Back in Action!! Shrimp and Corn Chowder and Snickerdoodle Cupcakes!

Hey everyone!!!  I know I have been away from blogging for a while, but lots in my life has changed!! Of course for the best! I may not blog as often because I have changed my diet. Cooking for one will do that for ya, and wanting to lose weight! I primarily eat chicken, and fish with my roasted veggies of course. From time to time I do find new recipes to try and will of course share them.  I also continue to bake from time to time for others!!! I will also be adding to my repertoire and sharing my new found enjoyment, craft beers!!!  I had a very busy day on Saturday with a lot of running around to purchase items to finally remodel my bathroom!!! Mom and dad are coming to visit this weekend to help me out! Can't wait!!! Pictures definitely to come! So as I was running around Saturday I had already picked out a recipe weeks ago that I've wanted to try and had to pick up a few things. These two recipes turned out DELISH!!!


Shrimp and Corn Chowder

4 slices of bacon, diced
1 lb medium shrimp peeled and deveined
3 (or if your me more) garlic cloves minced
1 onion diced
2tsp smoked paprika or more to taste (this makes if spend the extra to get the smoked paprika!)
1/2t dried oregano
1/2t dried basil
1/4t crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
4 c chicken stock
2 cups or 1 can corn (frozen, canned or roasted) I used can
1 bay leaf
1/4c heavy cream

What to do:
Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel. Reserve 1T of drippings. Add shrimp to stockpot and cook until pink then set the shrimp aside.  Add the garlic and onion to the stock pot and cook until translucent. Stir in paprika, oregano, basil and read pepper flakes until fragrant. (1-2min).  add salt and pepper to taste.
Whisk in chicken stock, corn and bay leaf. Bring to boil and then reduce to a simmer. 12-15mintues. Discard bay leaf. Add heavy cream and puree in blender. Add your shrimp back to mixture. Serve and top with bacon and parsley.!!! This is one of my new favorites!!!!

So on to dessert!! Had to get back in the cupcake groove!! And a friend was helping me out with some things and he had mentioned that he enjoys snicker doodles so thought that this was perfect!!! So easy to make too and yummy!!

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

Cupcake
1-2/3c flour
1/2t baking powder
1/4t baking soda
1/2t salt
1-1/2c sugar divided
1/2c (1 stick) butter, melted
1/4 c yogurt (I used a vanilla yogurt)
1 large egg
3/4c milk
1T vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon

Frosting
1c butter room temp
3/4c powdered sugar
1/4c heavy cream
2t vanilla extract
1T cinnamon
(The frosting does not make a lot FYI)

Preheat oven 350. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Melt butter. In bowl place melted butter. Whisk in 1c sugar. Stir in egg, yogurt, milk, and vanilla until combined. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until no lumps. 

In small bowl mix the remaining 1/2c sugar and cinnamon. Spoon a small amount of batter into the tins. then sprinkle with sugar cinnamon mixture. Repeat this until 3/4 full. Then top all with more sugar mixture. Bake 19-21 minutes

FROSTING
Beat softened butter for about 3 minutes until smooth and creamy. add p.sugar, cream and vanilla. Beat 3 minutes. Add some cinnamon when complete!

HOPE you enjoy!!!