Bird's Nest Cupcakes

These were perfect for our Easter Dessert! And they were a big hit!!!!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

4 eggs

2 3/4 cupscake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 8 ounce carton sour cream

1/3 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 recipe Citrus Frosting or 1-1/2 cups other frosting

6 ounces vanilla candy coating

4 cupschow mein noodles

Pastel-color candy-coated egg-shape milk chocolate candies or jelly beans (about 84)

Directions:

1. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line twenty-eight 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups. In a medium bowl stir together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl combine sour cream, orange juice, lemon peel, and lemon juice. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a very large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and sour cream mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out batter in cups.

4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks.

5. Frost cupcakes with Citrus Frosting. In a small microwave-safe bowl microwave candy coating on 100 percent power (high) for 30 seconds. Stir; microwave for 20 to 30 seconds more or until completely melted. In a large bowl combine chow mein noodles and the melted candy coating. Shape chow mein mixture into a nest on top of each cupcake.*

6. Add candy-coated milk chocolate candies to each nest. Makes 28 (2-1/2 inch) cupcakes.

Citrus Frosting

Ingredients

1 16 ouncecancream cheese or vanilla frosting

1/2 teaspoonfinely shredded lemon peel

Directions

In a medium bowl stir together frosting and lemon peel.

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

I made these for Easter yesterday and they were so good!!

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), baked

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

3 cups (24 ounces) sour cream

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

2 green onions, sliced

Directions:

1. Cut baked potatoes into 1-in. cubes. Place half in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the salt, pepper and bacon. Top with half of the sour cream and cheeses. Repeat layers.  

2. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until cheeses are melted. Sprinkle with onions.

(So Easter got a little busy and I forgot to take a picture after it was done...this one is before it went in the oven.)

Sweet and Sour Meatballs and Pasta

When my husband and I first started dating he made me these for dinner one night. I wasn't so sure about it at first but thought I'd give it try. (If you know me, you know back then I didn't like to step outside of my comfort zone) I'm so glad I did! I absolutely love this meal!!!!

Ingredients:

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Meatballs

Pasta Noodles

Directions:

1. Once water is at a rolling boil, turn stove to medium and add noodles. Cook for approx. 8-10 minutes.

2. Prepare meatballs in microwave followed by directions on the bag. (All depends on which brand you use) I added a little water to the meatballs. Half way through I cut them in half  and rotated them so they would cook better.

3. Once meatballs and pasta are fully cooked I added the sweet and sour sauce to both!

Such an easy fast meal and tastes soooo good!

Car Emergency Kit

The other day we were driving home from my in-laws and our daughter kept saying she needed a tissue. And of course it happened to be the one time we didn't have one. I remember I came across a Emergency Car Kit on pinterest and decided I had to do this. Most of the things I already have in my car but they are scattered around in compartments and I forget where they are so today during my spare time (little that I had) I made one.

I took an old wipe box I was literally about to throw away and found some fabric laying around (okay that's a lie it wasn't just laying around. I took it off one of the Easter baskets we have :-O )

Inside I put...

-Kleenex

-Wipes

-First Aid Kit containing bandaids, alcohol pads, gauze, hand sanitizer pads

-Advil

-Hand Santizer Gel

-Lotion

- Safety Pin

-Hair tye

-Pen

-and a couple Fruit Snacks

BBQ Chicken Pizza Roll-up

Ah, yes another meal my husband loves! (not my first time making this one) You'll probably never understand my level of excitement when it comes to finding things he will eat...without picking things out of it. What man wouldn't like it? Pizza and BBQ Chicken all mized into one!

Ingredients:

1 tube (13.8 oz.) refrigerated pizza crust

1/4 cup honey barbecue sauce

1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

1-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 small red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, optional

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll crust into a 12 in X 9 in rectangle; brush with barbeque sauce. Layer with cheese, chicken, onion, cilantro, and Italian seasoning if desired.

2. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal. Place seam side down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

3. Beat egg white and water; brush over top. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before slicing.

Adapted from: Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Magezine (December 2011/January 2012)

Crock Pot Orange Chicken

I made this last week but things got a little busy and so I didnt get time to post it.
My husband and I love Chinese food. Our favorite Chinese place stopped delivery to where we live and it's been a challenge to find a place that tastes as good as their food. So I thought I would try to make some myself.

Ingredients:

 boneless chicken breasts, chopped into small chunks (I used about 3)
 1/3 cup flour
 olive oil
 1/2 Tbl. salt
 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
 3 Tbl. ketchup
 6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or throw it in the microwave for 45 seconds)
 4 Tbl. brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup.

Pour the flour in a small bowl. Cover the chicken breast chunks in flour and shake off the excess.

Pour a small amount of olive oil in a skillet and brown the flour-covered chicken.

The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked since it's going in the crock pot.

After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into the crock pot. Then cover the chicken with your sauce mixture and give the pot a stir.

Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3.

Serve over rice and even add veggies if you want a healthier meal.

Adapted From: Six Sisters Stuff

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Only have 30 minutes to make dinner? This is super easy and ready in less than 30 minutes! Score!

Ingredients: 

24 good white dinner rolls

24 pieces good honey ham

24 small slices Swiss cheese

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup miracle whip

Poppy seed sauce (you probably could half this...You'll have extra)

1 Tablespoon poppyseeds

1 1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 Tablespoon minced onion

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. (You do not have to use all of the sauce! Just use enough to cover the tops.) Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.

(Picture from "The Girl Who Ate Everything"..2 kids will get you distracted and forget to take a picture :-) )

Adapted from: The Girl Who Ate Everything