Halloween Cake Pops Keto, Sugar-free, Vegan

 Hello Everyone, here we are with all of the family and friends Holidays upon us and I am particularly fond of Halloween because there no rules and everything goes (within reason). My husband and I used to go all out with our decor, him doing the outside of the house and I, the inside but, since the last 10 years we have been away from civilization and no trick or treaters, no more fun for us. So now is just low key and I have to be satisfied making stuff for other people and shipping away.  I just made these cake pops for my grand-babies to enjoy and since their diet restrictions are limiting in the Halloween fun, I found this cake mix, frosting and chocolate chips which are sugar free and keto and super delicious.  In order to get the right consistency for cake pops, they must be made using a commercial cake box mix (baking from scratch not recommended here) and I was able find this particular brand which did the work.  FYI, this recipe could also be made with regular mix, butter and chocolate, same ratios.

 

Brownie Cake Pops

Serves 20 each                                                Prep time  4 hrs

• 1 Box Miss Jones Keto & Paleo fudgy brownie mix
• 1 container Miss Jones Chocolate frosting
• 1 package cake pop sticks
• 1 heavy Styrofoam block or similar to hold cake pops while decorating
  
• 1 package cake pop bags (optional)
  
• 1 9 oz Bag Lily's Sugar Free baking chips
  
• 1T coconut oil, canola or vegetable
• Decorating candy coating (optional) or coconut or other fruit 

Bake the brownie baking mix according to directions, you can decide if you want this vegan, vegetarian, paleo or anything else your dietary preference requires.  After finished baking cool completely.  Once cool put in a bowl and crumble with hands till its nice and crumbly add 1/4 cup of the frosting and keep adding till it sticks together (no more than 1/2 can of frosting), put in fridge for about 20-30 minutes.  You need to have your dense Styrofoam block about 8" X 10" or cake pop holder ready to go, if using Styrofoam block, using a cake pop stick, pierce about 20 wholes on block about 2" apart. Take bowl out of fridge and with your hands or mold form a ball about 1 1/2" round, lightly dip a cake pop stick in the frosting about 1/2" in one side, insert into cake pop ball and stick into Styrofoam block holder.  Continue with the rest of the cake mix till done.  Put in freezer for about 20 minutes.

 

While cake pops are in freezer, make chocolate coating.  Melt chocolate baking chips either by double boiler or microwave oven, once melted add the vegetable oil, this is important because it will make the coating nice and shinny.  The melted chocolate coating needs to be in a deep bowl because cake pops will be dipped in it to coat thoroughly. When you dip cake pop do it sideways and slowly turn to completely coat ball, lift from bowl and continue turning cake pop till it stops dripping.  Place in block and continue with rest. If decorating with a topping sprinkle before it dries, before placing in block.  Put in freezer about 1 hr.  After that I individually place a cake pop bag and tie at bottom to get ready for shipping.

 

 Happy Halloween Everyone!

Italian Beef Sandwiches - Easy

 As many of you know my husband Bill is from Chicago and he loves Italian Beef Sandwiches and  Pizza from the south side of Chicago not  deep dish.  I myself not being a fan of beef or pizza, not impressed!  In the past we have ordered directly from a deli in Chicago, Portillo's,  Bill can't even pronounce that and he says "Portello's" heehee.  Well I've come with a quick and easy solution for at home Chicago style Italian Beef, the trick is using the same Giardiniera topping that Portillo's uses.  I searched for a long time to find it and, of course I found it on Amazon.  It comes in both hot & mild, I combine both because the hot it's extremely hot!  Another time saver is buying London Broil (not roast beef) from the grocery's store deli, you don't have roast the beef first then thinly slice it because, who has time for that. This easy recipe can be put together in less than 15 minutes if you have everything prepped ahead of time. And without further ado Ryan, here it is:

 

Italian Beef Sandwiches 

Serves:  4                                        Prep time: 15 minutes

• 1 lb London Broil
• Marconi Giardiniera Topping (Amazon)
• 12 oz Beef Broth 
• 4 Hoagie Rolls
• 1/2 t Italian Seasoning
• 1 t Corn Starch 
• Lots of Paper Napkins

In a saucepan heat up the broth and bring to simmer, add Italian Seasoning and corn starch, mix together.  While the broth heats up separate the London broil for easier dipping.  You can heap up the rolls if you want, then split them long side.  Once broth has thickened up a bit and its nice and hot, you can start dipping the meat in the broth till its warm, no more than a couple of minutes, keep broth over fire.  Plate dishes with hoagie rolls, warm London broil, top with as much Marconi Giardiniera that you like and, a small container with extra broth for pouring over sandwiches, Bon Apetito!

Naila at the Beach

 While editing my photos today I found this little pastel drawing I did of my beautiful little granddaughter Naila, at Harvey Beach in Cambria, she was 2 years old then, 4 now.

 

Asian Fusion Dinner

 Hello World, I'm Back!

In the past few years the whole world has experience so many challenges and change that, having the drive to pursue my past interest has been difficult and superfluous.  I'm slowly getting there and now have some of my art supplies at home (thank you Kyle).

As always, cooking at home is always fun and enjoyable specially since  I now have a very large kitchen with many prepping areas and Kyle is always ready to help with meal preps.

Blending a fusion of many ethnic foods is a challenge but I continue to experiment and my family is always and willing to partake.  I have been following one of my favorite chefs, David Chang create delicious sauces for his noodle dishes.  As many of you know (family & friends), Mustard's Restaurant in the Sonoma area is one of my favorite restaurants and I own a few of Cindy Pawlcyn's cookbooks.  Of course all of her recipes and incredible, mouthwatering but difficult to execute and require many, many ingredients but; of course I found a shortcut.  I created a quick and tasty marinade for her Mongolian Pork Chops which I paired with one of David Chang's noodles for a complete dinner.  When I cook and missing an ingredient I always find a substitute for or use whatever is arm's reach and, since I did not have all of Momofuku's ingredients of course I substituted, thank you Trader Joe's 😉

Mongolian Pork Chops with Noodles

Serves 4-6                                            Prep Time 2-4 hrs                  Cook Time  10 minutes

Ingredients

• 4-6 bone in pork chops
• 8 ounces Hoisin Sauce with pear juice (store bought)
• 1/4 C Soy Sauce
• 2 T Worcestershire Sauce 
• 1T Sesame Seed Oil
• 1t hot sauce

Mix all liquid ingredients together, pour over pork chops and marinade for at least two hours in fridge.

 

David's Noodles Ingredients

• 4 Packs air dried, not toasted, Korean style noodles
• 1/2 a cucumber, julienned
• 1/2 a carrot, julienned
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced (sorry David)
• 1 T Honey Chili Crunch, Momofuku
• 1 T Chili Crunch, Momofuku
• 1/4 C Hoisin Sauce with pear juice
• 2 T Soy Sauce
• 1 T Sesame Seed Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 2 T minced Ginger
  
• 1 t Hot Sauce, optional, to taste
• 1-2 T Furikake, rice seasoning

In blender mix sauce ingredients together by combining Honey Chili Crunch, Hot Chili Crunch, Hoisin Sauce, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, hot sauce, garlic and ginger; add to large bowl. Bring pot to boil and cook noodles according to directions.  Have an ice water bowl ready, once noodles are cooked put in ice water bowl, drain and add to bowl with sauce. If to dry, add more of the liquid ingredients to taste.

 

Kyle grilled the pork chops in our new outside kitchen, 2 minutes per side on high flame.

When plating simply place a pork chop along with noodles, dress noodles by adding the cucumber, carrot and green onions then sprinkle all over with Furikake.  Enjoy!