Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

ingredients

Pumpkin Cake:

1 box yellow or white cake mix (you can use Spice mix and omit spices)

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. cinnamon

15 oz. pumpkin puree

3 eggs

1/2 C. applesauce or oil

1/3 C. milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

6 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/4 C. sugar

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 C. butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 C. powdered sugar

Extra cinnamon and sugar for decoration

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.

2. Sift cake mix, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon into a bowl an set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, applesauce, milk and vanilla extract.

4. Stir in cake mix and spices.

5. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 17-22 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

6. Place your melted butter in a small bowl.

7. Combine sugar and cinnamon in another small bowl.

8. Use a pastry brush to brush melted butter on the tops of your cupcakes (they can be cooled or nearly cooled), then roll the tops of the cupcakes into your cinnamon-sugar to get that "snickerdoodle" look.

9. Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese. Add cinnamon and vanilla extract and slowly add in powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Add 1 Tbsp. milk if it becomes too thick.

10. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and sprinkles extra cinnamon-sugar on top!

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Cooking Tips : 

Tips And Secrets To Be A Better Cook Today!

There are some things that all good cooks need to know. This article is here to help you learn more about how to cook like a pro. Read them in their entirety to ensure you learn exactly what it takes to get cooking prowess.

If you would like to start cooking more food on your own, go to the bookstore or library and get a cookbook of simple and basic recipes that appeal to you. Try different recipes and be patient as you come up with something that works for you.

Preparation is key when cooking for your friends or friends. Make sure you have all the ingredients available. This process will limit the amount of stress you experience when cooking the meal and help manifest a more positive outcome.

Slice your meat thinly for stir-fry dishes. This can be a very time and be tricky.

You don't ever want to try new ingredients or recipes and food you don't have experience with. This will allow for an easier cooking more enjoyable and less stressful.

Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to cut some calories and fat. The taste of cauliflower will blend nicely with your potatoes while picking up the potatoes. Cauliflower is also the same texture and color of potatoes when mashed so it's a great way to add more veggies, offering you a perfect way to add another vegetable to your dish while cutting calories.

Ice cube trays can be a great tool for freezing and storing leftover sauce. This makes it easier for you to make a quick meal which you can reheat at a saute pan. The sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!

Always use an airtight container to store sugar or flour.Keeping your ingredients in airtight containers will stop them fresher longer as the air can't reach them. These containers can be purchased at almost any store and are definitely worth the money.

Read labels when you buy foods. Many of the most common ingredients can contain items that are considered unhealthy. You want to produce a product that anything you buy is not high in sugar or sodium.

If the recipe calls for water, you could easily use chicken broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. If a recipe calls for milk, try substituting with buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. Using different liquids can add a bit of zest to a favorite recipe and improve their flavor.

Always make certain to measure any cooking oil you are cooking. This will help you lower the fat is present in your foods while cooking. This should enable you keep an eye on just how much oil you use.

Prepare things the night before if you cannot handle doing everything in one night. Cut up vegetables and make the sauce the night before so you can save time. This will help reduce your stress at suppertime since you have already done part of the work.

Make sure that you do not dispose of your Thanksgiving dinner. Cut the leftover meat and put it away in an airtight container. Turkey remains fresh up to three weeks and you can use it in sandwiches or a salad.

You can make remarkably flavorful dishes by making your stock ahead of time to add to other dishes.You should always have access to stock on hand for soup and other dishes. Creating your own stock can reduce preservatives in the concoction that you to avoid preservatives.

Use a paper towels to blot the moisture from the surface of ground meat before cooking it. It's never a good plan to blot away wetness that is on ground meat. Any moisture that remains there will be released when it's cooked. The moisture will start to sizzle and steam away. This means you meat is being steamed instead of seared as it should be.

One of the best cooking tip is just be flexible and creative; do your imagination. You do not follow a recipe to the "T". That is a creative cook!

Save around 1/4 cup of this water. When you mix the pasta with this sauce, pour in some of the water. The pasta water's starch adds a "creaminess" to the starchy water will bulk up your sauce and make it creamier.

Impress family and friends when you make a simple sandwich with mayo that is evenly spread from corner to corner on the entire slice of bread. An even spread will ensure that every single bite to bite.

A meat thermometer can let you know if your meat is being cooked properly.All kinds of meat have a minimum internal temperature that is recommended for it to be safe to eat. Bacteria can easily survive in meat, and unless the meat is properly and thoroughly cooked, these bacteria can remain and cause you sickness if consumed.

Trussing is when you tie your turkey up with string for baking. Trussing helps to keep the legs and wings next to the bird closely. If the legs and wings aren't tied down, the tips of them will likely burn before the body of the turkey is done.

Try to make sure you cook your cake to the proper temperature and do not over or undercook a cake. The recommendations on the package are only guidelines, but these suggestions can be misleading; other factors, including oven variations, can have an effect on the actual time needed. A good way to judge whether a toothpick into the center of the cake. If batter sticks to the toothpick when it comes out, the cake is done; if batter comes out with it, it needs longer to bake.

Stacking cooling racks are a lifesaver in the kitchen. Stackable cooling racks mean far more efficient ways to use your space. Stacking cooling goodies up the space you have plenty of room.

As said preciously, there are some easy tricks you can learn to cook well. Some people naturally have it, and others just need a little help and information. If you follow the advice in this article, you will be that much closer to becoming that great cook that was always hiding inside.



Tastier, Cheaper, Healthier Food In Just A Few Simple Steps

Good food has a reputation for being many different things. The tips we give in this article will help you how to raise your culinary skills to a higher level.

If you want to start cooking more, try looking at basic cookbooks in your local library or bookstore. Try some recipes until you develop your skills.

Partially freezing meat so it becomes easier to cut into thin strips. This is ideal for Chinese or Thai meals. For the most even cooking, let the strips of meat thaw completely before you start to cook.

Boiling and nutrients in vegetables. If you want them to be healthier, try cooking them quickly by steaming or sauteing, sautéing or even roasting your vegetables to protect their vitamin and nutrient content.

You don't ever want to try new ingredients or recipes that you enjoy. You will feel less stressed while cooking if you have greater peace of mind.

Look through your recipe and determine whether or not certain steps you can be completed beforehand. You can simplify the day prior to actually cooking. This can make even the most difficult recipes fun and fast.

The downside of garlic can transfer to your hands easily. Try rubbing your hands on the inside of a steel when they smell from an odoriferous cooking ingredientThis will clean your hands and prevent the smells from transferring to the food you have to handle next.

Ice trays can be a great tool for freezing and storing leftover sauce. This makes it easier for you to make a quick meal by reheating the sauce using a later time. The frozen sauce will be very edible after it comes out of the trays.

Always use airtight container to store baking ingredients such as sugar or flour in the kitchen. Keeping your food in airtight containers will keep them from spoiling or being infected with bugs. These containers can be purchased at almost any store and definitely worth the money.

Plan on preparing a big pot of stock so that the excess can freeze and used later. Good homemade chicken stock is a wonderful base in soups, casseroles, stews and other dishes.

There is a lot of fat in butter and oil. Try using nonstick cooking sprays that will help your food not contain anything unhealthy and works just like oil.

If the recipe calls for water, you could easily use chicken broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. Instead of using milk, you can substitute yogurt, yogurt or buttermilk. Using a variety of liquids can add a bit of zest to a favorite recipe and improve their flavor.

You should discard your spices about twice a year. The flavor of spices fade just a few months after opening the container.If you buy too much of a spice, give some to a family member or friend to keep from wasting it.

You need to stay organized when you are cooking, which could be costly.Having an organized will ensure that you turn out a good meal.If you are unorganized, you will start to forget what you buy and that will make you spend too much money that could have been spent on something you would have eaten.

Allow your food to sit for a bit before serving it. Many do not realize how important it is to let the importance of letting their cooked food rest. Many are tempted to quickly serve food to the grill or stovetop. If you serve immediately off the grill, you'll miss out on the meat's full flavor. Always let the meal cool and sit for about 5 minutes before eating.

Use a substantial amount of salt in the water when making pasta. This is the seasoning will set into the pasta. Salting after boiling your pasta will not give the same effect.

