Cheesecake Chocolate Peppermint TrufFILED MOTION

Happy Holidays!! I think don't that I have ever loved Christmas as much as I do now that I am in law school--mainly because Christmas holidays means escape from law school! Finals are over, and it's time to sit on the couch and eat delicious food. If you're looking for some fun, festive and easy treats to stuff your face with, check out these little morsels! So simple, so elegant, and SO DELICIOUS!

What you will need:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

How you make it:
Cream the cream cheese and the powdered sugar together. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, being careful not to burn them and add to the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Then mold spoonfuls of the batter into round balls using your hands. Roll the truffles in crushed candy canes and viola -- Homemade truffles! (I also used cocoa powder and powdered sugar to dust these for a different flavor) Enjoy!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

LINKS! What does it mean to "file a motion"? http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/filed

Lemon Ricott-IFICATION Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

I'll admit that I am not the biggest fan of sweet breakfast foods. My favorite breakfast is a bagel, lox, cream cheese, tomato, and onion sandwich. YUMMMMM! I like a bite or two of a pancake or french toast, but the sweetness usually gets to me and I can't go on past that. This recipe, however, has changed my world. I could eat a whole stack! The lemon cuts through the sweetness and makes you want more and more. Check it out, friend! NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM

What you'll need for...

the pancakes:
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
-  3/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 cup ricotta (DON'T use fat free, it's flavorless)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder

the blueberry sauce:
- 2 cups blueberries (I used frozen)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp water (if NOT using frozen)

How you make it:

Start by heating your over to 200 degrees. You'll put the cooked pancakes of a baking dish and keep them in the oven while you cook the rest. This will keep all your pancakes warm and delicious. Let's be honest -- a cold hard pancake is not nearly as delicious as a warm fluffy one.

In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients for the blueberry sauce. Stir, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer. Stir occasionally until the sauce has thickened.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the ricotta, oil, egg, egg whites, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Slowly add in all of the dry ingredients and mix well.

On medium heat, butter a large pan. Pour desired batter amount into the pan. I did about a ladle's worth for each pancake, but they were on the smaller side. When bubbles appear on top and the bottom is nicely golden, flip over!  When done, place them in the oven to keep warm as you cook up the remaining batter.

When all ready, top the pancakes with the deliciously warm and sweet blueberry sauce. Serve and enjoy! YUM! But just a warming -- the blueberry sauce will make your mouth temporarily blue! Small price to pay for deliciousness.

LINKS! What's CODIFICATION??

Title of OwnerSHRIMP

SHRIMP SHRIMP SHRIMP!!! Lately, most of my posts have been sweet. I thought it was about time to mix it up and make a savory post. I find it hard to post savory recipes, however. I honestly believe that you have to gauge the right amount of spices in the moment. Sometimes, following a recipe exactly isn't always the best course of action. Here are my best approximations of the making for an amazing dish! Eat up, friends, but take a chance and make some in-the-moment-changes!

What you'll need:

- 1lb large shrimp, cleaned and split

- 3 cloves garlic, chopped

- 1/2 tbsp paprika 

- handful of dill or parsley

- 1/4 cup of margarita mix

- 1/4 cup dry white wine

- salt and pepper to taste

- 2 tbsp olive oil

How you make it:

Start by warming the garlic, paprika, pepper and salt in the olive oil. Once warmed through and aromatic, make sure your pan is VERY hot and toss in your shrimp. Saute until pink and almost completely cooked through. Then pick out the shrimp. Pour the margarita mix and white wine into the pan and warm through. Once bubbling (1 or 2 mins), add in the shrimp, add the chopped dill or parsley, and finish cooking. Remove from heat when fully cooked (another 1-2 mins). Make sure not to over cook your shrimp or else they will be chewy! Serve with pasta or crusty bread! NOM NOM NOM

Terms!

Title of Ownership: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_(property)

EXPRESS-o CONSENT & Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with Pumpkin Caramel Sauce

It's not implied, it's EXPRESS-o CONSENT Chocolate chip Bread Pudding!

In the spirit of Halloween, I have made an espresso chocolate chip bread pudding with pumpkin caramel sauce! In my head, I imagined the bread pudding coming out a lot darker and the pumpkin sauce being a lot more orange, but regardless, I think it turned out devilishly good! I typically don't like to "toot my own horn," but I HAVE to brag just a little bit about this recipe. Here's why -- I have never made bread pudding before, I came up with this recipe on my own (I modeled it after a basic bread pudding and made proper adjustments), and I don't think I'd change a thing about it (which is unheard of for me after making something for the first time)!  ...okay, maybe I'd add black food coloring to the bread mixture if i REALLY wanted to get into the Halloween theme next time. 

I know the recipe takes a solid amount of time and quite a few ingredients, but it's well worth it! SO DELICIOUS! 

What you'll need for...

the Bread Pudding:
- 1 large loaf of crusty loaf (cubed, approx. 1/2 inch thick)
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/2 white sugar
- 1 tblsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup fresh brewed coffee or 3 shots espresso [COLD!]
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rum, coffee liqueur, or triple sec (optional) [I used Triple Sec]

the Pumpkin Caramel Sauce
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup half and half
- 2/3 cup canned pure pumpkin
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp all spice
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp clove

How you make the....

