BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTER beer :)

I don't know why, but all of the sudden I wanted butterbeer. For those of you that have been living in a rock and know nothing of Harry Potter, SHAME ON YOU! Now, go get the books and read THEN watch the movies. Books are much better :) So, here is a recipe for butterbeer. I will share more recipes for you crazy kids :) And hey, this is a super easy version. If you want a tasty, more involved version, let me know!

Whatcha Need for ONE Serving:

2 TB caramel ice cream topping

1/4 C "whipped" topping (coolwhip)

1 C Cream Soda

2-3 ice cubes if you want it cold :)

Whatcha do:

Microwave the caramel for about 10 secs. Add the whipped topping and mix well. Now, we like to heat up our butterbeer. If you're down, then heat up your cream soda:) Pour your cream soda over your whipped topping. It will fizzle and make you happy :)

**Now, as far as ingredients are concerned, you can get everything you need for less than $5 at WAL-mart for plenty of servings! If you're doing it for a party, it's all fine and dandy to just do the cheap Sam's Choice/Great Value version. HOWEVER :) If you're going to just do it for fun with a few peeps, then I would suggest getting the super tasty Cream Soda :)

easy peasy peach crisp

this is the easiest crisp you will EVER make :) We needed something fun for dessert and so wa la! :)

Whatcha need:

1 qt peaches (or BIG can LOL)drained

1/2 tsp cinnamon (i use 1 tsp, but i likes me some cinnamon)

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 C butter, melted

1/3 C flour

1/2 C brown sugar, packed

1 C oatmeal

1/2 tsp cinnamon *optional

Whatcha do:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place your peaches in a 7"casserole dish or and 8*8" pan. I slice my peaches after I put them in the pan/dish. Makes less mess for you! Just hold 'em with a fork and slice away :) Now, you can add more peaches. I like to use 2 cans or 1 1/2 qts. Sprinkle the nutmeg and cinnamon over the peaches. In separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over peaches. Bake for about 30 mins. It's super duper tasty when you serve it with vanilla ice cream. Stevey LOVED it!

Yummy YUMMY Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins :)

Now, please keep in mind, this is not for the healthy folks :) :) But it's super tasty!! So bake and be happy :)

Whatcha Need:

Cream Cheese Filling

1 8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons brown sugar

Streusel Topping
4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped pecans *optional

Muffin Mixture
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whatcha Gotta Do:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line your muffin pan with super cute paper liners :) Makes 18

To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, then set aside.

For the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

For the muffin batter: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil and vanilla. Beat together until smooth.

Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter. Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.

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Quinoa is a nice healthier alternative to rice. Some people aren't likin' it (said in my best Sinjia voice) It's really pretty easy to make. First I shall share the basic way to cook it and then I'll let you know the way I do it for our stir-fry :)

Basic Quinoa Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

1 1/2 cups cold water

Optional: 1/4 tsp salt

This part is optional: Soak the quinoa for 5 min in the cooking pot. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly, and loosens up any residue of saponin (usually removed in processing), which can give a bitter taste. Most quinoa sold nowadays has been cleaned, and steamed to remove the saponin, so don't worry about that overly much. To Rinse: Stir the quinoa with your hand, and carefully pour off the rinsing water, using a fine mesh strainer at the last.

Drain quinoa well in the strainer, transfer to the cooking pot, add 1 1/2 cups water & 1/2 tsp salt if desired. Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat down to simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove quinoa from heat and allow to sit five minutes with the lid on
Fluff quinoa gently with a fork and serve (like you do with stovetop stuffing lol)

**for our stir-fry i used garlic salt! :) instead of regular salt. I also add one beef bullion cube to the water. ** oh adventurous, i know :)

Friday Din Din

This shall be our dinner tomorrow. I'm doing two separate posts. This here is the beefiness for din-din. We will be serving this over quinoa :) It's a much better alternative to rice. I get mine at Winco-HOLY CHEAP batman :)

Let me know whatcha think :)

Whatcha need:

1 pound top sirloin or chuck steaks (about 1/2 inch thick), trimmed (or if you're cheap like me, just some stewing meat will do)
1 large garlic clove, minced (of 2 tbps of the minced stuff from Costco)
Olive oil, grapeseed oil, or canola oil *take your pick*
2 medium bell peppers, one red, one green, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced lengthwise (root to top)
A dozen cherry tomatoes, cut in half, or one large tomato, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Whatcha do:
Season the steaks with salt and pepper and rub minced garlic over them, both sides. Place the steaks between two sheets of plastic wrap. With a meat pounder, pound the steaks to a 1/4 inch thickness. Let the steaks sit for 10 minutes to absorb the flavor of the garlic. Then cut them across the grain in 1/2-inch wide strips. *Cheap method-put the stewing beef, salt, pepper, and garlic in plastic baggie. "Rub" the garlic into the beef and let set for 10 mins.* While the steak is sitting, heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok on medium high to high heat. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers, cook, stirring, until just barely tender, about 1-2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute. Remove the vegetables from the pan to a bowl and keep warm. Heat an additional 2 Tbsp of oil in the skillet on medium high to high heat, until the oil is shimmering, but not smoking. Add the strips of beef let the beef brown initially, without stirring, but as soon as it is brown on at least one side, then stir. Cook for no more than a minute (for rare). I do it for like 3-4 mins. I hate raw meat. Add the vegetables and Worcestershire and cook for a half minute longer, stirring. Remove from heat.

Serve alone (low carb), or with steamed rice OR Quinoa

Thick and Hearty Cheesy Chicken Soup :)

Whatcha do:

1 C shredded carrots

1/4 C sliced green onions
3 TB butter

1/4 C flour
2 C milk

1 can chicken broth (11 oz)
1 can chunk chicken breast

1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp black pepper

Whatcha do:
In a medium saucepan, cook carrots and green onion in hot butter for about 10 mins or until tender but not browned. Stir in flour. Slowly add milk, chicken borth, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in chicken and cheese. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese melts. Serve hot.

nice and tasty for that cold weather we know is coming sometime :)