Carrot Cake Cookies

It's almost March, it's almost spring, it's almost Easter.  Sorta.  I've got CARROTS on my brain, I've got carrots on my BRAIN, I've got carrots, carrots, CARROTS on my BRAIN!  

You see, I think I had a stroke there for a second.  I just sang a song about carrots, except for I didn't sing it, I wrote it down, so that you could sing it as you read it.  You don't understand how tired I am, people.  It's dangerous for me to be blogging, because I don't know what sort of sentence or song I will come up with next.  So for now, I'm just going to leave you with this recipe.  I loved this cookie.  It felt wonderfully unique and it was very easy to make.  Shortcuts, I'm all about them right now.  And making a cookie with a little help from a bag of cake mix is the best kind of shortcut.  

Carrot Cake Cookies
(Makes approx. 24 cookies)
Printable Recipe

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup carrot cake mix
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
White chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla, and mix until incorporated.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cake mix, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.  Stir in white chocolate chips.  Place by rounded spoonful on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Chicken and Seafood Paella

My friends recently took a cooking class at Leti's Catering in NYC.  They raved and raved about it (if you live in NY, check it out), and then they made us homemade Gazpacho and Paella as they learned to make them in class.  Both were delicious, so naturally I stole the recipes from them and planned to make them myself.  What I needed, however, was a giant paella pan and then voila!  Carson bought me one for my birthday.  (I'm really sorry I said "voila" like that.)  Carson sure knows the way to this lady's heart.  Any sort of giant or miniature kitchen equipment??  Swoon.  

Anyway, I tackled the paella this past weekend for some friends.  I was nervous.  Like, "don't look at me while I cook dinner guests I mean just kidding help me HELP" nervous.  But it worked!  I did it!  It was delicious!  I made a combo of seafood (with shrimp, calamari and clams) and chicken (which I cooked earlier and added at the end).  Now, I feel guilty posting the recipe because Leti charges money for her classes in which you get to take the recipe home (also I lost it), but if you're interested in making paella yourself, and you have a pan the size of small UFO, email me and we'll discuss.  

(all photos by Chasing You Photo)      

Patsy's Turkey Burgers with Garlic Mayo Dip

Guess what?  If you send me recipes, I will make them.  Most of the time.  If they sound deliciously irresistible, that is.  No pressure.  A friend/reader constantly sends me recipes and I have them all bookmarked.  I finally got around to these turkey burgers, named after one of her relatives.  Ground turkey mixed with all sorts of vibrant, somewhat southwestern ingredients, fried up as sliders and dipped in a tangy garlic mayo.  She recommended topping them with avocado, which I did, and I also added mushrooms and served them over sourdough toast.  They were superb.  Patsy probably doesn't follow a recipe, since she invented these, but I tried to throw one together for you.  Send me more recipes!  Send me more recipes!  But only if they're irresistibly delicious.      

Patsy's Turkey Burgers with Garlic Mayo Dip
(Makes approx. 15 sliders)
Printable Recipe

Burgers:
1 lb. ground turkey
1/4 cup chopped parsley or cilantro (I used cilantro)
5 or 6 chopped green onions (tops and bottoms)
Poblano pepper, finely chopped
Anaheim pepper, finely chopped
1 large egg
1 T mayo
1/2 cup bread crumbs (I used panko)
1/2 tsp salt

Mayo:
1/4 cup mayo
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced

Throw all burger ingredients in a bowl and mix with a spoon or your hands.  Form them into slider size (or regular burger size if you wish).  Heat olive oil over medium-high heat and saute the burgers until cooked through (roughly 5 minutes a side if you're making sliders).  Whisk mayo ingredients together and serve.

Chocolate Mayonaise Cake

Now don't freak out.  I know this doesn't sound right.  Chocolate - mayo - cake??  Did I make a typo up there??  No sir ma'am, I did not.  Think about it, what is mayo made of?  Eggs, oil, vinegar.  What makes a cake moist and delicious?  Eggs, oil, vinegar.  I'm telling you, this was THE BEST chocolate cake I have ever made.  From here on out, mayo is going in ALL of my cakes.  And if you hate the condiment, you would never know it.  It doesn't taste like mayo, you silly billies, it just makes the cake ridiculously moist and delicious, and full of rich chocolate flavor.  

Oh, and also, the chocolate buttercream frosting.  I mean, shut up, just shut up recipe with your PERFECT chocolate buttercream frosting.  It's absurd.  Warning!  There are 3 sticks of butter in it, but, if you splurge a little and use the unsalted European kind (found in your regular market) you will not regret it.  You will stick your face in it.  It's just a wonderful, wonderful cake.    

I used this recipe, so there you go.

