3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Food

Simple Apple Tarts

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As I was cleaning out my refrigerator I found some sad, wrinkled apples. Me being me, and not being fond of wasting food I decided to make these apples into a dessert. There wasn’t enough for an apple pie so I scoured my cupboard and found a few silicon baking tart pans.

Apple Tart Recipe

My make do Apple Tart recipe is very easy. Had to be, I was short on time and was feeling lazy. Pyrex glass bowls work just as well for this, I just didn’t have a matching set. Yes it’s all about taking the food photos I tell my husband as he rolls his eyes. 

Ingredients

  • 1 apple per tart (any kind you have around)
  • Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg, white sugar (to tell you the truth I didn’t measure, geee surprise)
  • 1 TBSP Flour  per tart
  • Butter (1 TBSP per tart) GOTTA have real butter
Pie Crust (I do measure on this)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled (again, gotta have REAL butter)
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/3 cup ice water

Instructions (Filling)

  1. Slice one apple per tart directly into baking dish
  2. Mix flour, sugar and spices together
  3. Sprinkle liberally on apples
  4. Place a pat of butter on apples
  5. Cut out rolled pie crust and place on apples, cut vent holes in crust.
  6. Brush with butter or egg whites (which I forgot, but it makes the end result look pretty)
  7. Bake on cookie sheet in 350 oven for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown

Directions  for Pie Crust (taken from Allrecipes, red edits on what I really did)

  1. Combine flour and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer. (I used a plain bowl) Cut butter or margarine or butter and shortening into tablespoon pieces; add it to the flour and butter. Use the paddle beater (fork) to cut the butter and flour together. Alternatively, this can be done by hand with a pastry blender. ( I used to have one)
  2. With the mixer on low speed , or while stirring the mixture with a fork, pour in the cold water. When the dough starts to clump, and before it turns into a ball, stop stirring.
  3. Lightly knead (mix and mash with hands)  dough in the bowl until it forms a ball. Divide dough into two parts. Flatten each part into a disk, and chill for about 30 minutes before rolling (didn’t do that, just put out on floured counter and rolled with my Pampered Chef Roller).
Almost forgot the end result. Eat and enjoy
Apple Pie Tart

Meatloaf Cupcakes Recipes Your Kids Will Love

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You heard right, it’s a Meatloaf cupcake recipe.

According to my daughter two words that should never be put together. But based on the response from uploading a picture to Facebook I think my Meatloaf Cupcakes with mashed potatoes for frosting deserves some blog time.

Meatloaf cupcake3s mashed potatoes

I didn’t find this idea on Pinterest,  it was a Family Magazine recipe while getting my hair cut, although anyone who wants to Pin this is more than welcome.

Meatloaf cupcakes are actually quite easy. In very simplistic terms, use your favorite meatloaf recipe, bake in muffin tins and frost with mashed potatoes. Easy peasy. They actually make meatloaf cupcake tins now!

Now, for a beginning cook who has never made either, here is my recipe below. Remember I’m a “creative cook”, recipes are used as guidelines and measurements are liberally flexible.

Meatloaf Cupcake Recipe

  • 2 lbs of ground beef
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • Salt & Pepper (1/2 tsp each)
  • Cupcake tins (didn’t have these so I baked them in regular muffin tins, messier, and not as pretty)

Mix raw ground beef with all the remaining items on the list. Scoop into balls and press into muffin tins.  Glaze with ketchup and bake at 350F for 45 minutes.

Since I have posted this Meatloaf Muffin recipe it has become VERY popular on Pinterest. Thank you, everyone, by the way. Now there are multiple stuffed meatloaf muffin recipes and even a special muffin pan designed to drain the fat from the tins, genius I say!

