Cookie Monster Cupcakes

How cute are these? I saw these cupcakes on PBS Food. I'm going to make them for my kiddo's class in a couple of weeks. There's not much of a recipe to post since I'm going to use a box cake mix, vanilla icing in a can, and use food coloring to make the icing blue. I know, totally lazy of me. If you have a recipe that you think would work great this please link me and I'll try it out sometime. :)

Here's what you need:

• 12 cup muffin pan
• Your favorite cake mix
• Vanilla or white icing of your choice
• Cupcake wrappers/paper baking cups (try to find blue)
• Semi sweet or milk chocolate chips for the eyes
• White chocolate wafers for the eyes (If you can't find the wafers in a near by store try Wilton.com)
• Chocolate chip cookies for the mouth (I'm going to use Chip Ahoy cookies)

Directions:

1. Follow the baking instructions on the cake mix box.
2. Add a couple of drops of blue food coloring to your white icing to reach the desired color.
3. After icing your cupcakes, take some of the left over icing and put a small dot in the center of the white chocolate wafers. Then stick one of the chocolate chips on top of the icing to complete the eyes.
4. Arrange the eyes however you like on the cupcakes. Then take your chocolate chip cookies and push them part way into the cupcake so it looks cookie monster is actually eating them. Crumble a few cookies on to the cupcakes so it looks like cookie monster has already devoured some of them. (See picture)

These cupcakes look like they will be a huge hit with the kids. I can't wait to try this out!

Homemade Playdough

If you have kids you know this stuff goes quick. Usually the playdough we have gets really gross after it's been played with a number of times so I just toss it out after a while and make some more. There's nothing more gross than seeing playdough have pet hair or crumbs mashed into it. When in doubt throw it out and make more!

What you need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• food coloring

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except food coloring in a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Stir over medium heat until smooth.
3. Stir continuously until the dough balls (about 1-2 minutes). Remove from heat.
4. When the dough cools down enough to handle, knead until smooth and form into a ball.
5. Divide the dough up into equal portions. This recipe will yield about 4-5 colors once you divide the dough up.
6. Next add the food coloring to each divided portion of the playdough and knead it until it's the desired color you're looking for.

To keep the playdough fresh and for future use, you can store the playdough in small plastic containers, plastic zip lock bags work well too. I use old plastic snack containers.

Suggestion: Cookie cutters are a lot of fun in creating shapes with your new homemade playdough. Wilton has a great set of plastic cookie cutters on amazon.

Here's my kiddo having a good time.

Bertucci's Dipping Oil

I love, love, love Bertucci's dipping oil. If you've never been to this restaurant you're missing out! ;) The dipping oil for their bread is really delicious. If you're making Italian for dinner try this recipe to dip your bread in.

What you need:

Olive Oil

Minced Garlic

Fresh rosemary if you can find some

Parmesan Cheese

Red Pepper Flakes

Directions:

In small saucepan add olive oil and minced garlic, cook until garlic is a light golden color, don't take your eyes off of it, it can brown/burn quickly. Combine the rest of the ingredients and cooking for a min or two. Let cool and enjoy!

You'll have to adjust all ingredients to your own tastes. This recipe is very close to the real thing.

Brie En Croute

I made this a few months ago and plan to make it again for Easter. It's easy and delicious, it will wow anyone you have over, plus they think you took a lot of time to make it. ;) It's a Paula Deen recipe so you know it's not figure friendly recipe. Just eat it on special occasions. You can find the original recipe on foodnetwork.com. I've made this recipe exactly what it calls for but you can always change it up bit and add fruit like blueberries. Mmmm! You'll have rave reviews every time you make this.

What you need:

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, pre-packaged
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (8-ounce) wheel Brie
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• Crackers, for serving (optional)
  

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Defrost puff pastry for about 15 mins.

3. In a pan, melt the butter, add the walnuts into the butter until golden brown, only a few mins, no longer than 5 mins.

4. Take walnuts off the heat and add cinnamon, stir until walnuts are coated well.

5. Place the Brie in a bowl and add the walnut mixture on top and sprinkle the brown sugar over the mixture.

6. Lay the puff pastry out on a flat surface, then place the brie in the center of the pastry. Gather up the edges of the pastry, pressing around the brie and gather at the top. Gently squeeze together the excess dough. Brush a beaten egg over top and side of Brie. Place Brie on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes until pastry is golden brown.

You can serve it with crackers but I like it usually without. Enjoy!

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

I recently got this recipe from pillsbury.com but made some adjustments to my our households taste.

What you need:

2

10 oz cans of Pillsbury Grands flaky layers biscuits

1

Can of cream of chicken w/herbs soup

1

Cup of cooked of shredded chicken

1 Cup of frozen mixed vegetables

1/2

Teaspoon of onion powder (adjust to taste)

1/2

Teaspoon of garlic powder (adjust to taste)

1/4

Cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (optional)

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, frozen veggies, cheese, and spices.

3. Lightly spray a regular sized 12 cup muffin pan and press biscuits into each cup, pressing into the bottom and up the sides.

4. Evenly spoon the mixture into each biscuit cup.

5. Pop into the oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes.