We bought apple cider for a slab of meat on the fourth and we had loads of it left. So I went on a hunt to find apple cider recipes. And found…
Baked not fried…all thanks to stressbaking.com
The first picture is the start. I measured out 1 1/2 cups of cider and had to cook it down until there was only 1/2 cup remaining.
My cider!!The dough…
The dough looks way better than when I tried to make churros…I’ll have to try that recipe again…
Fill the zippy…
Well my first mistake…I used one of our cheaper ziplock bags thinking I was being thrifty. But instead figured out too late that the bottom edge is not to a single point but to two…so when I cut the hole I made two smaller holes…😑
My…muffin pan…?
I don’t have a muffin pan. So I made one!! Mwhahahaha! I used tin foil and made the holes for the donuts. We shall see of it works…
Well…
It works…I think…
No! Be positive and confident!! It will work!!!
Did not fill the entire pan. So instead I pour a small amount of water into the extra spots. You are probably asking why…?
Well Eli put this hat on me when I was making dinner…and I am still wearing it!! I am the coolest mama ever!
Not too bad!
The hubby couldn’t take it any longer and came to see what the delicious smell was…he helped me take all the foil inserts out.
Yum!
The holes did not go through on each donut, but in a pinch the foil inserts did work!
Topping…
Butter and a sugar cinnamon combination. What could be better?
If you can see a few are already missing…
Well another recipe finished!!
Look like photo: 10! Even without the muffin pan they look similar!
Taste: 9.9! Wow! They were so delicious and worth the wait!! I think I had two, Eli had two, but I have no idea how many the hubby had… I gave it a 9.9 because I think next time I am going to make a glaze frosting. I think it will go better with the texture of the muffin.
Easiness: hmm….maybe an 9! The longest part was waiting for the reduction of the cider…the recipe said it would take 30min, but for me it was closer to an hour.
Well hopefully this has helped you find another recipe to try!! It was so delicious! The recipe says they will last up to three days….I don’t think there will be any left by then…haha!
Synonyms: confused, bewildered, puzzled, perplexed, baffled, etc.
…
A word that rhymes,
A phrase that sings.
This puzzle…
Does it need to chime?
Should this be here?
And that go there?
This baffling challenge stings.
Unable to express,
I feel the suffocating muzzle,
Quite clear.
I no longer know,
And way less aware,
Creating a confusing distress.
Why is it so unclear?
Nothing flows,
Anymore…
…
So ironically I wrote a poem, about being unable to write a poem. Haha! I liked this idea. Also I was actually having trouble writing a poem about something baffling to me…so…I decided that would be my topic.
Writing a poem about being unable to write a poem. (I know I pretty much just reiterated what I said previously, but it is so funny to me that I needed to be said again.)
Have a fun, and hopefully a non confusing, baffling day! 🤩
Digital Art by emily2jane 07-14-21
Pretty much what I looked like racking my brain trying to figure out what I was going to write…
“I really want some spicy fried chicken!! But I’ll wait for when we go pick up my parents.”
“So any idea?”
“Something spicy!”
So if you can tell by that statement…I choose a spicy recipe!
Spicy Mongolian Beef
The picture looks delicious! But I wonder how spicy is spicy….
Well…
I didn’t realize I was “doing a new recipe” until I was beginning the frying of the beef…so I have no photos of the process beforehand.
To sum it up: I used round steak; because that’s what I had. I thawed and sliced it in strips along the grain. I marinated it in 1 TBsp of soy sauce for 10-ish min. I then added and coated the meat with 6 TBsp of flour. It called for cornstarch, but I never have cornstarch. Then I prepared the pan for frying.
I already did the first round of meat!
I will say. I know understand why you use a wok. It’s tall, deep, and the oil that explodes won’t burn you. I got burned. Not bad, but wow did it make a mess. This was my solution…
It worked. But man did it hurt when the oil got me…!
I was pretty proud of myself coming up with this idea on the spot. I only had about 30sec to think of something. Since the meat was already cooking.
I stopped mid way to take a picture. This round I cooked less time.
With the guard, mitt, and tongs, I probably looked like I was battling the stove.
But I won in the end! 😎 Yum!
Round steak is quite tough but it looks like it cooked correctly. We will have to see when we eat it. Soy sauce and flour made a thick goop that covered the meat before I cooked it. It really does look like I fried it. It has some crunchy spots!
The sauce. And the additional spices…for the SPICY!!
The recipe called for red peppers. Which of course we don’t have and I don’t want to go to the store. Mostly because I am in my pjs already. So instead I used cayenne pepper. I only put 1/2-3/4 tsp. I didn’t really measure. I just sprinkled it; we will see how spicy I made it!
sauté…Sauté…SAUTÉ!Our trusty rice cooker.
