Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes

I made these awhile ago when I was still living in Ft Lauderdale. They were super yummy, especially if you're on a New Year's diet!

Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes

• 1 box funfetti cake mix
• 12 ounces Diet Sprite/Sprite Zero

Mix these two together & spoon into cupcake tins. I like using a springy ice cream scoop to get perfectly even cupcakes :)

Bake according to directions.

For the frosting, use one container Cool Whip with a few drops of vanilla extract. (The original recipe called for using a package of sugar-free vanilla pudding mix mixed in with the Cool Whip, but I found that it made the frosting really gritty.) Frost then add some rainbow sprinkles and VOILA!

Enjoy these delicious and healthy treats!

xoxo,
janie from scratch

Friday Happy Hour: Aperol Spritz

So I've been trying to organize all my pictures on my computer (there are a LOT), and have been coming across some pictures I meant to blog about but for whatever reason never got around to... so there might be a few throwback pictures and posts that are a LONG time coming... this is one of them :)

Ever since I visited Lutz a few Thanksgivings ago (way back in 2010 JEEZ!) and he introduced me to Aperol Spritzes, I've LOVED them!! Flossie and I met for drinks while I was still in Orlando and I had one at Brio and it was as good as I remembered. :) Aperol is definitely an acquired taste, it's a little bitter, but it's so refreshing when you mix it with champagne. I usually pour almost a full glass of champagne and just add in a topper of Aperol. A little goes a long way!!

Try something new for 2014!!

Lutz & I at a German Christmas Market (Nov 2010--told ya, throwback!)

xoxo,

janie from scratch

Aunty Lyn's Queso

Oh man, y'all, I LOVE queso. Of all sorts, but especially my Aunty Lyn's. I haven't had it in forever because it makes a LOT, but since we had family in town over the holidays, I made some to share. It's super easy, so quick, and SO yummy.

Aunty Lyn's Queso

• 1 box velveeta regular
• 1 box velveeta Mexican
• 1 can Rotel
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 lb breakfast sausage, browned & drained (I use the spicy kind!)
• pickled jalapenos & juice to taste

Melt everything together either on the stove or in a slow cooker. Over the stove, be careful that the cheese doesn't get burnt to the bottom of the pan -- this happened to me and it was UNPLEASANT to clean up. 

Get LOTS of scoops chips because this makes a lot of delicious queso. 

xoxo,
janie from scratch

Pickled Corn

Lately I am SO obsessed with anything pickled! Except actual pickles, I hate pickles. Over the summer I found a recipe for Pickled Corn in Bon Appetit and it is JUST the best. It's super easy, and it only has to sit for a few hours before you can eat it.

Pickled Corn

• 2 cups fresh corn (I used 3-4 ears)
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1/4 thinly sliced red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• pepper

Combine all of the above in a heat-proof dish.

• 1/2 cup white or apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons salt (I use kosher)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (I always put a little extra sugar)

Bring the above to a boil, and pour over corn mixture. Stir, and if needed, cover with additional water. Chill & let sit for a few hours or more. This just gets better with time! I can literally eat this with a spoon, no tacos needed, but it is also DELISH on tacos.

Also on this taco is some homemade queso fresco! I had no idea how easy it was to make cheese from scratch!!! Maybe I'll write a blog about it one day :)

xoxo,
janie from scratch

Brunch at Home -- Polenta with Salmon & Fried Egg

HAPPY 2014 my darlings!! 2013 was a very tumultuous year, I am glad it's over. I am proud to say I have a new job. I love going to work every day, which is a nice change of pace. I'm living back at home with Jane B, and it's so nice to be home and centered and stable. I've dedicated 2014 to focusing on myself, being happy, being loving, being grateful, being peaceful, being healthy and moving forward with my life. That being said, I hope y'all find happiness in 2014 too!

I live for Sunday Brunch. Like LOVE LOVE LOVE it. But this year, I'm trying to be more healthful, less boozing (a staple at brunch, let's be real), less eating out, saving some money. I don't know if you've heard, but I have a big race to prep for in September... THE BERLIN MARATHON!!! I am so psyched I can hardly contain myself. Unfortunately, my left knee has been bothering me for a few months and now that I finally have insurance again (it's great to have a full-time job! whoop!), I finally went to the ortho. He said I have patellar tendinitis, so I am unable to run, jump, squat, lunge, basically anything I do on a regular basis, for a few weeks. It bums me out, especially since I love running just to clear my mind. 

So this weekend, I wanted to recreate one of my favorite brunch meals from Dexter's in Orlando -- Mahi-Mahi with grits & a fried egg. My mom defrosted a piece of salmon for dinner Friday that I didn't eat, so I used that instead of mahi-mahi. We didn't have any grits (WTF Jane B??), but we did have corn meal, so I made polenta. And then a fried egg is a fried egg! My polenta turned out lumpy, I was so disappointed, especially since I whisked and whisked and whisked. I'll have to try it again. But the flavor was really yummy. The recipe on the back added in Italian seasoning, so I put that on the salmon as well. It turned out delicious!! 

Happy new year yall :)
xoxo,
janie from scratch