A New Post? Whaaaaaa?!

So, it seems to me that I’ve been gone for a quick minute….almost. I’ve been so busy with school and work I haven’t had time to update my blog, BUTTTTTT I have been on Pinterest.

That could only mean one thing….come find me and follow me. I have over 15 thousand pins (I can safely admit I have a problem) and over 42 thousand followers. I have lots of cooking/baking boards as well as drink boards because every one loves a good beverage now and again. Plus there’s lots of other things I love!

Click the following link to check out my pinterest. If you have a pinterest you want me to check out comment below with the link. Also leave your personal pinterest and I’ll follow you 🙂

Nicole’s Pinterst 🙂 

June 1, 2013 by Nicole Ashley Categories: BlogTags: Alcohol, Beverages, Chicken, Chicken Wings, Chocolate, Cooking, Cupcake, Cupcakes, Dessert, Drinks, Food, Jack Daniels, Jello Shot, Kitchen, Liquor, Marshmallow, Om Nom Nom, Pizza, Rum, Shots, Vanilla, Vodka, Whiskey, Yum Leave a comment

[Healthy] Red Velvet Cupcakes

One of my absolute FAVORITE blog is Undressed Skeleton on Tumblr. It’s run by Taralynn McNitt and she is absolutely fabulous. I’ve been following her blog for sometime now and it’s beyond wonderful. She’s a cupcake addict like myself, but everything does she put a healthy twist to it…I just like to eat it as it! However, I made these and they are so good. Head over to the recipe or check it out below:

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Whole Grain Flour
• 3 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1/4 Cup Plain Fat Free Chobani
• 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 1 Cup Baking Stevia
• 3 Large Egg Whites
• 1 Tbsp Red Food Coloring

Frosting:

• 1 Cup Fat Free Cream Cheese
• 1 Packet Sugar Free White Chocolate Pudding Mix
• 3 Tbsp Whole Grain Flour
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tbsp Baking Stevia
• 1 Cup Sugar Free Cool Whip

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder and set aside.
3. In a electric mixer combine Stevia, Chobani, applesauce, butter, almond milk, vanilla, egg whites, and food coloring.
4. Slowing mix in the dry ingredients.
5. Fill each cupcake liner up with 1/3 cup of batter.
6. Bake 20 – 25 minutes.

Frosting Directions:

1. In an electric mixer combine cream cheese, vanilla pudding mix and flour on high
2. Turn the mixer to medium speed and add in Stevia, and cool whip until fluffy.
3. Cover and cool in fridge for 30 minutes before adding to cupcakes
4. Add 1/3 cup frosting to each cupcake.

Enjoy! xo

November 8, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: UncategorizedTags: Almond Milk, Baking, Chobani, Cooking, Cool Whip, Cream Cheese, Cupcakes, Frosting, Healthy, omnomnom, Red Velvet, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Undressed Skeleton, Vanilla 2 Comments

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

In honor of Thanksgiving fastly approaching, why not make a delicious pumpkin pie cupcake for all your holiday parties. This recipe comes from Une-Deux Senses. Head on over to her site and check out the recipe or you can see the recipe below:

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Yields: 15 cupcakes

Inspired by this; adapted from here and here.

For the cupcakes:

• 1 3/4 cups cake flour
• 1 cups sugar
• 1/2 tbsn. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup or 1 stick unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup milk, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg white
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

For the graham cracker crust:

• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tbsn. light brown sugar
• 3 tbsn. unsalted butter, melted

For the pumpkin pie frosting:

• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 can (16 oz.) pureed pumpkin
• 2 tbsn. molasses
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsn. flour
• 1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk

Directions:

• The “frosting” should be made first as it takes the longest to bake and needs to cool before using. Preheat the oven to 425 F. In a medium bowl, mix together all the filling ingredients until well combined. Pour the filling into a 9-inch round pan. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350 F and continue cooking for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the filling comes out clean. Let cool completely before using.
• To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a cupcake pan with liners, set aside. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the butter and 1/4 cup of milk. Mix on medium speed until smooth, about 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. In another bowl, blend the eggs, egg white, remaining 1/4 cup milk and vanilla. Add to the batter in 3 additions, mixing for 2 minutes on medium speed after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl in between additions. Set aside.
• To make the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter in a medium bowl and mix well. Add 1 tbsn. of the mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner and bake for 5 minutes until the graham crackers are golden. Remove from the oven then fill about 1/2 full with the cake batter. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely. To frost, scoop the pumpkin pie “frosting” into a piping bag and pipe onto the cupcakes.

