Stress Relief: S'mores Cupcakes

The last day of school with my kids is Thursday! I cannot believe how fast this year has gone- I am sure going to miss this class, a lot!

I came home from school just felt overwhelmed with school stuff, dance stuff (recital is SATURDAY!), and just around the house things.  The only thing that seemed to make sense was to bake! Baking and eating chocolate is the perfect recipe to reduce stress! I looked at my Recipes to Try Board and looked for recipes that we had ingredients for, so Marshmallow Filled S'mores Cupcakes it was.  The recipe came from Sally's Baking Addiction.

I whipped up some chocolate cupcakes. I divided my batter between 12 cupcake tins only and I started with the wet ingredients, then mixed the dry in.

After the cupcakes were baked and started to cool, I whipped up the marshmallow filling. It was incredibly sweet!  I used my "cupcake plunger" to core the center.

Once that step was done, it was time to make the frosting! This chocolate frosting is very rich. After piping the frosting, I sprinkled on graham cracker crumbs...

But wait! That isn't the end...
Then in the broiler toast 12 marshmallows and place one on top of each cupcake.

Then it is time to dig in! The cupcakes were quite rich and incredibly sweet! They are very good and will make them again (especially when I have a reason to bake cupcakes).

The final step is back to wash some more dishes...

Mongolian Beef: A Regular at Our House

We love Chinese food!  In college we ate at our favorite Chinese restaurant, Seven Seas probably twice a week...We have since moved out of College Park and Seven Seas closed quickly (I'd rather not think of why...)

I took this picture from the Street view of Google Maps.

Anyway we've found that most Chinese food is relatively easy to make and try various recipes.  This recipe for Mongolian Beef found at Pink Bites blog.

Looking at my Recipes I've Tried board, it looks like this is the second recipe I ever made from Pinterest.  I am not at recipe 266, but this Mongolian beef is one we make again and again...

I always get the rice going and make the sauce, while Pat slices the flank steak.  

The sauce is quite simple.  A little canola oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, water, and crushed red peppers.  It takes less than 5 minutes to make.  Then you pour the sauce into a bowl.  You use the same pan and add some more oil.  Once the beef is tossed with cornstarch it's ready to be cooked!

I always add a large dab of oil into the pan and we cook it around a medium temperature, otherwise the beef sticks to the pan.

I always add a large dab of oil into the pan and we cook it around a medium temperature, otherwise the beef sticks to the pan. After the sauce is thickened and the rice is ready you are set to eat!  We usually eat edamame with this for a quick and tasty meal!

I cannot stress how tasty and simple this is.  It makes for a great weeknight meal!  I get tired of repeating meals, but this one is as regular as any meal is in our house!

The full recipe can be found at Pink Bite's blog.