Norpro Nonstick Mini Meatloaf, Muffin PanNorpro Nonstick Mini Meatloaf, Muffin PanMuffin Tin Menus: 47 Fun & Delicious RecipesMuffin Tin Menus: 47 Fun & Delicious Recipes

Mashed Potato Recipe

  • 4-6 potatoes
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions

  1. Peel and slice potatoes into 1/2″ pieces.
  2. Boil in a large pot of water (make sure water is at least 1/2″ over potatoes) until easily poked with a fork.
  3. Drain water (save potato water as stock for cooking) and add milk, butter, sour cream, salt and pepper.
  4. Mash all ingredients together with a potato masher, or blender. 
  5. Add cheese and mix with wooden spoon until cheese is melted. (add more for cheesier frosting)
  6. Insert mashed potatoes into a piping tube, I used my Pampered Chef decorating tube (did I tell you I got a lot for my wedding)
  7. Top with grated salt and pepper
Options
Top with bacon bits, shredded cheese, or chives.
Find More Meatloaf Cupcake Recipes
Get creative with your meatloaf and your cupcakes. Food doesn’t have to be boring. If you have any meatloaf cupcake recipes you would like to share let me know.

Top 50 Most Delicious Meatloaf Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 74)Top 50 Most Delicious Meatloaf Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 74)Meatloaf Recipes: 26 Meatloaf Recipes That Will Make Your Kitchen The #1 Favorite (Rory's Meat Kitchen)Meatloaf Recipes: 26 Meatloaf Recipes That Will Make Your Kitchen The #1 Favorite (Rory’s Meat Kitchen)Meet The Meatloaf: Easy and Delicious Meatloaf RecipesMeet The Meatloaf: Easy and Delicious Meatloaf RecipesMeatloaf Recipes: 28 Must-Eat, Super Easy and Yummy Meatloaf Recipes at Every Meal!Meatloaf Recipes: 28 Must-Eat, Super Easy and Yummy Meatloaf Recipes at Every Meal!

How to Cook Corned Beef

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Even though I grew up in a heavily Irish area of Connecticut I never ate corned beef. So when my husband asked me to cook it, I was a little lost, he is part Irish and Corned Beef was a family tradition on St. Patricks Day. When I said I didn’t know how to cook it, and wasn’t planning on adding it to the menu a pout appeared and he mentioned driving home to his Mom’s. That wasn’t going to happen.

Cooking Corned Beef and Cabbage

So, I started asking around for recipes and my co-worker Kelly told me about this awesome recipe on, where else, Allrecipes. Have to admit, even for someone with no Irish heritage I did pretty well. On second thought, since I’m adopted, I don’t know what mix I am and the freckles that appear in the summer might have some “Touch of the Irish” , but I’d like to think I’m just a good cook.

I bought the already packaged and brined corned beef, I guess I cheated a little. I did learn a little trivia about corned beef. It’s not named because the beef are fed corn, but because the brisket was cured with corns of salt.

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Omaha Steaks 1 (30 oz.) Rustic Corned BeefOmaha Steaks 1 (30 oz.) Rustic Corned BeefUnderwood Corned Beef Spread, 4.25 Ounce (Pack of 12)Underwood Corned Beef Spread, 4.25 Ounce (Pack of 12)Homemade Pastrami and To-Die-For Corned BeefHomemade Pastrami and To-Die-For Corned BeefCorned Beef Hot Sandwiches: 101 Delicious, Nutritious, Low Budget, Mouth Watering CookbookCorned Beef Hot Sandwiches: 101 Delicious, Nutritious, Low Budget, Mouth Watering Cookbook

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For more of my favorite recipes check out my Pinterest Food page

Corned Beef Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 (3 pound) corned beef briskets with spice packets
  • 2 (12 fluid ounce) bottles beer
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup peppercorns
  • 1 bulb garlic cloves, separated and peeled (didn’t have, used freeze dried garlic)
 Directions
  1. Place the corned beef briskets into a large pot (I used a crock pot). Sprinkle in one of the spice packets, and discard the other one or save for other uses. Pour in the beer, and fill the pot with enough water to cover the briskets by 1 inch. Add the bay leaves, peppercorns and garlic cloves. Cover, and bring to a boil.
  2. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 4 to 5 hours, checking hourly, and adding more water if necessary to keep the meat covered. (which I didn’t do, still turned out great)
  3. Carefully remove the meat from the pot, as it will be extremely tender. Set on a cutting board, and allow it to rest until it firms up a bit, about 10 minutes. Slice or shred to serve. I discard the cooking liquid, but it can be used to cook cabbage and other vegetables if desired.
Cabbage, Potatoes & Onions
  • 1/4 of a cabbage, cut into 1-2″ chunks
  • 1 onion cut into 1″ pieces
  • 4 potatoes, cubed
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions
  1. Cube all ingredients and place in shallow baking dish
  2. Drizzle with olive oil and melted butter
  3. Liberally sprinkle with salt and pepper
  4. Bake for 45 minutes

Favorite Irish Foods

There is more to Irish food than Corn Beef and many people who have moved from Ireland, or have Irish history remember distinctly Irish brands such as Barry’s Irish Tea or Irish Stew. If you’re craving a taste of Ireland, or just wanting to throw an Irish Themed party then check out the pantry items at Amazon and have them delivered right to your door.

