logo
cuppacocoa
May 29, 2014

If you’re here for the parenting and education stuff, don’t worry! I am still working on those posts. They just take me a really long time to think through, write up, and revise, so I like to scatter the easier food posts in between :).

Wonton Recipe

I had a request to post more “dinner recipes” from a friend who has been following my food posts very closely. I am flattered to know she purchased several pieces of cookware on my recommendation, specifically to make the recipes listed on my blog! Since I know I will be making a ton of desserts in the next few weeks (baby and bridal showers galore!), I figured I’d squeeze in some savory recipes before shower season hits and y’all are inundated with pictures of cupcakes and bars and puddings.

Today’s recipe is Pork and Mushroom Wonton! Wonton always seemed so novel to me that it never really occurred to me to make it myself. It’s actually really easy! I was inspired to try making them when a friend told me how grinding your own pork is way better than using store-bought pork. She said that dumplings tasted so much better with freshly-ground pork, so of course I had to try it out with my new food processor. Never mind the toasty weather. Like I said before, warm weather is no deterrent for me when it comes to good eats!

read more

May 27, 2014

Terrific Turkey Chili RecipeOh happy day, my new food processor arrived this weekend! I was SUPER eager to test out the blades, and I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than to slice and dice a few bell peppers, onions, and zucchini for my husband’s favorite chili!

Yes, yes, it’s summer… and at 85ºF, it’s not exactly chili weather. It’s allllll good. A little sunshine never stopped us from enjoying foods we like, no matter how warm or unconventional! I love this recipe because it’s like a whole meal in one dish– meat, veggies, dairy, and carbs (errr do tortilla chips count as carbs? =P). I appreciate that this chili is packed full of healthy veggies but tastes so comfortingly delicious! Be sure to use the taco seasoning with the turkey. You won’t even miss the beef.

read more

March 21, 2014

cinnamon rolls resizedGrowing up, mall food was a thing of luxury to me. You know, Chinese parents. In the same way that going to the movies meant enjoying buttery popcorn by smell, I could only enjoy the flavors of Cinnabon and Mrs. Field’s Cookies through their intoxicating scents, inhaling deeply the way I imagine Charlie did when walking past Mr. Wonka’s gates. Looking back, I’m glad my parents didn’t spoil me by buying me whatever I wanted. But I’m equally glad I can spoil myself by making whatever I want, now.

Several years ago, Ben and I plotted to visit the local mall to get a special Cinnabon-y treat. For some reason, it had come to mind and we were both craving it. When we arrived, mouths watering and splurge-ready (I’m pretty sure mall food will feel like a splurge for the rest of my life), we were distraught to find that it had closed right before we arrived! Noooooo!!!!

On the way home, disappointed and hungry for sweets, I decided we could just make it ourselves. I looked it up and found a promising recipe– “Clone of a Cinnabon” on allrecipes.com. Unfortunately, the instructions required a breadmaker. There’s probably an easy workaround, but I’m no bread master, so I had to study the comments to figure it out. Here is the resulting recipe after reading dozens of comments and reviews! I also increased the proportion of filling and icing. Noms. It breaks my 8-ingredient preference (although you should have most of the pantry items already), but trust me– it’s worth it. So deliciously worth it!

DSCN4939 resizedThe ooey gooey cinnamony and buttery brown sugar filling screams comfort food, and the cream cheese icing is just a melty glob of lip-smacking yum! I add a splash of lemon juice to my frosting to give it a little zing. Most people can’t tell what it is, but it gives it that extra something that makes it really finger-licking delicious! My favorite is the very middle, where you have the highest ratio of sweet filling to bread, and can wipe up all the extra frosting into one marvelous final bite. Sigh.

making rolls resized

You can make these the night before and refrigerate them, then pop them into the oven the next morning. You can also freeze them and thaw them in the refrigerator the night before you plan to make them, so it’s a great make-ahead treat as well!

rolling up resized

There are few things better than waking up to the warm scent of brown sugar, butter and cinnamon wafting through your room! It’s a perfect way to wake your loved ones on a Saturday morning, and also reheats wonderfully in the microwave for a midnight snack!

resized———————–

read more

March 5, 2014

Look at that skin. Just look at it.s chicken 2 resized It is as crackly-salty-tasty as it looks. And the vegetables…oh, the vegetables. As juicy and tender as the chicken comes out, sometimes I find myself looking forward to the veggies even more than the meat! There is nothing better on a winter night than this juicy, whole-roasted chicken with salty, crackly skin on a bed of root vegetables sopping with chicken juice.

read more

February 27, 2014

hotcocoa

Two Christmases ago, my mother in law gave us a huge tin of Starbucks Hot Cocoa Mix. I’m picky about my hot cocoa, and get especially snobby when people think hot chocolate mix and hot cocoa are the same thing. They. Are. Not. The packets you find near the hot water dispenser at summer camp are way too sweet, and they can be mixed into water. They serve their purpose in warming you up a degree or two during chilly campfire sharings that go late into the night, but… that’s about it. My cup of hot cocoa is one that is mixed into hot milk, offering a warm-you-to-your-toes balance of creamy dark chocolate goodness and just a hint of sweet.

read more

February 27, 2014

Earl Grey Ice Cream with Chocolate TrufflesThis photo will have to do for now 🙂
(I keep forgetting to snap one of the ice cream!)

 

My good friend David (I wish) has a lovely ice cream book that I turn to for fantastic flavor ideas whenever I’m ready to get my ice cream on, which is always. One particularly well-loved page is the one titled Black Currant Tea Ice Cream. He says I can use Earl Grey or oolong tea instead, so I do. He also suggests pairing it with Dark Chocolate Truffles, so I did. It’s divine.

Ben and I recently went to an event at Smitten Ice Cream, the trendy liquid nitrogen ice cream spot that just opened up in Los Altos, and got to sample several scoops of ice cream, including generous portions of their Earl Grey with Milk Chocolate. Long story short, Ben likes my (er, David’s) Earl Grey with Dark Chocolate Truffles better than theirs. Done.

read more

February 27, 2014

pumpkin cheesecake 4Our daughter was born on a Friday. One week later, we brought this delicious cheesecake to share with friends as we enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast together. That should give you some idea of just how doable this cake really is; a first-time nursing mother with a 1-week old was able to throw this together and bring it to a dinner!

pumpkin cheesecake 1

It started with a big can of LIBBY’S® Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix. I saw it at the grocery store thinking it was a big can of pure pumpkin, and was miffed when I realized my mistake at home. I’m not a big pumpkin pie fan, so I went online in search of another way to use up this can of mix, and came across this recipe. The recipe looked very doable and the photo convinced me it couldn’t taste terrible, and I was right. The pumpkin and cheesecake melded perfectly with the taste of Thanksgiving, and the pecan praline topping added a sweet crunchy touch.

read more

February 27, 2014

My favorite kind of truffle is simply a chilled ganache dipped in chocolate, so naturally I would enjoy a version of this as a chunky mix-in for ice cream! David Lebovitz has this great recipe that includes some alcohol and corn syrup, which helps keep them soft and pliable for scooping in ice cream. I like to drop these into his Earl Grey Tea ice cream, and imagine they would be good paired with other ice cream flavors such as coffee, vanilla bean, or anything else that goes well with chocolate!

read more