Vote for my Menu: April Edition

I just want to start by thanking you for making this endeavor so successful and I look forward to a wonderful turn out for the voting this time!   This decision is based solely on 4 main course and 4 dessert recipes that I choose and then you vote to come to a FINAL decision.  After a week's time I will cook my version of the selected recipe and provide step-by-step instructions along with photos!
To vote just comment your Number and letter choice.  Thank you all in advance for your continued support and participation!

Main Dishes: 

Option A: Sea Scallops with Cranberry Balsamic Pan Sauce
You can't go wrong with scallops and mixed with cranberry balsamic should be an amazing combination.

Original Recipe:
Sea Scallops with Cranberry Balsamic Pan Sauce











Option B: Chicken Avocado Burritos
Avocado: Good, Chicken: Good, Burritos: Good.  How could you go wrong?

Original Recipe:
Chicken Avocado Burritos










Option C: Plum Pork Tenderloin
Plum and Pork make a savory combination.

Original Recipe:
Plum Pork Tenderloin










Option D: Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
During last month's edition I had a lot of requests for a vegetarian option.  So this is for my veggie lovers, and it sounds delicious! 






Here is the original recipe:
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Desserts

Option 1:  Stuffed Cinnamon Roll Bake
Oh man, this looks like it is simple delectable

Original Recipe:
Stuffed Cinnamon Roll Bake











Option 2: Carrot Layer Cake
Carrot cake used to seem like such a weird concept to me when I was younger, but as I have grown older I have learned to love the flavor sensation in my mouth as well as the amazing cream cheese frosting, however I have never attempted to make a carrot cake myself, so this would be my first try.

Original Recipe:
Carrot Layer Cake









Option 3: Blueberry Peach Crumble
What a delicious combination

Original Recipe:
Blueberry Peach Crumble











Option 4: Chocolate Cherry Cordial Brownies
Chocolate:Yum Cherry: Yum Brownies: Yum!  How could you go wrong with this recipe?

For the original recipe go to:
Chocolate Cherry Cordial Brownies










There you have it!  All of the options are listed for you.  Choose 1 Main Dish & 1 Dessert!  Vote by commenting below!  Here are the links to last month's winners!  Thank you again for your support!

Carne Asada

Caramel Filled Brownies

Caramel Filled Brownies

Having been a choice in the past it was great to finally get a chance to try this recipe out!  As with any other dessert I suck at having the patience to wait for things to set up, so my final brownie picture is more a delicious pile of warm goo than the picture perfect brownie square, after a night in the fridge it should be more picturesque!  I had never made brownies from scratch before so this was a fun adventure.  Pretty easy and delicious!  Thank you so much for your votes and in deciding on this dessert!  I couldn't have done this without you!  I hope you enjoy it!  As always, please feel free to submit any recipes you would like for me to cook next month and thank you for reading!

Ingredients:
Brownies:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
12 oz. bittersweet Chocolate
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 Tbsp Almond extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose Flour
1/2 tsp salt 
Caramel Filling:
11 oz. caramel candies, unwrapped
2/3 cup heavy cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with foil and grease the foil REALLY WELL, with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
Melt butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl in the microwave. Heat, stirring occasionally, until all is completely melted and smooth.
Mix in sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well incorporated. Then add in flour and salt until just combined.
Spread about 1/3 of the brownie batter into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let the brownie layer cool for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, make the caramel filling by combining the caramel candies and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Keep stirring until melted and immediately spread the caramel mixture over the cooked brownie layer.
Pour the remaining brownie batter over the caramel layer. Try to spread it evenly as it is pretty difficult to try to smooth it out evenly over the caramel layer.
Bake for 20 minutes then remove from oven and transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting and serving. You’ll definitely want to wait for it because otherwise, your squares will be a complete gooey mess!

Melt the chocolate and the butter

Mix in the eggs, sugar and almond

Add the flour and salt

Mix it all together

Pour 1/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the foil

Cook for 20 minutes

Melt the caramel and the cream in a saucepan

Thoroughly mix it

Pour on top of the cooked brownies

Top with the remaining brownie batter

Cook for a final 20 minutes

Serve & Enjoy!

