Working it Out

My kitchen got quite the work out yesterday and I probably need to be working it out after all the the food I indulged in yesterday. Yesterdays menu included: Spaghetti, Homemade Red Sauce, Easy Cheesy Stuffed Meatballs, Salad, Breadsticks, and Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Icing. Yum!!!

I shared my recipes for Easy Cheesy Meatballs and Vanilla Buttercream Icing at Tasty Kitchen.

Easy Cheesy Stuffed Meatballs

Prep Time: 10 minutes   -   Cook Time: 25 minutes  -   Difficulty: Easy   -  Servings: 5

Ingredients

• 1-½ pound Ground Beef (can substitute half and half minx of Italian Sausage & Ground Beef)
• ¼ cups Italian Bread Crumbs
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Small Onion, Minced
• 1 whole Egg
• 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Pepper
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• ½ cups Cubed Cheese 

Instructions

Combine all ingredients (except cubed cheese) in a large bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined.

Divide meat into balls (about half the size of your fist). Make a dent in the ball with your thumb and insert a cheese cube and cover cheese. (I used monterey jack cubes but any cheese will work.)

Next, brown half of the meatballs at a time in a skillet on medium heat for 3 minutes. Place meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet or pan and bake at 350ºF for 20-25 minutes until the center is not pink.

Serve as a meal, on a sandwich, with pasta, however you wish.

Simple Vanilla Buttercream Icing

 

 This is probably the easiest icing recipe I have ever made and it tastes like it took a lot more work than it did.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes   Yields: 12 Cupcakes (Double recipe for a cake)

Ingredients

• 1 stick Unsalted Butter, At Room Temperature
• 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla
• 2 cups Confectioners Sugar (sifted)
• 2 Tablespoons Milk Or Whipping Cream

Instructions

1. Cream butter with a mixer until smooth and well blended.

2. Add vanilla and mix on low speed.

3. With the mixer on low, gradually add the confectioner’s sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

4. Add milk and mix on high speed for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Add food coloring or paste if desired.

Now to work on the Chocolate Buttercream Icing and to finish the last of the cupcakes.