Fudgy Goodness!!

Hello Friends, long time no blog!!! Yesterday was the first day of summer and I thought I’d start the summer of with a chocolate bang!!! I am making Chocolate Popsicles YAY!!!! Yes it is very easy to go buy a box of these fudgy jewels but if you’re up for it these are very fun to make!! I was searching through the usual food blogs that I love and I came across this recipe at Smitten Kitchen. This is a fabulous blog if you’re looking for creative recipes and have the time to do it.  So let’s get summer started!

2 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate (you can use chocolate chips)

1/3 Cup Sugar

1 Tbsp Cornstarch

1 ½ Tbsp of cocoa powder

1 ¼ cup Whole Milk (you can use lighter milk but it won’t give you that rich flavor)

Pinch of salt

½ tsp Vanilla extract

½ Tbsp unsalted butter

So, while I was making these I was thinking there are so many things you can do with these. For adult pops you can use some Bailey’s  ummmmm! Or maybe some coffee, coffee is great with chocolate it will always up that chocolaty flavor.  I didn’t add this is the ingredients but I did add a pinch of cinnamon!! I love the combination it reminds me of the Mexican chocolate, you know what I’m talking about!!

Some have an abuelita on the front or like this one!

These are great especially made ahead of time and if you have some extra kids at your house.

OK, back to what you have to do! On very low heat melt the chocolate DO NOT WALK AWAY!! This will happen very fast you do not want burnt chocolate Popsicles! After it is melted add sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, milk, and salt. Stir and raise the heat to medium, again do not walk away. Continually stir this because it will easily start to scorch on the bottom. This will thicken fairly fast because of the cornstarch. Words of Wisdom alert- Cornstarch will always thicken when added to something, but once you cook it and bring it to a boil is when you get its full potential.  Once it becomes thick less think than a pudding though, remove from the heat.

Add the butter and Vanilla; this is where you can add other flavors like the booze or coffee.
Let the mixture cool a bit and then add to your Popsicles holders and put in freezer for 30 mins, after that add the sticks.

Yes, that's my son licking the left overs!

Wait rewind....I would pour the mixture in a sift because you want them to be velvety smooth and you don't want a lump of anything to jack that up! I bought these spaceship Popsicle holders months ago, I guess I thought I would make Popsicles everyday but this is the first time I used them. I'm so excited I'm finally putting them to good use!!

Then just wait, if your kids are like mine or your like my kids , this will take a while because of the constant opening of the freezer door to check if their ready.

These little ships of fudgy goodness are officially my new favorite thing! They are so good, and yes my next batch will have some booze in them!! Happy summer my blogging buddies!!!

Chicken Totilla Soup

   

In honor of Cinco De Mayo I made Chicken Tortilla Soup!! If your like me when you think of Tortilla Soup you think of Islands! What…? You don’t think of Island and their awesome soup. Well if you don’t you need to try it, it’s delish!! So I came upon this recipe and like I always do I tweaked it a little bit to what I have here at my house. I live in California and it’s May and were in the middle of a heat wave so if I have to leave my house to go to the store I probably won’t make it. I can hear you now “why make soup if it’s so effin hot”? My answer to that is have it with a cold beer and after a few you won’t  even mind the 100 degree weather outside. So lets get started!!

Ingredients                                                              

4 chicken breast (with the skin on because that’s the best part!)

Olive Oil

Kosher Salt and ground pepper

2 cups chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery

2 cups chopped carrots

4 cloves of garlic chopped

10 cups of GOOD chicken stock (don’t get the low sodium stuff)

1 28oz can of chopped tomato

3 jalapenos (depending on how hot you want it)

                                Oh ….don’t forget to deseed them!!

Cilantro (I know this is an acquired taste, but I love it so I added ½ cup chopped)

Corn tortillas cut into inch strips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees for the chicken breast. Place chicken on cookie sheet drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper and place in oven for 30-40 mins.

 Start chopping onions, celery, and carrots. Heat around 4 Tbsp of Olive oil in pot and pour in chopped veggies. Cook until onions start to become translucent. Put in garlic but only cook for 30 sec .to a min before putting chicken stock, tomatos and jalapenos.

