Polenta and Candied Walnuts

Candied Walnuts

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup raw walnut

1/8 tsp coarse salt

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Use middle rack in the over.  Lay walnuts out on a baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 5 minutes.  Be careful not to burn. Remove from over and let cool in a pan on a rack.

Pour sugar into a medium saucepan with a thick bottom.  Have walnuts nearby, ready to quickly add to the pan at the right time.  Cook sugar on a medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon as soon as the sugar begins to melt.  Keep stirring until all the sugar has melted and the color is a medium amber.  As soon as sugar is melted and the color is a medium amber, add the walnuts to the pan, quickly stirring and coating each piece with the sugar mixture.

As soon as the walnuts are coated with the sugar mixture, spread them out on a rimmed baking sheet.  Use two forks to separate the walnuts from each other, working very quickly.  SPrinkle the nuts with the salt.  Let cool completely.

Polenta

Ingredients:

Candied Walnuts
Dried Cranberries
Tbsp Honey
Polenta (I bought the prepackaged polenta from Trader Joe's)

Directions:

Follow the instructions on the package for the polenta.  Once that is cooked place a serving size into a bowl.  Sprinkle the candied walnuts and the dried cranberries on top.  Last drizzle a tbsp of honey over the top. Enjoy!

Super Detox Juice

There are a ton of detox juice recipes, but this is one of my favorites.

Recipe:

1 1/4 C Pineapple Juice
1/4 Lemon Juice
Handful Spinach
1/4 t fresh grated ginger

Blend together and enjoy!

Nutella Cupcake

I decided to make my friend, Kirsten, nutella cupcakes for her birthday. I haven't made these in a while and I thought that they would be a nice birthday treat.

Nutella Cupcake

Ingredients:

Your favorite vanilla cupcake recipe (I like to use Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Cake Mix) + Nutella

Directions:

- Follow the directions for your vanilla cupcakes

First, whisk together 3 large eggs for about 30 seconds.  Next add the mixture from the package.  Then mix in a 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 cup of water.  Once everything is mixed thoroughly add to your cupcake tin.

Now the fun part.  Heat the nutella in a microwave safe bowl until soft.  Place a Tbsp. on top of the cupcakes, and swirl into the cake mix. Last, place in the oven.  Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Cake Mix cooks at 325 degrees for about 20 to 22 minutes.

Enjoy!