Enjoy! xo

November 8, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: CupcakesTags: Baking, Butter, Cooking, Cupcakes, graham cracher, light brown sugar, omnomnom, pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie frosting, Vanilla 1 Comment

Monster Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I’m on Pinterest minding my own business and BAM, I come across this suckers. Do you see how delicious those cupcakes look?! Anyways, courtesy of Something Swanky here is the recipe to remake these bad boys. Check out the site for more recipes that have step-by-step instructions (that include pictures) on fun recipes and check out the recipe below:

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 Tbsp. Peanut Butter
• 1 Tbsp. Butter
• 1/4 c. Flour
• 2 Tbsp. Sugar
• 1 Egg White
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Milk
• a teensy splash of vanilla
• a small handful of Chocolate Chips

For the Cookie Dough Frosting:

• 2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter
• 2 Tbsp. Margarine or Butter (softened to room temperature)
• 2 Tbsp. Flour
• 2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
• 1/2 c. Oats
• 3/4 c. Powdered Sugar
• 2-3 Tbsp. Milk
• a handful of plain M&Ms
• a handful of Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

For the Cake
1. Melt butter in the microwave for 10 seconds.

2. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until your batter forms.

3. Bake in cupcake liners at 350 for 19 minutes. Let cool.For the Cookie Dough Frosting:
1. Using a fork mix together the butter, peanut butter, and 1/4 c. powdered sugar.

2. Add 1 Tbsp. milk. Whisk with the fork until it’s pretty smooth.
3. Add the remaining powdered sugar (1/4 cup at a time, mixing after each addition), the brown sugar, and the flour. Add milk as needed to help with the consistency.

4. Stir in the oats (you can use more or less depending on your preferences), M&Ms, and chocolate chips.

Enjoy xo!

July 6, 2012July 14, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: Cake, Cookies, CupcakesTags: Baking, candy, Chocolate, Chocolate Chips, Cookie dough, Cupcakes, Kitchen, M&M's, Oats 1 Comment

Happy Belated National Devil’s Food Cake Day!

(Okay, for those who actually care yesterday, the 19th, was actually National Devil’s Food Cake Day. But I love cake, so I don’t care!)

In lieu of  Devil’s Food Cake day, here’s a recipe from The Skinny Chef. Make sure you check out their site as well as the recipe below:

Serves 10

Ingredients

1 cups “white” whole wheat flour, plus flour for dusting pan
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup low-fat 1% buttermilk
1 cup strong brewed coffee, chilled
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
non-fat cooking spray

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat a 9-inch cake or spring-form pan with non-stick spray. Dust with flour; shake off excess. Over a large mixing bowl, sift both types of flour, cocoa powder and baking soda. Set aside.
• In another bowl, whisk the brown sugar, buttermilk, coffee, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Gradually whisk in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the pan. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm or cool completely before icing with chocolate sour cream icing

Enjoy! xo

May 20, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: Cake, CupcakesTags: Baking, Butter, Cake, Chocolate, Cooking, Cupcakes, Dessert, Devil's Food, Food, Kitchen, Om Nom Nom, Yum Leave a comment

Food Tattoos? Sure, Why Not …

I don’t know about you guys, but I think tattoos are pretty awesome. Although, I don’t have any, I have big plans in the future to get some (once I grow a pair that is). I was looking on Check Out My Ink and came across some tattoos of cupcakes and other meals (I guess you could say) and I had to share them with all of you:

Sour Patch Kids, of course.

Cherry Cheesecake

Sushi

Broccoli, Tacos, Spaghetti

Blue Moon Ice Cream

Alright, so I have to say I don’t think I’d be ballsy enough to get any of those. I think if I were to get any food related tattoos it’d be a cupcake or maybe a pickle… but not both. Would you get any?

May 16, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: BlogTags: Art, Broccoli, Cupcakes, Food, Food Tattoos, Ink, Odd, Sushi, Tacos, Tattoos 1 Comment

One Day I’ll Win The Lottery …

I’ve decided that once I win the lottery (that is once I start buying a lottery ticket) I’m going to insane with all my money … insane in my kitchen.

