGmXecxfs8e2Lssd9FAFtGUftrhRBA_lJ86zejx9yUIU4r8ELhgtEliF9PfgdBENIIO-nZTMpaaVSlF3Pxaj6oKjEX1Vo9veW1LUAchJLaU8_BatIr8dnwWx4/s320/cupcakes.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><br />I had some friends over last night to knit (although we ended up talking mostly!) and decided to combine a couple of my favorite recipes and make some killer cupcakes. I cheated a little bit and used a mix for the actual cupcakes but in the past I have used the following recipe and it is so rich and amazing.<br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Coca Cola Cake</span></span></strong></div><div align="left">2 Cups Flour</div><div align="left">2 Cups Sugar</div><div align="left">1 cup plus 1/2 cup butter</div><div align="left">3 T plus 3 T cocoa</div><div align="left">1/2 cup Buttermilk</div><div align="left">2 Eggs</div><div align="left">1 T Vanilla</div><div align="left">1 1/2 cups Marshmallows </div><div align="left">3 cups Powedered Sugar</div><div align="left">1 cup plus 6 T Coca Cola</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Cake:</strong> Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Combine flour and sugar in large bowl. In small saucepan, heat 1 cup butter, 3T cocao, 1 cup coca cola. Simmer then pour over the flour mixture. Stir well. Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla mix. Add marshmallows. Bake for 35 minutes.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Frosting:</strong></div><div align="left">In saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, 6T coca cola and 3T cocoa. Bring to a boil. Pour over a bowl with 3 cups of powedered sugar. Beat well.</div><p align="left"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_yYfoS42I-xHXXOI54xSNdGHzpSAl-TQnJy4zp81Tz53b3NVOGE6o9MDwclbxh_0fq3bKot-M-xKuyO5JIwYi-gh-CtSMNmNrDoHGx8QNNR45WOk-QMweLHkVNx43Aqi91NI0bVHnq4/s1600-h/DSC_9845.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812418463095490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_yYfoS42I-xHXXOI54xSNdGHzpSAl-TQnJy4zp81Tz53b3NVOGE6o9MDwclbxh_0fq3bKot-M-xKuyO5JIwYi-gh-CtSMNmNrDoHGx8QNNR45WOk-QMweLHkVNx43Aqi91NI0bVHnq4/s320/DSC_9845.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJAEiZQc0DRDjk-6XGU_yKC0mFunbccM1TQLxbuvWrDReIGmVNDpX6Ube-TvKeNFG9yIbOxjtRCHTv7dgJc5Y0Hh0wYvH415VieLui-ee3tjsu5jFzyq3ag44Rb0DWHfuzhf5UFyGOJ4/s1600-h/DSC_9847.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812410591628466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJAEiZQc0DRDjk-6XGU_yKC0mFunbccM1TQLxbuvWrDReIGmVNDpX6Ube-TvKeNFG9yIbOxjtRCHTv7dgJc5Y0Hh0wYvH415VieLui-ee3tjsu5jFzyq3ag44Rb0DWHfuzhf5UFyGOJ4/s320/DSC_9847.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /></p>While the cupcakes were baking I made the peanut butter filling. I like to use natural organic peanut butter and the Kirkland brand from Costco is my absolute favorite peanut butter. It doesn't get gritty or separate like the other stuff. You have to shake it and mix it up the first time but once you do that it stays smooth and creamy until the jar is gone.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcV0EIbsDbuvnmjZcfAz9v6puGzO2pF58D1PDXRiojU-kpNwtn44sy-Jp4KeTk2wW-sCkryEvuKoa8xNQ17c2AGuTyxqKYx6IcWbS6Z-T9f8yFDkGAdxaMkj2Y19DaY9EfhPDWy5Mshk/s1600-h/DSC_9848.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812411689715698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcV0EIbsDbuvnmjZcfAz9v6puGzO2pF58D1PDXRiojU-kpNwtn44sy-Jp4KeTk2wW-sCkryEvuKoa8xNQ17c2AGuTyxqKYx6IcWbS6Z-T9f8yFDkGAdxaMkj2Y19DaY9EfhPDWy5Mshk/s320/DSC_9848.