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McCann's Quick Cooking Irish Oatmeal, 36-Ounce CanisterMcCann’s Quick Cooking Irish Oatmeal, 36-Ounce CanisterReally Great Food Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread Mix 25 OzReally Great Food Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread Mix 25 OzBoyle's Irish ScreamBoyle’s Irish ScreamIrish Biscuit Pack - Orignal Kimberley Biscuits, Chocolate Kimberleys, Jam Mallows and Irish Shortbread BiscuitsIrish Biscuit Pack – Orignal Kimberley Biscuits, Chocolate Kimberleys, Jam Mallows and Irish Shortbread BiscuitsThompson's Punjana Irish Breakfast 80 teabags (8.82oz) x 1 packThompson’s Punjana Irish Breakfast 80 teabags (8.82oz) x 1 packTayto Irish Cheese & Onion Crisps - 6 Pack ( 6 x 25g bags)Tayto Irish Cheese & Onion Crisps – 6 Pack ( 6 x 25g bags)Follain Irish Rhubarb & Ginger Jam 370gFollain Irish Rhubarb & Ginger Jam 370gBarry's Tea Irish Breakfast, 80-Tea Bag Boxes (Pack of 6)Barry’s Tea Irish Breakfast, 80-Tea Bag Boxes (Pack of 6)Princes Irish Stew (400g)Princes Irish Stew (400g)Garvey's Organic Traditional Irish Soda Bread Mix, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 5)Garvey’s Organic Traditional Irish Soda Bread Mix, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 5)

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More Corned Beef Recipes

Here’s Your MMMM Delicious Mustard Sauce For Super Easy Crockpot Corned …

Isn’t it nice to have dinner mostly ready when you get home from a long day of furiously refreshing Wonkette at the office? A slow cooker makes that easy while minimizing the risk of burning your house down. Let’s make a corned beef in the crockpot and …

Slow Cooker Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe for an Easy St. Patrick’s Day Meal

corned beef cabbage Attention leprechauns: St. Patrick’s Day is just 12 days away. Do you have your corned beef recipe ready? How do you like yours? We happen to like ours easy, nice and easy. That’s what slow cookers are for. So go ahead and have fun …

Brian Scott’s Favorite Corned Beef Recipe

I have always cooked my corned beef by boiling it with cabbage and potatoes and have always loved it that way, but this year I wanted to do something a little different. I remember my mother cooked her corned beef and then glazed it with a mustard glaze.

St. Patrick’s Day: Modernized Corned Beef recipe

To help you get ready for St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated Irish chef and TV personality Kevin Dundon features modern Irish country house cooking in his “Modern Irish Food” cookbook, which accompanies a 10-part series airing on PBS. Filmed at Dunbrody …

Glazed Corned Beef Recipe

St Patricks day is one of my favorite pauses in a regular schedule for one reason. Corned Beef. Of course a good corned beef sandwich can be had at any time of the year but being the only one around the house that really likes corned beef, I seldom …

#10/52: Crispy Oven Baked Onion Ring Recipe

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Yes, I  admit it, I love Pinterest and this Baked Onion Ring recipe was one of the first to get me hooked. Maybe because I’m such a visual person. Half the time I search Google by Google images, so why didn’t I think of Pinterest? I have a Favorite Foods (surprised, not) board that I’m going to have to divide into sub categories pretty soon.

