Pinterest Review: White Chicken Enchiladas

I hate to post two cooking reviews from Pinterest in a row, but I am so happy with how these turned out.  No pic this time, but you can get the recipe from Joyful Mama’s Kitchen.

My mom makes these same chicken enchiladas, and I’ve wanted her recipe for years.  They are incredible — she bakes several pans at the same time and they’re always gone in a day or two.  I’m happy to say that this recipe is just as good as hers.  One pan fed all of us, with a little leftover for my lunch the next day.

NOMS.

Pinterest Review: Miracle Cake Release

So, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to post more on my blog — I miss chronicling the stuff we’ve been up to. Unfortunately, as you can see, it’s January 22nd and this is my first post.

*sigh*

I did have one idea, though, that I think may work well: doing a sort of Pinterest roundup or review of some of the crap I pin that I actually make/try. Short and sweet, and if I don’t have to post many (or any!) pics then that might make it easier to write a few entries now and then.

Onward!

First up, I want to talk about the Miracle Pan release. It sounds sort of boring, but I effing hate it when cakes stick to the pan. It hurts my feelings and makes me want to punch things. Especially when it’s something like Pineapple Upside Down cake, and the presentation hinges on the damn thing coming out of the damn pan.

I tried this stuff, and seriously. It’s amazeballs. We don’t bake anything without using it. You just paint it on using a pastry brush, and it’s worked on everything we’ve thrown at it, including the deadly upside-down cake.

Very simple to make: equal parts shortening, vegetable oil, and flour. I store mine in one of those glass gravy jars (after I washed it, though…) and even the husband uses it. He actually stopped in the middle of making brownies so I could make more cake release because he didn’t want to cook the brownies without it.

Awesome.

I recommend you give it a shot — takes about 30 seconds, and will make your baking life a whole lot easier.

Get the full tutorial from Apronofgrace.com.

Deodorant!

I’ve been on a diaper ointment-making kick lately, so while gathering the supplies together for that I also decided to make some deodorant.  I first saw the recipe at SewGreen (see the entry here).  How easy does that look, right?

I didn’t have any arrowroot powder, so I ordered that some along with lemongrass EO from Sahara’s Supplies on Etsy.  Once everything got here, it took about 2 seconds to make.  I mixed all the powders together, and then melted 5TBS of coconut oil in the microwave.  I added the EO to the coconut oil, then mixed it all together into a really super runny paste.

I popped it into the freezer for a few minutes because I wanted to see what it would look like all firmed up (coconut oil is a solid at room temp, but has a very low melting point).  It looks exactly like the picture on the SewGreen site, like a really thick frosting.  I’m able to scoop it out of the container really easily and rub it on my skin with no trouble.

With the lemongrass EO it smells like candy.  In other words, I totally want to lick my pits.  It’s a little gritty going on, and I think it may leave some residue (like if I wear a tank top you might see it) but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.  Also it’s not an antiperspirant, but I’m more concerned about smelling like a moldy sweat sock, so whatever.  Priorities, people.

So far so good, and the one batch made enough to keep me stink free for quite some time.  Score!

Make your own pepperoni rolls

Have you all heard of pepperoni rolls?  I guess they’re very popular out here… my mom (having lived out here) used to make them for us when we were younger.  I thought it was something she just made up, but no. It’s like a thing. A. THING.  They sell them in the grocery store and the gas station.  They have big ones and small ones, in bags and individually, with all different sorts of pepperoni and cheese.

So I make my own, since that way I can use lots and lots and lots of pepperoni.  And sometimes we add cheese, but not if I’m feeling lazy.  I tweeted about the last time I made them and some fine young lady requested the recipe.  I am nothing if not accommodating.

Unfortunately you only get this crappy iPhone picture of what they look like when they come out of the oven.  Rest assured they were gone about 10 minutes after this picture was taken. Also, they look burned in the picture, but whatever.

So, recipe.  I use the “ABM dinner rolls” recipe I found years ago online here, and make the dough in my bread machine.  Really, any dinner roll recipe will do.  Also, I found a big ass stick of pepperoni at the store, so I cut long strips and use this to stuff the rolls. (Heh.)  I like to make the pieces pretty thick because I want equal bread and pepperoni, thankyouverymuch.  Usually, though, I use the round pepperoni slices you get for pizza.  Be generous with the slices.

You can also stuff cheese with them, but you don’t eat these babies hot, so the cheese might not be that appetizing to you if it’s cold.  I think it’s good.  Onward!

1 c. water
2 T. butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
3 1/4 c. bread flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. salt
3 t. active dry yeast

Measure carefully, placing all ingredients in bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer. Select Dough/Manual cycle. Do not use delay cycle. When cycle is complete remove dough from pan with lightly floured hands. Cover and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface.

Divide dough into 15 equal pieces (I usually make more than this). Cover and let rise in warm place 30 to 40 minutes or until double. The last time I made them I forgot to let them rise for 30 minutes, and they turned out fine. *shrug*

Keeping your hands floured (this dough is sticky, y’all) shape each piece into a ball, and stuff with pepperoni and cheese (optional).

Place them on the cookie sheet touching each other, and bake at for 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve warm or wait until they cool off.  I store these on a covered plate, but they never stick around for very long.

If you give them a try let me know what you think!

The mostest deliciousest cookies evar

I had plans to bake all kinds of holiday treats, but I was derailed by this one particular recipe.  It's for sugar cookies, AND ICING.  The most delicious icing in the whole, whole world.

Sugar cookies

1 cup margarine/butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. nutmeg

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg, add to wet ingredients.  You can roll them out at this point, or put the dough in the 'fridge for a bit, if you want.  Bake at 375 degrees for between 7-10 minutes.

Icing

2 cups powdered sugar
1/5 cup butter (I guesstimated)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
3 Tbs. milk
food coloring (if you're fancy)

Beat it up in a bowl, and be sure to taste it several times.  You could even get a spoon, and taste it again, to be sure.  Or just sit on the couch with the bowl, so you can keep eating tasting it, JUST to be EXTRA EXTRA SURE.  If you want to be predictable, go ahead and ice those cookies.

So damn good.  You could make some up and eat them, or send them all to me.