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Peanut Butter Filling<br /></span></strong></div><div align="left">1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter</div><div align="left">1 cup Powdered Sugar</div><div align="left">1 T butter or margarine softened</div><p></p><p>Pretty much beat them together until smooth. Super easy!</p><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjj5tCzrNxOgfXXcZu4_bJmGl3VyfrKJBV63rM3pBGlwUPafJ7IbbTTvjFAH6strHIVERxz1FvQKun0vLf2dEaaO9UvwmBYwWLM7mE8WGtUMPntb_25jf-LFlck13HxH_OExvqExpG4w/s1600-h/DSC_9849.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812397278363154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjj5tCzrNxOgfXXcZu4_bJmGl3VyfrKJBV63rM3pBGlwUPafJ7IbbTTvjFAH6strHIVERxz1FvQKun0vLf2dEaaO9UvwmBYwWLM7mE8WGtUMPntb_25jf-LFlck13HxH_OExvqExpG4w/s320/DSC_9849.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyATBISnDg4S2cOY6xKys605RpjLt-NsZR6sJZ4IWx82paUNXFSJzJMAjgvOVN0ghOvA_swv-9RPl8aiDaHXg2KVv9X929l7LRJGPLJ0aUnN5Rc2xE7859WWbFNRPLRqK03g2vS13inIM/s1600-h/DSC_9850.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812396365748146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyATBISnDg4S2cOY6xKys605RpjLt-NsZR6sJZ4IWx82paUNXFSJzJMAjgvOVN0ghOvA_swv-9RPl8aiDaHXg2KVv9X929l7LRJGPLJ0aUnN5Rc2xE7859WWbFNRPLRqK03g2vS13inIM/s320/DSC_9850.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I like to use disposable pastry bags because there is so much less clean up. Fill one up, snip off the end and insert into the middle of each cupcake and fill them. It's kind of a guessing game as to how much to use. Basically you don't want them to explode! Ha.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfxxos5Th1moAfkWiCxa6UfR84xu3nKq8LS79bTUzpo95Y4pDWsMCfpLOe8xdD9tnuv_i0mY3Kn8nj-E004KZMQcqyJ8BZDGNZVn2_K_fAP9SLy5Vq8EdmMLxDcI4KfBBqxAmyQDDe3M/s1600-h/DSC_9852.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812199313694018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfxxos5Th1moAfkWiCxa6UfR84xu3nKq8LS79bTUzpo95Y4pDWsMCfpLOe8xdD9tnuv_i0mY3Kn8nj-E004KZMQcqyJ8BZDGNZVn2_K_fAP9SLy5Vq8EdmMLxDcI4KfBBqxAmyQDDe3M/s320/DSC_9852.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL6fPOYEIvJ28NRr3s6KuX0-TJqV2ugMUY9EhaQJjZBQUki9TCt0udac27gRWFELFY2cqXCauxWCIQs8XpADrXfc58ueG13rvo114E1r0g7nOXwa4Olx_BzrA07-aEXp8-gOYj9S86xY/s1600-h/DSC_9853.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812197504465698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL6fPOYEIvJ28NRr3s6KuX0-TJqV2ugMUY9EhaQJjZBQUki9TCt0udac27gRWFELFY2cqXCauxWCIQs8XpADrXfc58ueG13rvo114E1r0g7nOXwa4Olx_BzrA07-aEXp8-gOYj9S86xY/s320/DSC_9853.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />For the frosting I used Pepsi instead only because it just happens to be what we had already. I didn't notice a difference between either one. Maybe the coca cola is a bit sweeter but these are so rich it doesn't matter.<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WT3BnAom8sdRP_L-KNq0slXnfrV88FNJyW9o3hs1KmXBrB9wWrcXkKzODeiqp8WuFhcQFKtzJmIGWhZJ33u8vP4NJP7anU2oD28qOY7d6t25-6XxkkOGwJMQWLPKFn4j439RnPHa1PE/s1600-h/DSC_9855.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812188822930290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WT3BnAom8sdRP_L-KNq0slXnfrV88FNJyW9o3hs1KmXBrB9wWrcXkKzODeiqp8WuFhcQFKtzJmIGWhZJ33u8vP4NJP7anU2oD28qOY7d6t25-6XxkkOGwJMQWLPKFn4j439RnPHa1PE/s320/DSC_9855.