Snowday Snapshots & Pork Nachos

 

 

 

 

  

 

Pulled Pork Nachos

1 bag of corn tortilla chips
1 pound of pulled pork
2 jalapenos
1 purple onion
2 cups fresh shredded cheddar 
cilantro
lime

Preheat oven at 325 degrees F, and cover your baking pan with foil for easy clean up.

Dice jalapenos and onions . Spread out chips so they can be easily topped with pork. Sprinkle diced veggies and cheese.

Bake 12-15 minutes.

Serve with cilantro, lime, and salsa.

Honey Apple Cake

Snowed in again! But I won't complain. I had requested The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner from the library two months ago, and lucky for me it became available last week. Perfect timing for this winter treat. 

On top of having a great book, yesterday, I made this honey apple cake (inspired by this recipe I saw on pinterest, of course). It's one of those cakes you can eat any time of the day - breakfast, lunch, afternoon, dinner, or for a midnight snack. It was great last night with some ice cream, and then again this morning with coffee. And next time you need a recipe to take to brunch with the girls or a breakfast potluck, consider yourself covered. 

Honey Apple Cake

 

apple cake:

3 cups diced granny smith or honey crisp apples

1 cup lightly chopped walnuts

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar

1-1/4 cups canola oil

 3 eggs

honey glaze:

1 cup confectioners sugar

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons milk

to prepare the apple cake:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Lightly grease or spray a bundt or coffee cake pan. 

In a bowl, mix together the diced apples, toasted chopped walnuts, vanilla, and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Using an electric mixer beat the sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl.  Add in the dry ingredients and beat until completely combined.  Fold in the apple mixture.

 

 

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.  The batter is going to be thick.  Place your pan on the center rack and cook for 60-80 minutes.

to prepare the honey glaze:

Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until smooth.  Cover with plastic wrap and set the bowl aside.  (This will thicken up as it sets.)

Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan, about 1 hour, and then turn it out onto a plate. Drizzle glaze on top, and serve warm.

Original recipe from A Cup of Mascarpone

Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED - TRY, TRY AGAIN. I'LL ADMIT, THAT WAS THE CASE WITH THIS CAKE.

THE RECIPE IS GREAT, AND WORKED WONDERFULLY MY SECOND TIME AROUND. MY ONLY PROBLEM WAS MY 9-INCH ROUND PAN WAS A BIT TOO SHALLOW FOR THIS AMOUNT OF CAKE BATTER.

I REALLY SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED MY GUT WHEN I THOUGHT MY PAN WAS TOO FULL. BUT IN ANY CASE, THE RECIPE IS SIMPLE ENOUGH I DIDN'T MIND WHIPPING IT UP AGAIN. THE FIX WAS SIMPLE TOO; I USED TWO CAKE PANS, AND SPLIT THE BATTER EVENLY AMONG THEM.

OF COURSE, INSTEAD OF A THREE LAYER CAKE I HAD TWO A LAYER CAKE, BUT I AM SURE IT WAS JUST AS TASTY AND MOIST!

YELLOW CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING
RECIPE FROM MAST BROTHERS CHOCOLATE COOKBOOK
 

SERVES 10

FOR THE CAKE:

3/4 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER (1 1/2 STICKS)

1 3/4 CUPS GRAULATED SUGAR

6 EGG YOLKS

2 CUPS CAKE FLOUR

3 1/2 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER

1/2 TEASPOON SEA SALT

3/4 CUP WHOLE MILK

FOR THE FROSTING:

8 OUNCES DARK CHOCOLATE, CHOPPED

1/2 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER (1 STICK)

1 TABLESPOON VANILLA

2 CUPS CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR

1 POUND CREAM CHEESE

MAKE THE CAKE:

1. PREHEAT OVEN 350 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

2. BUTTER ONE ROUND 8 INCH CAKE PAN (I USED 2 9-INCH ROUND)

3. IN STAND MIXER, BEAT BUTTER WITH SUGAR UNTIL FLUFFY

4. ADD EGG YOLKS AND FLOUR, BAKING POWDER, SALT, AND COMBINE

5. POUR BATTER INTO PREPARED CAKE PANS

6. BAKE 25 MINUTES. LET COOL.

MAKE THE FROSTING:

7. MELT THE CHOCOLATE

8. IN A BOWL, CREAM BUTTER, VANILLA, AND CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR

9. ADD CREAM CHEESE AND MELTED CHOCOLATE, COMBINE UNTIL SMOOTH

ASSEMBLE:

10. INVERT PANS RELEASING CAKE ONTO SURFACE FOR ICING

11. SPREAD FROSTING ON TOP OF ONE LAYER (THE BETWEEN LAYERS)

12. STACK LAYERS DIRECTLY ON TOP ONCE FROSTED

13. CONTINUE FROSTING TO COVER ENTIRE CAKE.

NOTE: THE ORIGINAL RECIPE IS A THREE LAYER CAKE, AND I HAVE MODIFIED IT HERE TO ONLY TWO LAYERS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO TRY THREE LAYERS, JUST USE ONE ROUND CAKE PAN. AFTER THE CAKE COOKS AND COOLS, YOU CAN THEN SLICE IT HORIZONTALLY INTO THREE LAYERS.

ORIGINAL RECIPE FROM MAST BROTHERS CHOCOLATE COOKBOOK

Five things to do during an ice storm

 Yesterday, the south had a pretty major ice storm. Although, we were completely unprepared for the weather event, we managed to keep ourselves occupied and ended up having a great day! Here are a few shots from around our yard and back-alley. I didn't venture too far, but couldn't resist capturing our frozen little world. 

Five Things to do in an ice storm:

1. Listen to NPR all morning (in bed): Since you're not at work, you can actually catch the Diane Rhem Show.

2. Eat too many pancakes: We used this simple, homemade pancake recipe from inspired taste. 

3. Exercise: I did this yin yoga routine; Yogi Nora always makes me feel amazing. 

4. Get lost in fiction: Luckily, I have Lydia Davis's short stories checked out from the library.

5. Invent a casserole: Pickin's were slim around the pantry, but we managed a broccoli, chicken, quinoa, and gruyere dish that was to die for!

Monday is a basic bitch

My new favorite! 

Are you following @decor8's new Instagram account, Monday is a Basic Bitch? Holly Becker features one of her favorite Instgram accounts each week, and shares lots more gorgeous inspiration!

Take a peek! To follow Holly: @decor8 or @mondayisabasicbitch

Heart Ravioli

 

 

THE PAST FEW WEEKS I'VE BEEN ALL ABOUT MAKING PASTA. THIS WAS MY FIRST TRY AT RAVIOLI, AND ALTHOUGH MY FIRST BATCH WAS A LITTLE ROUGH (BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERFILL) -- THINGS GOT MUCH BETTER ALONG THE WAY.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING YOUR OWN, YOU ONLY NEED A PASTA ROLLER LIKE ONE OF THESE, SOME FLOUR, EGGS, AND SALT. WE REALLY HAD FUN!

RECIPE INSPIRED BY: ANNIE'S EATS

My Favorite Pins this Week!

Last week I was off work for two days to take care of Sam after a minor surgery. {He's doing wonderful!}  I had plenty of time to spend on Pinterest while sitting in doctor's office waiting rooms. Here are a few favorites I pinned! Especially that carrot cake... of which I hope to find time to make this weekend!

You can find more on my boards and links for all images, here!