Secret Filling for Cupcakes

I was just reading a comment from my best friend, Kim, in Atlanta, and she is wanting to make "Filled Cupcakes" so I thought I would just share an idea I came up with a while back that has been a huge hit.  I always like to "accent" my cupcakes with some sort of filling - and since so many people are trying to watch their weight - I decided to try this with Angel Food Cake Cupcakes.  These were so good that I have made them over and over again, by request!

First the filling - (which is the reason for the blog today :)
Two ingredients......
1 Jar Marshmallow Creme
Instant Espresso Powder (don't use instant coffee if you can avoid it - find the Espresso, its in most grocery stores....instant coffee tastes bitter to me....but the Espresso makes you say....ahhhhh :)

Empty the Marshmallow Creme in a bowl and whisk in enough of the Espresso powder until you have a color that looks like "coffee with cream".  (About 1 T. m/l)

Scoop the mixture into a large Ziplock bag.  Zip the bag and snip one of the corners - and you have an instant pastry bag.....

Cupcakes - hey this is up to you......whatever kind you want to make.....skies the limit.  But since I made this originally to go in the Angel Food Cupcakes I will tell you how I finished them off.....

All I used was an Angel Food cake mix - prepared like it directs  - but I poured it in cupcake liners.

When they were done - I let them cool  - and then with a sharp knife I cut an "x" in the top of each one.

Then I squeezed  a small amount of the filling into the "x" of each cupcake.  Don't over-fill of it will ooze out the top.   Then I sprinkled the tops of the cupcakes with powdered sugar.   But the final "TaDa" was the topping....

Cool Whip
Chocolate Syrup
Cinnamon

1 8 oz container of Cool Whip and squeeze in enough chocolate syrup to make it look like a light "chocolate milk"...maybe 1/4 cup.  Mix it well and put it in another Ziplock bag.  If you have a decorating tip - use that....(makes it look pretty) ...but if not - just snip the corner like you did for the filling.

Squeeze a pretty dollop of topping onto each cupcake and then LIGHTLY sprinkle the tops with cinnamon.

I call these "Mexican Kisses" - very light and low fat - but pack a powerful flavor punch!

But I digress.....this is all about the filling!  You can use the filling in chocolate cake, vanilla cake, yellow cake.......whatever you want!  Its yummy!

(Oh ....its a great topper on hot chocolate too.....just an FYI)

Enjoy!

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole


2 cups cooked chicken - shredded  ( I cheated and used 1- 12 oz. CAN of white chicken meat, the kind that comes in a can like tuna fish)
1 can Progesso brand Chicken Enchilada Soup
1 small can - (1/4 cup) chopped green chilis
2 cups shredded cheddar ( I used the "Fiesta Blend" for tacos)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon ground Cumin
6 flour tortillas

Mix the soup, sour cream, cumin, and chilis together and set aside.

Mix chicken, 1 cup cheese, 1 cup of the soup mixture together.
Spread about 1/3 cup of that mixture on each tortilla and roll up and place in a 2 Qt. baking dish.
Pour remaining soup mixture over rolled enchiladas and top with remaining shredded cheese.

Cover with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.   Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

Top with chopped tomatoes, chives or green onions, and sliced avocados.  Squeeze a lime half gently over the top if desired.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

Sometimes it's the easiest ingredients that make my family the happiest!  Since there is a basketball game tonight, and a big meeting to prepare for tomorrow, time was an issue.

So, I grabbed some items from the pantry, threw them together in a casserole dish, and with a few fresh touches, this was a HUGE hit!

The downside.....what should have fed 4-5 people, only fed three of us....but my boys were hungry!

Off to the game...I promise to post the recipe tonight!  Go Dawgs!

Sleepover Night!

Ok - so what do you do when you walk downstairs in the morning and find every soft surface of your living room draped with a snoring 19 or 20 year old??   Well, you make breakfast for them of course!!!  Nothing like the smell of bacon to wake up these boys!!  :) :)
Cheesy scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, whole wheat bagels and fresh oranges and cranberry juice woke these boys up after a "movie marathon" night!   Of course - it took them all of 10 minutes to devour it all!!
I'm thinking these college breaks last a tad too long....don't you agree? 

Now THAT'S what I call dinner!

I decided that it was going to be a healthy dinner tonight with Alaskan salmon seasoned with garlic and lemon pepper, whole wheat beer bread, and a yummy salad with baby greens, cranberries, red onion and watermelon, drizzled with Balsamic vinegarette.   It was all really good but the salad was really awesome!

Dawg Night!

Don't want you all to think that I started this blog to simply let it hang out there and never post anything on it!  Truth be told - I cooked and baked so much in the last few weeks that my refrigerator and freezer have been so full of food - that the thought of making MORE food was simply impossible!  I have been eating "leftovers" for the past few days - but it is time to clean out the fridge and start anew! 
But I will have to start "anew" tomorrow - because tonight is an SIU basketball game!  The first MVC game on TV as the Dawgs are in Peoria playing Bradley tonight - plus, Rich is driving back from Springfield after a day of meetings.....which means tonight......it's PIZZA night!  So, tune in tomorrow!  Hopefully, some HEALTHY creativity will strike for dinner!  In the meantime...GO DAWGS!! :)

First breakfast of 2011!

Fresh baked cinnamon rolls to start off the New Year!  How did you start off your New Year!  :)

New Years Eve 2010

Food, food and more food.......good music......lots of laughs......and my house full of people I love!
Yes, it was a great New Years Eve!
I am looking forward to posting "cooking" comments this coming year!  Now if only I hadn't eaten my way through the holidays.............................:)