Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes Recipe

After taking your very first bite of these cupcakes you will be hit with the sensational flavors of fresh strawberries, decadent marshmallow all topped off with a light and creamy champagne whipped cream.  What really surprised me was just how moist the cupcakes were!   Tell someone that you love them this Valentine's Day with this romantic dessert.  I like to top these with sprinkles to resemble champagne bubbles.  

Strawberry Cupcakes

2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of strawberries, pureed

3 tablespoons of strawberry preserves

4 eggs

1 cup of strawberry champagne

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 butter, melted

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Filling

1 cup of Marshmallow Fluff

Whipped Cream and Champagne Frosting

4 cups of heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup of strawberry champagne

1 cup of powdered sugar

2-3 drops of red food coloring

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Make a well in the middle.  

2.  In a medium bowl combine the strawberries, strawberry preserves, eggs, champagne, vanilla, oil and butter.  Using a mixer, beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until well combined.  Slowly start to add the wet ingredients to the well made in the middle of the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined.

3.  Line cupcake pans with colorful liners.  Pour batter 3/4  of the way full.  Bake for 20-23 minutes.  Allow the cupcakes to fully cool.

4.  Scoop the marshmallow fluff into a piping bag.  Using a piping bag push the tip into the center of the cupcake.  Fill with marshmallow frosting.

5.  In a large bowl, cream the whipped cream, champagne, powdered sugar until soft peaks are formed.  Now add in the food coloring and continue to whip until stiff peaks are formed.  Place the frosting in a piping bag and then frost the top of the cupcakes.  

Balsamic Strawberry Preserves Recipe

I went to Whole Foods yesterday and I love their pecan-encrusted tilapia!  It tastes so simple and yummy and the price is very affordable too.  I served the fish with my super easy Balsamic Strawberry Jam Recipe.  I know what you must be thinking, strawberry preserves on fish?  Trust me it's so good!  It's sweet, but slightly acidic from the vinager, which enhances the delicate fish flavor.  It would also be wonderful if paired with chicken or pork chops!

1/4 cup of strawberry preserves

4 strawberries chopped up

1 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

1.  In a small bowl combine the above ingredients.  Whisk until well combined.  Serve with chicken, fish or pork chops.

Double Berry Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Get your Labor Day on!  This is a deliciously sweet, mildly fruity barbeque sauce that is balanced out with a jaleopeno kick to it!  This grilling season you are going to want to slather all your meat in it!  I like it because it helps me to empty out all the leftover sauces and jams in my fridge, that I feel guilty tossing since there isn't a whole lot left.  Top with my No Mayo 5 Ingredient Coleslaw for a crunch!  It's super easy to make and the ginger in it pairs lovely with this sauce.  

  

1/3 cup cup of blackberry jam

1/3 cup of strawberry jam

1 cup of barbecue sauce (I used 2/3 cup of Famous Dave's and then used up whatever else was in the fridge)

2 teaspoons of season all

2 tablespoons of Worcestshire sauce

2 jaleponos, minced finely

1 yellow onion, diced

3 large, skinless boneless chicken breasts

Hamburger buns

1.  Mix all the ingredients together, besides the chicken in a bowl, until well combined.  In a slow cooker add the chicken and pour sauce over it.  Cover and cook 3-4 hours on high.  Shred chicken with a fork and serve with my No Mayo 5 Ingredient Coleslaw

Strawberry Nutella Bars Recipe

Looking for a decadent dessert that isn't going to take you forever to prepare?  Well, my Strawberry Nutella Bars are the way to go!  I purchased the strawberries from a local produce stand from up the road, so the strawberries were naturally sweet.  They are mess free and easy to eat with your hands which would be perfect for any picnic, party or your next family get together.  I actually made these for a barbeque that my cousin was hosting this weekend.  The bright red strawberries with hazelnut chocolate were a big hit with adults and even the kids couldn't get enough of them while we played corn-hole in the backyard! 

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon honey

1 egg

1 cup of flour

1/4 teaspoon of baking powder

Filling

1 cup of strawberries chopped

1 tsp of cornstarch

1 tsp of cinnamon

2 tablespoons of strawberry jam

1/3 cup of Nutella

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees  In a large mixing bowl cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until it is fluffy.  Add in the honey, egg, flour and baking powder.  Beat ingredients until a dough forms.

2.  In a medium size bowl add the strawberries, cornstarch, cinnamon and jam and stir until everything until it is just combined.  Be carefully not to mash the strawberries.  

3.  In a lightly greased 9 inch square baking pan add half the dough mixture and spread until it is smooth.  Add the strawberry filling on top of this.  Using a large spoon drop in the Nutella randomly on top of the strawberry mixture.  

