Saturday, August 18, 2012

Delicious Banana Milkshake!


1- 2 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup ice

Preparation:
1. In a blender, mix all the ingredients on high.
2. Put the mixture in a glass and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Bacon & Philadelphia Pops

This is a different way to make pops! I'm sure everyone loves cake pops but sometimes you crave for something salty instead of sweet. You can make this as appetizers for a party or as a side dish as well! A clever idea that will make you want more!









Ingredients:
- 6-8 slices bacon
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 2 green chilies (optional)
- 1 package Philadelphia cream cheese


Preparation:
1. In a large skillet, cook the bacon on low until  crispy.
2. When the bacon is cool, crumble it in a food processor, adding the black pepper. Set the crumble bacon aside.
3. Cut the chilies into tiny cubes.
4. Clean the food processor, and then add the chilies and the philadelphia and whiz until smooth.
5. Make little balls with the cheese and put them in the freezer for 15 min.
6. Finally, roll the philadelphia balls in the crumbled bacon until they are all covered.

Fresas con Crema/ Strawberries & Cream


You don't have any desserts to give? This is perfect for you! It is an easy mexican recipe that won't take you more than 5 min to make!

Ingredients:
- 1 can table cream (Nestle Media Crema)
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar aprox.
- 2-3 cups fresh strawberries

Preparation:
 1. Slice the strawberries. 
2. Sprinkle the strawberries with sugar.
3. In a small bowl put the can of table cream.
4. Add the milk & the powdered sugar.
                                                  6. Whisk until everything is combined well.
 7. In a small container put the sliced strawberries and add the cream mixture. (You can also put whipping cream on top.)

& VOILA!


Monday, July 30, 2012

Carrot Cake


My grandma taught me how to make this cake & Im sure once you try it, you will do it more than once!! It goes perfectly with the Cream Cheese Frosting
NOTE: You can also add pecans.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups allpurpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp bakngpowder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp powdered cinnamon
  • 3 cups finely shredded carrots
  • 1 cup oil
  • 4 eggs
Preparation:
  1. Mix all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, &sugar).
  2. Beat the carrots with the oil and eggs at medium speed until fluffy.
  3. Then little by little add the dry ingredients to the mixture, and keep beating until everything is smooth.
  4. Bake at 350F. 25 min for cupcakes, and 40 min for cake.

Pineapple Cake Upside Down


A delicious dessert & very easy to make!,

Ingredients:


  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 (20 oz) can sliced pineapple
  • About 8 maraschino cherries
  • 4 egg whites
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup allpurpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Preparation:
    1. Melt the 1/2 cup butter in the microwave.
    2. In a cake pan put the melted butter, then add  the brown sugar, sprinkiling it evenly.Arrange pineapples evenly on top and put a cherry in each center of a pineapple slice. Set aside.
    3. In a large bowl beat egg whites until stiff. Add white sugar gradually and beat until stiff.
    4. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks at high speed until thick.
    5. In another bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
    6. Fold the egg yolks, the flour mixture, 1 tbsp melted butter, and vanilla extract into beaten egg whites until you get a smooth mixture.
    7. Pour batter evenly over pineapple in the cake pan. 
    8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350F, or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
    9. Let it cool for 15min. Then, loosen the edges of the cake with table knife and turn it upsidedown in aplate. 

    Marbled Cake/ Cupcakes



    Different, fun, & easy!


    INGREDIENTS:
    - 2 sticks butter
    - 1 can condensed milk
    - 4 eggs
    - 2 cups all-purpose flour
    - 1 tsp baking powder
    - 1/2 cup powdered chocolate (e.g. Hersheys cocoa)
    - 1 tbsp vanilla extrac

    PREPARATION:
    1. Beat butter, condensed milk, and eggs( one by one) until fluffy.
    2. Add all-purpose flour and baking powder.
    3. Divide the batter into two equal parts. Add the powdered chocolate to one part and the vanilla extract to the other and mix.
    4. Grease the cake pan. Pour half of the vanilla batter into the cake pan, then add the chocolate batter on top, and finally pour the remaining vanilla batter. Make a few swirls with a knife, but don't over do it.
    5. Bake for 45-50 min at 350*F.


    NOTE: For cupcakes just pour half of vanilla batter and half of chocolate batter into the cupcake pans and then swirl. Bake for 35-40 min.

    Saturday, July 28, 2012

    Fettuccine Alfredo

    Easy & yummy!!

