pasta puttanesca ala caprese

pasta puttanesca ala caprese
Originally uploaded by kel h

super simple pasta dish

1 box rotini pasta

2 pints grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
pinch salt
1/2 c kalmetta olives halved
1 tbsp capers
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 c fresh mozzerella, cut into small cubes
3-6 basil leaves chopped

Boil pasta in salted water

Put chopped garlic into hot pan with olive oil and stir until softened
add the tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. Squish them with a fork or spoon after a minute or two
add the olives, capers and red pepper flakes and cook until warmed
add the mozzeralla and cook until just a bit melty (don't cook too long)
mix in drained pasta, and add the basil just before serving

Super easy and super tasty!

champagne cupcakes for new years

champagne cupcakes for new years
Originally uploaded by kel h

Cupcake Ingredients
2/3 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 3/4 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 c champagne
6 large egg whites

1) Preheat oven 350 degrees

2) Cream butter and sugar together

3) Sift flour, baking powder and salt

4) Blend dry ingredients and butter and sugar

5) Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. fold white into batter in thirds

6) fill liners 3/4 full. Bake for 20 min

Frosting Ingredients

3/4 c vegetable shortening
12 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp champagne
4 1/2 c confectioners sugar

Beat sugar and shortening together. Add champagne, Slowly add sugar until smooth. Add additional champagne to achieve desired consistency

Black Bottom Cupcake on the "cupcake server"

Black Bottom Cupcake on the "cupcake server"
Originally uploaded by kel h

taken from The Cupcake Project

For cake:

2 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3/4 C butter, room temperature
1 1/3 C sugar
2 eggs
2/3 C plain yogurt
1 t vanilla extract
1/3 C milk
5 oz baking chocolate, melted
For goat cheese topping:
8 oz goat cheese (I used Ile de France goat cheese, but any non-flavored goat cheese would work)
1/3 C sugar
1 egg
2 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
Whisk flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium-sized bowl.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and milk until blended.
Alternately fold in flour mixture and melted chocolate, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the goat cheese topping.
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the topping onto the center of each cupcake.
Bake at 350 F for thirty minutes or until a toothpick comes out dry.

periodic table of beer

periodic table of beer
Originally uploaded by John602

this looks handy

Cocktail Hour on Rachel Maddow

This first one is a flaming punch made by Josie, who was our bartender at Drink

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

she is super awesome

This clip has three cockail recipes that were made at the white house

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Curried pumpkin black bean soup

Curried pumpkin black bean soup
Originally uploaded by kel h

Curried Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup(ish)

(so, when I cook and not bake, I am not the best at measuring. this is my best guess as to what is in this)

Definately in the soup
-1 can pumpkin puree
-1 can black beans (not drained)
-4 cloves garlic minced
-1 bay leaf
-1 individual container greek yogurt (I have a bunch left over from trader joes, so it is going in everything until we use it up)
-1 large white potatoe cubed (this would also be good with a sweet potato but I was too tired to cut one up)

Other stuff that i am mostly guessing at the measurements for
1/2 cup vermouth
2 cups veggie broth
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 onion chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp dried thyme
1 or 2 cups egg noodles

Here is what I did

Heat the oil in the pot and cook up the onions, garlic and bay leaf until they brown (maybe toss in a pinch of salt)
then add the pumpkin, vermouth, broth and potatoes
bring to a simmer
Then add the yogurt and spices and stir well to incorporate
Then add the black beans and noodles and cook until the noodles and potatoes are soft

YUM!

mushroom and eggplant strogonoff

mushroom and eggplant strogonoff
Originally uploaded by kel h

1 medium eggplant cubed
1-1/2 pounds mushrooms, cut into thick slices 1/3-1/2 inch
2 individual containers greek yogurt
4 cloves crushed garlic (or to taste)
1 tablespoon paprika or to taste
1 tsp nutmeg (or to taste)
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup dry vermouth

In a cup, mix balsamic vinegar and white wine for sauteeing. Add crushed garlic to this mixture, and use this to saute eggplant until it is nice and soft (15-20 minutes at medium, and saute heat).

Add mushrooms to mixture and sautee until they release their juices. Then add yogurt, paprika, nutmeg, thyme, salt and pepper to taste, and cook 5-6 minutes until sauce has thickened and veggies are heated through. Add additional water if sauce is too thick, and do not overcook.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Makes plenty for 4-6 hungry people. Recipe can be halved.