Cooking From My Kitchen May 5/27/2012

I find cupcakes are great multi purpose cake and can be utilized in so many ways other than just topped with frosting :)

My twist on Strawberry Short Cake, this is a simple cupcake with cherries, strawberries and bananas. I cut out the center of the cupcake, filled it with about a tbs of fruit and drizzles a Dark Chocolate sauce and topped with another strawberry. I think that a dollop of whipped cream would go nicely as well.

Cherries and strawberries also make a nice Chutney for a summer picnic lunch. Take 1/2 of each and add to med sauce pan. Add to the fruit water to cover the fruit and a touch over, add one tbs sugar bring to a boil and then reduce to low and let simmer until mixture becomes gelatinous. Cherries have a natural pectin that will assist in thickening the chutney. This also can be used as a glaze for chicken and pork ribs:)

Cube Steak is a favorite of mine and very economical.  I took and marinated a cube steak in BBQ sauce. I sauteed mushrooms, in a garlic butter, I then chopped the steak into bite size pieces and placed on a Kaiser roll with a garlic may. I topped the steak and mushrooms with saved Parmesan cheese. On the side is the staple in my house in the summer time, a home made Macaroni salad garnished with a diced hard boiled egg and some scallion onion.

I am a big fan of preparing things ahead of time and the night before to make your Summer fun and Holiday weekends more enjoyable and less stressful.

Happy Memorial Day to all