Margarita Cake

Ingredients:
1 package (18.25 oz. white cake mix (no pudding in the mix) 1 can (10 oz.) frozen Margarita mix, thawed 3 egg whites 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon grated lime zest
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Line standard muffin pan with baking cups. In large bowl, combine cake mix, Margarita mix, egg whites and vegetable oil using electric mixer. Stir in lime zest; mix completely.

Fill prepared pans 2/3 full. Bake 22-24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan on cooling rack 5-8 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely. Frost cooled cupcakes with icing and garnish, if desired, with a strawberry and/or lime twist. Or you can use a 9x13 cake pan or a heart shap pan like I have done

• 
  
• Overnight Cinnamon Rolls I
• www.allrecipes.com
  SUBMITTED BY: DENDES5238
• INGREDIENTS
  1 cup milk
  1/3 cup butter
  1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  1/2 cup white sugar
  4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  1 teaspoon salt
  3 eggs
  
  FILLING:
  3/4 cup brown sugar
  1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  1/2 cup raisins

FROSTING:
6 tablespoons butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
DIRECTIONS
Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm.
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk mixture. Add the sugar, 3 cups of flour, salt and eggs; stir well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10x 14 inch rectangle. Lightly brush the far edge with water. In a small bowl combine the cinnamon and 3/4 cup brown sugar and sprinkle over the rectangles. Then sprinkle the raisins and chopped nuts over the dough. Roll up the dough into a log and seal the seam.
Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces; place the pieces in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan, or 12 inch deep dish pizza pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.
The next morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Take the rolls out of the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Is very simple to make, I never really measure, I just eye bawl it:)
Here are the simple ingredients:
1 package shell pasta, boil till soft
Mix in peas and shredded carrots and bacon
1/2 cup mayo
1 packet hidden valley ranch seasoning
a few table spoons of milk.
Mix well and enjoy

OREO COOKIES!!!!!

THE HUSBAND LOVES THIS COOKIE, THEY ARE GONE WITH IN DAYS OF BAKING.

I found the reciepe in the Food Network Magazine:

Ingredients
For the Dough:
1 1/3 cups Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Filling:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Prepare the dough: Sift together the cocoa powder, flour and salt in a large bowl.
Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, incorporating each ingredient before adding the next. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Divide the dough into 2 pieces; place one piece between 2 lightly floured sheets of parchment paper and roll into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. Repeat with the other piece of dough. Refrigerate both rectangles, covered with the parchment sheets, until firm, at least 1 hour or up to several days.
Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut the dough into 64 circles. (You can reroll the scraps once.) Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and chill for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Bake the cookies until they are set and slightly darker around the edges, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Using a mixer, cream the butter and shortening until fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla.
Flip half of the cookies upside down and top each with 1 level tablespoon of filling. Press the remaining cookies on top to make sandwiches.

Its Easter!!!!

I thought I would make an attempt at creating a Bunny Cake.

I used the Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix and Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting ( I added a little Almond extract to it for a little something special). The bunny's eyes and mouth are choclate chips.

Honeymoon

I have deiced that I really need to keep up with my blog and post regularly. I have studied abroad twice while in college and fell in love with traveling. This is a passion that I have given to my husband. We just got back from our honeymoon on March 30Th. We took an NCL cruise in the Mediterranean. Our itinerary included Casablanca and Aquadir Morocco, Las Plamas Gran Canari, Funchal Portugal, Malaga and Barcelona Spain. It was an amazing magical trip that made me fall in love with my husband all over again!
A Ports of Call recap
Casablanca Morocco:
Casablanca is the economic capital of Morocco, so there wasn't to much to see. We took a shore tour that took us to a mosque, the palace the Islamic quarter and to a market. I found Casablanca to be a bit unorganized, they are doing a lot of construction to attract more tourists and developing the city. The people are very friendly and almost a little to eager for you money. Things that I bought, Two stone turtles made out of the different types of granite found in Morocco and a Hand painted bowl.
Aquaidir Morocco:
I found Aquaidir to be much better than Casablanca. Sadly Aquaidir has been completely rebuilt do to an earth quake on leap year day in 1960. Over 15,000 people died in the quake as it occurred at midnight and most of the citizens were asleep. The citizens did not rebuild the old city, instead they filled it in and it is this bleak mound that sits above the new city. We took a shore tour to the Fantasia Horse Show and Camel ride. We got to view Berber horses and riders in costumes, musicians and the husband rode a came. There was even a snake charmer. Once finished here, we went to a small shop owned by a woman and she explained the different spices and products to us. Once finished we headed back to the ship
Things that I bought: 35 spice blend 3 packs for 8 euros
Las Plamas Gran Canari: This by far was my favourite port. We did not do a shore tour, we elected to navigate Las Plamas by our selves. We bought tickets to the open top bus that drove all around the city and pointed out things of importance. The town is beautiful, the hills are dotted with brightly colored homes. there is a teal green one that i have my eye on, no matter where you went in the town you could spot it on the hill. I told the husband that we need to buy it in 10 years so that when people come to visit we can say we live on the only teal green house on the hill and they will be able to find us. We also did a little shopping in the mall that was conveniently located next to the port.
Things that I bought: 2 t-shirts from C&A
Funchal Portugal: Is a city on an island, the city was very lovely. Again we did not do a shore tour. Instead we bought another open top bus ticket. The bus took us all over the island.
Things that I bought: a tea towel with bananas having a little fun on it (wink wink), a metal chicken, a bread basket and a spoon holder
Malaga Spain: I really liked this city too. They have a church with only one bell tower that they lovingly refer to as the One Armed Lady, the money to complete the bell tower went to the Revolution. They have a great promenade lined with shops. We did take a tour, we went to Njea, to see the caves. The caves were great. The husband got his first taste of gillato cookies and cream, he liked it alot
Things that I bought: A turtle, picture frame, bull, key chain and olive oil.
Barecelona Spain: After our cruise ended we spent a day in Barcelona, we stayed at a little hotel on Las Ramblas. I had a great time, I haven't been to Barcelona since October 2004, so it was fun to show the husband where I went and what I did where. Nothing much has really changed about the city.
Things that I bought: a turtle and sangria

Oh my I've started a blog

I am your typical midwestern girl. I grew up baking with my grandmas and cooking with my mom. My dad taught me everything he knows about grilling. I love to bake and cook. I hope to share alot of my old family recipes with you and some native american dishes as well. Cooking is the adventure and the food is the destination. I have traveled the globe so I try to recreate alot of the foods that I love at home. My mom and sister are chefs, I on the other hand am a Paralegal. I love to cook, but love working with the law even more.
Tonight I am going to attempt the Oreo Cookie recipe in the new edition of the FoodNetwork Magazine.