Below is my rendition of the Low Fat Baked Onion Rings. I had my doubts that oven backed rings would be crunchy. Not only did I like them, but so did every one else. They were soooooo good. Thanks to Skinnytaste.com for posting them originally

Homemade Oven Baked Onion Ring Recipe

Since I adapted the recipe a little (don’t I always) I posted my own picture, but if you want to check out the original visit my Favorite Food board

  • 1 medium onion, sliced into 1/4 inch rings
  • 2 1/4 cups milk + 1 TBSP vinegar (original called for buttermilk, which I never have)
  • 2 cups finely crushed bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup crushed corn flake crumbs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Parsley, garlic powder, seasonings to taste and preference
  • olive oil baking spray
1. Slice onions and let soak in milk/vinegar mixture for one hour in refrigerator
2. Preheat oven to 450F
3. Line cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with olive baking spray
4. Mix seasonings and bread crumbs in bowl, set half aside for 2nd half of dipping.  (Helps prevent clumping)
5.  Remove onions from milk and dip in breading mix.
6. Place on tin foil, spray with olive oil and bake for 12 minutes.
 

More Onion Ring Recipes

Old Fashioned Onion Rings Recipe – Allrecipes.com

This is an actual recipe from a former employee of a popular drive-in restaurant. Crispy coated onion rings like the pro’s make!
Onion Ring Recipe | Hillbilly Housewife

I love fall. It’s getting cooler and of course there’s football. I’m not the worlds biggest fan, but it’s nice to curl up on the couch with my husband to watch the game. A few weeks ago he mentioned that he missed hanging out with a beer and an …
 
Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings | Two Forks One Love

Yesterday, I teased (okay blurted out in all caps) that I had an awesome bacon wrapped onion ring recipe for you today. Well, here it is! I really should have held it for a Side Dish Sunday, but BACON. If you’re trying to figure …
 
National Onion Rings Day – The Foodie Patootie

I’ll never even attempt a different onion ring recipe. I am pretty much satisfied with everything this one had to offer. And they were easy! Which is always my favorite part. (I’m looking forward to the day when I can actually take …
 

#9/52: Shamrock Shake, It’s That Time of Year

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Shamrock Shakes are Back!

It’s that time of year again. March 1st, the day I can officially enjoy a Shamrock Shake (ok I bought this last night, I couldn’t resist) I’m also not one to be trending either, but on Twitter, #ShamrockShake is the promoted trend today. According to McDonald’s 2012 is the first year the Shamrock Shake is available nationwide. Wow, didn’t know that.

Shamrock Shake from McDonalds
Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s

Last year I learned a few historical facts about the Shamrock Shake. Maybe those in the Midwest don’t relate, but since it was originally released in Connecticut I have very fond memories at an early age.

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IRISH TREATS - 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick's Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishIRISH TREATS – 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishCooking with Irish Cream: The 50 Most Delicious Irish Cream Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 54)Cooking with Irish Cream: The 50 Most Delicious Irish Cream Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 54)

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Why is it that a mint flavored shake is so tasty? I mean really. Mint? Should make you pucker just at the thought. But McDonald’s has found that magical combination of sweet, smooth and minty in one combination that is just delectable.

There is such a passion for this frosty drink a website tracks the appearance every year. Shamrockshake.com tracks the locations where they can be found, and yes, I added the McDonald’s 1-80 Gretna Exit to the list.

So until they run out enjoy the “Luck of the Irish” and St. Patricks Day with a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.

Looking for the taste of a Shamrock Shake the rest of the year, you can get your minty craving in a Keurig or just explore different mint recipes for that fres minty taste.

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Junior Mints Hot Cocoa Single Serve - 12ctJunior Mints Hot Cocoa Single Serve – 12ctTop 50 Most Delicious Mint Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 55)Top 50 Most Delicious Mint Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 55)

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McDonalds Shamrock Shake Information

McCafé Shamrock Shake :: McDonalds.com

Smooth and creamy mint flavored shake topped with whipped cream and a cherry. But only for a limited time.

Shamrock Shake – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shamrock Shake is a seasonal green-dyed mint flavored milkshake dessert sold at McDonald’s to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Top Secret Recipes | McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe

Get the best McDonald’s Shamrock Shake recipe on the ORIGINAL copycat recipe website! Todd Wilbur shows you how to easily duplicate the taste of famous …

Shamrock Shakes Recipe – Allrecipes.com

Joe’s Shamrock Shake Recipe – A homemade version of the perennial green … shake machine was “down”, and I really needed my annual Shamrock Shake fix,  …