Caramel Crunch--Tasty Thursday

Happy Tasty Thursday!  This snack is brought to you by my mom.  I have to warn you that this sweet cereal snack will hook you.  You'll walk by and grab a handful....and another....and another...and...why not one more.  It's that good.

Caramel Crunch

4 cups honey nut Chex

4 cups chocolate Cheerios

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

6 TBSP butter

3 TBSP light corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup white vanilla baking chips

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.  Pour cereal into a large microwave safe bowl; set aside.

In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup uncovered on high 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth.  Stir in baking soda until dissolved.  Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.  Microwave on high 3 minutes, stirring every minute.  Spread on cookie sheet.  Cool 10 minutes.  Break into bite-size pieces.

In a small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on high about 1 minute 30 seconds or until chips can be stirred smooth (bowl will be hot).  Drizzle on snack.  Refrigerate until set. Store in tightly covered container.

*recipe adapted from chex.com

Enjoy!

Cafe Mocha Cupcakes--Tasty Thursday

Hey everyone, welcome to Tasty Thursday!

Whether or not your a coffee lover I think you'll really enjoy these cupcakes.  They're a chocolate cake with a light coffee flavor and a vanilla coffee buttercream.  The coffee flavor isn't so strong that it'll knock you over, just enough to make you think...hum, that's really good.

I believe these are the first cupcakes I've made since I did cupcakes for a wedding in JULY!  Can you believe I took that long of a cupcake break?  I was a lazy pregnant woman, so I just went to bakeries and bought some when the craving would hit!  Anyway, I think these turned out really tasty...hope you enjoy!

Cafe Mocha Cupcake

1 cup strong brewed coffee

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup + 2 TBSP cake flour

3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, soft

1 cup + 2 TBSP sugar

2 eggs 

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Pour hot coffee over cocoa, whisk until smooth; let cool
• Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside
• Cream butter and sugar
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla
• Add flour mixture and cocoa mixture, alternating, beginning and ending with flour
• Fill prepared muffin cups about 2/3 to 3/4 full with batter
• Bake for 15-20 minutes
• Allow to cool, then frost

*makes approx. 18 cupcakes

Vanilla Coffee Buttercream

3/4 cup butter, soft

6 cups powdered sugar

4 1/2 TBSP strong coffee, cooled

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

• Cream butter
• Gradually add some powdered sugar, beating well
• Beat in coffee and vanilla
• Gradually add the rest of the powdered sugar
• Beat until smooth

*buttercream recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

If you have any special requests or ideas for Tasty Thursday please let me know.

Enjoy!

I'm Here...SURPRISE

I'm here, I'm here!  Maybe you didn't miss me, but I sure hope you did!  Anyway, I'm back from quite a long hiatus.  I'll just fill you in quickly on what's been going on since last summer.

SURPRISE!  This is my gorgeous little girl Fenley!  She was born January 15 and is absolutely amazing...Ronny and I couldn't be happier.

If Fenley sees fit, I hope to have a few new posts up each week.  I have some things in mind, so just cross your fingers it all works out.