Cute Cupcakes: Apple Pie Cupcakes

Now that school is back in session, I’m gearing up for the fall season. One way that you can follow suit is to make something fall-inspired in the kitchen. I recently saw these cupcakes on one of my favorite foodie blogs, Annie’s Eats. Apple Pie Cupcakes! What a remarkably cute idea!

I will admit up front that these are time-consuming cupcakes simply because you have to remove a chunk from the tops of each individual cupcake with a small pairing knife. (You will later fill this with a delicious cinnamon apple mixture.) You are left with extra crumbled cupcake tops, and there is not much to do with them but snack on a few delicious bites then discard the rest. But I will say that the payoff for the extra work is worth it.

{If you don’t own an apple slicer and corer, go out and buy one. Now. This tool is just so handy, and I’m a sucker for limited-use tools. How often would you actually use this? Not that often. But I don’t care because it’s just so handy. }

{There are three components to these treats: cake, cinnamon apple filling and frosting. Bake the cake; make the cinnamon apple mixture while your cakes are in the oven; let your mixture cool while you remove the cakes from the oven and start the tedious process of removing a chunk from their centers; fill each gap with your apple mixture; top with a basic buttercream frosting.}

I just think these cupcakes are ridiculously cute, what with the cinnamon apple filling and the buttercream frosting made to look like whipped cream topping. Find the recipe here, and enjoy!

What other desserts should I bake in anticipation for fall? What fall-inspired desserts are you most looking forward to?

Taco Tuesday: Chicken and Peach Quesadillas

Alright, so these aren’t tacos. But they’re a Mexican food favorite all the same.

Don’t forgo quesadillas just because you don’t have a fancy quesadilla maker. I rigged my own by cooking the quesadillas in a skillet and flattening the tortillas with a saucepan. With this method in mind, quesadillas are easy to prepare.

These in particular pack a fruity punch. Although chicken and peach may sound like an odd pairing, their flavors complement one another perfectly. Check out this recipe I snagged from the August 2010 issue of Cooking Light to prepare quesadillas for your own fiesta-themed evening.

I particularly adore the sweet sauce for this appetizer and/or entree—it combines sour cream with honey and lime juice—but my favorite ingredient is the cilantro. Use fresh if available. It adds a little something extra.

Pepper Jack, Peach and Chicken Quesadillas

• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
• 1 cup chopped skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast
• 1 cup thinly sliced peeled firm ripe peaches
• 4 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Cooking spray

1. Combine honey and lime juice in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir sour cream into honey mixture; cover and chill until ready to serve.

2. Place tortillas flat on a work surface. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cheese over half of each tortilla; top each tortilla with 1/4 cup chicken, 1/4 cup peaches, and 1 teaspoon cilantro. Fold tortillas in half.

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Place 2 quesadillas in the pan, and top quesadillas with a cast-iron or other heavy skillet. Cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until tortillas are crisp and lightly browned (leave cast-iron skillet on quesadillas as they cook). Remove quesadillas from pan; set aside, and keep warm. Repeat procedure with the remaining quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into wedges. Serve with sauce.

Welcome the Italian Invasion: Genovese | Lawrence, KS

{Genovese is located on 941 Massachusetts street.}

Last week the husband and I used our latest Groupon to dine at Genovese, an Italian restaurant on Massachusetts street. A sister restaurant to Lawrence faves La Parrilla and Zen Zero, Genovese strives for elegance meets downtown cool. And it succeeds. The ambiance is undeniable as soon as you walk in, the exposed wooden beams add an extra touch of rustic charm, and the space is so … spacious. There are two levels. The main level is more closed off for an intimate feeling perfect for wine and gossip with your closest friends. We, however, were seated on the second floor where customers feel like they have left the land of Oz. The walls are decorated with local art, the ceilings are high and there is even a small balcony on the second floor that overlooks Massachusetts street where couples can dine while people watching from above.

Once you sit down you are immediately served a selection of bread, hummus, olives and an olive oil and vinegar drizzle to enjoy while you look over the menu, which offers pizzas, pastas and other authentic Italian dishes. Unfortunately, the food is a little overpriced. But with the shortage of Italian restaurants in the Lawrence area, it might be worth it for special occasions.

I have to make one more note of criticism. And I feel bad because I don’t know if I’m being fair. The food wasn’t much to rave about. Everything on the menu sounded delicious, but I wasn’t impressed. Now for any die-hard Genovese fans reading this, I’ll admit that I might be the one to blame. Afterwards I was slightly disappointed with my order. The Lobster-Crab Ravioli with Tomato, Gorgonzola Sauce, Radiccio & Parmesan was really good, but it tasted like many ravioli dishes I have had in my lifetime. Looking back I wish I had stepped outside the box and ordered one of their mouth-watering appetizers, such as the Grilled Octopus with Green Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Arugula, Fennel & Lemon Vinaigrette or the Asparagus Risotto Fritters Stuffed with Mozzarella & White Truffle Aioli, or perhaps one of their non-traditional pizzas such as the Smoked Salmon, Capers, Roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions & Taleggio Cheese. Let’s just say that when I return to Genovese, I will order differently.

And I definitely want to go back.