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div align="center">At first I tried spreading the frosting on but this is fairly runny frosting (but good runny). I ended up dipping each cupcake in it and it worked out really well! It leaves them with a nice smooth top too. I had a bit of the peanut butter filling left so I added a dab to each. It would also be nice to put chocolate sprinkles on top.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtIaxI9ntO3opd5FJ1vFOBl0ahZmamYEtnwgYBTYJstiDWtKdaF-8Zg6cPPgSQVwxdbvrU4moCXHGJvaXYRTsDANClFW6jbNEG7yaoHpUxYDB4eAXoJ3Y7ExJVficN7vu8p1U3Pjaa6I/s1600-h/DSC_9857.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812184242090322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtIaxI9ntO3opd5FJ1vFOBl0ahZmamYEtnwgYBTYJstiDWtKdaF-8Zg6cPPgSQVwxdbvrU4moCXHGJvaXYRTsDANClFW6jbNEG7yaoHpUxYDB4eAXoJ3Y7ExJVficN7vu8p1U3Pjaa6I/s320/DSC_9857.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424812520957964242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5HDDRjqIckv7mD0iMC75ZduirPgTJoYx-0-cDnl4WaX0e3zFLOsoIe2BM7hgHV3SkRDaV_4UjRMy-JSoQdBZ_veqlM21jxgAWDsdu3TP3lo6nTwsmZ4rt1-QEz_3mYQgSNy7MdaJlWM/s400/DSC_9842.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" />

Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Coca Cola Frosting

I had some friends over last night to knit (although we ended up talking mostly!) and decided to combine a couple of my favorite recipes and...

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Foodie: Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli

<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli- YUM</strong></span></div><div align="center">Last night, before I got horrendously sick with a sinus infection...wait...that's probably not the most appetizing way to start out a post about cooking! Oh well. I feel horrible right now as I write this but the food was great last night so it is what it is. (I've been mildly sick since Thanksgiving by the way but it all came crashing down late last night.)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Anyway, I decided to make a nice Sunday night meal and tried out a couple of new recipes that turned out great. I sort of cheated with the chicken-it was a pre-seasoned half a chicken- but really how hard is it to season it anyway? Just add some paprika and other spices and there you go. So let's just pretend I seasoned it and move on! Besides the label has a guy with a big white leprechaun beard and chicken on his head! Who can resist?!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2G5H4bal3CH5-X7LsF8MKwFy6jpYCqdTXBXxDNj4_XhdqoaeBDKVrsv5H_GU_jX5kONFs2wI6s3QUyKRblulAfWKuK7bbo4XrwrqfQQ8Lr8l1KCu1aCb5quSZE3RCoftwxpI-PEWKLA/s1600-h/DSC_9677.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068783013473682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2G5H4bal3CH5-X7LsF8MKwFy6jpYCqdTXBXxDNj4_XhdqoaeBDKVrsv5H_GU_jX5kONFs2wI6s3QUyKRblulAfWKuK7bbo4XrwrqfQQ8Lr8l1KCu1aCb5quSZE3RCoftwxpI-PEWKLA/s320/DSC_9677.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnu9wvyfV3Bwfz8htzQlBt4QTFsbBTcumWzZDiZ7EFHzBykRtvrd5zxXa_XwDuQFGx7LQ9NzKsjiUIUprzod27ec8vmoCflNlTulSpdri1FuIwm007HUIfh101viKhwQBmpdwnJf0-gQc/s1600-h/cooking.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068933873963906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnu9wvyfV3Bwfz8htzQlBt4QTFsbBTcumWzZDiZ7EFHzBykRtvrd5zxXa_XwDuQFGx7LQ9NzKsjiUIUprzod27ec8vmoCflNlTulSpdri1FuIwm007HUIfh101viKhwQBmpdwnJf0-gQc/s320/cooking.jpg" style="WIDTH: 193px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptvbVMjzgCB2Z_Bx3Q4jwYbsHlnZqROVgsYA5ubn8i5BwqH5z8vTT_zIb2l5O2jHPBLqR6x3XPuo5XLbCm60aSjVANTR-OTsDVqYhtiR1nveB6uu09PNeNwpBpzA6Ryjbogl43wzm02A/s1600-h/DSC_9673.