Calling all bakers...

I am going to enter my first cooking contest! YEAH! Our local paper is sponsoring their 5th annual cookie baking contest. I only have one entry in a choice of 5 categoris, so I need to think carefully about what to enter. I might go with a pumpkin cookie recipe. You know...its fall...spices are in! Winners take home a gift certificate from Williams-Sonoma, which would be awesome!!!

Anyway...wish me luck! You can enter too, if you want. Just visit the contest site here. I'll be sure to post my cookie recipe and pictures of the finished product when I am done!

Happy baking!

The best dessert ever!!!

From Home Sweet Apartment

So...one night during the Olympics I started craving ice cream and bananas. I convinced one of my friends to grab some vanilla bean on the way over, and we made ice cream sundaes. Now I can't stop thinking about them! So...during the Cowboys' game last night, I re-created my new favorite treat. Yum-OH!

Ingredients:
Fave ice cream of choice (I like light vanilla bean.)
1 banana, sliced
Chocolate syrup
Caramel syrup
graham cracker crumbs
toasted coconut (sprinkle coconut flakes on baking sheet and toast in oven at 35o degrees for about 5-7 minutes, stirring halfway through.)

Directions:
Slice banana in bottom of bowl. Scoop on 2-4 scoops of ice cream. Lightly drizzle chocolate and caramel syrup. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs. Top with toasted coconut. Eat and be merry!

Yaco Taco!

I love shrimp and I love tacos! So...I combined the two and had to eat it twice last week. Super easy and super fast!

Ingredients:
7-8 individual shrimp per person, per taco (yes, I counted them out...and I bought frozen, but already cooked shrimp that were peeled and deveined.)
salad in a bag or chopped lettuce
sour cream
salsa
chopped tomatoes (if desired)
tortilla shells (I use the low-carb ones.)
shredded cheese
ground cumin
chili powder
cajun seasoning (if desired)
4 tablespoons margarine or butter

Directions:
Thaw shrimp in warm water for about 10-15 mintues. Remove tails (if they are on). Throw in skillet with butter. Toss and melt. Season with cumin and chili powder to taste. Saute shrimp for about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and fix tacos to your hearts desire!

Side suggestions: Chips and salsa, refried beans, mexican rice. (I just had chips.)