Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes

Happy Monday!

I know this recipe may sound kind of crazy to some of you (it sounded crazy to me!) But i LOVE chocolate and I LOVE Bacon…so I couldn't resist giving these a try! Super easy to bake! And they taste yummy!!! They are sweet and every once in awhile you get that extra bite of salty bacon Mmm! Give them a try!

DARK CHOCOLATE BACON CUPCAKES

12 slices bacon

2 C. Flour

3/4 C. plus 1 T. unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 C. Sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 Eggs

1 C. strong brewed coffee, cold

1 C. Buttermilk

1/2 C. Vegetable oil

Preaheat oven to 375. Line 2 muffin tins with cupcake liners (24).

Cook bacon until browned. Drain, Crumble and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, add Flour, 3/4 C. of Cocoa Powder, Sugar, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and salt. Stir together. Make a well in the middle then add: Eggs, Coffee, Buttermilk and oil. Stir. Mix in 3/4 of the Bacon. Reserve the rest. Spoon batter into the cupcake liners.

Bake 20-25 min. Cool. Frost with Chocolate frosting (I just used store bought.)Sprinkle reserved Bacon crumbs on top and dust with remaining Cocoa Powder.

Time to try one! yumm! 

I found this recipe in my allrecipes magazine.

Jumbo Stuffed Shells

Happy Wednesday!

The sun is out and it's going to be a beautiful weekend here! Yay!! :)

A couple nights ago I made these Jumbo Stuffed Shells and they were yummy!! It's an easy supper to throw together the night before and refrigerate to cook the next night! 

This recipe is pretty much like Manicotti, but instead you use the Jumbo Pasta Shells. They are much easier to stuff and just fun-looking! :) 

Take a look! Yummmm

JUMBO STUFFED SHELLS

8-12 Jumbo Pasta Shells (figure about 2-3 per person)

1 lb. Ground beef, cooked

1 onion

4 cloves Garlic

1 pint of Ricotta cheese

1 egg, beaten

3 C. Shredded Cheese

1 bottle Spaghetti Sauce

1 teaspoon Oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350

Cook the pasta according to directions on back. 

Brown ground beef, then add onions and garlic and cook 5 min. Add oregano, salt and pepper and the Spaghetti Sauce. Bring to boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, egg, 2 C. Shredded Cheese, salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into each pasta shell (fill them full!). 

Pour a little bit of Meat Sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Place filled shells on top. Then pour rest of meat sauce over the shells. Sprinkle the last Cup of Shredded Cheese on top. 

Cover pan with foil and bake 45 min. Remove foil and bake another 10 min.

Enjoy! 

Homemade Subs

Happy Oscar's Day! I love watching Award Shows! Anybody else watching tonight?!

A couple nights ago I made Homemade Sub Sandwiches and they were SOOO GOOD!!! And so fun!! We both LOVED them! These make a great lunch or supper! The fun part is you can fill them with whatever your heart desires!  I put a list of everything we put in…but have fun making up your own! :)

HOMEMADE SUB SANDWICH:

1 C. Warm Water (Not too hot, I usually just makes sure its warm to the touch. So it doesn't kill the yeast)

1 Tablespoon Sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoon Yeast

1 1/2 teaspoon Salt

4 Tablespoons Oil

2-3 Cups Flour

Mix water, yeast, sugar, salt, and oil. Let stand 5 min. Then add 1 C. flour and mix, add another Cup, and continue until soft dough forms. Shape into a ball. Lay on a greased, foil lined baking sheet and cover. let rise 30 min. 

Divide into 4 sections and roll into long rolls. Place back on baking sheet and cover, let rise 1 hour. 

Preheat your oven to 350. Bake 25 min. Rub with butter. Cool and slice.

Fill your sandwich with ANYTHING you would like this is the FUN part!! I laid all the ingredients out in separate bowls and we just filled our own Sandwiches!

Cucumbers, sliced

Green Peppers, sliced

pickles

Onions, sliced

Lettuce

Swiss Cheese

Ham

Turkey

Bacon

Ranch

Salt & Pepper 

I LOVE my veggies so I used all of the above. Tyler only used Meat, Cheese, Onions, Ranch, salt and pepper. 

Have fun with it!