Red Velvet Cake

Valentine's day at our house is not complete without a decadent red velvet cake.  My husband and I celebrate our anniversary and well, every holiday, with this all time favorite dessert.  I am no baker by any means, but I do want to learn.  MJ is 6 months right now, but I can just imagine how much fun it will be to cook and bake together :)

Here's a recipe that I followed

For cakes:

• 1 1/4 cups vegetable shortening
• 2 cups granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling the parchment paper
• 1 Tbsp. unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 4 1/2 tsp. (2 tubes) red food coloring gel
• 3 cups cake flour, plus more for flouring the cake pans
• 1 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
• 1 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/4 tsp. distilled white vinegar
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter (approx.), nonstick spray or vegetable oil, for greasing the cake pans

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Queso

Who doesn't love some good melted cheese? aka Queso!  At first, I was a little afraid of how to make this one, but it turned out to be soooo easy.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 3 TBSP all purpose flour
- equal parts crumbled or shredded (chipotle chedder, queso fresco, reduced-fat creame cheese)
- seeded finely chopped jalepineo
- seeded chopped 1/2 tomato

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Tortillas

How easy is it to just buy tortillas these days?  There is such a variety out there, its so convenient to pick up a pack from your local grocery store.  But if you fancy making these at home, try this very simple recipe.  It actually doesn't take that long.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- pinch salt
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbs unsalted butter (or lard)
- 1 tbs oil
- large bowl (my preference) or your dough mixer-maker
- rolling pin

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Eggplant Caponata

INGREDIENTS

2 cups olive oil
2 lbs. eggplant, cut into 1″ cubes (1-2 medium sized eggplant)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 package celery, roughly chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tbsp. tomato paste, thinned with ¼ cup water (substitute ketchup)
1 cup crushed canned tomatoes
6 oz. green olives, pitted and roughly chopped
½ cup white wine vinegar
½ cup golden raisins (red is ok too)
¼ cup salt-packed capers, rinsed and drained
5 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. finely grated unsweetened chocolate
1  cup finely shredded basil
2 tbsp. pine nuts
Mini crostinis- toasted

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Heart-Shaped Valentine's Day Chocolate Cake

Prep Time: 1 hour
Baking Time: 20 minutes

Devil’s Food:
3 cups granulated sugar
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/8 cups cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup hot coffee

Filling:

1 cup heavy cream

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Spinach Salad with Chocolate Vinaigrette!

A refreshing crisp salad that is good for all seasons...with a chocolate twist!

Ingredients

For vinaigrette

1 tbps cocoa powder
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar dressing (recommended : Newmans Own)

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Sazon Chicken Pasta

These measurements are estimates. I really love garlic, so i probably added twice what i suggested. It's your meal, season it the way YOU like it versus what the recipe calls for. Enjoy!  

 Ingredients 

 Bow tie pasta or your preference

1lbs of chicken breast/thigh (boneless)

1 Green and/or Red pepper

1 Onions

½ pack Mushrooms

1 can of Artichoke

1 Green cubanelle

¼ can Banana Peppers

4 Fresh garlic cloves

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 Lemon

Sazon

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