Bread Pudding:

In a buttered pan, lay out a layer of bread cubes and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the bread. Next, make a second layer of bread and set aside. Now mix together the eggs, whipping cream, white sugar, vanilla, and coffee.

Pour the mixture over the bread and chocolate layers. Place this entire thing in the fridge for at least 4 hours (and up to 24hrs).

Sprinkle the brown sugar across the top, then the liqueur. I also had extra coffee which I poured over the top to make it extra espresso-y! Place the pan with the mixture into a larger pan with hot water. The water should reached about 2/3 of the way up the side of the pan that is filled with the mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Pumpkin Caramel Sauce:

Start by melting the butter over medium heat. Next, slowly add the sugar, making sure to stir constantly until the mixture is well incorporated and it has turned a deeps gold. Make sure you don't burn the caramel!

Then, slowly add in the half and half and spices (optional) and continue to stir constantly until the caramel becomes thick and smooth. Add in the pumpkin and heat through. At this point, if the caramel looks too thick, add some extra half and half.

Allow to cool and then pour over the bread pudding (or anything else!).

ENJOY!!

Links! What does EXPRESS CONSENT mean?!

PUMPKIN DIPidends -- A Delicious Payout

I love fall because of hot coffees, cold noses, and big scarves; but most of all, I love glorious amounts of delicious comfort food. I wait all year for this time of year just to get my pumpkin pie fix. Baking a pie is too much work to fill random cravings, however. This recipe is a solid substitute and it can be whipped up in a matter of minutes! Check it out in the Lobby today! DIP away, my friends. DIP AWAY!

What you'll need:
- 2 packages of Cream Cheese (8oz each)
- 1 can of Pure Pumpkin (15oz)
- 2 cups sifted Powdered Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Ginger
- .5 tsp all spice (optional)

How you make it:

Beat the cream cheese and pumpkin together in a larger mixer bowl until smooth. Add in the remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and refridgerate for 1 hours. Serve with graham crackers, gingersnaps, shortbread cookies or fresh fruit! NOM NOM NOM

Links:

What are dividends?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dividend

Spicy Bacon Ranch CITE CHEX Mix

...and we're back at law school. When people say that the first year of law school is the hardest, they are lying! We just finished Week 1 of Year 2 and it's been rough...very rough. We're back and deep in work right away. Our biggest pain--CITE CHEX. Luckily, however, it'll get better. To start, life is easier when you have a nice snack to munch on. So, fellow cite-checkers, grab some CITE CHEX Mix in the lobby on Monday and enjoy your day a little more!

Links: WHAT IS A CITE CHECK?!

What you'll need:

- 3 cup of Chex cereal (Wheat)
- 3 cups Cheez-It crackers
- 3 cups croutons
- 3 cups oyster soup crackers (mini saltines)
- 2 packets (24oz) of Ranch Dressing dry mix
- 3 tblsp chili powder
- 3 tblsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 3 BIG tblsp bacon crumbles

How you make it:

Heat your oven to 250 degree. Melt the butter, mix in the seasonings, and gradually stir over the remaining snack ingredients. Make sure the everything is evenly coated. Then, bake uncovered for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread over paper towels to cool. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container and nom away!

Hope that makes your cite checking a little easier :) Good luck!

60 Million LemHANS REISER Loafs

THIS IS EXCITING! So VERY exciting! I  got to spend last week watching the Hans Reiser civil trial. I guess what I found so great was the fact that I had the opportunity to see the case go from paper filings (which I helped with!) to the courtroom, to ultimately a jury verdict. All the writing and researching I've been doing this summer finally seemed real. Plus, since I have never served jury duty before, this was really my first true exposure to the insides of a courtroom. Honestly, I was expecting to like it, but I wasn't expecting to LOVE it so much--I really wasn't. Anyways, long story short -- I'm hooked! It was an amazing week and I want MORE! Just like you'll want some more of these lemHANS loafs! Yummmmm x 60 million!

Three different loafs -- three different twists -- but three equally delicious results! The recipe for every loaf is the same; the only difference is the addition of berries to one and poppy seeds to another. Enjoy!

NOTE: Please please please PRETTY PLEASE use FRESH lemon juice! It's just not good if you don't.

What you'll need...

For the Bread:
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp lemon zest (approx. 2 lemons)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries OR 3 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tbsp flour (if using blueberries)

For the Syrup:
- 1/3 cup FRESH lemon juice
- 1/3 cup sugar

For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp FRESH lemon juice

How you make the...

The Bread:
  Start by preheating the over to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of your loaf pan (I'm using mini loafs-- depending on size, cooking time will vary). Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl mix together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla, and oil. Then slowly add in the dry ingredients, making sure to incorporate it well.

If using blueberries, in a separate bowl, toss them with the tbsp of flour. Then add them to the mixture -- fold gently.

If using poppy seeds, add them in at this point.

Pour the batter into the pans and bake! If using a 9x5 dish, bake for approx. 50-55 mins or until a toothpick comes out cleanly. Remove and let cool completely.

Meanwhile, combine lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolves. Then cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit. Next, use a toothpick to poke holes in the top and sides of the loaf and brush with the lemon syrup until all of the syrup is gone.

The Glaze:
   Simply whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Then pour this over the top of the loaf. Let the glaze harden a little before serving.