Vegged- Out Potato Salad

I'm so excited to share this recipe! This past week I have fallen in love with this woman who has created the Hungry Girl Recipes! I even went out an bought one of her cook books! Her recipes make me feel so healthy and are so yummy! So naturally I found this recipe in her cookbook and on her website! Yes she has a website that has even more goodness on it!!!

ingredients

Salad

• 1 pound potatoes, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup frozen petite peas and carrots, thawed
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions

Dressing

• 1/4 cup fat-free mayo
• 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon sweet relish
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

directions

• 1
  Put potatoes in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover potatoes. bring water to a boil
• 2
  Once boiling, continue to cook until potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Carefully drain, transfer potatoes to a large bowl and set aside.
• 3
  combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside.
• 4
  Once potatoes are cool, add all remaining salad ingredients to the large bowl. Add dressing and lightly toss to coat.
• 5
  refrigerate for at least an hour before serving, then eat up!
  
  Guys, this recipe is awesome! I've always loved potato salad but always felt like I was eating my weight after just one serving but with this recipe I feel like I could just keep eating it and I actually made it like three more times... I know a little obsessive, but that is why I'm showing it to you guys so you can also taste the awesomeness of it!!! She also said something about the mini candy canes only being like 17 calories!!! Sorry that was really random but She just has so much information about things and I can't help but be so interested by her and her recipes. Just check out her site! you'll know exactly what I mean!
  
  Ta Ta for now,
  Lil'
  Char

Black Forest Cupcakes!

I don't know why but Christmas time makes me want to bake and, well eat! haha I found this recipe on food network. I'm not a pop drinker so it was a little weird seeing that there's pop in this recipe but it was still a lot of fun to make!  

ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) box devil’s food cake mix
• 1 1/3 cups black cherry soda
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 container vanilla frosting
• 2 teaspoons cherry extract
• 1 to 2 drops pink food coloring
• 24 whole maraschino cherries with stems

directions

• 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin tins with paper liners.
• 2 In a large bowl combine cake mix, soda, vegetable oil and eggs. Using a hand mixer combine all ingredients, batter will still be somewhat lumpy. Pour batter into muffin cups. Bake 19 to 22 minutes, turning the pans halfway through baking. Remove to a rack and allow to cool completely.
• 3 In a large bowl combine frosting, extract and pink food coloring. When cupcakes are cool ice with pink cherry frosting and top each with maraschino cherry
  
  

  

   This recipe was really good! I was worried that you'd be able to taste the pop but you really can't all that much and when you do its kind of refreshing! I think the best part about this cup cake is that its easy to make and it has cherries! I love Cherries! I wish I could be writing this and eating one but my roommates kind of had a feast and ate them all before I could write about it.... Sorry guys! Anyway, please try this and send me pictures or like recipes. I would love to hear from you guys!
  
  Ta Ta for now,
  Lil' Char
  
  
  

Ham and Egg Cups!

So I found this recipe on pinterest awhile ago and have been making them for awhile now and I love them and so does my super picky dad! haha Anyway, its super easy and a ton of fun to eat! If you don't like runny eggs then I suggest you skip over this recipe, but if you love your eggs on a super delicious runny side then keep on reading!

ingredients

• 12 Eggs
• 12 thin slices of deli ham (round)
• 1/2 Cup of your favorite cheese (I used Parmesan or Colby Jack)
• 1/2 Cup diced scallions
• Fresh cracked Sea Salt and Pepper

directions

• 1
  Preheat the oven to 400. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray. Lay a piece of ham in each hole creating a little ham cup. Crack one egg into each hole and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• 2
  Bake the eggs for about 12 minutes…until the white is firm and the yolk is still nice and runny.
• 3
  Carefully remove each egg from the muffin tin and top with grated cheese and scallions. Serve hot!
  
  
   This is a great recipe that's quick and yummy! If you don't like ham then try Turkey its just as good!!! Actually, basically all  lunch meats are good, well maybe not roast beef. I did like salami too! okay anyway, I really think everyone should try this recipe!
  
  Ta ta for now,
  
  Lil' Char

Apple Cider Caramels

Sorry guys for not posting last week. I totally spaced it, so this week you'll have to stay tuned for my other recipe! It might be another candy recipe or maybe chicken, or even a pork recipe! That's all I'll give you for now! 

This recipe I found through a friend! She sent it to me and I couldn't help but try it!!! So I'm writing this as it sits in my fridge cooling.  It made my apartment smell so good that I really wanted to just try it when it was on the stove but with it being at about 244 degrees I thought it might hurt a bit... As for my roommates they were hovering over me just waiting for it to be done so we all could just munch on some really good caramels! Even my kitties were hovering around my legs waiting for me to drop some for them to munch on.... Sometimes I think they are dogs. Its true, they act more like begging dogs than kittens. Anyway, this recipe is from the blog, I heart Nap Time. Its a funny name I know but she is very insightful on making these caramels. She has many good tips and some awesome Pictures!

Ingredients

• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream divided
• pinch ground cloves
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 tbsp water
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup butter cubed

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, boil apple cider for 20-30 minutes or until it is reduced down to 1/3 cup. Set it aside to cool.
2. Line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Coat with a bit of cooking spray and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup whipping cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and reduced apple cider. Set aside.
4. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/3 cup whipping cream, water, and corn syrup. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves (about 5-10 minutes). Insert a candy thermometer and simmer until the syrup reaches 230 degrees.
5. Remove pan from heat and whisk in the cider and cream mixture. Add the butter and combine until fully incorporated. Return the pan to heat and re-insert candy thermometer. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 244 degrees. Once temperature reaches 244 degrees, cook for 2 minutes longer.
6. Remove from heat and pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Let the mixture cool completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
7. Once cooled, cut the caramels into squares or rectangles and wrap each caramel in wax paper. Store in an airtight container or in the refrigerator. 

So My one mistake on this recipe was that I didn't have parchment paper so I thought if I buttered a pan that I could call it good... Well that didn't work. I got the caramels stuck to it. The best part is that it still worked out fine! all you had to do was press it into shape when you wrapped it in wax paper. As for that part I have a roll of wax paper so I just cup up some pieces and wrapped! I do know  at craft stores they have pre- cut wax papers that you can buy but I was lazy and didn't want to drive to the store when i could just cut it up. As for the flavor of this amazing caramel I loved it! I'm a major fan of anything apple so I don't think there's enough apple but its still really good! I don't know if my roommates liked it yet but when they bother get home I know they will have to try it! Again, I'm sorry about not posting last week. I will have another one up soon to fix that problem! Keep an eye out and I hope you try some of these recipes! I know you'll all love them!

Ta Ta for now,
Lil' Char