    Ingredients:
    - 1 package cream cheese
    - 1/2 cup milk
    - 1/2 cup butter
    - 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
    - 8 oz Fettuccine pasta
    - 1 tsp salt

    Preparation:
    1. Cook fettuccine in boiling water (add the salt when it boils) for 10 min.
    2. In a saucepan put the cream cheese, milk, butter, and Parmesan cheese and stir until smooth.
    3. Add the cooked fettuccine and stir until it's well coated.
    4. Serve and decorate with cilantro.

    Cool Lime Pie

    Ingredients:
    - 1 package Philadelphia cream cheese
    - 1 can condensed milk
    - the juice of 7 limes
    - 1 package Marie biscuits

    Preparation:
    1. In a blender, put the cream cheese, the condensed milk, and the juice of 7 limes and blend until smooth.
    2. In a rectangular container put one layer of Marie biscuits, then cover them with a thin layer of the blended mixture, then add another layer of biscuita and cover then again with the mixture until you finish the mixture.
    3. Refrigerate for 2 hours and decorate with limes.

    Smoked Oyster Dip

    This is a delicious dip and very easy to make!! Surprise your family and friends with this heavenly taste!

    Ingredients:
    - 1 (3.6 oz) can smoked oysters (draibed and chipped)
    - 1 package cream cheese (I used Philadelphia)
    - finely chopped jalapeños (optional)

    Preparation:
    1. Bring cheese to room temp.
    2. Fold in smoked oysters and jalapeños.
    3. Serve with crackers.

    Friday, July 27, 2012

    How to make Cajeta

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    Cajeta is a Mexican caramel made from goat’s milk, it has a delicious taste and it can be used to make a lot of Mexican desserts like the delicious ChocoFlan . Cajeta is really easy to make, but you might as well find it at the supermarket.

    Note: Makes 2 Lts (8 cups)
    Ingredients:
    • 6 cups of goat milk OR normal whole milk
    • 1 1/2 oz brandy
    • 1lb brown sugar OR granulated sugar
    • 1 can condensed milk
    • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    Preparation:
    1. In a saucepan put the sugar and stir until a caramel is made. Add the brandy,the condensed milk, and the goat milk (one by one) & keep stirring.
    2. Then add the vanilla & cinnamon. Keep stirring until it boils a while; it should turn brownish & caramel-like.
    3. Take out of fire and let it cool.

    ChocoFlan

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    Note: the recipe is made with cajeta, a Mexican caramel made from goat’s milk, if you don’t find it you can just use caramel, but it tastes MUCH better with cajeta. You can also make it yourself is really easy .. here’s the link: How to make Cajeta

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    Ingredients:
    - 1 box of chocolate cake mix plus the ingredients in the box to make it
    - 4 eggs
    - 1 can (14 oz) condensed milk
    - 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
    - 1 tbsp vanilla extract
    - 1 cup Cajeta

    Preparation:
    1. Follow the instructions to make the cake, adding 1/2 cup of the Cajeta and set the batter aside.
    2. Blend the condensed milk, the evaporated milk, the eggs, and the vanilla extract on high speed.
    3. In a container, spread thoroughly the remaining Cajeta, as if it was butter (use more if you need to). Then add the blended mixture, and after it, add the cake mixture.
    4. Bake at 500°F for 40 min.
    5. Let it cool and then unmold.

    Helpful Tips

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    • When melting chocolate , place chocolate chips or squares in a small saucepan dish and set in a larger pan filled with 1 inch of boiling water. Stir the chocolate until it melts. Be sure no water or steam gets into the chocolate.
    • Sliced celery or baki g soda when added to beans as they cook may aid digestion.
    • A leaf of lettuce, when added to the top of a pot of soup can absorb some of the grease.
    • Nuts and seeds keep fresh lo ger in the freezer.
    • Leafy greens spoil more quickly when stored with seedy vegetables like tomatoes and cucumber.
    • Potatoes will more like,y turn bad when stored with onions.
    • Carrots become bitter when stored with apples.
    • To keep your salt shaker from clogging , add a few grains of rice.
    • Keep a slice of bread on your brown sugar to keep it from hardening.
    • If soup or stew is too salty add a litter cider vinegar and sugar.
    • To prevent boil-overs add a tbsp of cooking oi to water.
    • For most kitchen clean-ups use equal parts of ammonia & water in a spray bottle. It is the best and most economical bet.

    Equivalents & Measurements

    Here are some measurements & equivalents that can be really helpful!

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    Cake Pops!