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068929813422690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptvbVMjzgCB2Z_Bx3Q4jwYbsHlnZqROVgsYA5ubn8i5BwqH5z8vTT_zIb2l5O2jHPBLqR6x3XPuo5XLbCm60aSjVANTR-OTsDVqYhtiR1nveB6uu09PNeNwpBpzA6Ryjbogl43wzm02A/s320/DSC_9673.jpg" style="WIDTH: 171px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />My daughter, the budding photographer, took these while I was peeling potatoes. I used red skinned potatoes, which I know traditionally the skins are left on but they were what I had on hand so I peeled them.</div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://events.nytimes.com/recipes/8604/1987/05/10/Chez-Louis-Potato-Pie/recipe.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068791681653042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCASgnRs0b_p4-Gypf1NK5UVKlz84bVJ2vIFTOU4PXcPEaLXcJXYc9SAp0C2iPzot81srCCrCdbVnfvokmLdh7dVpnc2P_6D2ZnI8yHh7WqAcozwZVc5mxUA3BBvJR9dOPTNSl_Jiw4Qc/s320/DSC_9674.jpg" style="WIDTH: 144px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mv7yP_Jq-CJcAS3X5a3nHQe2chtiusU6sm0lC3SRpvJud2Pv3rw2_KyzAfnR08hIl6FG_XMi3aLxkZjD64lm7ZCvouH5-ybB9UwmVFnSr0Dr-NPCQFeCngdsPkBBQpcp0HiuUwBAMOw/s1600-h/DSC_9675.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068787931429826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mv7yP_Jq-CJcAS3X5a3nHQe2chtiusU6sm0lC3SRpvJud2Pv3rw2_KyzAfnR08hIl6FG_XMi3aLxkZjD64lm7ZCvouH5-ybB9UwmVFnSr0Dr-NPCQFeCngdsPkBBQpcp0HiuUwBAMOw/s320/DSC_9675.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div align="center"> If you click the recipe above it will take you to the recipe I found online. You boil the potatoes with a couple of whole pieces of garlic (I crushed mine first though to release the flavor better), then you make this really great garlic flavored oil/butter mixture to later brown them in.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRA6FycGEpvhI2e_jJnFgAM5Zz_namWBcUGiiZHXiytPnQzIHxBXDO9itgLp4qDY5OivNOhLZfgHpkbZdfYTedM26CdWk99iSEJ0EwhxdSapbPyoeNPYeHRAkjWVFQkzy3KwuPIc9Tvk/s1600-h/DSC_9679.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068775093067826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRA6FycGEpvhI2e_jJnFgAM5Zz_namWBcUGiiZHXiytPnQzIHxBXDO9itgLp4qDY5OivNOhLZfgHpkbZdfYTedM26CdWk99iSEJ0EwhxdSapbPyoeNPYeHRAkjWVFQkzy3KwuPIc9Tvk/s320/DSC_9679.jpg" style="WIDTH: 242px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwP9UM5fl9sgx0FhgYtKVlTGEQmGAQOQAIiHd_SXKS74RZokXMP8K3IThA7mZjRdYYZO4GD3zDbl18qyZPG-cCUtjbar7n5-S5f7w6oqb2Lrnrl2w-LCJJFmK9mC2YSfL2dKgOrPDrIk/s1600-h/DSC_9680.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068770086036034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwP9UM5fl9sgx0FhgYtKVlTGEQmGAQOQAIiHd_SXKS74RZokXMP8K3IThA7mZjRdYYZO4GD3zDbl18qyZPG-cCUtjbar7n5-S5f7w6oqb2Lrnrl2w-LCJJFmK9mC2YSfL2dKgOrPDrIk/s320/DSC_9680.jpg" style="WIDTH: 223px; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />God, I love garlic! I should have roasted a head since I had the oven nice and hot but oh well.</div><div align="center">After you make your garlic infused butter/oil, you heat some up (not all of it) in a big fry pan. Drain the potatoes and then slice them up. Brown them in the pan in batches (a pain but worth it) and add more oil/butter goodness as needed. After that you squish it all into an oven proof skillet and put it in the oven at 450 degrees until it gets crispy. I got wimpy with the squishing though. It's supposed to come out like a pie and mine just came out the way it looked when it went in! Still tasted great though.