Berry Blue Sharkcakes!

 I am back in action and ready to hit the kitchen.
Also, on a side note my boyfriend got offered a new on Wednesday and we are so excited for him. Congrats Christopher! I love you!

For my first day back in the kitchen I had to come up with a new recipe for cupcakes my dad could take to my brother's school. What could be more fun than bright blue cupcakes? They were a trip down memory lane, first because the smell of blue jello reminds me of swim team days (for those of you that swam you know you loved dipping your fingers in the sugar and licking them off) and second because the sharks reminded me of my elementary school..."we are the Shoal Creek Sharks, we're one of a kind"...yes I still remember our school song...and the hand motions...*sigh*.

Berry Blue Sharkcakes

Cupcakes
1 Box White Cake Mix
3 Eggs
1 1/4 Cup Water
1/3 Cup Oil
3oz Berry Blue Jello

Frosting
3 Cups Confectioners Sugar
1 Stick Unsalted Butter
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Flavoring
2 tsp. Heavy Cream

Toppings
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
24 Shark Gummies

Combine all cupcake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and pour into cupcake tins. Bake 16-19 minutes at 350F. Remove from oven and place in the refrigerator until they have cooled all the way through. Make sure you taste test one because they are delightful. Also make sure to put them in the middle of the oven because the jello makes them very sensitive to turning brown.

For the icing you combine all ingredients at room temperature and mix until they are the texture you would like for your icing. Pipe onto your cooled cupcakes and top with brown sugar and gummy sharks!

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

I'm pretty sure the name says it all. Let's just get down to it, these are insanely delicious, but you must prepare yourself for how hot they will be. People may tell you they won't be that hot....they are lying. Perfect food for tailgating, partying, or just something fun to grill, they will have everyone at your party talking...or drinking all your milk.

So enough chitter chatter, here is the recipe for these decadent pepper delights.

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

12 Fresh Jalapenos

4 oz Cream Cheese 

4 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese

16 oz Bacon

25 Toothpicks

Start by coring your jalapenos. A paring knife will work perfect. Save the tops to use for later. 

Next, take your cream cheese and roll small pieces into log shapes, the roll those in the shredded cheddar cheese. Stuff them into the peppers.

Pre-cook the bacon about half way through before wrapping the peppers because it takes longer to cook than the rest of the dish. Once the bacon is cooked let it cool. Place the tops back on peppers and secure them in place with the bacon and toothpicks. They should look similar to this...

Season them with salt and pepper, a dash of olive oil, and a little bit of garlic powder. Put your jalapenos on the grill on a medium setting (it really depends on your grill, I suggest using your best judgement!) Once the bacon is cooked to your liking take them off and enjoy the amazingness you have just created!

Watermelon Cupcakes

Like watermelon jolly ranchers? You will love these!

Watermelon Cupcakes

For the Cupcakes

1 Package White Cake Mix

1 3 oz Package Watermelon Jello Brand Jello

3 Eggs

1 1/4 Cup Water

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

Red Food Coloring - the jello will make it pink so add until you are satisfied with the color. 

For the icing

3 Cups Confectioners Sugar

1 Stick Unsalted Butter

Green Food Coloring

Combine all cupcake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and pour into cupcake tins. Bake 16-19 minutes at 350F. Remove from oven and place in the refrigerator until they have cooled all the way through.

For the icing combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Ice your cupcakes and top with chocolate chips

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Fulcher Fajitas

Who doesn't love Mexican food? A question I ask myself all the time...another question I frequently ask...do the have American food restaurants in Mexico or China or anywhere else in the world?

One of my favorite Mexican dishes has to be the fajita and my mom makes the absolute best ones I've had. So while I sat home and longed for some of her "home cooking" Mexican style I decided I would give it my best shot to recreate her deliciously delicious fajitas.

Fulcher Fajitas

1.75 lbs Searing Steak Sliced (You can also use chicken if that is your preference)

1 Green Pepper Sliced

1 Red Pepper Sliced 

1 Yellow Pepper Sliced

1 Jalapeno Sliced

8 Flour Fajita Tortillas

1 Package Taco/Fajita Seasoning

1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Slice all your veggies and your steak. Rub the steak in 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil and Cayenne Pepper and let it marinate for a couple of hours. Combine all of the veggies and 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil in a ziploc bag and let the veggies sit together in the fridge for a few hours. 

When you are ready to use them place them in separate frying pans. Saute the veggies on med-low until they are soft with a slight crisp to the edges. Brown the steak and drain. Add 2/3 cup water and add the taco seasoning. Let the meat simmer for 10-15 minutes. Once everything is done combine them in a pan together and cook on low for 10 minutes. You can heat up a cast iron pan  to high heat and throw them in after they're done cooking but if you don't feel like it, don't! They are delicious either way! Top a tortilla with the mix and a scoop of sour cream and enjoy!

More Cupcakes!

My first cupcakes made for someone other than myself! Check them out! I even made the holders!

Just thought I would share! Happy Tuesday!