Side note- Don’t over cook your garlic because it can really ruin the whole soup or anything else your cooking. This is when you want to taste and add salt and pepper, also add the cilantro if using it. Add your tortilla strips this is really just used to thicken the soup because when its all done they won’t be very prominent in your soup.

 Bring  your soup to a boil and then let simmer for around 30 mins. While your soup is simmering shred your chicken and add when the soup is done. I added more tortillas towards the end just because I wanted some that didn’t fully dissolve in the soup.

Now it’s time to enjoy your soup and it is Awesome!! I almost want to call it Slap Your Mexican baby daddy all night long chicken tortilla soup (inside joke, unless you watched the next great baker on TLC)!!

Invite your friends over for some soup and beer and celebrate the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.  What!!! you didn’t know that’s what we were celebrating lol!!!

We're off to see the Wizard!

Hello, my blog followers it’s time to recap. The Wizard of Oz theme party was a Success!! Like I say if you can do a lot yourself go for it!!! The things that I decide to try on my own were the balloon rainbow, all the food, cake, centerpieces and majority of all decorations.  The decorations are always hard especially when you’re dealing with such a unique theme. You want it to be obvious what the theme of the party is but not overwhelmed where you picked up everything you can find at your local party store. Pick certain themes of the story and go with it. The centralized themes I choose from the story were the rainbow, the haunted forest and the poppies. So when you see the decorations you can appreciate them for the detail that you put into them as well as your guests.  The centerpieces I choose to do cupcake bouquets and put them in baskets that were similar to Dorothy’s basket in the story.

I have tried to make these bouquets in the past and it was a total disaster, this time I used a different idea that I learned from this great website MyCakeSchool.com. If you are interested in cake decorating or cupcakes this is the site you need to check out. She does have a blog that is open to the public, but if you pay $30 you get a year subscription to her website. This website includes her recipes and step by step instructions on how to make amazing cakes and cupcakes. I highly recommend this website and it’s not like the wizard behind the curtain (pardon my pun) she interacts with her participants and answers all questions and concerns. She did help me with how to make the gum paste poppies and they turned out amazing. So…back to my main topic lol! I also wanted to incorporate the rainbow duh you need the rainbow.

My Dorothy!

When you price out balloon arches in can cost a pretty penny, a penny that I can spend on something else. At Party City I found a balloon arch maker and all you need is to buy the balloons. This took my sister and I about an hour but well worth the effort and time. The next task that I decided to take on was the rainbow cake. I found this recipe on WhiskKid, this cake kept me up at night with the stress that it would be a disaster. In true Jessica form I did not try to make this cake beforehand (always do things to try them out lol!!!). The cake came out beautiful and was quite delicious, I decided to make a tiered cake and it really set it off!!!



Another Sweet!! Rainbow cupcakes!



You can never have to many cupcakes!

I also decided to do a candy bar, this is something that I have never done before! When you look online for the jars or decide to price them out they are so expensive! So to cut down the price I went Goodwill shopping I bought a variety f jars and bowls and it looked very cute if I don't say so myself!

The food is a whole other reason I started to find grey hair during this process. Like I mentioned in my last blog my biggest fear is to run out of food and people are like “ohh you don’t have any more food”. Hello….that would be horrible! Food I decided to make BBQ ribs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans and pasta salad. This is the tip that will save your day, find friends and family that can help, if your aunt makes bomb potato salad ask he very nicely. That is exactly what I did my most fave aunt *wink wink* made the potato salad and the BBQ chicken and they both came out AWESOME. The stress that something so little can take off you is worth everything! Last thing I decided to take on myself was decorations. This is something you either put all your effort in or just buy some streamers. I like to work with plywood it’s easy to paint and isn’t that heavy. I made the trees and all signs with cute sayings from the movies.

The trees also had branches applied to them using butcher paper and some staples (thanks to my sis who had to bring out her teacher decorating abilities). I will guarantee that all these elements will make your next party no matter what it is will be the best party on the block!!

Party Time! Part 2!

I’m back!!! So this is going to be the conclusion of the last post. I really enjoy planning parties and I enjoy seeing everyone having a good time. With that being said this party is taking over my life!! My daughter is at the age where she doesn’t want to play games and all that other fun party stuff. So, I need to find a way to involve some younger kid activities with stuff that she wants to do. If I could I would love to have all the games that kids enjoy at a birthday party but then it wouldn't be her party. So… I just decided to get a bouncer and call it a day, of yeah and a piñata. I don’t care how old my kids are they will get a piñata! I really like to do as many things by myself rather than by or have someone do them for me. Parties are meant to be fun and spend time with family not run around stressed. So, I initially wanted to have the party catered but I was getting nervous that it wouldn’t be enough food. To me that would be the worst feeling to run out of food and your guest are still hungry. I have a family that like to eat and I want to send them home full. So I will be cooking, I suggest you get as much done the day or days before the party. I know food is time sensitive so anything you make the night before DO IT!!! I will be making all the cupcakes and cake so that can be done ahead of time. If the party is at your house clean it a few day before and if you’re one of the lucky few have someone come and clean it. I tend to deep clean a few days before and spruce it up maybe the day before. I also threaten my children that they will not be able to attend the party if they mess up my new clean house!!! It sometimes always works lol!!! Decorations like I mentioned in the last blog do as much as you can because that will free up funds to get those few items that you may not have bought if you already blew the bank.  I recently found a website that I now live on, they have everything that you will ever need. Etsy is a great site for you to find one of kind items and the prices are very reasonable. I bought some decorations like signs and cupcake toppers. When they were delivered I realized that I probably could have made these but the time it would have taken was worth the money.

I also discovered that if your feeling up to it that you can pretty much by any clip art that you want and use it in all your decorations. I ended up buying the Wizard of Oz clip art for $5 and am going to use it in other decoration elements. The decorations do match the invitation so I think it's going to be cute! I try not to over decorate with the theme so that's why I choose the smaller signs and will add bigger elements like the scary trees from the forest and the stand ups. Also, if you’re trying a new recipe for the cake or other treats you should always try it out days before the party. I would love to say that I always follow my own advice but I have also crossed my fingers and hoped it worked out on the day of the party. I made a lemon head frosting for my mom’s birthday last year, which was the first time I’ve ever done that. And hello, it is one of my most asked for butter creams, but you should always try it a few days before. So, I will be taking my advise this time (hopefully) and attempt to make a two tiered, six layered rainbow cake.

Cross your fingers!!

I’m going to post pictures of the the final outcome. If you do put a little hard work and imagination your children will never forget the party their parents threw them!!

Party Time!

So, along with the occasional bougie recipes I'm going to be bloggin about my love of a good party. I think that it's important that you splurge on a few things but anything you can do yourself and add a little personal flare will set it off! So the first part of planning is determining a theme, I am a big one on themes especially for kids birthday parties. The theme I'm working on is Wizard of Oz for my 9 yr old daughter. So I made the invite list and the next step is to order invitations. Invitations are one of those things that I splurge a little on. The invitation sets the mood for the whole party, you want your guest to look forward to the party. Below is the template for the invitations that I ordered for my daughters party.

I like to give at least a month notice on the invites but that doesn't always happen. So now I have to come up with some ideas for the party. It's hard because she's at that age where she's to old for a lot of the kiddie games but not to old for a fun party! I know I'm going to do a candy bar (representing the lolli pop guild) but other than that nothing is for sure. Food is another thing that I splurge on. People want to eat and kids birthdays are their free weekends to be a kid again. I had a cotton candy machine at my sons bday and I had more adults in line than kids. Decorations I try not to spend alot of money on, I try to get basic colors and add my own personal things. I threw my son a Fair birthday party and here are a few pics.


The hay was a cheap trick, but it tied everything together.



You always need sweet treats!

I painted these, it took a little extra time but they were a hit!

Little touches will make any party, it may take extra time but it's  always worth it!!

                                      To Be Continued.......

Who wants a Pina Colada!

"If you like Pina Coladas, And getting caught in the rain. If you're not into yoga, If you have half a brain. If you'd like making love at midnight, In the dunes on the Cape.”