I started the rice when I was defrosting the meat. So it should be done here soon. Right around the perfect time, I might add. 😎
I added the sauce.
The sauce consisted of soy sauce, brown sugar, and oil. I believe since the spicy part needed to sauté, the sauce will just take on the flavors.
I will explain this picture.
I realize this picture looks the same as the one above but I added the watered flour mixture. (Most people use cornstarch) but if you can see those small clumps in the top center…that is flour that cooked and formed a lump. I tried to whisk it in…it wouldn’t so I… just scooped them out and then…
Look! No more white clumps and thickening up nicely.
Yep. I cheated! I decided to take out the imperfections instead of trying to make it work. Mwahahahaha!
Add the steak!
Looks really yummy. I think I should have cut the meat up thinner, but since it is not the steak it really called for I wanted to make sure I didn’t make a texture similar to shoe.
Looks yummy!
I still don’t know if it’s too spicy. I didn’t taste it.
Well I finished the food, and I will say… WOW! That was a bit spicy. Good! Definitely still delicious, but spicy. So two and half glasses of milk later…
Taste: 8.5! I think I will measure out the cayenne pepper next time. And maybe stay between 1/4-1/2tsp. Just to be on the safe side. I give it an 8.5 because it was almost too spicy. I prefer spicy to be enough where I can still enjoy it.
Look like photo: 9.5! Just because their steak looks thinner.
Easiness: 8. It wasn’t the simplest recipe to follow. Since some steps were left out and I had to improvise. Also the exploding oil; which is considered my fault because I did not have the correct pot. To understand look at the next photo…
😳
I don’t know if you can see all the oil splatters…but I will be cleaning this stove constantly these next few days. Because the burners are probably covered in oil splatter as well. 😑
Leftovers
It made a decent amount of leftovers. Two servings like this.
Leftover sauce
I might use this on some chicken. I think the flavor of the sauce will taste just as good on chicken.
This watermelon is from the 4th. I feel like I’ve been eating it everyday and it never seems to be making a dent…when will it be gone?
Enjoy your Thursday!! The week is more than halfway done. 😎
The Beach!!Chase the cousins!!The wind, the sand, the…The ocean!It should be a peaceful relaxed day for mama 😎What? Wait!?! NO!!!!Runaway baby, straight to the water…!I compromised. Went waist deep but must stay with mama. Long exciting day! She napped the whole way home 🥰
So normally when little kids see the ocean for the first time you think… they will be timid, afraid, run away from the waves…
Yeah, no. Once she saw the water that is all she wanted to do. I spent the entire time holding her arms, otherwiseshe would have booked it out farther. 😳
We were at the beach for almost 4 hours and probably 3 of it was spent in the water. We played in the sand for a smidge. But two things ruined that idea. One: she was over it when I showed her the sand crabs. “She doesn’t like bugs.” Second: the water would destroy her castles, so it seemed like she gave up. 🤣
But overall it was a fun day. But I should say since we went out to waist deep, I spent the day lifting her up when a wave would seem to high. So I assumed the slight squat position while arm curling for those 3 hours. I was so sore the next day…
Only frying the tortilla and using ground beef. I wanted the crispy crunch from the tortilla but I didn’t want to eat something drenched in oil. The husband approved.
We are trying to eat better. I love food, but I am discovering I gain weight easily now as an adult…I miss the younger days…
Anyways…
Again defrosting. It seems to be taking forever. Also the tortillas…
I forgot I already used up all the tortillas…so I have to section some off so they defrost faster. Now it is definitely a good thing I am frying them or they would be super soggy. 😣
I think, I thought I would be cooking for a billion people…I had a brain fart. Only about 1/2” of oil.
Normally I would probably add some oil, but instead I just went with what I had. It should be fine.
So I decided to dry and remove as much of the excess oil as possible. Paper towels are awesome!Huh?
At this point I decided to add to my cooking preparation. Salsa. Homemade! I found a recipe a while ago and it was a big hit with the hubby and Eli! And me. But no one really cares. Haha 😂
The recipe.Combine all to bowl. The sweetness used in this recipe is honey. And I didn’t have a jalapeño, and I didn’t have any red pepper flakes…so I just used 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper.
We have a large food processor; I got it as a Christmas present. But sadly I never want to use it because I would rather not have more dishes. I know that is stupid and lazy, but I am that way occasionally.
The hubby wants 3 and I will have 2. Meat!
So for the meat, I will say I did drain off all the excess fat off the meat. I didn’t want any extra calories. So didn’t add the spices and chilies until after.
4 rounds in my mini food processor later…!!So the extra tortillas, I made as chips. So that when I want a snack I can have some chips and salsa.
The chips are just fried. I didn’t add any salt or lime juice. I wanted them to be a vessel for the salsa.