Easy Egg Bake

Hello.  It's 6am Siri.  6am Siri has bacon on the stove and a pot of coffee in her lap.  6am Siri is dealing with some familiar, dreaded words associated with a baby... "teething" and "growth spurt."  6am Siri was up last night at 10 (I go to bed at 8), 12, 2, 4 and I just fed my baby again, hence, why I am up at 6am and calling myself '6am Siri' like a really annoying person.  

Oh boy.  Listen, I don't want to complain.  I know these phases come and go, and in a few days she might be back to sleeping from 8-6 like she was 2 weeks ago (RIGHT, UNIVERSE?!?).  It's just that four nights of "sleeping" like this has turned me into a silly, delirious zombie, and I just looked out my window and thought a bird was a giant puff of smoke.

Oh boy.  (Do I keep saying that?)  I sure wish I was enjoying this egg bake I made a few days ago.  (p.s. I love calling something a "bake" or a "casserole" or a "hot dish" because, Minnesota that's why.)  It's my friend's recipe and it's the easiest thing in the world to throw together.  Best part?  You assemble it the night before so all you have to do in the morning is roll your zombie self out of bed and pop it in the oven.  And it's one of those dishes that will work with any sort of cheese, meat or veggie you have in your fridge.  It's entirely interchangeable.  Here's how to do it, and now if you'll excuse me I have some coffee and bacon to make love to...

9 eggs, 3 cups of milk, 1 1/2 cups grated cheese of choice, 1 lb. cooked sausage (or bacon or pancetta), 3 pieces of bread in inch cubes, whatever veggies you fancy, 1 tsp dry mustard, salt and pepper.  I like to whisk my eggs, milk, and spices first.  Then I add cheese, meat bread and veggies.  Then I throw it all in a greased baking dish, cover, refrigerate overnight.  Then in the morning I uncover and bake for, oh, 20-30 minutes in a 375 degree oven.  Just keep an eye on it and when it's all golden it's done.

  

Oscar-Themed Cocktails

Are you having an Oscar Party?  Not I, said the fly.  Before kids, I made a point out of seeing every nominated film.  Now, I would go see a movie like "Safe Haven" if it meant I could eat popcorn in a dark theater.  But, if I were having an Oscar party, wouldn't it be fun to have themed cocktails for the Best Picture films?  The nice people at Deustch Family Wine & Spirits have just that for you... see below for some tasty sounding adult beverages.  For all alcoholic products listed in this post, go to the Deustch Family Wine & Spirits website.  

AMOUR - Catatonic

1 oz. Adult Chocolate Milk

1 oz. creme de menthe

6 oz. hot chocolate

1 oz. whipped cream

Pour the Adult Chocolate Milk and creme de menthe into a coffee mug, and stir.  Add hot chocolate, and top with whipped cream.  Sprinkle with chocolate shavings and a cherry, if desired, and serve.

ARGO - Canadian Embassy

2 oz. The Original Moonshine

1/2 oz. maple syrup

Slice of orange

Dash of bitters

Measure maple syrup into a glass.  Add ice and pour in The Original Moonshine slowly, stirring to ensure that you properly combine it with the syrup.  Add a splash of bitters.  Rub an orange slice around the inside of a rocks glass, add fresh ice, and strain The Original Moonshine mixture into the rocks glass.  Garnish with orange and serve.

 LIFE OF PI - Eye of the Tiger

2 oz. LICOR 43 Liqueur 

1/2 oz. Galliano

2 oz. fresh orange juice 

2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice

1 oz. passion fruit nectar

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

1 oz. simple syrup

Dash of rum-based bitters

Ice cubes

Garnish: pineapple wedge, orange slice, or any other fresh fruit

Combine all ingredients with ice and shake.  Strain into an ice-filled glass and garnish.

LES MISERABLES - Gavroche

2 oz. LICOR 43 Liqueur

1/2 oz. vodka

2 oz. fresh orange juice

2 oz. cranberry juice cocktail

Ice cubes

Clementines, peeled, separated into segments

Mix cranberry juice, vodka, LICOR 43 Liqueur, and orange juice in cocktail shaker full of ice.  Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish each with a clementine segment.

LINCOLN - Prairie Lawyer

2 oz. of The Original Moonshine

2 tablespoons Mint Syrup

Crushed ice

1 tablespoon of fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Mint leaves

Fresh mint sprig

Combine mint leaves, syrup and The Original Moonshine in a glass.  Using a bar spoon, crush the mint to release its essence into the liquid.  Fill the glass with ice.  Gently press the spoon into the ice, shaking it to incorporate The Original Moonshine syrup mixture.  Garnish.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK - Home-aid

2 oz. LICOR 43 Liqueur

1/2 oz. vodka

4 oz. tropical fruit punch

1 tablespoon of fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Combine all ingredients with ice and shake.  Strain into an ice-filled glass and garnish with an umbrella.