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    When I tried the cake pops at starbucks I was like OMG this tastes so delicious! I thought they were really difficult to make but in fact they are a piece of cake!!
    You can make a variety of cake pops by changong the flavor of the cake & frosting, or using white chocolate coating instead of dark, or you can even color it with food coloring as I did.. USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!(:

    Ingredients:
    - 1 box of cake mix ( I used chocolate) &; the ingredients in the box to make it
    - 1 package of frosting (I also used chocolate)
    - 1 (24 oz) package of chocolate to melt (I used bark/candy coating)
    - lollipop sticks
    - sprinkles, pecans, marshmallows, etc to decorate
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    Preparation:
    1. Follow the instructions of the box to bake the cake.
    2. When the cake is cool, crumble it, & then add the frosting and mix it thoroughly with your hands.
    3. Make little balls with your hands and put them in a container. Take to freezer for about 15 min.
    4. Meanwhile melt the chocolate with the directions on the package.
    5. Take out of the freezer the cake balls. Dip the tips of the lollipop sticks into the melted chocolate, then insert it into the cake balls, and then dip the whole cake ball into the melted chocolate until completely covered.
    6. Take it out and decorate with sprinkles or pecans as you wish, then put it in a styrofoam board until it cools.

    Lime Jello with Pineapple & Cottage Cheese

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    This is a different way to prepare jello! You can take away the pecans or add more! Hope you enjoy it(:

    Ingredients:
    -1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
    -1 can (14oz) condensed milk
    -1 package (3 oz) lime flavored jell-O (green)
    -1 cup of boiling water
    -1 can of pineapple chunks
    -1 cup (8oz) cottage cheese
    -1 cup crashed pecans

    Preparation:
    1. Add the jello package to the boiling water and stir until dissolved.
    2. Blend the cottage cheese, the evaporated milk, the condensed milk, and the previously mixture of jello in a blender.
    3. In large container, put the pineapple chunks( drain off all juice) and the crashed pecans; then add the blended mixture.
    4. Refrigerate until firm.

    Mosaic Jello

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    This delicious jello is fun and easy! Note: for the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and table cream I used Nestle brand.

    Ingredients:
    - 4 (3 oz) packages of jell-O ( each different flavor)
    - 3 Tbsp powdered gelatin
    - 1 can (12oz) evaporated milk
    - 1 can (14oz) condensed milk
    - 1 can (8 oz or 237 mL) table cream OR half &half cream
    - 13 cups of water

    Preparation:
    1. Prepare each package of jello separately by adding two cups of boiling water to each; stir until completely dissolved. Then add one cup of cold water to each and stir again. Refrigerate until firm. Then, cut in cubes.
    2. Boil the remaining one cup of water and add it to the powdered gelatin, stir until dissolved.
    3. Then blend the dissolved gelatin, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and table cream.
    4. Put the jello cubes in a large container, and add the blended mix. Refrigerate until firm.

    Food Substitutes

    Has it ever happened to you that you want to do a recipe but you can't because you are missing an ingredient? Well don't worry! My advice to you: MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! Here are some helpful substitutes that can save your life!

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    Coconut Cake



    Hi! This coconut cake is so yummy I guarantee you'll do it more than once!! It goes perfectly with the Cream Cheese Frosting I assure you it's the most perfect combination for a heavenly taste!!

    Ingredients
    • 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp baking soda
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 3/4 cups sugar
    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsaltes butter, room. temp.
    • 1 cup cannes sweetened cream of coconut
    • 4 egg yolks
    • 4 egg whites
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 cup buttermilk

    Preparation
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F
    2. Blend flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
    3. In a separate bowl, using electric mixer beat sugar, butter, and sweetened cream of coconut until fluffBeat in egg yolks and vanilla extract. On low speed, incorporate dry ingredients and then buttermilk.
    4. Beat egg whites until stiff in separate bowl using clean beaters; add them to batter.
    5. Bake until tester inserted comes clean, about 45 min.

    Tuesday, July 24, 2012

    Cream Cheese Frosting


    This cream cheese frosting goes perfectly with coconut cake, as well as carrot or nut cake. It is easy, different, and delicious!!

    Ingredients:
    • 2 packages of cream cheese (preferebly Philadelphia brand)
    • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temp.
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 1/2 cup canned sweetened coconut cream
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    Preparation:
    1. Beat cream cheese  in bowl until fluffy.
    2. Add butter and beat to blend.
    3. Add sugar, sweetend cream of coconut, and vanila extract and beat until well blended.