VIII. Candy Cane Results

I could have made a candy cane dish every day of this month, so it was hard to zone in and focus on one treat.  When I first received my challenge, i immediately was going to make a holiday mixer, but I opted for something sweeter instead. I made Holiday Cupcakes with a Candy Cane Swirl!

Ingredients:

• 1 box of cake mix (I had confetti cake on hand, I would definitely suggest using a white cake mix)
• 1 jar of Betty Crocker Whipped Vanilla Frosting
• 15-20 drops of red food coloring
• 2 4 tbsp peppermint extract (thanks Jamin for the correction)
• 24 cute muffin baking cups

Steps:

1. Preheat oven and prepare the cake mix per instructions on the box.
2. Enlist a helper.  Have said helper hammer peppermints into crumbs.
3. Add the crushed mint and 2 tbsp peppermint extract to cake batter and mix with standing mixer.
4. Reserve 1 cup of batter and put in a small bowl.
5. Scoop cake batter into lined muffin pan.
6. With reserved batter stir in 15-20 drops of red food coloring.
7. Spoon red batter in to muffin cups and swirl with a knife.
8. Bake for 18-22 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
10. Once cool, frost with Whipped Vanilla Frosting, serve and enjoy!

And Voila!
They are rather tasty, but there is no way that Jamin and I can eat 24 cupcakes before they spoil, so we both will be bringing a treat to work this week!

VIII. Candy Canes

Christmas is on the countdown, so fa la la la la la la la laaaaa!!! Christmas time is candy time. And who doesn't love a candy cane???

This week, if you choose to accept, I challenge you to PEPPERMINT!

I encourage you to use peppermint in a recipe for maybe cookies, maybe candy, maybe a winter cocktail or a maybe a warm loaf of bread. Use your imagination, create a new creation! Use what it takes, create, or even bake your way into this fun Christmas time spirit!!!

On behalf of bringing us a bit closer this holiday season, I also put myself to the challenge to create your creation within 7 days of you posting it. Just a little conversation starting, taste bud mixing, moment of fun sharing that we can do while being 3,000 miles apart during the holiday season. (of course if your concoction turns out good)

Challenge Details:
Inspiration: Candy Canes
Medium: Peppermint flavoring (or Candy Canes) -- Garnishing with Candy Canes
Deadline: Sunday 9th, 11:59pm

II. Apple Challenge Results

I know what you are thinking, yes, I did wait until the last days to complete this challenge.  We have been so busy that we haven't even had a chance to enjoy fall this year, much less apple picking at the orchard!  Ironically, apples aren't my favorite fruit and when I think of them, I see that infamous scene of temptation from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (I might also have witches on my brain because of Halloween...).

 For whatever unknown reason, I am obsessed with Mexican food right now!  Tacos, nachos, rice and beans, etc... and  I didn't want to make a dessert, because lets be real, I  could have created thousands of apple desserts, but I wanted to go spicy, so let me introduce you to:

Spicy Apple Nachos!

Ingredients (everything is a guesstimate, because I don't measure when I cook):

• 1 Jonagold apple
• 1 Fuji apple
• 1 1/2  Granny Smith apple
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 can of black beans
• Ground turkey
• 1 red onion
• 1 white onion
• 1 roma tomato
• Brick of apple smoked cheddar cheese
• 4 corn tortillas
• 4 flour tortillas
• 1 jalapeño pepper
• Splash of cranberry juice

Steps:

1. Wash and peel the sweet potato.  Dice and place in pot of water and bring to a boil.  Cook until soft or easily pierced with a fork.
2. While the potato is boiling, preheat the oven to 450˚ quarter 4 corn tortillas and 4 flour tortillas. We had to use two kinds because I'm trying to avoid wheat and Jamin can't eat corn tortillas because, "they don't taste right."  I spritzed with water and sprinkled cinnamon between each layer of tortilla.  Place on baking sheet with an oven safe plate on top (it stops the tortillas from curling) and bake for 8-10 minutes or until chips are crispy.
3. Slice 1 jonagold, 1 granny smith and 1 fuji apple in half.  Remove core and seeds.  Place on baking sheet, we actually don't have a baking sheet so I placed them in a muffin tin which actually worked better.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake in 450˚ oven with the tortilla chips.
4. Slice the jalapeño pepper, onion and tomato.  Grate cheese, drain and rinse the beans and set all aside.
5. Brown turkey and season to taste.  I had to enlist a helper.  I have the worst time with cooking meat, I simply do not know how to tell when it's done... it's weird, I know.
6. If chips are crispy, take them out of the oven and set aside as well.  If the potatoes are soft, drain and set aside.  If the apples are baked and mushy take them out of the oven!
7. Combine apples (I used one half of each baked apple), half a can of beans, sliced jalapeño and roughly 6 chunks of sweet potato in a food processor.  Blend until all ingredients are mixed.  Because I used black beans, it is an unattractive color, but sample it, it tastes amazing!
8. Layer the chips onto a platter.  Spoon healthy heaps of your spicy apple dip, sprinkle onions, tomatoes, pork and some black beans on your chip spread.  Finally, top with cheese, the more the better ;).
9. Place into a warmed oven to melt.  While in the oven, thinly slice a granny smith apple for garnishment.
10. Remove from oven, top with apple slices, pour a glass of wine, serve and ENJOY!

 It was extremely tasty!  Adding the whole jalapeño pepper gave it the right spicy kick and the apples were sweet enough to balance that heat.

Try it... I dare you!

Here are more cooking pictures, for those of you who are visual.

I. Pumpkin Challenge

Your first challenge, if you choose to accept, is... PUMPKINS!

I love the spicy flavor of  pumpkin in the fall.  I think that I have become a fan as I have gotten older.  I don't recall enjoying it as much as I do now, then when I was little.  I alone have spent hours browsing pumpkin recipes, but I can't wait for your twist on the fall classic. The only rule, you can't use a recipe already made!  You can use other recipes for reference only!  Luckily, you have two roommates who get to sample your tasty treat!

Challenge Details:
Inspiration: Pumpkins
Medium: Recipe
Deadline: Sunday, October 21st @ 11:59 p.m.

Happy Cooking!