Save around 1/4 cup of this water. When you are getting ready to mix the pasta and sauce together, add this water as well. The pasta water's starch adds a "creaminess" to the sauce and make it creamier.

A meat thermometer can let you know if your meat is being cooked properly.All kinds of the different meats require a certain internal temperature that is recommended for safe to eat. If meat is under cooked, bacteria that exists on meat will not be eliminated, which could result in illness.

Try to make sure you cook your cake to the proper temperature and do not to overcook or undercook a cake. The time recommended on the box or in a recipe is a guide to be used with caution, but these suggestions can be misleading; other factors, including oven variations, can impact the finished product. A better idea is to insert a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, more baking is needed; when the toothpick stays clean after insertion, the cake needs to be baked longer.

There is not just one kind of potato, but they are not created equal.

Red potatoes have too thin a dense filling.

Cooking dinner for a large number of people might mean added stress on your plate. Rather than allowing yourself to panic at the last minute, start preparing your feast in advance. Set out your ingredients, utensils and spices the night before, utensils and sauces.

Rub your hands on stainless steel prior to washing them to eliminate odors of onions, fish, or onions to get the smell out.You can do this on the side of a sink or use a stainless steel soap bar and it will lift the odors from your hands, or even a special steel "soap" in order to remove these smells.

Those who enjoy cooking fish should consider trying to catch your own.

Microwave citrus fruits before juicing to get every last drop of juice. Heat up your citrus fruits in the microwave for about ten seconds or so. After the fruit is done microwaving, roll it across your counter before cutting it open and beginning the juicing process.

Food can have great power and is the basis of life. The people you share your dishes with will truly enjoy your efforts and you will benefit yourself from following these tips.

Mini Hamburger Cupcakes

Cupcakes (hamburger buns): 

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• eggs (use quantity from package directions)
• vegetable oil (use quantity from package directions)
• water (use quantity from package directions)

Cookies (hamburger patties):

• 1 box brownie mix
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flower
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 eggs

Decorations (fixings): 

• yellow, red and green icing
• white candy sprinkles

Directions:

Mix the yellow cake mix and bake yellow cupcakes according to the directions on the package (cupcake liners are not necessary).

While the yellow cupcakes are baking, start making the brownie cookie batter.  Combine the brownie mix, flour, oil, water and eggs in a large bowl and mix well.  Drop spoonfuls of the dough at least 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  When your yellow cupcakes are done, pull them out of the oven and set aside to cool while you bake the cookies.  About 9 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees is all you’ll need.  Pull them out of the oven and let them cool while you get to work trimming the cupcakes into hamburger buns.

Cut the tops off of each (fully cooled) yellow cupcake, then slice the remainder in half. You’ll want to keep the two larger slices for your buns and discard (a.k.a. eat) the remainder.  Now you’re ready for assembly!  Spread a little dab of white icing onto the bottom bun (mayo) so it sticks to the cookie. Stack the brownie cookie patties on top of the bottom bun slice, decorate with lettuce (green icing), ketchup (red icing) and mustard (yellow icing) and a few diced onions (white candy sprinkles).  Put the top of the cupcake on the top and sprinkle with sesame seeds (more white candy sprinkles).  you can even stick these guys with those cute little toothpicks or skewers to keep them together.

Cooking Tips : 

Yes, You Can Cook! Simple Tips To Improve Your Cooking Ability!

It's really not necessarily as hard as you believe to become a great chef. It is okay to experiment to find your strengths through experimentation while cooking. These tips will help you expand your cooking expertise and allow you can try new things. Use this advice and you can greatly improve your cooking quickly.

If you are first embarking on a quest to prepare more of your own food, head to the nearest library or bookstore and find a cookbook with simple, fun recipes. Try different recipes and be patient as you come up with something that works for you.

To make your French fries crispier, try leaving the raw potatoes in some cold water for half an hour before you fry them.

It is sometimes difficult to determine when your foods are thoroughly cooked on the grill. Use a meat thermometer (a digital one is more accurate) so that you can ensure the inside is cooked properly.