4.  Drop the remaining dough on top of this.  It will not totally cover the strawberry and chocolate mixture.

5.  Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the top is slightly golden brown.  Cool and then cut into bars.  

Red, White And Blue Pops Recipe (Strawberry And Blueberry Lemonade Yogurt/Cool Whip Pops)

Perfect and oh so yummy for the 4th of July!  These popsicles combine some of your favorite summertime flavors.  They are creamy, fruity and lemony and nothing but refreshing on a warm summer day.  In my trial run, I used both yogurt (bars to the left ) and cool whip (cup to the right).  I think I like the cool whip ones a little better because once the popsicle starts to melt it tastes like fresh fruit with whipped cream!

1 cup of plain non-fat plain yogurt or fat free cool whip ( I used both in my trial)

1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries

1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries

1 cup of 100% lemonade juice concentrate, divided

Popsicle molds or 3 oz paper cups with Popsicle sticks

1.  In a food processor puree the strawberries and 1/2 cup of the lemonade juice concentrate and puree until smooth.  Add this to a separate bowl.  Now add the blueberries to the food processor and the other half of the 1/2 cup of the lemonade juice concentrate and puree until smooth.

2.  Using ice-pop molds layer the strawberry mixture, yogurt or cool whip and blueberry mixture.  Allow popsicles to freeze for about two hours an then insert wooden popsicle sticks.  Freeze for at least 8 hours.

3.  Dip molds into hot water quickly to remove from the mold.   

Buckin' Berry Lemonade Recipe

This is a perfectly tart lemonade that is perfect for slow sipping and catching up with one of your best friends.  It's super easy to make and it tastes way better than anything from the can.  Plus, the beautiful berry color is hard to beat! 

1/4 cup of lime juice

3/4 cup of lemon juice

1/2 cup of strawberry lemonade mix

1/2 cup of sugar

2 cups of frozen mixed berries

1.5 quarts of water

1. In a food processor blend the mixed berries together.  

2.  In a pitcher add the juices, strawberry lemonade mix, sugar and the mixed berries.  Add about 1.5 quarts of water and stir ingredients together.  If the drink is too sour, add more water and sugar until your liking.  To remove berry seeds pour the drink through a metal strainer before serving and then enjoy!

Strawberry Stuffed Vanilla Cupcakes with Oreos Recipe (Also Known As Becca Bottoms!)

I made these for my friend's birthday after I learned of  her love for Oreos.  It is a simple vanilla cupcake, with an Oreo bottom, a strawberry stuffed in the middle- all topped off with a fluffy white frosting.  The combination of flavors tastes just like you are eating a strawberry sundae.  If you wanted to skip a step you could use a boxed vanilla cake mix and they would still be just as impresive. 

Vanilla Cupcake Recipe (makes about 24 cupcakes)

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 cup of granulated sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1/2 cup of milk

4 eggs

1 package of Oreos

Strawberries hulled (smaller the better)

1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  To a cupcake pan, add liners and place one full Oreo in the bottom to each one.  

2.  In a medium size bowl add the flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix until everything is well incorporated.

3.  In another medium size bowl beat the eggs with the sugar until it is light and starting to foam.  Add in the oil, vanilla extract and milk.  Slowly add dry ingredients and blend until the batter is smooth and fluffy.  Be careful not to over beat the mixture.  

4.   Pour the batter into the cupcake tins- about 3/4 the way full.  Insert into oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick insert comes out clean.

5.  While the cupcakes are cooling make the frosting below.

Fluffy White Frosting (this has been adapted by a recipe I have found on yummly.com)

1 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

3 tablespoons of light corn syrup

6 tablespoons of boiling water

3 large egg whites

1 pinch of salt

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/8 teaspoon of almond extract.

• Add the sugar, corn syrup and boiling water in a saucepan on medium heat.  (Use a pot that is easy to pour.)  Stir until sugar is completely dissolved (this will happen after it reaches a full boil).  Remove from the heat.

• In a large bowl beat the egg whites with salt until stiff peaks form.  Slowly pour the hot syrup in a thin stream into the egg whites. Beat until everything is well mixed.

• Add in the vanilla and almond extract.

• Continue to beat for about 10-15 minutes or until the icing is stiff.  

6.  Cone out the top of each of the cupcakes.  Place a strawberry inside and then cover with a little bit of cake.  Don't worry if it doesn't completely fit back as it once was, you are going to cover up the top of the cupcake with frosting.  

7.  Spread a heaping amount of frosting on the top of the cupcakes and swirl up to resemble soft serve ice cream.  Top with sprinkles and enjoy!