Adventures in Baking: Mini Donuts!

This is totally unrelated to nails but I wanted to share about this awesome Babycakes donut maker I bought. I had a 15% off coupon to Kohl's plus $20 bucks in Kohl's cash that I needed to use before it expired. I searched the store high and low for something to spend my coupon on and nothing was really appealing to me until I spotted this guy.


It was on sale for $29.99 so with my various discounts, it came out to less than $10. Sweeeet! The set comes with a couple of recipes for donuts but after browsing for more online, several people recommended using cake batter for softer, fluffier donuts. So that's what I did... and look at the yummy goodness!


I used Duncan Hines Triple Chocolate Decadent cake mix and man, they super tasty... I'm ashamed to admit I've had about 5 of them with all the fixings, lol! And as an aside, Babycakes has makers for mini cupcakes, cake pops, and whoopie pies... I want to try them all.

Thanks for reading!
-Kim

Cooking: Easy Peasy Chicken Teriyaki

Before I get to the cooking, I just wanted to let you guys know that my laptop bit the dust a few weeks ago. With that being said, I have been without my own computer for about a month now and oh my geezers, does it suck! I have to battle for p.c. time with Pete which leaves me enough time to basically just check my email hence the lack of posts. On a side note, does anyone know where I can get a decent laptop for cheap? lol

But anyways, on to the cooking and sadly it will be without pictures this time around. :o(

This is my easy-peasy Japanese Teriyaki dinner. I love to make on those nights that I just don't feel like cooking anything but still want a good home cooked meal that makes my tummy happy. This should feed about 3-4 people. I cook for two of us and we always plenty of left overs for lunch the next day.

You'll need:

1 lb. raw chicken breast
vegetable oil
1 bottle of Lawry's Teriyaki Marinade (found in the condiment aisle at the grocery store.)
1 bag of Steam Fresh Asian Blend frozen veggies.
your choice of rice to go on the side (I prefer about 2 cups of white Minute Rice since it's done when my chicken is.)

De-bone your chicken if needed and cut it up into 1 inch strips. Heat about a tablespoon of the vegetable oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Toss in the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add the FROZEN Steam Fresh veggies and cook for about 7 minutes or so until the veggies are no longer frozen. Add the Lawry's Teriyaki Marinade to taste... I use about half of a cup roughly. Heat until hot and tasty. Serve on top of your rice and you're good to go. This literally takes 20 minutes and as an added bonus you only have to dirty up two pans. Yay! :o)



P.S. --

Dear Santa Claus,

I've been really good all year. Can you pretty please bring me a new computer? I'd love you forever!

Love,
Kimberly

Food: Garlic and Herb Chicken Pasta

It's no secret that baked chicken is a staple at the Hollowell-Caprara household. We love the McCormick Grill Mates for their ease and bold flavors but sometimes I like to change things up a bit. In a moment of brilliance, I came up with a quick and easy take on the Garlic, Herb, and Wine Flavor. Looks yummy, right?



You will need:

1 lb. chicken breast, cleaned and cut into 1" cubes
2 packets of Garlic, Herb, and Wine McCormick Grill Mates
1 lb. pasta of your choice(I prefer spaghetti or angel hair)
White Vinegar
Olive Oil
water



Start boiling water for your pasta and heating up a medium size skillet to cook the chicken in. While your water is heating up, mix one Grill Mate packet per the package directions in a medium size bowl. Add the cubed chicken to the mix.



Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook per the package instructions. Add chicken to the pre-heated skillet and cook until there is no pink remaining, stirring frequently.



While everything is cooking, blend the second package of Grill Mate seasoning in a clean bowl/glass. Microwave for one minute. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Poor the seasoning mix over the pasta, toss in the chicken and stir it all together.



And viola! You're done! It takes me about 20 minutes total to whip up this recipe and it makes about 6 big plates of pasta. It also re-heats really well which is definitely a requirement at our house since there's only the two of us... we ALWAYS have a ton of left-overs. :o)