Recipes of the Week

Here's some recipes from Hudson's birthday party...

Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2/3 cup oil
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (6 ounce) package chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix flour, 2 C sugar, cocoa, teaspoon of salt and baking soda together.
3. Add oil, water, vinegar and vanilla.
4. Fill cupcake papers 2/3 full with mixture.
5. Mix together until fluffy the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 C sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
6. Add chocolate chips to cream cheese mixture.
7. Drop 1 heaping teaspoon on the top of each cupcake.
8. Bake for 25 minutes.
9. Frost when cool.

White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

6 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped

4 ounces (half an 8-ounce package) reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 to 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1. Place the white chocolate in a small glass bowl in the microwave oven on high power for 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the oven and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until it is smooth. Set the chocolate aside to cool.

2. Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the melted white chocolate and blend on low speed until just combined, 30 seconds. Add the peppermint extract and 2 cups of the confectioners' sugar and blend on low until the sugar is incorporated, 30 seconds more. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the frosting is fluffy, 1 minute more, adding up to 1/2 cup more sugar if needed to make a spreadable consistency.

Feel free to fold in up to 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy for a crunchy and creamy frosting!

Cranberry Punch

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 3 cups cranberry juice
• 2 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 42 fluid ounces 7-Up soda
• ice cubes

Directions

1. Chill fruit juices and 7-Up.
2. Simmer water, sugar and cinnamon sticks together for 10 minutes.
3. Set aside for several hours to allow the mixture to develop the cinnamon spiced flavor.
4. Prior to serving time, remove the cinnamon sticks from the sugar syrup.
5. In a large punch bowl, combine the sugar syrup, cranberry juice, orange juice, and lemon juice.
6. Slowly pour in the 7-Up.
7. Add ice-cubes and garnish with lime slices if desired.

Crockpot Christmas Potpourri

Orange peels, from 2 oranges
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp ground cloves
3 bay leaves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
water

I put this all in my mini crockpot and covered it with water. It made the house smell wonderful!