Friday 2/6

Friday, dad is home and school is quiz and fun day. Yes they can happen on the same day! Actually my kids think quizzes are fun. They have never been taught to dread them and that the quiz somehow analyzes what they do know, just what they don't know. Reverse psychology! Smart eh...

PB & J Wings
Carrot and Blue Cheese dressing
Cupcakes

Doesn't that sound like fun?

Sticky PB&J Wings
Susan H. Gordon
From Every Day with Rachael RayFebruary 2009MAKES 2 DOZEN Prep Time: 10 min (plus marinating)Cook Time: 50 min
One 10-ounce jar grape jelly
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Salt
12 chicken wings, tips discarded and wings separated at the joint
Cilantro, for garnish
1. In a bowl, whisk together the jelly, peanut butter, vinegar, hot sauce and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken wings and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 375°. Arrange the wings on a greased rack set on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Turn, baste with the pan juices and bake until browned, about 20 minutes more. Serve with cilantro.


Blue Cheese Dressing - mine-
1 block blue cheese crumbled up
8 oz sour cream
1/4 c mayo
Blend well and break up any big chunks of blue cheese with a fork. Add more sour cream if it is to strong. Add salt and pepper.


Lime-Margarita Cupcakes
Courtesy of Crushcakes Cupcakery in Santa Barbara, CA
From Every Day with Rachael RayFebruary 2009MAKES 2 DOZENPrep Time: 55 minCook Time: 25 min
3 sticks (12 ounces) butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature, plus 1 large egg white
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
Grated peel of 4 limes, plus 1/4 cup lime juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons gold tequila ***
1 drop green food coloring
1/2 cup large multicolored sugar crystals
24 lime wedge candies
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 cupcake pans with baking liners. Using an electric mixer, beat 2 sticks butter and the granulated sugar until creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, egg white and oil. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. In a large glass measuring cup, stir together the milk, 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. On low speed, mix in one-third of the wet mixture, then one-third of the dry mixture. Repeat twice, ending with the dry mixture. Mix in half of the grated lime peel.
3. Fill each baking liner about three-quarters full with batter. Bake until the cupcakes spring back when gently touched, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, using the electric mixer, beat the remaining 1 stick butter until creamy. Beat in 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Beat in the tequila, and the remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, lime peel, 1 teaspoon salt and the food coloring until smooth and creamy. Beat in the remaining 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar one-third at a time, until just soft enough to spread.
5. Spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes. Add the sugar crystals to a bowl; lay each frosted cupcake on its side in the bowl and gently rotate to form a rim of sugar. Top each cupcake with a lime wedge candy.

****Okay so I am not going to go out and buy tequilia for cupcakes, just substitute with extra butter or lime juice.