Thursday, March 25, 2010

Boston Cream Pie Minis

Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 hour 15 min (including refrigerating)
Makes 2 dozen cupcakes
Recipe from Kraft Food & Family

1 pkg (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 cup cold milk
1 pkg (4-serving size) Jell-O vanilla flavor instant pudding & pie filling
1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip whipped topping, divided
4 squares Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare cake batter and bake in 24 greased medium-muffin cups as directed on package.  Cool 10 minutes in pans.  Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

2.  Pour milk into large bowl.  Add dry pudding mix.  Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes to until well blended.  Let stand 5 minutes to thicken.  Meanwhile, using a serrated knife, cut cupcakes horizontally in half.  Gently stir 1/2 cup of the whipped topping into pudding.  Spoon about 1 T of the pudding mixture onto bottom half of each cupcake; cover with top of cupcake.

3.  Microwave remaining 1 cup whipped topping and teh chocolate in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 1/2 minute or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 minute.  Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended.  Frost each cupcake with about 1 1/2 tsp of the chocolate mixture.  Refrigerate at least 15 minutes before serving.  Store leftover cupcakes in refrigerator.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Asparagus with Parmesan Crust


from allrecipes

Ingredients

  •    1 pound thin asparagus spears
  •    1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  •    1 ounce shaved Parmesan cheese
  •    freshly ground black pepper to taste
  •    1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, or to taste

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

2.  Place asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Arrange asparagus spears in a single layer. Spread Parmesan cheese over asparagus, and season with freshly ground black pepper.

3.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is melted and asparagus is tender but crisp. Serve immediately on warm plates, sprinkling with balsamic vinegar to taste.


*Tasty.  An easy way to prepare asparagus.  I perfer Brown Sugar Asparagus, but this was simpler to fix.