DJANGO UNCHANGED - The D is Silent

1.5 oz. LICOR 43 Liqueur

1/2 oz. pomegranate juice

3/4 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice

2 oz. ginger beer

Add all ingredients but the ginger beer into a cocktail shaker full of ice; shake and strain into a cocktail glass, then add the ginger beer.  You can also serve this drink in a highball glass over ice by instead adding pomegranate juice, LICOR 43 Liqueur, and lime juice to an ice-filled glass; stirring for 30 seconds.  Add the ginger beer and stir once more.  The over-ice version stays cooler longer, but as the ice melts the smoky flavor will be less distinct.  

ZERO DARK THIRTY - Seal Team Six

2 oz. LICOR 43 Liqueur

1 oz. of dark rum

1 splash 151 Proof Rum

Dark Cola

5 cubes ice

Fill glass with ice.  Add dark rum and LICOR 43 Liqueur.  Fill with Cola.  Add splash of High Proof Rum to taste.  

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD - The Bathtub

1 oz. The Original Moonshine

1/2 oz. of triple sec

7 dashes of rum-based bitters

7 dashes orgeat syrup-based bitters

Champagne

Ice cubes

Lemon twist

Stir ingredients briefly over ice, strain into a chilled flute, top with Champagne and garnish.

*Please drink responsibly.  There, I said it.  Thanks Deustch Family Wine & Spirits for the great ideas!  (Top image)

Banana Cookie Bars with Nutella Buttercream Frosting

Carson accuses me of letting bananas go bad.  And by the way, it's possible I've written that exact sentence on this blog before.  Ok so maybe I don't rush to eat them while they're edible.  Maybe I silently rejoice when I see them start to brown and ripen.  Maybe I google banana recipes like it's my job.  It is sort of my job, right?  It's my job.  Let's go with that.  

So I had two ripe bananas, and I found this recipe.  Gosh darnit, it's good.  I don't think you can possibly go wrong pairing bananas with Nutella, and these bars, while slightly dense, resemble a sugar cookie with delicious banana flavor.  You should let your bananas go bad, I think...      

Quick Chicken Corn Chowder

LA can be such a tease.  This past weekend we experienced 80 degree temps, cloudless skies, and populated beaches.  And now it's cold, gray and raining.  I know "cold" is relative, and it might be much colder where you are (trust me, I lived in the Midwest for 13 years).  But I say anything below 60 degrees calls for Chowder, that's right, I say it.  

I love finding Cooking Light recipes that sound good, because most of the time they really are.  This did not taste like a diet version of chowder, and yet it was made with low-fat milk and only two tablespoons of butter (recipe here).  If you have leftover chicken, make this, it will take you no time at all and it will be delicious.  In any kind of weather. 

Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

How has it taken me so long to make these??  I saw the recipe (here or here) ages ago, and how it didn't send me running into the kitchen like a lunatic is beyond me.  I guess it's because I stopped buying Rice Krispies when I saw what the damn cereal could do to my floor (Jack has no idea how to snap, crackle and pop the things INTO his mouth).  But I finally got around to it, and I will NEVER make the traditional treat any other way.  Browning the butter and adding a touch of salt take them to another dimension, but not too gourmet for the kiddos to notice.  You must, must, MUST try.  

Let's play the cloud game.  What do you see in this pool of brown butter?  I initially saw the state of Wisconsin, and then quickly realized it doesn't look at all like Wisco.  Then I saw the Land 'O Lakes butter woman and, finally, an embryo in a uterus.  Is this doing anything for your appetite?  

I swear I will put the heart-shaped cookie cutter away now.  

Chocolate Raspberry Pie Pops

I am not a Pinterest-er, but occasionally I'll come across something in my Internet perusing that I just can't resist.  Like Pie Pops, I mean, come on.  Pie Pops!!  What an adorable idea, Internet, damn you.  For any occasion, really, but I found these heart ones especially sweet for Valentine's Day.  Adorable, sweet... looking at me being all romantical.  Here is the recipe... I went with seedless raspberry jam and a few chocolate chips for my filling.    

Jack had a blast helping...

Um, please remember to poke a few holes in each pie pop or else...

...this will happen.  "Broken Hearts" as Carson aptly named them.  So sad : (

Chewy Reese's Chocolate Cookies

Sometimes, you have to open your cupboard, grab a bag of peanut butter chips, and follow the recipe on the back of the bag.  Because fancy blogs like mine (just go with it) aren't the only place to turn for a good cookie.  And, on an unrelated topic, why is 'cupboard' such a weird word?  Cup board??  Shouldn't it be spelled cubbard?  I'm glad you're here to discuss these sorts of things with.  Anyway, if you don't have a bag of peanut butter chips, you can find the recipe here.  On my fancy blog.  And to fancy things up further, I baked them in a pan and used a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make them festive.  Because I heart you people.  And I especially heart peanut butter and chocolate.  

Thank you fancy bag.