Nutty Food Critic

Well, my morning Joe is actually my coffee....did you guess?  I went shopping this weekend wishing I could find a stand a lone milk steamer that would not only look good on my kitchen counter but also compliment my Keurig machine.  I found it!  Shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond I found the simple yet awesome CBTL (The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf) one touch Milk Frothing and Heating System.  It looks like a small pitcher that sits on an electric base.  It is perfect for making that wonderful creamy steamed milk that only the perfect expert Barista can do!  It makes the milk so creamy you can slide your finger into the cream and it comes out looking and sticking like whipped cream.  I am not one to endorse appliances but I just have to give a shout out for this little device.  It has changed my morning black coffee into a more enjoyable treat!  I love coconut, rice and almond milk but it really doesn't cream like cow's milk or half and half ....

The Filling: 1 cup Rhubarb cut in pieces 3 cups Strawberries sliced 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup buttermilk pancake mix  1/2 tsp cinnamon Mix the above together and then put in a greased baking pan or baking dish.  The Topping: 1/2 cup buttermilk pancake mix 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup of oats 1/4 - 1/2  cup butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg  Mix the above really good and sprinkle over the mixture in the dish.  Cook uncovered on 350 degrees for about 35 minutes until topping is done and mixture is bubbling. ENJOY!

I made the taco cupcakes a few weeks back and this past week decided to try the Lasagne Cupcakes... I took them to a party and they were a sensational hit!  Do I take credit?  No, not really.  They were just too easy to make, quick and totally delicious!  Do you have a hectic, on the go, type of life?  If so, you have to start using won tons and a cupcake holder to make your life easier!  It takes only a few minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook. Ingredients: 1 lb of hamburger 3 Tablespoons or more of Italian seasoning ( I add extra) 5 oz. of chopped mushrooms (optional) 2 cloves of chopped garlic (optional) 1 pkg. Won ton wrappers (in the produce section of most large grocery stores) 8 oz. of fat free Ricotta cheese 1 container of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (usually found in the deli section) 1 jar of Spaghetti sauce (any type - I prefer the roasted garlic and basil - if you use this type don't add extra garlic!  Just a warning.....

OK I'm hooked!  Saw this recipe on the internet in several places and I thought I would try it.  Won Ton wrappers in a taco recipe....right.  I thought won ton wrappers were exclusive and limited but boy was I wrong! Can't wait to try the Lasagne Cupcakes.  I will critique them after I try them and post my thoughts. Ingredients: 1 lb of lean ground beef 1 pkg of taco seasoning 1 can of black beans rinsed 1 pkg. of Won Ton wrappers (you will find these in the produce area) 1 1/2 chili oil (in the Asian food section) 1 jar of Queso dip or salsa con queso 1 jar of chunky salsa 1 can green chilis (don't drain) 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese (regular or reduced fat) 1/4 cup of water If you are having a party you will use all of the ingredients noted above and 32 won ton wrappers.  If you want to cook all of the ingredients and then only make about 8 "cupcakes" then freeze the other half of the meat to make more later in the week after a hard day at work...

  I like to try different things that are unique so when I saw on line an easy method for making cup cakes I thought I would give it a try. It called for ice cream cones and cake mix.  Easy enough!  We went to the local store and bought a box of ice cream cones and ready to use cake mix. We mixed the cake mix as directed and filled each cone, approximately 20 half full and baked at 325 degrees until done (about 20-25 minutes) or as directed on the box for  cupcakes. The results were great at first.  When they have cooled down you can add toppings - either frosting, ice cream or whip cream and they make a great dessert or an awesome treat for a kid's party! The only draw back is not to store any of the left over cake filled cones for later use.  They do get soggy when saved.  You can pop them in the oven for about ten minutes to crisp them back up somewhat but they are best used right away! Make only enough for the party that you are havin...

Ingredients: 2 lbs of sirloin ground beef 1 pkg of meatloaf mix 1/2 cup of ketchup 2 pieces of bread toasted and fine crumbled (or use ready to use bread crumbs) 1 egg 1/2 cup of salsa 1 bell pepper (food processed to a part liquid consistency. 1/2 onion (food processed with the bell pepper) 1 tablespoon of steak seasoning 1 teaspoon of basil 1 teaspoon of parsley 2 Tablespoons of minced garlic 1 cup of shredded cheese ( I like mexican cheese mix or cojack cheese) Mix together and put in a baking pan.  Make sure that the baking pan is big enough in size so that any liquid boiling will not boil over in the oven. It is best to put a baking sheet underneath. I bake at 375 degrees covered in aluminum for about 1.5 hours.  Make sure the meat is cooked in the center. You can add any type of seasoning you like that is handy and goes good with hamburger meat.  I like to add Italian seasonings because it is a combination of different ones and I especially like ...

I don't seem to eat enough fruit each day so I have started making a shake in the morning before leaving for work that is filled with a combination of protein, fruit and calcium. I vary with the fruit and sometimes I just throw it all in for a great flavor. Ingredients in this order: 12 oz Coconut Milk ( sometimes I mix organic non fat or almond milk with it) 4-5 pieces of each frozen fruit (blueberries, strawberries, peaches, mangos or any other type you like) 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil 1 scoop of whey protein mix vanilla flavor 1 multi vitamin 1 vitamin D pill 1 or 1/2 bananna (optional) Then I mix it in the blender for about 3-4 minutes.  The longer I blend it the creamier it becomes and the frozen berries makes it extra cold.  I try to start my day off with this and I can actually feel the extra energy I have throughout the day.  You can modify it to fit your taste.  Add wheatgrass or use soy milk.  My preference is Coconut milk.  It actu...