Genovese is a great place to order a glass of wine, eat unique food you won’t find most anywhere else and enjoy good company. Just make sure you bring an armed and loaded wallet. And according to their website, half price appetizers can be found during their Happy Hour, which is a daily occurrence from 2 to 5 p.m. Hope to see everyone there!

{Enjoy this delicious spread while you look over your order.}

{Sangria was on special for $4.50 a glass.}

{Spaghetti with Shrimp, Octopus, Calamari, Mussels, Tomato Sauce & Marjoram}

{Lobster-Crab Ravioli with Tomato, Gorgonzola Sauce, Radiccio & Parmesan}

What I’m Inspired By: Pinterest

I have a new love in my life and its name is Pinterest. If you have no idea what that is, you’re in for a treat.

Pinterest, a virtual inspiration board, allows you to “pin” and organize your favorite finds on the Internet. Sifting through modcloth.com and come across a dress you want to save for later? Pin it. Reading your favorite blogs and happen upon a DIY project you want to try? Pin it. Looking for dinner recipes and chance upon a delicious Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake recipe you want to bookmark for the future? Pin it! (Seriously, these cupcakes look delicious.)

The best part about this website is that you can follow your friends and browse boards, insuring inspiration every time you log on. And for a blogger like myself, I’m always on the lookout for inspiration.

I’ve created a handful of pin boards, some of which include Styles I Love, For the Kitchen and For the Home. Check them out and make your own. Don’t feel limited to fashion, cooking or home decor boards. You can create any kind you want.

Here are some of my favorite finds that I never would have discovered had it not been for Pinterest.

{These look easy and fabulous. See my pin here.}

{I love this sparkly skirt. Especially paired with a cream button-up blouse. See my pin here.}

{To the left, office inspiration. To the right, I love this idea! I need to re-organize my own dresser, and this is adorable. See my pins here, and here.}

{Watermelon Daiquiris? Yes please! I think I’ll make these for my upcoming bbq. See my pin here.}

{Adding memories throughout the year and then reading them on New Year’s Eve. What a cute idea! See my pin here.}

To join Pinterest, request an invitation from a friend or from Pinterest itself. It took me less than a week to receive my invitation from the website and less than a few minutes to get started. I recommend trying it. If you do, please follow my pins. And if the mood strikes, pin some of my blogs to share with your friends!

My Travels: Road Trippin’ to Saint Louis, Missouri

Earlier this summer I took a road trip with two of my girlfriends to Saint Louis, MO for no other reason than to enjoy a weekend getaway, complete with mixed CDs, girl talk, a bag of White Cheddar Puffs and the open road. Here’s how to make your next road trip count.

1.) Visit your university rival and poke fun. We knew we were in enemy territory when we stumbled upon this hoodie display at a gas station on the way to our final destination. We had no choice but to put Mizzou in its place.

2.) Find a local winery and indulge in the free samples. (Unless you’re driving of course!) I found a great winery located right off I-70, Stone Hill Winery (the New Florence location). We each walked away with a bottle to enjoy during our stay in Missouri. I bought a bottle of the Chambourcin. Next time I would like to stray further from the highway and see an actual vineyard. There are lots of great wineries around the area.

3.) Track down a roadside attraction and take lots of silly pictures. If you’re driving down I-70, I recommend Nostalgiaville. It’s a kitschy store that sells posters, costumes, knick knacks, postcards, lunch boxes, figurines and much, much more. I brought home an R2-D2 lunch box. (Who doesn’t need one of those, right?)

4.) Visit a botanical garden. Working at The Herb Companion has taught me to appreciate herbs and flowers. That’s one of the reasons I was excited to trek around the Missouri Botanical Gardens. I loved the Climatron and the herb garden. Also, I’m sure everyone “enjoyed” hearing me ramble on about the medicinal properties of the various herbs we encountered. I was super excited when we came across a turmeric plant, which I recently profiled in the magazine. (I was even more excited when I recognized the stock art they used in their plant profile sign. Dork alert!)

5.) Go to a historical landmark, no matter how cheesy. What’s a trip to Saint Louis, MO without a photo of the legendary Gateway Arch?

6.) Go shopping in a quaint downtown area. We lucked out because our friend Bailey, who we were staying with, happens to live right on The Loop, a six-block shopping district that offers shopping, restaurants, bars, live music, midnight movies and a Walk of Fame. With everything in walking distance, we were able to do a lot of window shopping without the hassle of parking.  (Cue floppy hat photo-op.)

7.) Tour a local brewery. Yes, we went on the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. (i.e. Budweiser) And why not? You get two free drinks afterward—and you get to see Clydesdales!

8.) Eat at lots of great local eateries. We hit up Cicero’s Restaurant, a fun little sports bar complete with a large selection of on-tap beers, Cheese-ology, a restaurant that serves endless combinations of macaroni and cheese, Fitz’s American Grill, a cute restaurant that makes their own root beer in-house, Pi, a fun pizza shop, and Ginger Bistro, an Asian fusion restaurant that serves decent sushi.

I left you with a photo of my sushi in my last travel post, so I thought it fitting to do the same here. They call this the Dinosaur Roll.

Tell me about your favorite road trips! How do you make your travels count?