If you’re looking for that quick escape to the dunes of the cape these cupcakes would be that escape. They have a few more steps than the usual cupcakes but could be well worth it if your looking for a different cupcake.  These particular cupcakes have a pineapple filling that really brings out the pineapple all ready in the cakes. Just a reminder take out the eggs and coconut milk out of the fridge so they can reach room temp.

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups canned crushed pineapple (drained slightly)

Start by mixing flour, baking powder, baking salt and set aside.

Now you want to mix eggs and sugar until it becomes a light yellow color.

Continue to mix on low speed and add oil and vanilla after combined mix in pineapple and sour cream only mix until combined.

Add the flour mixture and only blend until it’s combined, don’t over mix or your going to get pina colada flavored rocks.

Place your cupcakes in the oven for 20 mins.

While the cupcakes are baking start on your pineapple filling.

Place chopped pineapples in your food processor (canned pineapples will work ).

Add the juice of half a lemon and a ¼ cup of sugar. Mix until pineapple is the consistency of  a jam.

Once you take the cupcakes out place a ½ tsp of the pineapple mixture  in the center of the cupcakes.  Wait Rewind: let the cupcakes cool slightly before putting the mixture inside the cupcakes.

Time to start on the frosting!

1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut ( if possible put it in the food proc until it becomes itty bitty)

1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

3 tsp of Coconut Rum ( Hello it’s a Pina Colada!)

2 tsp of coconut milk

1 cup of room temp unsalted butter

1 cup of powdered sugar

*If you have a coconut emulsion (which is a thick coconut flavoring) add 1 tsp. This is just a little extra coconut flavoring!

 Add room temp butter, coconut and sugar and start mixing on low/medium. Once they start to look slightly combined start adding rest of ingredients. The reason for less sugar is the coconut is sweetened and this frosting can get a little to sweet if you add to much of anything. I think frosting should be made to your individual taste so these ingredients are just a starting point, play with them and see what you come up with.

Frost your cupcakes and don’t forget presentation is everything, it’s what makes an ordinary cupcake a show stopper! If I had those little umbrellas I might of put one of those on the cupcake, but I didn’t! I added a single cherry and I thought they looked amazing and they smell sooo goooood!

Try these out and let me know what you think.

Cheers!!

Happy Hour!

CHOCOLATE ECLAIR CAKE!

The name alone will make people think that you had to pull out all your skills to make this cake!!! All you need to do is keep it a secret about how easy it is!!! This is the type of cake you make when you need something fast and want to make a good impression. I wish I could take full credit for this recipe, but this delicious recipe comes from my moms bestie! She held out for years on this recipe and I finally have it!!!! Thank you Annette, and everybody else thanks you when they try this cake! I make my own whip cream but if you don’t want to just substitute the homemade whip for some cool whip. I like the homemade whip over cool whip, to me cool whip has an artificial flavor and the homemade is delicious!

Whip cream

2 cups of Heavy whipping Cream

1 ½ cups of powdered sugar ( while your making you can taste and if you want to add more or less its up to you).

½ tsp. Vanilla Extract

Add all ingredients and whip until soft peaks form. DON’T OVER WHIP your cream will fall flat and it’s hard to save it after that!

Put cream aside in fridge and proceed to make vanilla pudding.

2  3.4oz of instant Vanilla Pudding

3 cups of cold milk

Mix pudding with 3 cups of milk and beat for 3mins until it looks like pudding.

Fold in whip cream to the pudding mixture being careful not to mix to much and deflate the whip cream.

Now it’s time to start making the cake!

Place a layer of graham crackers covering the bottom of the dish. Follow by adding a layer of the pudding/cream mixture, enough to cover the graham cracker. Continue to make two more layers and you want to finish with the cream being the last layer. Place the cake in the fridge for 2hrs, you want the top layer of pudding to harden.

After the cake hardens put the chocolate frosting in the micro for about 45 sec. The frosting should poor out and continue to frost the cake. That’s it you have a great cake to take to any get together and I can guarantee that your going to be asked to bring this cake to everything!