If you would like to view the previous winning desserts, click here:

February's Winner: Strawberry Lemonade Cake 

January's Winner: Black Forest Pavlova

December's Winner: Pumpkin Tiramisu

November's Winner: Caramelized Banana Pudding

October's Winner: Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

September's Winner: Apple Raspberry Crumble

Choose My Menu: March Edition!

Thank you for taking the time to come get your vote in!  It's that time again where YOU as my reader get to make the decision for what I will cook.  In one week's time, the votes will be tallied and I will be forced to cook whatever you choose!  This decision is based solely on 4 main course and 4 dessert recipes that I have carefully selected to give you a range of choices.  After the choices are made I will cook my version of the selected recipe and provide step-by-step instructions along with photos!  To vote just comment your Number and letter choice.  If you are having any issues selecting a profile to comment under, just go ahead and choose the anonymous option and leave your name if you would like.  Thank you again for all of your wonderful support and your much needed participation in this blog!  Let the voting BEGIN!

Main Dish Choices

Option 1: Chicken Pasta with Thyme Mint Cream Sauce
I love recipes that are out of the norm and this one sounds delicious!

Original Recipe: Chicken Pasta with Thyme Mint Cream Sauce







Option 2: Carne Asada
I love choosing unique and difficult recipes that I wouldn't normally try, but sometimes you just need to take it back to the basics for something delicious.

Original Recipe: Carne Asada








Option 3: Cheese Tortellini with Spinach & Slow Roasted Tomatoes
After many requests I have promised to always provide a vegetarian choice.  As much as I love meat, there are so many amazing recipes that do not need it, such as this one.

Original Recipe: Cheese Tortellini with spinach & slow roasted tomatoes







Option 4: Herb & Citrus Roast Leg of Lamb
I had to bring back this previous succulent choice from a few months back.

Original Recipe: Herb Citrus Roast Leg of Lamb

Desserts

Option A: Gooey Crock Pot Monkey Bread
I have been saving this amazing recipe for months, and can't wait to try it out!

Original Recipe: Gooey Crockpot Monkey Bread











Option B: Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Cake with Raspberry Buttercream
OMG!  This looks and sounds so amazing that I couldn't resist. 

Original Recipe: Chocolate Marshmallow Cake with Raspberry Buttercream










Option C: Pistachio Pudding Cupcakes
How can you go wrong with this easy and delicious recipe?

Original Recipe: Pistachio Pudding Cupcakes









Option D: Caramel Filled Brownies
I just couldn't resist bringing this option back.  The delicious warm gooeyness....  Yum

Original Recipe: Caramel Filled Brownies








Now you have all of your choices!  So comment your Number and Letter choices to submit your votes! 

Fudge Mint Brownies: St Patrick's Day Recipe # 3

When I first came across this recipe it sounded delicious!  However, the recipe was geared for parfaits in jars.  Once I started looking at the recipe it wanted me to make 24 jars of the stuff.  I was able to come up with about 10 people I could hand it out to (mostly coworkers) which still left me with 14 jars.  I can eat but that is a little overzealous, even for me.  So I decided to just make it in the pan as one big brownie parfait, and it turned out splendidly.  I did have some extra hot fudge and some extra mint filling, but we just pile it on the brownies and have also used it as some delicious ice cream topping, so no complaints here.  Enjoy and may your journey always lead you forward in happiness and good health!

Ingredients:

Brownie Batter
1 Box Brownie Mix (I used Duncan Hines Double Fudge Brownie Mix but use what you like)
2 Eggs (for the cake style)
1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

Hot Fudge Sauce:
1 Cup Butter
1/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
3 Cups White Sugar
1 (12 Oz) Can Evaporated Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
*If all else fails you can just use a jar of hot fudge sauce 

Mint Filling:
1 pkg (8 oz) Cream Cheese (softened)
1/2 Can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
8 oz container Cool Whip (thawed)
1 tsp Mint Extract
green food coloring

a dozen or so Oreos (crushed) for the topping

Directions:

Brownie Batter:
Following the directions on the back of the Brownie Mix box, mix all of the ingredients together.  Pour it into a greased 9x9 pan.  Cook according to the box's instructions.   Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Hot Fudge Sauce
Combine butter, cocoa, sugar and evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and boil for 7 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Carefully pour hot mixture into a blender and blend for 2 to 4 minutes. Pour a generous amount over the cooled brownies.  Place the dessert into the fridge to cool completely before adding the mint topping.  Store any remaining hot fudge in the fridge for later use.

