Turkey Meatloaf Cupcakes

I know, I know!!! I can make anything into a cupcake. All things cupcakes in my little world! And what better for meatloaf and mashed potatoes to be made into your own individual cupcake (meatcakes if we are being politically correct)? This quick and easy, all-in-one dinner is perfect for even the pickiest of eaters.

Turkey Meatloaf cupcakes topped with Wilted Spinach and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Makes 6 large muffins

Meatloaf (meatcakes)

1/2 Onion chopped

1 medium Carrot chopped

2 Garlic Cloves chopped

Olive oil for sauteing 

1.5lbs Ground Turkey

1c Bread crumbs ( I used Italian bread crumbs )

2 Eggs

1tbs Worcestershire Sauce

1tbs Mustard

3/4c Ketchup seperated

Salt and Pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the inside of a large muffin pan with cooking spray. In a large skillet, put 2 turns of olive oil in the pan and saute the onion, carrots, and garlic. Let cool.

Place the rest of the ingredients in  a large bowl plus 1/2 cup of the ketchup, and mix in the cooled onion mix. Scoop out mixture and fill muffin tins. Spread the rest of the ketchup on the tops of each muffin. Cook for 25-30 minutes.

Recipe adapted from First Look then Cook

Garlic mashed Potatoes

4 medium Yukon gold potatoes peeled and cubed

4-5tbs Butter

2tbs heavy cream

seasoned salt, seasoned pepper, and garlic powder to taste. (Now the reason I don't give the measurements of seasoning is because everyone likes their mashed potatoes differently. This recipe is a version of my dads mashed potatoes but with a different ratio of seasonings. Plus, he doesn't add the garlic powder, rather he likes his potatoes with more seasoned pepper. So I feel that the best recipe for you and your family is one that you add the seasonings however you prefer. Their really is no wrong answer.)

While the meatloaf is cooking, boil the potatoes until tender. Strain the water and add milk, butter and seasonings. Whip the potatoes with a hand mixer until fluffy. Fill in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.

Wilted Spinach

Put 2 cups of washed spinach and a splash of water in a pan, and cook on medium heat until spinach is wilted. About 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

To assemble the meatloaf cakes, place wilted spinach on top of meatloaf. Take your pastry bag with the potatoes and swirl on top of spinach. Garnish with chives if desired.

Cake batter dip filled strawberries

I love all things cake batter. And when I saw this on Pinterest a few months back, I knew I needed to try it. And with strawberries at that! Only problem....... No occasion to make it. A few times I wanted to make it just because it was Tuesday afternoon.
 But my conscience got the better of me and I held off. But this Mothers Day was a reason to celebrate and my hubby put this dip on the top of our menu list. And let me tell you what, my in laws just LOVED  it!! I remember the comment " I could put this in between two pieces of bread and eat it as a sandwich...... or a tortilla. Whichever!"
Yep, its THAT GOOD! We filled hauled strawberries with the dip and left some for dipping with gram crackers, but we favored the filled strawberries. It offsets the sweetness a bit and punches up the flavor. But either way you choose, its still so addictive!

Cake Batter Dip filled Strawberries

1 Box Funfetti cake mix

2 cups Vanilla Yogurt

1 1/2 cups whipped topping

Hauled Strawberries

sprinkles (optional)

Mix the cake mix, yogurt, and whipped topping together in a large bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hr. Place dip in a pastry bag fitted with the decorating tip of your choice and fill each hauled strawberry. Sprinkle with sprinkles (optional)

If you would rather dip, some options are : Gram crackers, animal crackers, nilla wafers, marshmallows, or even just a spoon. The possibilities are ENDLESS!

adapted from Tasty Kitchen

Cheeseburger Pie

Last night I tried a recipe called Skinny Cheeseburger Pie. When my hubby came home from the barn he asked what was for dinner. When I replied with Cheeseburger Pie, he stopped on his tracks and excitedly responded that I was the best most amazing wife and I always make the most amazing and delicious meals! All I could do was crack up. Nothing like speaking to a mans heart through his stomach!! He could be in the worst of moods but the moment I put a plate of food in front of him, he turns to mush and becomes romantic. Before serving this dish, I told him that lately I have been trying out recipes I have seen on my favorite site, Pinterest, and that this is one I saw last week and was interested to try because of the low fat content and the fact that the ingredients are are things he likes. So with our tummies rumbling and knowing that there wasn't going to be any guilt in enjoying this dish, we were excited to eat. After not hearing the usual moaning and compliments I usually hear from the right side of the table, I ask what he thought. He liked it but didn't love it. Being a former manager of a Southern California In n Out Burger, he is very particular about his cheeseburgers. I felt the same way. So with some minor tweaks I think we came up with a great recipe that adds some flavor and balance. So without further ado, here is our new rendition of Cheeseburger Pie.