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU873poq-zX2Zs3RvvqEzR8y5XV3gUWqrqMuEjJ83OiA7gWS5H1EBzT53KVJNOoVEOXsAxU7yjOORz_jlDmtzC8Dk4B_DNfaoQcZyhQpLHf7QiZP50BXKem78s2Ncis71S5bqdCLTKn1g/s1600-h/DSC_9681.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068581722674530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU873poq-zX2Zs3RvvqEzR8y5XV3gUWqrqMuEjJ83OiA7gWS5H1EBzT53KVJNOoVEOXsAxU7yjOORz_jlDmtzC8Dk4B_DNfaoQcZyhQpLHf7QiZP50BXKem78s2Ncis71S5bqdCLTKn1g/s320/DSC_9681.jpg" style="WIDTH: 264px; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYBvsVnmLY5rPiSgPudTaEUumYKNmRJBkm9Lv2Ekrl1599raPZzYb76UUUPFFiJdPtORUEwQ369m5r7uhibaARlDX2QdDjGsNPVJlhDeFrsud4pgQHvfdOot2fRWO6KSWmRoFNnx_IFw/s1600-h/DSC_9682.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068578909201330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYBvsVnmLY5rPiSgPudTaEUumYKNmRJBkm9Lv2Ekrl1599raPZzYb76UUUPFFiJdPtORUEwQ369m5r7uhibaARlDX2QdDjGsNPVJlhDeFrsud4pgQHvfdOot2fRWO6KSWmRoFNnx_IFw/s320/DSC_9682.jpg" style="WIDTH: 277px; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />While the potatoes are browning I made another dish I'd never tried with broccoli and the best part is it's super easy and done in the microwave! You heat 2 Tablespoons of butter for a couple of minutes, add slivered garlic, and put it back in for another few minutes so it gets crispy. Then you add the broccoli and a cup of chicken stock (I used organic), cover it and cook it for about 4-5 minutes. That's it! <br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmy8FnU6IMDjyLCIB6eoDXNH1F5cvbTPCAlxOzn-qwtaNq9hk2FG63tsMtcoCZ-tPVo432X4gLXzA9PcPdN5X7N_TYFZqdMUXY_gsazC9sUI2Q960pfQqmhkotQE7ZQCTPOsqcpBdNiY/s1600-h/DSC_9683.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068571769194354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmy8FnU6IMDjyLCIB6eoDXNH1F5cvbTPCAlxOzn-qwtaNq9hk2FG63tsMtcoCZ-tPVo432X4gLXzA9PcPdN5X7N_TYFZqdMUXY_gsazC9sUI2Q960pfQqmhkotQE7ZQCTPOsqcpBdNiY/s320/DSC_9683.jpg" style="WIDTH: 236px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9M7tgmv9eO0PHWDf4W3LPi5KdAEPtErDzAIZXsmXYWKiD8Ls0bA0_gzIOUGEFmSMq8LopL3MyLYlrW1e4M2s_ndPLYcPs4SI7Hg0LLn0RjYHo5jh_i4e0vV9dNiAIep4CZXnGLlsnUk/s1600-h/DSC_9684.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068563439104962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9M7tgmv9eO0PHWDf4W3LPi5KdAEPtErDzAIZXsmXYWKiD8Ls0bA0_gzIOUGEFmSMq8LopL3MyLYlrW1e4M2s_ndPLYcPs4SI7Hg0LLn0RjYHo5jh_i4e0vV9dNiAIep4CZXnGLlsnUk/s320/DSC_9684.jpg" style="WIDTH: 250px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />Oh yeah, and you just take the chicken out when it's done...however I never time things that well and we sort of ate the potatoes and broccoli while the chicken finished cooking! We pretended it was a 3 course meal so it was ok.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-ARhtxzJvKtkdBPVbjPVBG-yXTUg0fozXsMhOhpZkXQ7oyRvzGMCMQ99szhkq8GTrL-ukxEUEAZ5ASbOt8ZEXe-a5V6EarLKK2rfxuv7B2kMHB0-OiGLdsgZ0BEPatjkzyIRAG5bkDU/s1600-h/DSC_9685.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423068554813559650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-ARhtxzJvKtkdBPVbjPVBG-yXTUg0fozXsMhOhpZkXQ7oyRvzGMCMQ99szhkq8GTrL-ukxEUEAZ5ASbOt8ZEXe-a5V6EarLKK2rfxuv7B2kMHB0-OiGLdsgZ0BEPatjkzyIRAG5bkDU/s320/DSC_9685.jpg" style="WIDTH: 215px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p>

Foodie: Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli

Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli- YUM Last night, before I got horrendously sick with a sinus infection...wait...that's probably not the ...

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From Art To Sweets

<div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Took a break from all the crafting the past couple of nights and started baking! Last night I made 2 kinds of chocolate bark: chocolate peanut butter and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">oreo</span> cookie. My favorite turned out to be the peanut butter. Both are super easy to make.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><div align="left">1 Package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips</div><br /><div align="left">1Package Peanut Butter Chips</div><br /><div align="left">1 Tablespoon of Organic Peanut Butter</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for about 1 minute on 50% power. Stir like crazy. If you still have some stubborn pieces that won't melt stick it back in for about 10 seconds at time and stir in between until completely melted. Be careful not to overdo it! It ends up smelling and tasting horrible...yep I've done that before. Stir in the peanut butter and spread on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Spread it as thin or thick as you want.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Melt the Peanut Butter Chips the same way and spread right on top of the chocolate layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour or until completely firm than break into pieces.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Chocolate Oreo Cookie Bark</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><div align="left">1 Package Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips</div><br /><div align="left">About 8-10 Sandwich cookies</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Melt the chocolate chips the same way, add the crushed up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">oreos</span>, and spread on the cookie sheet. Couldn't be easier and actually looks pretty fancy when done.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center">You can do this with any combination--white chocolate chips, candy canes, drizzle chocolate on top, etc.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-ymqU4hz5M1OefbMC6FgjAB790HUBPMtR24ftvi6RgbVLqBQTZfT0YRld4AxpuK9maiaa0i9BkfV6hNl2_uYyS_9UBqmI1JW_rAJwzSb542pIpC6ukh0d5ksUZ39cv-VHvpg02kWkmM/s1600-h/bark+lined+up.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875672657018562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-ymqU4hz5M1OefbMC6FgjAB790HUBPMtR24ftvi6RgbVLqBQTZfT0YRld4AxpuK9maiaa0i9BkfV6hNl2_uYyS_9UBqmI1JW_rAJwzSb542pIpC6ukh0d5ksUZ39cv-VHvpg02kWkmM/s320/bark+lined+up.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrWauOgHouU1DRK2Z7YZuXdibVJ9dgB-eEd5xIZX8mvX37Uw3NxIO8x1OIz2lUoAS3b-Wqk4Noamy94be5W7wmTa82Rkyx7JyXkNw0yUP0InGFNtZ4iYTE-DvzDx4SJQ9oMm-pHCnCZk/s1600-h/blog+bark.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875679445245474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrWauOgHouU1DRK2Z7YZuXdibVJ9dgB-eEd5xIZX8mvX37Uw3NxIO8x1OIz2lUoAS3b-Wqk4Noamy94be5W7wmTa82Rkyx7JyXkNw0yUP0InGFNtZ4iYTE-DvzDx4SJQ9oMm-pHCnCZk/s320/blog+bark.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7wzrPSPEIFG6YgBOk-bnImWUdzK05xFRRBvNNaxpvu7zx9Wcv3zyaNceNCob-EKxFF7st8JlBprcfrfXrYEgAy9W7XY3_4m0jFjWHEoh6zUJCWy3LLPEKkQf-WTyAi-aND4uO2oVk7c/s1600-h/packaged.