Beans and tofu are excellent sources of protein if you need to add some to your diet. Both of these protein-rich foods are easily available to buy at almost every grocery store. Try pan-frying tofu and adding seasoning to replace meat. Beans boiled with some spices and herbs for a meal full of flavor and protein.

This procedure will help to keep fruits fresh for much longer. You also be able to enjoy certain fruits out of season whenever you want them.

Do not use any wine for cooking that you do not think normally tastes good. There is wine available that are used just for cooking purposes.

Prepare some of your food the day before to save time and headaches. Cut up vegetables and make the sauce the night before going to bed at night. This will help reduce your stress and lower your cooking time the following day.

Storing these items in a warm location will lead them to lose their flavor.

Always begin your utensils very well before you use them. Any residual food post-washing can spoil the dish you intend to cook. This can allow harmful bacteria to easily spread.

Always follow instructions to the instructions if you are making something like macaroni and cheese properly. The macaroni turns out perfect this way and delicious because the great looking cheese is melted over the noodles. Use a wide spoon to serve to make sure you get plenty of cheese scooped up with the macaroni. Spice up the macaroni with some type of pepper!

You can make stock yourself. You will have access to stock when you are cooking other dishes. Creating your own stock allows you cook.

Blot raw meat before you start cooking it. It is always advisable to blot away moisture that is present on ground meat. Any moisture on the meat will be released when it's cooked. The extra moisture will sizzle and steam away when it hits the heat of the pan. This causes your meat from searing as you intended; it will steam instead.

If you are going to cook a complex meal, make it more manageable by prepping the day before. Get all of the ingredients that you will need, and chop or measure anything you can in advance. You can reduce a lot of recipes to a matter of mixing everything put together and putting heat to it if you to cook.

Onions that are raw have a great deal of sulfurous gas. This excessive gas can end up ruining your batch of salsa. Rinsing and drying the onions first will eliminate this gas.

When sauteing, try to avoid filling the pan with oil. Make sure you saute foods on a low temperature as well.

Learn a little bit about any new foods that you haven't cooked with before. You might be surprised of the food.

Do your prep work in advance to cut down on cooking time. You can get many of the ingredients ready ahead of time. There are many cases in which the flavor of the ingredients is actually lend a more flavorful touch to your meal.

Red potatoes have very thin of a skin to hold a thicker filling.

Always make sure to use nylon and spatulas that are using nonstick cookware. Metal or wooden utensils could scratch nonstick coat and cause flakes to fall from the pans. This is both unappealing and possibly dangerous.

If you have odors from the food that you are cooking with, onions, or fish, try rubbing your hands with stainless steel for about one minute before you wash them. You can do this on the side of a sink or use a stainless steel soap bar and it will lift the odors from your hands, or even a special steel "soap" in order to remove these smells.

Try ketchup as a secret batter ingredient in fried foods. Ketchup isn't only a condiment to dunk your food in, prior to covering it in breadcrumbs.

Put the juiciest ingredients like tomatoes on the bottom, juicier ingredients like tomatoes on the bottom and lighter ingredients like lettuce and croutons on top.

Learn how to use color in your cooking.Colorful foods appeal to your eyes and they are also prettier. Put your creativity and imagination to work when choosing colorful foods for your meals, and your dishes are sure to get eaten every time.

There is an easy way to cut your cinnamon rolls. Cinnamon rolls can be hard to cut before they have been baked. You can cut the dough easily by using a piece of thread or clean fishing line to slice wherever you wish to cut the roll. Doing this will make sure that you have the best cinnamon roll slices.

Incorporate some insights from this article and see how the results are displayed in your cooking ability. Experiment with the ideas offered, and don't be scared to try each of them at least one time. The more frequently you put these ideas to use, the more quickly you can refine your cooking aptitude. You should be whipping up tasty dishes in no time using these tips. Your stomach will thank you.

The Basics When It Comes To Cooking Great Food

Are you a foodie that loves a variety of every kind of food? Do you like sweets a killer sweet tooth? Do you enjoy delicious ethnic foods? Have you ever thought how exactly to make these meals in the privacy of your home? It's time to quit wondering and start cooking! The advice below will teach you how to cook tasty meals.