 Cheeseburger Pie 

1lb Lean ground turkey
1/2c chopped onion
1 1/2tbs Worcestershire sauce 
1 can reduced fat crescent rolls 
1c nonfat cottage cheese 
1c shredded cheddar cheese (divided) 
1 egg 
Season salt or sea salt Ground black pepper 
1 chopped tomato for garnish 

 Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook onions for 1 minute or until they become clear. Be sure not to brown them. Add the turkey and cook through. Drain all juices and fat. Add the Worcestershire sauce, ground pepper and season salt to taste. Spray a pie dish with cooking spray and place the crescent rolls throughout the pan to make the shell. Add the meat mixture to the pie shell. In a medium bowl, mix the cottage cheese, egg and 1/4c shredded cheese. Spread the cheese mixture over the meat. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes so that the cottage cheese mixture had set. Cut up and serve with fresh

French Dip Sliders

Today I didnt have much time to make dinner, as I have been working on my blog site most of the afternoon. (Lets not get into that just yet) I usually make a weekly dinner menu so I know how to shop for the week and plan my day. But today got away from me and I just didnt have enough time to prepare for tonights dinner. I had to make some adjustments and her is where the French Dip Slider found its way into our home and in our list of new dinner ideas! Its so good that my hubby requested I make it again for his mom this Mothers Day.

French Dip Slider

12 Deli sliced roast beef

4 Dinner rolls

4 Swiss cheese slices

11/2 c beef broth

1 tsp beef bouillon

1 small celery stalk

1/2 onion

1/2 tsp thyme

salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet in foil. Slice dinner rolls in half and place 3 folded slices of the roast beef on the bottom bun, layer with sliced cheese and top of bun. Bake until cheese is melted and bun is slightly toasted. Serve with Au Jus and don't look back!!

Au Jus

Place the beef broth, beef bouillon, celery, onion, and thyme in a sauce pan and simmer until the veggies are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I only added pepper since the broth and bouillon add enough salt for my liking. Stain the Au Jus through a fine mesh strainer and poor into a small bowl or ramekin. And dip till your hearts content :)

Introduction

This isn't my first time starting a blog, but it is my first time taking the time to do it. I write in my spare time and have composed a few books. But for some reason I never let anyone read them. I love writing but I might be terrible at it. So i figure that if no one sees what I wrote then no one can judge or put it down. Well to heck with that!! If you don't like what I have to say, then simply just stop reading.

I am a very passionate, sensitive, loving person. I get taken advantage of and have been stabbed in that back by many. But I have recently started to find my voice. And as scary as it is in the world of judgement and criticism, I am finally putting on my big girl panties and spreading the joy whether you like it or not.

I come from a family of very creative woman. I have journals of ideas and stories. My brain is constantly coming up with stuff. My mother is Italian and has always been the strong independent type. Always pursuing her passions and education all the while showering the people most important to her with love and kindness. I happily admit that I have inherited that quality from her. But one I've always been envious of is her confidence. That I don't have. I have gone through life making sure people think I'm confident,  while internally curled up in the fetal position rocking myself back and forth. I'm most comfortable not in the lime light. Being right doesn't make me happy. Proving a point to make someone look bad never settled well with me, so usually I just panic and keep my mouth shut. I am a true lover. I always have the best intentions and want only the best for those in my life. I've felt alone my whole life because I always wanted to be just like my mom. Strong and always remembered. But I've always felt weak and forgettable. I'm not a fighter and don't care too much for negativity. So here you will find me sharing my thoughts, my life, my recipes, and my growth as a stronger woman.
I hope you enjoy it...because if you don't...simply stop reading. Today is the day I spread the joy and add a little something extra special to a world I believe can be the most beautiful place.

Cake Pops

As we all know, cake pops are fastly becoming the next best thing to the cupcake. Little balls of cake and frosting rolled in a ball, dipped in chocolate on a stick!! My mouth is watering and I'm drooling on my keyboard as I type.

I remember about 4 or so years ago, coming across a recipe for cake balls. I believe it was Paula Deen and Bakerella. Those ladies had me hooked. I made some and passed them on to my friends and family and they instantly became a hit. We were all addicted! I've since then taught two of my sister in laws and some of my friends. But what I was most flattered is that since they were fairly new to the baking world, some of my friends called me up the day they saw Starbucks selling them and telling me that I was ripped off and I should of patented the cake ball. I couldn't help but giggle and inform them that I never invented the cake pop. Boy were they surprised!

Cake Pops

1 Box cake (any flavor you like)

1/4 c Frosting from can

Cake Pop Dipping Kit 
             or
Melting chocolate
Microwavable jar or bowl
Lollipop sticks
Styrofoam block

Make cake according to package directions and let it cool slightly. With the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, finely crumbles the cake so there are no clumps of cake. Add frosting and mix until a dough has formed. You may add more frosting as needed, careful as to make sure it doesn't become to sticky. Roll the dough into balls and put in the fridge for 45 minutes to an hour. When you are ready to dip the cake balls, melt your dipping chocolate in the jar at 30 sec interval until melted. Dip stick in the chocolate and push through the cake ball 1/2 through. Once you've attached the sticks, dip the cake pop straight into the jar and cover with chocolate right up to the stick and pull straight up. Gently tap any excess chocolate off the pop. Turn right side up and place the stick in the pop stand to dry.