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875670099261938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7wzrPSPEIFG6YgBOk-bnImWUdzK05xFRRBvNNaxpvu7zx9Wcv3zyaNceNCob-EKxFF7st8JlBprcfrfXrYEgAy9W7XY3_4m0jFjWHEoh6zUJCWy3LLPEKkQf-WTyAi-aND4uO2oVk7c/s320/packaged.jpg" style="WIDTH: 238px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">I ended up packaging up the Oreo cookie bark for my grandma for a Christmas present.<br />Luckily she doesn't care for peanut butter...all for me! Well, all for me and my family. :)<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUskdKknbuDtE1toZEvy2QifjLxl2SLnUw_rl-iij3x3FFWAE3IOtoxV_21FxtUTT8L8q6YygJ2XpoVNKSmcmQCm6Nd_C4uJqvZ42z4n0SWqEypVjNsVlnzNpUr3DIbLM7zvHeSLjPn4/s1600-h/meringue+cookies.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875562177854226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUskdKknbuDtE1toZEvy2QifjLxl2SLnUw_rl-iij3x3FFWAE3IOtoxV_21FxtUTT8L8q6YygJ2XpoVNKSmcmQCm6Nd_C4uJqvZ42z4n0SWqEypVjNsVlnzNpUr3DIbLM7zvHeSLjPn4/s320/meringue+cookies.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVAflZYNjpX4vg2-Jd9lKTiv_Sfs_ZHmztgk2cl8C2hY9rG6shQ6kwK2pYi7cPqWb23LeVVZ9cKd2J_tMa3C1HSzJwg88RzTq2XKGV7AWyA9A_PdIV8MJmLve0aeeMAlZ_prF4KnUdMc/s1600-h/cookies.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875560294074754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVAflZYNjpX4vg2-Jd9lKTiv_Sfs_ZHmztgk2cl8C2hY9rG6shQ6kwK2pYi7cPqWb23LeVVZ9cKd2J_tMa3C1HSzJwg88RzTq2XKGV7AWyA9A_PdIV8MJmLve0aeeMAlZ_prF4KnUdMc/s320/cookies.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />I decided last week to make peppermint ice cream after the craziness of my daughter's play and my craft fair were over. Tonight was the night! The recipe calls for 8 egg yolks so I decided to use the egg whites (I couldn't just waste them!) and make meringue cookies too. I made chocolate ones with candy canes on top, chocolate ones with chocolate chips on top, and plain <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ol</span>' vanilla ones.<br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcwjtEFD3sga_Gk1d26jjqCTYOMsdmQzX2RcafFRdpISfzI2zBDapQVOYxD-wTCMWouGIYuepzRVGH4j1BUjY7gY8SnKVweIj6es7Wo7bCIaSUYHomSaZvAgPmuxR2cxRqoPIr9CMWsk/s1600-h/ice+cream+maker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875554583781074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcwjtEFD3sga_Gk1d26jjqCTYOMsdmQzX2RcafFRdpISfzI2zBDapQVOYxD-wTCMWouGIYuepzRVGH4j1BUjY7gY8SnKVweIj6es7Wo7bCIaSUYHomSaZvAgPmuxR2cxRqoPIr9CMWsk/s320/ice+cream+maker.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">I drank <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moscato</span> wine --one of my favorites--and listened to a great mix of music including Billie Holiday. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Here is the recipe for the ice cream--worth all the trouble!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Peppermint Ice Cream</strong></span> </div><br /><div align="center">(courtesy of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">simplyrecipes</span>.com)</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Ingredients</span><br />2 1/2 cups heavy cream<br />1 1/2 cups whole milk<br />8 large egg yolks<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />2 teaspoons peppermint extract<br />1/2 cup crushed candy canes or hard peppermint candy<br /><br />Method<br />Special equipment needed<br />An ice cream maker, or a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">KitchenAid</span> mixer with an ice cream attachment </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />1 Warm the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Make sure the sugar and salt completely dissolve.