Cold Pasta Salad

I don’t eat pasta too often, but this is well worth the calories!
Boil 12oz of your favorite pasta, as directed. Put pasta in refrigerator to cool down. Once cold, pull it out of refrigerator, and add all ingredients. Easy!!
Here’s what I put this time….
1 can of small olives
A hand full of salami (chopped)
1/2-3/4 cup of your favorite Italian (oil based) dressing
1 bag of shredded Swiss cheese
2 firm avocado’s diced
A couple of small home-grown bell peppers
1/3 cup diced cucumber
A small handful of cherry tomatoes (from my garden)
1 small red onion-diced

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Pot Stickers

Not only is this recipe super easy to throw together, but it’s quick and delicious! These little guys also freeze really well. I love making a giant batch of these pot stickers and freezing them for whenever I want them. You can also make them slightly healthier by going full steam on them and skipping the pan frying all together. You can also skip out on “fancy” crimping and go straight-edged if you prefer.

Pot Stickers
Makes 30

Ingredients:
pork filling:
12 ounces ground pork
1 baby bok choy, diced
6 water chestnuts, diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten

1 egg, lightly beaten
30 round wonton wrappers
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

choganjang:
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons gochujaru (Korean chili powder)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Directions:
1. Place all filling ingredients into a bowl and mix together until well combined. Set aside.
2. Brush perimeter of a wonton wrapper with the remaining egg and fill center with 1 heaping tablespoon of pork filling. Seal and crimp together.
3. Set dumplings aside and repeat until all wrappers have been used.
4. Heat a large, heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil.
5. Add 5 to 6 pot stickers to pan and pan fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip pot stickers and continue to fry for 2 minutes.
6. Add 1 tablespoon water to the pan and cover for 1 minute or until the wonton wrappers have softened and steamed and the filling has finished cooking through.
7. Remove from heat and repeat until all pot stickers have been cooked. Serve immediately with choganjang.
8. Choganjang: Place all ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together. Serve with pot stickers.

For the full recipe, visit the link below
http://www.spoonforkbacon.com/2013/09/pot-stickers/

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers:

What it took for 4 burgers:

* 1 (14.5 oz) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
* 2 Tbs. minced white onion
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/4 cup smoked chopped almonds
* 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
* 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
* 4 Tbs. jarred chipotle spread, divided
* 1 egg
* 4 sliced pepper jack cheese
* 4 onion buns, split and lightly toasted
* mixed greens
* sliced avocado
* coarse salt, to taste
* lime wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 425.

In a large bowl, add the beans and lightly mash with a fork. Add the onions, garlic, almonds, corn, cilantro, 2 Tbs. chipotle spread, egg and a small pinch of coarse salt. Mix to combine.

Using your hands, equally form the mixture into 4 patties. Arrange on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Carefully flip, add the cheese and bake for 8 to 10 more.

Spread the remaining chipotle spread on the bottom of each toasted bun and serve with greens, avocado slices and fresh lime wedges!

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Strawberry Lemonade Bars
From Baking Bites

It’s autumn here in California, but it’s summer somewhere! These dessert bars will make you feel like you’re having a picnic on the beach, or anywhere warm and happy 🙂

Crust
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt

Filling
1 cup fresh lemon juice
2-3 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 3/4 cup berries)
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.

Begin by making the crust. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until smooth and fluffy. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly. Pour into prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for about 17 minutes, until set at the edges.

While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. In the bowl of a food processor, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, strawberry puree, sugar and eggs and process until smooth. Add in flour, baking powder and salt, then pulse until smooth.

Gently pour the filling over the hot crust when it has finished baking. Return pan to oven and bake for 23-26 minutes, until the filling is set (There will be a light colored “crust” on top from the sugar in the custard – nothing to worry about).

Sprinkle the bars with some powdered sugar. Cool completely before slicing and use a damp knife to ensure clean slices. Store bars in the refrigerator, especially on a hot day. Makes 24 bars.

Life is good, make dessert
Audrey~

For more information, visit the link below
http://www.kandktestkitchen.com/2011/06/strawberry-lemonade-bars.html

Churro Waffles …..WHAT?

Are you freaking kidding me?? Who is the genius that created this?? I would like to thank you, hahahaha. This is heaven on Earth!! This is a great Saturday morning treat to serve your family, roommates or just for you!!

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups warm milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 shakes of cinnamon

For the churro topping-
1 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup cinnamon
1/2 cup of melted butter

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside. Also at this time you can combine your churro topping and set it aside. Preheat waffle iron

2.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture; Next fold in three shakes of cinnamon beat until blended

3. At this time you can also melt your 1/2 cup of butter used to pour over waffles. Next generously spray your waffle iron with no stick cooking spray. Than ladle the batter into a preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Once fully cooked immediately pour melted butter on each side of the waffle and than dip each buttered side into your cinnamon/sugar churro mixture.

4. Devour immediately!…… I mean serve immediately, Enjoy!
Oh and I drizzled my waffles with a little extra syrup at the end. Although this waffle is obviously sweet enough, those with a definite sweet tooth can give it a whirl! In the end though I thought they were perfecto without the dulce (sweet) extras.

Life is good, eat waffles
Audrey~
For more information and photo’s click below.
http://chicachocolatina.blogspot.ca/2013/01/churro-waffles.html

Apple Brownies

Hey, it’s got fruit in it, its practically health food! Hahaha, just kidding. I can talk myself into any dessert with little effort. But this recipe is a true classic, totally homemade with wholesome goodness.

Ingredients:
•1/2 cup butter, melted
•1 cup white sugar
•1 egg
•3 medium apples – peeled, cored and thinly sliced
•1/2 cup chopped walnuts
•1 cup all-purpose flour
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
2.In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, sugar, and egg until fluffy. Fold in the apples and walnuts. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture until just blended. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish.
3.Bake 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

original recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Brownies/Detail.aspx

http://www.piarecipes.com/2012/11/apple-brownies.html

Homemade Kaiser Rolls

Homemade Kaiser Rolls | A Review.

A recipe from one of my favorite blogging sites for recipes. Soft buns good for a sandwich or just to put some butter and honey on!