The garnish. Eli’s dinner.
I was not about to fight the battle today. If she would eat…she ate some of daddy’s breakfast, all of her own, a big serving of Alfredo noodles, and some cookies today so far.
Back to the cooking. Now I know why to add more oil.
…
Because after I finished the chips I only had a thin layer of oil covering the bottom of the pot. Not good. Could have burned the pot…
The process of my creation. I thought of it after I made the hubbies plate. Mwahahahaha 😎A dollop of sour cream.
The thought was…to cover the tortilla with the amount of sour cream you would normally top your taco. But let’s be honest. That dollup is huge…! I used way too much. Did I wipe the excess…no. I did that throughout the recipe but not now. Makes no sense.
Meat layer. Cheese. Topped with lettuce and drizzled salsa.
It was delicious. We had planned to eat it flat like that, but as soon as we picked it up, it folded into a taco.
It is not really a recipe I can score. Since it was a mash up of ideas.
This Spring is more like Summer… I’m missing the cooler temperatures here…
It’s hotter here than where my family lives…🥵Warm weather does mean…walks in the neighborhood. Water time with Daddy!! We got a small pool. Eli loves the water. Warmer weather means happy moods.Funny faces contests…!Splish splash!! More pool time!!While making lunch she shoved an entire carrot in her mouth. (Her hair was also crazy!)Day is over. Now time for sleep…Just happy days ending with happiness! ❤️
When the warm weather is here it means we can do more things. Yes it means that Eli overheats in any temperature above 65 degrees, but playing in water she survives.
I hope your days can be warm, and spent with family! 💕
I wish I could find a cookbook that is only ground beef recipes…
This recipe says it takes 45min…🤨 another easy dinner!! A mom’s happy plan.
My ingredients!!Defrost the ground beef.
When I initially brought the beef up, I thought I had already put it in water. But alas no, I did not. So now I have to wait the 30min.
The tunes are on!
Unless I am trying a new recipe I don’t listen to my iTunes. I usually just roll with my Spotify playlist. Mostly because I used to listen to wide range of music and I would rather Elizabeth’s first words be from an bad song.
Fears of a mama.
Back to cooking.
Dice the onion. Do you see the cute cow butter dish in the back!?! It was my hubby’s grandma’s. I am a lover of cows too!I have chosen applesauce and corn for the sides to dinner. I know it’s not a real vegetable but it works. Beef!
I forgot to take a picture of cooking the beef, but let’s be honest…you know what it looks like. It looks the same as always. And this is me draining the fat off.
Oil, onion, salt, pepper! And my foot down in the left bottom corner…
Sorry. I am a little goofy today as I write this recipe up. No, my foot is not included into the food.
It doesn’t seem right…?
This recipe does not have pictures with the steps. Hopefully this is right…
Warming up the cast iron skillet. I like how the tortilla crisps. The meat mixture looks okay now.
I love Tim McGraw.
I had to skip various songs. Some were too random for my brain. Also some had some colorful words.
Starting to look yummy!!
I added the green onions. It was not in the list of ingredients, but green onions always add more delicious flavors.
Interesting mix.
I’ve already given the hubby his and Elizabeth her Mac n cheese. This one is Mama’s!!Yum!
Of course the night I choose to make a quesadilla, is the day when we are out of salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. 😞 it was still delicious but I was bummed about the lack of extras.
But to the scoring.
Look Like Picture: 9. Mostly because I used the cheese I had. It was the cheddar jack mix from Costco. Not really the right taste, but still worked.
Taste: 9. I think it worked. But I think it would better with some diced green chilies mixed in. I’ve been in a spicy mood. The hubby liked it. He gave it an 8, just because he wasn’t very hungry to begin with.
Easiness: 10! It was easy. Another easy peasy recipe for a baby brained mama. Meaning… “dumb moments”. I have those days occasionally often. 😂
Hope you enjoyed the post. But also my music playlist.
Chips…!Self explanatory. But instead of going to the store and spending money I decided to make some chips. Also they are healthier! Chips on one side, dinner on the other…So delicious looking!! But I’ve got to focus on making dinner or they all will be gone before dinner is done…Teriyaki chicken with broccoli! Should be yummy! But…Patience…have patience…Chips. Chips. Chips. Chips. Okay this is ridiculous. Having one should be okay…!😦Oh no…Wonderful…😑
So almost all of the chips were moist and had bites taken out of them… I got to eat a few, but most of them will be put into an Elizabeth bag. Elizabeth approves of my chips at least, but it is so sad.
I hope you enjoy your Thursday!! Hide you chips from your two year old…
Original #40 by emily2jane 5-20-21 Thankfully I had my phone to capture the crime in action…
emily2jane 