Prepare in advance as much of your recipe as you can ahead of time. It is essential to have all prep work done before it's time to begin cooking. You can spare yourself a great deal of hassle by getting all your prep work in advance.

If you want to start cooking more, where you can find a vast array of options. Try different recipes and be patient as you come up with something that works for you.

You should never attempt to cook new or extravagant recipes and food you enjoy. This will ensure that your meal.

Look through your recipes and clue in on the steps that can be completed beforehand. You can simplify the cooking process by doing your preparations a day or more in advance. This can make it even easier to cook complicated recipes and dishes.

This is going to help to prevent burning when they do not burn during the cooking process. Use two parallel skewers as opposed to a single skewer to avoid food intact.

When you will be cooking a pumpkin, stand them upright and cut them halfway down the middle. Lay each half on it's own cookie sheet with the cut side down.

This will help to give your dish to become more flavorful.

Always try to purchase the freshest garlic available if you plan to be cooking with this wonderfully aromatic seasoning. A rule of thumb is that fresh garlic will have a sweet taste to it. Fresh garlic is firm skin and lacks bruises.

Do not use any wine when cooking that you do not tasted. There are wines available that was made specifically for cooking purposes.

Many popular veggies and herbs have a strong residual odor that can remain on cutting boards well after they are washed. Use permanent ink to mark one end of the cutting board so that you know which side to use for each purpose.

Always begin your utensils that are spotlessly clean. Any residual food post-washing can ruin whatever you intend to cook.This could cause a lot of very serious problems from bacteria being spread.

Always stick to the instructions if you are making something like macaroni and cheese. The macaroni will be perfect and is to die for once the great looking cheese is melted over the noodles. Use a wide spoon to serve to make sure you get plenty of cheese scooped up with the macaroni. Use pepper to add a little spice on your macaroni and cheese.

You can make stock yourself. You should always have access to stock on hand for soup and other things. Creating your own stock allows you cook.

One of the best cooking tips you can find is to use your own thing. You don't always have to follow a recipe exactly. That is a sign of cooking finesse make a true cook!

This allows you to economize on the amount of gas or electricity used when cooking, as well as prevent other dangerous situations resulting from distractions.

Purchase quality utensils for the kitchen. Dull knives cause of more cuts and accidents than sharp ones.

A meat thermometer should be used to ensure that meat has been thoroughly cooked. All of meat have a minimum internal temperature that is recommended for it to be safe consumption. If your meats are not cooked to the proper temperature, any bacteria present can grow and could possibly make you very sick if not killed during the cooking process.

There are a vast array of potato varieties, and they cannot be equally substituted for each other.

You can also simply add bouillon cubes to the water that you are using. This is a good way to moisten your food the required amount of moisture and it will also add flavor as well.

You can use the last of your vegetables and meat by making them into a delicious fried rice. Fry the veggies and meats in a little oil, ginger, soy sauce, soy sauce and other spices.

This will ensure that you from the possibility of discovering a mad search for an ingredient when you're halfway through the cooking process. It is actually quicker to prepare everything in advance than it does to stop in the midst of cooking to search for that necessary ingredient.

Learn how to use color in your cooking.Colorful foods appeal to your meals will add both nutrition and tend to be very healthy. If you are creative with the colors of your meals, people will want to eat your foods.

Try experimenting with spices. Saffron can impart a burst of bright flavor to dishes that cannot be replicated with other spices. Saffron is a very old herb that has been used today.

You should always purchase fish and meat that are bone-in.

Always remove the extra fat from your stews and stews.Place an ice cube in a spoon and skim it over the surface of the soup or stew.The ice draws the fat and it collects on the spoon. Another method to remove the excess fat from your cooled soup or stew is to blot it with a paper towel.

By following the advice from above, you will be on the path towards creating fantastic meals that you will love! Remember that you should always be willing to take measured risks in the kitchen by spicing things up to your personal tastes. It is possible for you to even find a favorite food during the process. Think about these tips the next time you are in your kitchen and let your creativity and personal taste direct you to culinary success at home.