Mint Filling
Mix together the cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth.  Gently fold in the Cool Whip.  Mix int he mint extract and the green food coloring until the desired shade of green is achieved.  Carefully spoon the mint topping over the top of the hot fudge sauce and just to the top of the pan.  

Topping:
Crush the oreos and sprinkle on top of the mint filling.  Serve & Enjoy!
 

Mix the ingredients together for the brownie batter

My sous chef helped me out with this step :)

Pour the batter into the greased pan and bake in the oven

Remove from the oven and allow to cool

Place the hot fudge ingredients into a sauce pan and bring to a boil

Boil for 7 minutes

Pour into a blender and bled for 3-4 minutes

Ready to be used immediately after blending

Pour the hot fudge sauce on top of the brownie batter and chill

Add the cream cheese and the condensed milk to a mixing bowl

Mix together

Gently fold in the cool whip

Mix in the mint extract and the food coloring

Carefully add the mint filling on top of the hot fudge layer

Should be right to the top of the pan

Generously sprinkle the oreo crumbs on top of the mint filling, Serve & Enjoy!

Vote For What I Cook: February Edition

Hello my wonderful readers!  After much success thus far, we are back at the monthly decision of what I should cook!  This decision is based soley on 4 main course and 4 dessert recipes that I choose and then you vote to come to a FINAL decision.  After a week's time I will cook my version of the selected recipe and provide step-by-step instructions along with photos!  You wonderful followers have made this the fun that it has become.  I couldn't do this particular blog without your support and your votes!  To vote just comment your Number and letter choice.  If you are having any issues selecting a profile to comment under, just go ahead and choose the anonymous option and leave your name if you would like. if you follow me on facebook, you can leave me a comment on there or send me a message instead.  Whatever works.  The choice is yours!  Thank you in advance I look forward to seeing what you choose for me to cook this month! 

Main Dishes!

Option 1: Chicken Cordon Bleu
I have always loved chicken Cordon Bleu, but I have never attempted to make it myself, I am intrigued as to how this delicious recipe would turn out in my hands :)





You can view the original recipe here:
Chicken Cordon Bleu









Option 2: Leg of Lamb with Roasted Pear & Pine Nut Relish
I have been wanting to cook something with pears as of late and this sounds delicious.  I love cooking with pine nuts, they are a much underused ingredient! 






You can view the original recipe here:
leg of lamb with roasted pear & pine nut

Option 3: Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
During last month's edition I had a lot of requests for a vegetarian option.  So this is for my veggie lovers, and it sounds delicious! 

Here is the original recipe:
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup









Option 4: Maple Grilled Salmon
This quick and easy recipe, sounds like a winner!  

Here is the original recipe:
Maple Grilled Salmon

Desserts!

Option A: Key Lime Pie
Who doesn't love a delicious Key Lime Pie?  I for one have never made one, and am willing to try!

You can view the original recipe here:
Key Lime Pie









Option B: White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
One of my all-time favorite desserts, somehow I haven't made one for myself yet, that needs to change soon

View the original recipe here:
White chocolate raspberry cheesecake









Option C: Chocolate Cherry Cordial Brownies
Chocolate:Yum Cherry: Yum Brownies: Yum!  How could you go wrong with this recipe?

For the original recipe go to:
Chocolate Cherry Cordial Brownies











Option D: Strawberry Lemonade Cake
This is so fun and interesting and fresh!  Makes you want to bring in the Summer already

View the original recipe here:
Strawberry Lemonade Cake











There you have it!  All of the options are listed for you.  Choose 1 Main Dish & 1 Dessert!  Vote by commenting below!  Here are the links to last month's winners!  Thank you again for your support!

Sauteed Scallops!

Black Forest Pavlova