Pumpkin Pleasure!

This week I bring you double pumpkin-pleasure! I was feeling very fall-like and craving all those comforting flavors. I pulled two cupcake recipes from my arsenal that were similar, yet different. I have mixed reviews about them, but I couldn't stop eating them!!!!

The first one is a simple Pumpkin Cupcake with a Cream Cheese Frosting. It was very simple to make and sooooo delicious! I did have a sad felling when the candy corns on top started to melt, and they were no longer perfect, but what can you do in the FL heat?! Definitely try this one out at home this fall! http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pumpkin-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting-00000000021359/index.html#

The other cupcake was also delicious, but SO labor intensive! Rachel Ray, if you are reading this, tsk tsk on you! This recipe was the most labor intensive, dirty dish making thing I have ever made! I admit, I did not read the recipe ahead of time- I rarely do- but read the ingredients and it sounded great so I went for it. Well, 2 minutes into it I was frustrated and grumpy! I used every mixing bowl in the kitchen, washed and re-used my bowl for the mixer twice AND had to pull out the double-boiler! All this for only 12 cupcakes! Once done, tasting these Cheesecake-Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes, made me (almost) forget all the labor though....they are super yummy! I was not a particular fan of the brown sugar frosting (it's pretty sweet!), but everyone seemed to think it was OK! This recipe was from the Rachel Ray Magazine, and they made life even more difficult by not putting it online for us! I have the recipes scanned, so if you want to even try it after reading this review, then email me and I will send it directly to you!

Happy Fall everyone..time to go have a cupcake for breakfast! :)

Bam!

I have had this recipe in my arsenal for a long time, given to me by my friend Sheri years ago. She swore this was a great go-to for football parties....and she was RIGHT! It is a warm corn dip from Emeril, and boy did he kick this one up a notch- it's got a bite to it! It is pretty labor intensive, but the outcome is worth it! It made a good size casserole dish full, so it fed a lot of folks. Perfect for a Fall Football Sunday. I will definitely make this one again. Thanks Sheri!

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/dip-recipes/warm-corn-dip.htm

tip: use the new Fritos scoops, they work much better that the original.

Opa!

Tonight I revisited a recipe that I have made multiple times in the past year. (Not something I do often!) I had a year's subscription to Gourmet Magazine, and I only took two recipes total from it in that time- too fancy for me! But this, this recipe, is simple, delicious and warms the soul. The temperate dropped to a chilly 76 today in South Florida, so it was a perfect time to enjoy this dish and a great football game! Greece is a place I have always wanted to visit, and definitely one of my favorite cuisines, and this dish puts a smile on my face every time I make it. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Greek-Spiced-Baked-Shrimp-350590

I add an extra dash of the red pepper flakes to kick it up a notch, and make SURE you have some great crusty bread to soak up all the juices.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

This is a recipe I will remember for a long time! Not only because it was delicious, and disappeared quickly, but also because I am stubborn and did not wear gloves when I prepared the jalapenos, so my hands burned for HOURS after they were gone! Take my advice and either wear gloves when you make this, or use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and ribs. The Gouda in this popper really makes it different, and who doesn't just love oowey gooey cheese on anything?! If you are afraid of the heat of the jalapenos, rest easy, because you really do take out all the heat in them when you take out the seeds. I was disappointed that I really couldn't taste the chorizo, but the over rating on this???? 5 stars! Enjoy!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/smoked-gouda-chorizo-jalapeno-poppers-recipe/index.html

note: I forgot my camera, so I have no picture to show of these tasty delights, so here is a photo of Sunny Anderson, whose recipe this is!

Are you seeing a trend here?

You may have noticed that my first three recipes have included Pesto....this is NOT a coincidence! Of all my herbs, basil is not necessarily my favorite, but it is my most abundant! One can only eat so much Caprese Salad, so I have been making a lot of pesto this summer....salads, dips, topping grilled chicken or meat, pastas.... I love pesto anyways, but the fact that it keeps well is also plus for me! Here is another recipe that I used my pesto for. I only made a 1/2 recipe, and it made enough for 5 sandwiches, so unless you are feeding a party, I would do the same. Enjoy!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1160573

cook's note: I used good old canned chicken for this instead of rotisserie, and it was still delicious, but again I think it's because of the homemade pesto! (see original post for that recipe!)