Cupcakes
1 box of Duncan Hines White cake Mix
3 large whole eggs
1 1/3 c water
2 tablespoon oils
Foil cupcake liners.
Bottle of Kahlua
-Blend the eggs until foam, then add oil and water.
-Then add in the mix.
-Bake as directed.
-Let cool and poke tiny holes and brush with layers and layers of Kahlua until soaked well.  

1 ready made cup of vanilla pudding
-Fill the cupcakes with the pudding by filling a piping bag with the pudding and pushing in the center until you see the filling come to the top.  

Espresso Buttercream
1 stick of unflavored crisco
1 stick of unsalted butter
1 lb of powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons warm water, dissolve espresso coffee granules
Cocoa Powder
-Pipe a rosette on top of the cupcakes after cooled completely.
-Dust with cocoa powder.

So I came across this awesome artisan bread site today. The blog is called The Fresh Loaf and it has a wealth of tools for beginning bakers. 

The natural thing to do now would be to bake a loaf of warm crusty bread. So here we go with the most basic bread possilble. After we are all done, post a picture of your creation, just like I will, on the Sweder Side Of Life page on Facebook. 

Ready. Set. Preheat.
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/yourfirstloaf 

2.2 lbs of Pork loin
1 15 oz can of Cranberry Jelly
1` 15 oz can of Whole Berry Cranberry Jelly
1 15 oz can of fried apples
1 1/2 cup Apple Juice
3 sprigs of fresh Rosemary
-Place in that order in the slowcooker.
-Set it to High for about 4-5 hours.
-Or on the stove for a little over an hour until fork tender.
-I like to serve with sweet potatoes and sugar snap peas. Leftovers make wonderful sandwiches.

   I am about to tell you a secret. It is a great one. When you look at a box of Duncan Hines cake mix you can see that you need 3 eggs, water and oil. Here is a new twist...You can change water to almost any liquid!
  Ready, sit down and watch me blow your mind. Starting simple...Replace orange juice in the white cake mix batter and you have orange cake! Replace pomegranate juice and, you guessed it, pomegranate cake. Replace the water with Amaretto and you have a ton of new friends at work!
  Duncan Hines is engineered to always bake, even if the consistency is incorrect! (Strange when you think about it.)
  Can you believe that something so basic can change to something ecstrodinary! Try it out and let me know what you can come up with!

 Today was a long day without the motivation needed for spectacular culinary explorations. The oven turned off and the microwave went on. So I ask the question, what did you make? Did you find it fun to make?

1 1/2 pounds boneless round steak
-Gently pound round steak to 1/2 inch with a moistened mallet or the side of a cleaver.

1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
3 tablespoons Ricotta Cheese
-Rub with garlic and sprinkle with cheese and parsley, leaving a small border around the edges. 

1/2 can of Spinach, drained well
1 container of Crimini Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup Mozzarella, shredded
-Spread filling evenly over steak and season with salt and pepper.
-Roll up from the narrow end, and tie tightly with twine.

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
-Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown roll on all sides, 1 to 2 minutes a side.

1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce (ragu tradional or Classico Spicy Arrabiata Sauce
-Pour in spaghetti sauce, reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 60 to 90 minutes, until tender.

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
-In large bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour and salt.

1 package rapid rise yeast
1/4 cup warm water
-Dissolve the yeast in the warm water until it has made enough bubbles to look like it doubled in size in the cup. Pour into dry ingredients.

1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
-Heat milk, honey and oil until very warm (120 to 130F); stir into dry ingredients.

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 egg
-Stir in whole wheat flour, egg and enough remaining all-purpose flour to make soft dough.
-Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover with a damp paper towel; let rest 10 minutes.
-Divide dough into 3 equal pieces; form each into a smooth ball.
-Place, side by side, in greased 8 x 4-inch loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 40 to 60 minutes.
-Bake at 375F for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.

1.5 lbs Chicken Breasts, if you can get them sliced thin.
-Slice in half. Place one slice in a freezer bag and pound until thin but not translucent. Pull out of the bag and lay on a plate.
About 2 eggs
-Crack into a bowl and lightly whisk.
About 2 cups of All-Purpose Flour
-Spread out on a plate.
About 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil enough to coat a Large Frying Pan
-Heat on medium.
-Dip the chicken in the eggs and then lightly coat with the flour. Then into the pan. DO NOT CROWD THE PAN.
-When you see the edges of the chicken start to bubble and tan,  Gently flip, then fry until the edges tan again.
-Have a plate ready with a layer of paper towels so the chicken can drain the extra oil. Wipe off the pan with a few towels. No fuss.

2 Large Lemons, juiced
1 cup nice White Wine
1/2 stick of unsalted butter
-Add to a pan warmed to medium. It will bubble and biol for about two minutes.

1/2 teaspoon Ground Sage
1/2 teaspoon Dried Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil
-Add to the liquid.

3/4 cup Heavy Cream
-Whisk in to the liquid until it is a combined sauce. Place the chicken breasts back in the pan. Crowding is no longer a concern. Salt and pepper only if needed after tasting.
-Serve with fresh veggies and rice or mashed potatoes. I love the lemon sauce over rice.

Whole Wheat Banana Bread with Your Favorite Mixins
-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease only the bottom of either 2- 8x4 loaf pans or 1 9x5 loaf pan.
-Add the following to a big bowl:

2 1/2 c Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 c Very Ripe Bananas, mashed(3-4 medium)
1 1/4 c packed brown sugar
1 c raisins/nuts/choco chips
2/3 c plain nonfat yogurt
2 eggs or 1/2 c fat-free cholesterol-free egg product
1/2 c vegetable oil or 4 oz cinnamon applesauce
1t baking soda
1t salt
1t vanilla(the best you have on hand)

-Pour the mix into the pan or pans. Place on the center rack in your oven. The 8 in pans need 50-60 mins, the 9 inch pan needs 1hr,10mins. Wait until a knife comes out clean when stuck in the middle of the loaf. Leave in the pan for ten mins, loosen and cool completely. Best served sliced, toasted and coated in cold butter.

About 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
-Lightly coat a large frying pan.

2 cloves fresh Garlic sliced
-toss in the olive oil for a minute

1 medium bunch thin asparagus chopped in 2 in chunks
-Coat with garlic and oil until they soften

1 15 oz can Artichoke hearts
1 cups of cherry tomatoes sliced in half
-Toss in and warm the artichokes. Look for the tomatoes to start to wrinkle.

8 oz Penne Pasta, cooked and drained
-Fold in spoonfuls until all the pasta is combined with veggies.
-Season with Salt and Pepper to taste. I like to use fresh ground black pepper and sometimes a few flakes of crushed red pepper or rough cut fresh basil.
-Sprinkle with Grated Parmesan and serve.