Drunken Jelly Doughnut Milkshake

Yea.. I went there…

I clearly have an issue with adding some type of alcoholic beverage to my recipes…

No No.. not a 12 step kinda issue.. at least I don’t think.

Let’s revisit that later…

Right now lets talk about doughnuts

I love them…especially jelly.. Strawberry Jelly Doughnuts are gangsta..perhaps I should make a t-shirt that says that.

In my office at work, we often have a box or 2 of assorted doughnuts for breakfast.

Every single time, some “insert really bad name here” cuts a doughnut in half and leaves the other half in the box. This immediately makes me want to commence to sharpen my knives and go nutella ninja.

Why..

Why is this ok.. Is this ok..?

NO, it’s not.. it’s bad karma to leave half a doughnut..

Are they on a diet and only half a doughnut fits into their point system..

So what.. just don’t eat it.. why torture yourself with just 2 little bites of heaven and then have to walk past that box gazing upon that lonely half a doughnut you left behind. Because..Hello..note to self.. NO ONE wants to eat the other half of your doughnut.

Can you tell this bothers me..

Last week, the half-baked bozo did this to a jelly doughnut..

A JELLY DOUGHNUT.. who does that..

I just don’t get it.. it should be against the law.. I’m thinking of writing a letter to my congressman..

I'm also thinking I might have had too much to drink.. or put a little too much Grand Marnier in this milkshake..

Things are starting to appear a little shaky on my screen and my normal drunk ranting has clearly translated to my post. Maybe I should get to the point.

Drunken Jelly Doughnut Milkshakes... You should make these..Real talk..they will change your life.. I'm not just saying that in a fit of drunkenness... Well, that might not be exactly true.. but check it

 "I don't think they ready for this jelly"

My first grand idea was for drunken jelly doughnuts.  I was going to use my recipe for Grand Marnier Strawberry jam and turn that into some serious doughnut action. Then I realized how much time it takes to actually make doughnuts from scratch. You know what doesn’t take a lot of time.. Milkshakes..  So I took the jelly, bought some doughnuts and dusted off a bottle of Grand Marnier.

Ok, so there was no dust on it.. but it made for a great shake..

So good that I had to make another batch with a little more liqueur, that I drank right outta the pitcher as I typed this post..

That might not of been the best idea.. sorry if there are a lot of typos… 

Drunken Jelly Doughnut Milkshake
Prep Time- 5 mins Yield- 2 Large Shakes 
Inspired by my favorite milkshake "The Krispy Kreme Doughnut Milkshake"..at Flip Burger in Atlanta 

Ingredients 
2 cake doughnuts
3 large scoops French Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 cup milk ( I used whole milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons strawberry jam
1/3 cup grand marnier

Directions
In a blender combine the doughnuts and the ice cream until smooth. Add in remaining ingredients and blend again just enough to combine. Serve immediately in tall glass or small glasses or just drink right out of the pitcher.

Click Here to print

Banana Cream French Toast

Mother’s Day is right around the corner.. are you spending time with your mom, sister, aunt, grandma or whoever the special woman is in your life..?
You should.. you should take them out, show them a good time.. or if they're like my mom..

Make sure the bar where you’re going has their favorite tequila.. or it could get ugly.

My mom is hilarious and has a very larger than life attitude. She has no problem sharing how she feels or dropping the F-bomb when necessary.. which in her opinion is often.  My husband is very quiet, very rarely drops the f-bomb,if ever.. so their interaction is all that I need to make my Mother’s Day great.

Because Mom is coming to visit.. and there is nothing she likes more than to pick on him. Mainly because my husband is 14 years older than me and she likes to remind him of that and that he is closer to her age than mine.  Last time she came she brought him coupons for a discount on ben-gay.. before that she mailed him an application to AARP and likes to ask him what he thinks of the social security changes in America. (Since he is so closely effected by it, she says) 

Like I said it’s hilarious… and he just shakes his head telling me how much he really hopes I'm not that way when I’m her age…. Because it will probably result in him pushing me down the stairs..  “Insert Meryl Streep in Death Becomes Her”

Growing up my mom taught me to dance and sing like nobodies watching and enjoy life to the fullest.. Always reminding me that when you fail at things giving up is never an option. She was tough and it made me able to withstand a lot of the B.S this world will throw at you when you’re not looking.. I love her for that and for her humor.  

When I asked what she would like for me to make her for mother’s day breakfast she told me Banana Cream Pie..

