C is for Cookie!

C is for cookie, and that good enough for me! Happy Birthday Crystal! Today my oldest has turned 21! We have a nick name for her at home, cookie, but I already told you guys this in, I love you no matter what Chocolate chips Cookies. I am so proud of her, she is in her third year of Med. School, but she is  still my baby :) Since she loves cookies, and the cookie monster song below, I thought these were the perfect cupcakes to dedicate for her. For my version of the cookie monster cupcakes, I used this vanilla cupcake recipe, and this meringue recipe.

En Español

I am happy to be back on track, I had disappear for the month of October, [you can find out why here: By the Candlelight], but hopefully will be posting a usual for November and December. A warm welcome to all the new subscribers, and a great cookie thanks to my loyal readers.

To make these cupcakes you'll need:

• Cupcakes of you choice
• Frosting of your choice
• Two pastry bags one for the blue frosting, and the other for the white frosting
• Tip #133 [grass tip] for the blue fir
• Tip #12 [round tip] for the eyes
• Chocolate chips for the eyes
• Chocolate chip cookies 

 I first did a thin layer of blue frosting with the round tip.

Then I proceeded to do the fur with the grass tip #133.

Eyeballs were done with round tip # 12.

Place half of a cookie inside the mouth area. An Oreo cookie could be used instead.

Note: The storybook is a sesame street book: When is Saturday (Sesame Street Book Club) , by Deborah Kovacs.

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ~ Numbers 6:24-26

Delicious Italian Apple Cake: Torta di Mele, a moist and tender Recipe

Indulge in my version of the classic Italian apple cake, Torta di Mele. For apple enthusiasts, this dessert is a heavenly delight, with no spice to overshadow the delicious apple flavor. Enjoy a moist and tender cake with a rustic topping of tender and juicy apples, perfect with a morning or afternoon cup of coffee or tea. It's so delectable that it won't last more than half a day at home. I highly recommend trying it!

Receta de Delicioso Bizcocho de Manzana Italiano, Torta di Mele.

A Torta di Mele (Italian apple cake) typically has a moist and tender texture. The combination of ingredients such as apples, eggs, sugar, flour, and often some form of fat like butter or oil contributes to the overall texture. The apples in the cake add moisture, and the baking process helps create a soft and fluffy crumb. The texture can vary slightly based on the specific recipe and variations used. Some recipes might result in a denser cake, while others aim for a lighter, more airy texture. 

Overall, Torta di Mele is known for being a comforting, flavorful cake with a pleasant texture that combines the sweetness of apples with a soft and often slightly crumbly consistency.

Torta di Mele

Ingredients:

- 2-3 apples (any type except red delicious)

- 3 eggs

- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar (230g)

- 1 cup milk

- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (320g)

- 2½ teaspoons baking powder

- ½ stick butter (60g)

- ½ teaspoon lemon zest

 Juice of a lemon to coat apples

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C).  Lightly grease and line cake pan, preferably a springform pan (with removable base mold) 9" or 10". (See note.)

2. Wash and peel the apples and brush with lemon juice. Beat eggs with sugar until stiff (about 4 - 5 minutes). Once you have the desired texture (pale yellow and fluffy), add the remaining ingredients one by one in the following order: the flour mixed with baking powder, butter at room temperature, and the milk with the vanilla. Whisk at low speed until well blended, and finally add the lemon zest.

3. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and place the apples in a circle starting with the edges and moving toward the center. Bake at 375 °F (190 °C) for 35-45 minutes. Sprinkle a little icing sugar if desired. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy your Torta de Mele!

Notes:

For even baking and rising, try using a greased flower nail placed in the center of your 10-inch or larger cake pan. This simple tip can help ensure that your cake cooks evenly and rises to perfection. Once your cake is baked and cooled, simply remove the flower nail. Give it a try and see the difference it can make in your baking!

The following photo is for those who miss their country, especially for those from Santiago, Dominican Republic who are living abroad. Here is the monument (Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración) during the daytime, as requested by some of you. If you want to see the monument at nighttime, you can check out the photo I posted earlier, here.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also love this one:

Delicious Chocolate Pear Cake Recipe 

Spit-roasted Pig in Dominican Republic

Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice. ~ Job 32:9 

Omelet Wraps for Brunch

My daughter Ruby taught me how to prepare this dish, I had already mentioned to you here, that she liked to cook and prepared some divine omelets. Today's recipe is a fusion of tortilla-inspired wraps with Portuguese-style Piri-piri chicken.

Piri piri is a hot sauce used for seasoning and marinade made with serrano chiles, but if you're like me and can’t find piri piri in any food store near your home, then it’s OK to use Tabasco sauce. I find this is a fabulous recipe for breakfast or brunch, your family and friends will love you for it! I hope you like it as much as we do at home, and if you do prepare it let me know in the comments.

 

Prepare marinade and divide in two bowls.

It is a great seasoning sauce, I recommend it!

Season chicken with half of the sauce and let marinade for 30 minutes. 

Slice avocado and tomatoes. I had to include this photo of the tomatoes, because I love how it looks!

Stir-fry the chicken and cook until lightly browned.

Omelet cooking with a bubble and all! Are you feeling hungry?

Divide the cooked chicken, avocado and tomatoes and between the two omelets, spooning the mixture in a line down the middle.

Roll up the omelets, cut in half and serve. I know you are now very hungry. Craving some of these wraps? Try the recipe below.

Omelet Wraps  

Esta receta en español: AQUÍ

 

Ingredients: 

5 large eggs

2 Tablespoons of milk

2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and chopped

1 medium tomato sliced o 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

freshly squeezed juice of

2 limes

2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 Tablespoon of piri-piri sauce, or 3 dashes of Tabasco

Pam spray or butter to coat the pan

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Mix the olive oil, lime juice, and cilantro into a bowl and divide.

2. Place half the mixture in a shallow dish, add the Tabasco sauce, and mix well. Add the chicken and mix in with the marinade. Set aside for 30 min.

3. Add the avocado, and tomatoes, in the remaining olive oil and lime juice mixture and stir gently to coat.

4.  Place eggs in a bowl, add the milk, salt, and pepper, and beat lightly with a fork.

5. Stir-fry the chicken in a nonstick skillet, cook thoroughly (about 5 minutes), or until the juices run clear, set aside.

6. Heat the omelet pan over medium-high heat and coat the bottom and sides of the pan with butter or Pam spray. When heated through, pour in half the eggs. Tip the pan to spread the eggs evenly over the base. When the omelet sets, transfer to a warm plate and cook the second omelet in the same way.  

7. Mix the cooked chicken with the avocado and tomatoes and divide between the two omelets, spooning the mixture in a line down the middle. Roll up the omelets, cut in half, and serve.

En español: AQUÍ

Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ~ Luke 6:28.

Inspired by: