Cinnamon Raisin Upside Down Coffee Cake

Cake Ingredients:

1 1/3 C Flour

2/3 C Brown Sugar

3 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Kosher Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

Dash Allspice (Optional)

1/2 C Milk

2 Large Eggs

1/2 Stick (1/4 C) Melted Butter

Topping Ingredients:

1/3 C Rolled Oats, chopped

1/3 C Brown Sugar

1/3 C Golden Raisins, chopped

1/2 Stick (1/4 C) Melted Butter

2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

Directions:

Start by mixing together the dry ingredients of your cake (flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice). Then, add in the wet ingredients.

Grease a 9in round cake pan.

Pour in cake mixture. Shake pan to make sure it is evenly spread.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

While oven is preheating, mix your crumble ingredients together.

(Don't forget to chop your oats and raisins!)

Spread crumble topping evenly over your coffee cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Let sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Enjoy!

Pulled Pork Tacos

Originally I was only going to have this as the recipe indicates - on a roll with cabbage slaw. After having it once this way (which was quite tasty) I noticed that the pork wasn't at all like a bbq flavor: just a nice pork.  Perfect for tacos!

The next night we had the leftover pork on corn tortillas with avocados, cilantro, lime, sour cream, and hot sauce.

Delicious.

Derek's rating: 10/10

Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream (and an amazing husband)

Unlike the other posts I've done, this will not include a recipe.  I'm just going to brag on my husband.  Over the last two days, he's made us homemade chocolate and homemade vanilla ice cream.  Both of which were made using the recipe(s) and equipment from Cuisinart. Yum!

Crispy Croutons

Crispy Croutons

If you read the post on "Easy Chili and Homemade French Bread," then you would know that I'm not a huge fan of the bread re-heated as it looses it's awesome texture on day two.  It's also hard to eat the whole loaf between just Derek and I, so I had to think of something to use up that extra half-loaf: CROUTONS!  There's extra bread and extra chili - perfect combination!

These Crispy Croutons would make an excellent addition to a salad as well.  I will definitely be making these from all of my extra french bread.  That second-day bread has the perfect amount of dry-ness (for lack of another word) for making croutons.

3 Tablespoons Butter
1/2 Loaf French Bread
(Yes! That's all!)

Cut your french bread into small cubes:

Then, melt your 3 Tablespoons of Butter in a large skillet:

Toss in your bread cubes, stirring gently to coat in the butter, then rest in a single layer in your skillet:

Once the bread cubes have been coated, don't stir until the bottoms are getting nice and brown (Medium-Dark brown, not just light brown).

After the bottoms are brown, flip the cubes over using a spatula:

Let the croutons continue to cook, undisturbed, until nice and crispy and browned.

Once the croutons are ready to come out of the pan, let them cool off in a single layer.

You're done! Add these delicious bites into a soup or salad! Be aware, it's super easy to stand around and munch on these while they cool. 

Derek's rating: 10/10

Bourbon Chicken with a side of Red Beans and Rice

Bourbon Chicken

If you're anything like me, you love "Chinese" take-out... whether it be from a legitimate and authentic Chinese restaurant or from a questionable mall food-court.  When I saw the Pinterest link to a Bourbon Chicken recipe, I just had to try it (and put my own personal taste into adjusting measurements).  


2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Cut into bite-sized pieces)
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Garlic Clove
1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar (or Dark!)
2 Tablespoons Ketchup
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce (Or a little less if desired)
1 Tablespoon Corn Starch


Directions:

Heat your olive oil in a large skillet.  Once your olive oil is nice and hot, add only your chunks of chicken until the outsides are slightly browned.  Remove the chicken.

In the same pan, add all of the other remaining ingredients over medium heat.  Stir until everything has dissolved.  

Add the chicken back in and simmer for 20 minutes.  Do not cover.

ENJOY!


Red Beans and Rice

2 Cups Red Beans, cooked/canned
1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
1 Small Yellow Onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
===
2 Cups cooked rice (white or brown)
1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Oregano
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1/4 Cup Olive Oil


In a medium-sized pan heat olive oil.  Saute minced garlic with the onion.  Once the onion has softened up, add the red beans.

In a large mixing bowl, toss the garlic/onion/bean mixture with the cooked rice and other remaining ingredients.

ENJOY!



This meal sure does bring back good memories of Somerset Mall.  It could only get better by having roasted potatoes.  There's always next time!

My husband will be adding his opinions of the meals after each post.  Here was his thoughts on the Bourbon Chicken/Red Beans and Rice: 10/10.


Original Bourbon Chicken Recipe
Original RB&R Recipe