Me: Aren’t you on a diet?

Mom: Who the hell told you that..

Me: Umm..you did, remember you told went looking for spanx and they were soo expensive so you need to diet to get the weight off instead of spending all your money on spanx.

Mom: Erika.. I never sent you any damn email about spanx.. just make the “F-in” pie.

So Mom.. I decided to make you something in-between where you can still enjoy that Banana Cream Pie flavor for breakfast.. I also included the email that you sent about the spanx..

Love you Mom!

I hope everyone enjoys their Mother's Day!!

Banana Cream French Toast 
Prep- 15 mins Cook Time- 11 mins Yield- 4 servings

Ingredients 

4 1-inch thick slices of French Bread

2 ripe bananas, mashed

4 tablespoons cream cheese

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

2 eggs

1/3 cup milk (I used whole milk)

¼ teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Maple Syrup or powdered sugar (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450

Grease a baking sheet and set aside. With a knife (a sharp one, that French bread can get a little tough) cut a horizontally pocket into each bread slice that starts from the top crust until almost the bottom of the crust.

In a bowl, stir together mashed bananas, cream cheese and whipping cream until well combined and smooth. Spoon about a tablespoon into each prepared pocket of the French bread slices.

In a separate bowl. Beat together eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon.

Pour egg mixture into a shallow pan (I used a pie pan, it makes it easier to dip each slice) Now, dip the stuff bread slice into egg mixture, turning to coat. Then place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve coated each slice.

Place in the oven and bake at 450 for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. Turn slices over and bake for another 5-6 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and serve while warm with syrup or powdered sugar if desired.

Enjoy!

Click here to print

Recipe inspired by one that I saw in Southern Living Magazine

Michelada Hot Wings

The Michelada Cocktail is somewhat of a simple concoction of beer and hot sauce. One that never seems to be prepared the same way twice. I’m really not a beer drinker.. but dress it up in hot sauce and I’m down. My first experience with this Mexican cocktail was in college. A friend recommended it to help cure a massive hangover that I was suffering from.. Not sure if it helped but the restaurant where I indulged myself also had great tacos. So by the end of our meal I was pretty much hangover free.

I’ve learned that if you order a Michelada in Mexico it will taste a lot different than it does when prepared at one of my favorite Atlanta dining spots.

The variations are endless. From clam juice and tomato juice to simply lime and table salt.

How do you suppose this cocktail would taste as a marinade..

Let me answer that for you..

Righteous..

With my recent obsession for creating recipes out of my favorite cocktails, and with Cinco de Mayo creeping up on us.. I thought it would be a great addition to my party menu.

Now to keep it real, I had to try a few different variations to get this right..  At first, the beer taste was too overpowering, then it was too spicy.. then it wasn’t spicy enough.. Then I kicked my friend out for being so negative. So the final batch was just right.

Because I said so and there was no one there to tell me different.. But I’m always right so you’ll love these wings.. Trust me…

Bottoms up... chicken wings down.


Michelada Hot Wings
Prep Time- 20mins Cook Time-30mins Yield- 8 servings

Ingredients 

Non-sticking cooking spray

8 chicken wings

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 cup Mexican Beer of your choice..I used Modelo Especial 

¼ cup ketchup

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon hot sauce

2 tsp. Maggi seasoning *you can find this at your grocer, it is normally in the section with the stocks and bullion cubes 

Juice of 1 lime

2 teaspoons honey

¼ teaspoon paprika

Directions
Preheat oven to 450
Spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray.
Add salt and pepper to a medium size bowl. Coat each chicken wing in salt and pepper mixture, then transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake until skin is golden and crispy about 25 mins.
While chicken is cooking- Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until all ingredients are incorporated.
Once chicken is cooked, preheat broiler
Brush sauce mixture over each wing  and place back in the oven to broil for about 3 mins. Brush wings again with more sauce then turn them over and brush with sauce again. Place back in the oven to broil for 3 to 4 minutes longer. Remove from oven and immediately brush with more sauce. Serve while hot. 

Click here to print 

The Ginger Julep '68 Fastback

2 Post in one week..

What..

Shut the front door.. or the side door.. or the back door..

Whichever.. just be excited with me. I’m here in this space more than once this week. It’s a first and I have now placed myself in the more than one post a week group. So what if it probably won’t happen again in the near future..

Live for the moment..