<br /><br />2 Pour the cream into a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and set a medium-mesh sieve on top.<br /><br /><br />3 In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.<br /><br /><br />4 Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a wooden or heatproof rubber spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula, about 5-7 minutes.<br /><br /><br />5 Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Then stir until cool over the ice bath. Chill mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.<br /><br />6 One the mixture is thoroughly chilled, add peppermint extract, a 1/4 teaspoon at a time, tasting the mixture after each addition, until you reach the desired level of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">peppermintiness</span>. (Different peppermint extracts vary in strength. I used 2 teaspoons of McCormick peppermint extract, which was just the right amount for our taste.)<br />7 Once chilled, freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.<br /><br />8 Once the ice cream has been formed in the ice cream maker, it will be fairly soft. Fold in the crushed peppermint candy. Put in an airtight plastic container and place in the freezer for at least an hour, preferably several hours. If it has been frozen for more than a day, you may need to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften it before serving.<br /><br />Makes 1 1/2 quarts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBBDKvkiCShGAk2W5CXKcp4dQtGgFzDH5nYAUrYZnBkUJfmx_gAHptcjbUPrHPUcvJMv8me2G_nzqipLuyunmxSYl7jsvtxUk-qkEMPwL30g7b3JUZ3bFZf4waEIzn0HdunJsw0gwQrM/s1600-h/Extract.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875549944756626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBBDKvkiCShGAk2W5CXKcp4dQtGgFzDH5nYAUrYZnBkUJfmx_gAHptcjbUPrHPUcvJMv8me2G_nzqipLuyunmxSYl7jsvtxUk-qkEMPwL30g7b3JUZ3bFZf4waEIzn0HdunJsw0gwQrM/s320/Extract.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDIrqNcByxwRrfYInM_SkLE8ArWLsXF_CNcL9QqC1EFNlWahxvF0-IKrMHjSlbQ-XMeLTPQxMAh1ajeAs4MhaPr8LjmxgTMKB4-9uf6hBuSS79CkaK-c17ya9bH5uRkTg-C2kJhq8_jg/s1600-h/peppermint.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417875547418368770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDIrqNcByxwRrfYInM_SkLE8ArWLsXF_CNcL9QqC1EFNlWahxvF0-IKrMHjSlbQ-XMeLTPQxMAh1ajeAs4MhaPr8LjmxgTMKB4-9uf6hBuSS79CkaK-c17ya9bH5uRkTg-C2kJhq8_jg/s320/peppermint.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />I found this peppermint extract at Whole Foods-so good! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidepBu0LXjRI9KtJSoxVE-tRQreuv8P9bEBIX96i55WJYcMcQD6Zep6bqYqGqEa47GlEYiOCg3HJCszypyhBWrZbvnIDtYsUsQGW6_aUBqdzn2CrLD1XYEzib9Piy4yvziusgwYwyJqgU/s1600-h/bowl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417885726096288114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidepBu0LXjRI9KtJSoxVE-tRQreuv8P9bEBIX96i55WJYcMcQD6Zep6bqYqGqEa47GlEYiOCg3HJCszypyhBWrZbvnIDtYsUsQGW6_aUBqdzn2CrLD1XYEzib9Piy4yvziusgwYwyJqgU/s320/bowl.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">My impatience won and I dove into it before it is fully frozen! It melted fast but I was faster eating it. Yum!!<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>

From Art To Sweets

Took a break from all the crafting the past couple of nights and started baking! Last night I made 2 kinds of chocolate bark: chocolate pean...

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