cooking ala mel

healthy recipes and the occasional craft

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Mini Chocolate Cupcakes with Swiss Meringue Buttercream

I’m currently set in super-focused study mode at the moment, gearing up for my last two didactic exams of my pharmacy school career.  So please forgive me if it’s a little quieter around here over the next week… oncology has taken over my life for the moment.  But I DID save a delicious cupcake recipe to share with you in the meantime.

I made these cupcakes for our end of the semester party in the compounding lab in which I’m a TA.  A not-so-healthy, totally easy recipe that is perfectly moist and rich, without being overly sweet.  The key is the swiss meringue buttercream.  It is my go-to frosting now, as it pipes so well and it’s waaay less sweet than your normal powdered sugar filled buttercream frostings.  Otherwise, it’s a very simple chocolate cupcake recipe from the wonderful Rosie of Sweetapolita.  You can sub white whole wheat flour if you want, but I think it’s okay to be a little unhealthy every once in a while.  😉 [Read more…]

Mocha Truffle Cookies

I don’t have too much to say today.  I’m in the midst of lots of studying to finish off my last semester of actual classes, so I’ll keep it short and sweet.  Let’s let the pictures speak for themselves, yeah?

These cookies I have posted before (with the most horrendous pictures and a very disorganized recipe), but Alex wanted me to make them for him, and it was a great opportunity to update the photos (and recipe, obviously).

[Read more…]

Whole Wheat Bacon Buttermilk Pancakes

My semester is winding down, and I’m currently at the point of being torn between wasting all of my time watching TV shows (hello, catching up on the past 3 seasons of Glee) and studying my butt off for all of the exams looming in the next few weeks.  I’ve been doing a fantastic job at completing assignments, but it’s taking a little more coaxing to get myself to study.  I only have two more weeks of actual classes, and then I immediately start my rotations for my P4 year.  I.  cannot.  wait!  I’ve been enjoying the last few weeks of still feeling like a college student… so I made bacon pancakes.

Yes.  Bacon pancakes.  This kind of happened on accident, because I bought maple bacon without realizing it.  And it was the ONLY bacon we had.  Usually I have at least 2-3 pounds at all times.  We love our bacon around here.  After making some carbonara with that bacon (not realizing it was maple until the last second) and making the entire apartment smell like maple syrup, Alex requested pancakes with maple bacon in them.  By the way, you totally couldn’t tell the carbonara was made with maple bacon, which was a definite plus.  It was delicious. [Read more…]