And at this moment, I’m drinking what you see above (and below).. The Ginger Julep '68 Fastback. No..no not the car..but damn that would be nice..a Ginger colored 1968 mustang fastback...gangsta truly...but wrong,..I'm not talking about a car..I'm talking about Bourbon.

If you’ve followed me up until this point you know that Bourbon is clearly my best friend.

IF you haven’t been following up until this point. Shame on you.. There is a subscribe button on the side that can help you with that.

Onward..

Mint Julep is a signature drink here in the south… most popularly associated with that event that allows you to wear fancy hats while simultaneously causing J Crew and Vineyard Vines to run outta stock. Better known as the Kentucky Derby. Or the Great American Race

A few years back.. I was able to attend the Derby. Making my way through the large hats and monogram necklaces due to the company I was working for giving some ridiculous sponsorship. It was interesting.. I was able to mingle with insanely rich people who would probably never speak to me in real life.But with the abundance of Bourbon mixed in with the signature Juleps they were my best friends. So I received several invitations to parties at houses on beaches,got included in a group that takes a trip to the Swiss alps once a year for a month and stood in Millionaires row with probably $15.00 in my pocket. I looked nice though. 

See Bourbon makes everything better.. and Bulleit Brand Bourbon is hands down my favorite. It’s a staple Bourbon brand around these parts, as well as a part of the heritage of the great state of Kentucky.

There is nothing quite like that barrel aged liquid gold with its vanilla, oak  and sometimes spicy notes.  This Ginger Julep is a twist on the Classic Mint Julep. It’s addition of brown sugar and fresh minced ginger bring a gentle heat to this drink with an invigorating kick and splash of lime.  So as you prepare for this years Derby or if you're planning a party to celebrate. Be sure to include this drink on your menu. It won't disappoint.  

A huge thanks goes to my new friend Christina who sent me 2 bottles of Bourbon. Which has her at the top in the circle of friends.. and together she and I along with a bottle of Bulleit Rye will go on to create greatness. AMEN 

The Ginger Julep '68 Flastback
This is a Bulleit Bourbon Cocktail Recipe


Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
.5 oz brown sugar
1/4 oz fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1.5 oz soda water

Directions
In a glass, muddle the brown sugar and ginger until sugar is moist and almost dissolved. Add a dash of the soda water to finish dissolving the brown sugar. Stir in your Bourbon. Finish with the remaining soda water, ice and a twist of lime.

Apple Butter Drop Biscuits

It’s 4am…

Do you know where your children are? In bed you say.. Ha

Not mine..

Mine is currently staring at me while I type this post..

We’ve been looking at each other since 2am… I gave up at about 3 am and decided... what the hell since we’re up..

Let's power up the computer and see whose drunk tweeting on tweeter..

I think the lack of sleep is making me crazy…

My 22 month old is not suffering from the same aliment of craziness.. No he is banging his sippy cup on the floor because it’s empty. .

This is his second cup of apple juice… most kids take a warm bottle of milk and go back to sleep..

Not mine

He takes one cup of sugarless apple juice straight up no ice.

Is this a sign?

Sometimes while venturing into the world of vampirism (they don’t sleep right?)

I wonder if my son will grow out of his late night antics. I don’t want him to be that guy.. you know, that guy that’s always at the club hanging at the bar until 2 in the morning drink apple juice straight up no ice.

Am I over thinking this?

See what happens when you don’t get any sleep.. it also doesn’t help that there are 2 other people in this house that don’t ever seem to hear our late night lunacy… I know this because I hear them both snoring…

When my son turns two… I’m buying him a drum set…

Because late night/early morning hang outs in the kitchen should be a family affair…

Oh and since I was up, I made y'all some biscuits.. 

Apple Butter Drop Biscuits
Prep Time-20mins Cook Time- 15mins Yield- One Dozen 

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick- 1/2 cup of cold butter, unsalted, cut into cubes
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup apple butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper
In a bowl, mix together flours, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Cut in cold butter by using your fingertips to rub butter into dry ingredients until mixture looks like crumbs. Make well in the center and pour in buttermilk. Stir just until dough comes together, stir in apple butter until well combined. Dough will be sticky.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheet. About 2 tablespoons per biscuit, depending on the size biscuits you want.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown on the top. Remove from the oven and serve while hot. I realize that some wait to let the biscuits cool for a bit ,but to me biscuits are best serve while hot enough to melt a slather of butter. :)  Slather is a great word..
Enjoy

Click here to print