I’d live in a house like this:

But also have a second house like this:

Where my kitchen would look like this:

And have this as the back splash behind the stove:

My kitchen would be filled with these:

(This one is my absolute favorite since I LOVE purple)

Honestly, my wish list could go on and on … but I’ll end it right here. If you could have your dream kitchen; what would you want in it?

May 16, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: BlogTags: Baking, Cooking, Cupcakes, Eating, Food, Kitchen, Kitchen Aid, Lottery, Mixer, Muffins, Om Nom Nom, Products, Smart Buys 1 Comment

Margarita Cupcakes: Shot Glass Included

Margarita Cupcakes, who knew? Since tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo I thought I’d post a few more fun recipes I’ve discovered and came across. I’m not a big Cinco de Mayo celebrating for a number of reason: I do not enjoy Spanish food even though I’m Puerto Rican and I don’t drink…so it’s kind of like another day in my book. Anyways, back to the recipe. I saw one of my friends made these cupcakes for a party she’s going to tomorrow and she had a lot of fun making them. Check out Recipe Girl’s website for step-by-step instructions that include pictures as well as other recipes.

May 4, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: CupcakesTags: Alcohol, Baking, Beverages, Cinco de Mayo, Cupcakes, Drinks, Drunk, Food, Liquor, Margaritas, Mix Leave a comment

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

Check out this easy Gluten Free- Dairy Free recipe of flourless chocolate cupcakes. I found this recipe on Emily K Designs. Check out her site as well as the recipe below:

What You’ll Need:
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter {substitute vegan butter}
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (or 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips)
6 large eggs, separated, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
Ice cream, for serving (optional)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Melt butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Stir to combine, then remove bowl from heat and let cool slightly. Whisk in egg yolks.
• With an electric mixer on medium speed, whisk egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat). Whisk one quarter of the beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten; gently fold mixture into remaining whites.
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until cupcakes are just set in centers, about 25 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink). Cupcakes are best eaten the same day they are baked; keep at room temperature until ready to serve, topped with scoops of ice cream, if desired.

Enjoy!xo

February 3, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: CupcakesTags: Baking, Butter, Chocolate, Chocolate Chips, Cupcakes, Flourless Leave a comment

Mardi Gras: Mini King Cupcakes

I wish that I could be here:

On:

Celebrating:

MARDI GRAS!

Okay, enough with the pictures Nicole…focus. When I think of New Orleans and Mardi Gras, I think of King’s Cake. They are beyond delicious and it’s a shame that I only have it once a year. I found a fabulous Mini King Cupcake recipe on MyRecipes. Check out their site and the recipe below:

• YIELD: Makes 1 dozen
• PREP TIME:15 Minutes
• RISE:1 Hour, 30 Minutes
• BAKE:20 Minutes
• COURSE: Cakes/Frostings, Cupcakes, Desserts

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup warm whole milk (110°)
• 2 (1/4-ounce) packages dry yeast
• 1/3 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, divided
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cake flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons hot water
• Purple, green, and yellow sugar sprinkles

Preparation

1. Combine milk, yeast, and 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl. Stir well, and set in a warm place for about 10 minutes. In another bowl, combine butter and next 3 ingredients; stir in 2 teaspoons lemon juice.

2. Combine flours, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl. Add milk mixture and butter mixture, and beat, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons flour if dough is too sticky, until dough is smooth and forms a shaggy mass. (It should remain soft.)

3. Place dough in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, about 1 hour.

4. Punch dough down, and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a 12- x 8-inch rectangle. Combine remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 4 teaspoons sugar, and sprinkle evenly over dough. Roll dough into a log, and cut into 12 equal pieces. Places pieces into paper baking cups in a muffin pan; let rest 30 minutes.

5. Preheat oven to 375°. Brush cupcake tops with beaten egg, and bake 20 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool on wire rack. Combine powdered sugar, water, and remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a small bowl. Drizzle over cooled cupcakes, and top with sprinkles.
OM NOM NOM! Okay, enjoy! xo

January 24, 2012 by Nicole Ashley Categories: Cake, CupcakesTags: Boobs, Cupcakes, King's Cake, Mardi Gras, New Orleans Leave a comment