Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

This is probably the most moist, picture perfect cake I've made.  It was a different kind of recipe in that it used oil instead of the butter like I normally use.  They "domed" ideally too.  Found the cake recipe off tastykitchen.com and the frosting recipe off food.com

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

cake:

• 2 cups Flour
• 2-½ cups Sugar
• ¾ cups Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• 1 teaspoon Instant Espresso Or Instant Coffee Granules
• 1-½ cup Water
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tablespoons White Vineger
• 2 whole Large Eggs, At Room Temperature

1.Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to combine them well.
2. Add the oil and sour cream and whisk to blend.
3. Mix the ground espresso into the water then gradually beat into the batter mixture.
4. Blend in the vinegar and vanilla.
5. Whisk in the eggs and beat until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and be sure the batter is well mixed.
6. Divide among the 3 prepared cake pans.
7. Bake for 18 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.  Let cool completely before frosting.

frosting:

• 1 cup butter (softened to room temp)
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Cream butter and peanut butter together.
2. Add half the powdered sugar and blend.
3. Blend in milk and vanilla.
4. Add remaining powdered sugar.
5. Stir until smooth and well blended. 
   Fill in decorator gun and pipe on top of cupcakes.

Bagel Dogs

Who doesn't love bagel dogs?! This recipe is super easy if you have a Kitchenaid mixer and the hook attachment.  Easy peasy.  And don't they look pretty??  Yummers. Recipe from tastykitchen.com

 

 Bagel Dogs

• 4 cups Bread Flour
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• 1-½ teaspoon Salt
• 1 Tablespoon Vegetable Or Olive Oil
• 2 teaspoons Instant Yeast
• 1-½ cup Warm Water
• 10 whole Polish Sausages Or Hot Dogs

Mix all ingredients but the sausages, and only 1 1/4 cups of the water into a large bowl. You can add the additional water if it looks like not all the flour will mix or the dough is extra stiff. (I end up using about 1 1/3 cups, but altitude, indoor temp, etc may change it). Dough will be sticky.
Tip dough onto clean counter and knead about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth.
Cut dough into even pieces and let rest 10-20 minutes. (10 for bagel dogs since smaller dough is better, but 8-10 regular bagels can be made with the dough.)
Using a rolling pin, roll out each piece of dough into a long rectangular piece twice as long as the hotdog/sausage. Wrap diagonally across the hotdog, making sure there is overlap, then tuck the ends in when done.
Let rest 5 minutes.
While resting, boil a large pot of water on stove and preheat oven to 425. Once boiling is reached, place bagel dogs in water for one minute each, then let them sit on a tea towel/paper towel to dry for 30 seconds. For authenticity, sprinkle top with poppyseeds. You can also use dried onion, sesame seeds, kosher salt, or anything else.
Bake for 10-15 minutes until bagels are golden, take out and let cool. If you didn’t wrap them tight enough with good overlap, they can unwind a bit, as shown for the middle one the picture above (I was impatient).

Rice Krispie Utopia treeats

Hands down, this is seriously one of the best things I've ever made.  And it's probably the easiest too.  How the hell does that work???  I tried these tasty treats originally in San Diego at a little bakery in Ocean Beach.  I've been trying to remake the delights ever since.  Finally found a recipe suggesting melting white chocolate and rice krispie treats and I said AH HAH!

Rice Krispie Utopia treats

1/4 c peanut butter
1 bag white chocolate chips
3 c rice krispies
1 1/2 c mini marshmallows

Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Melt initially for a minute, stir, and nuke another 30 seconds.  Stir and repeat the 30 sec intervals until fully melted.  Stir in the peanut butter until well combined.  Mix in the rice krispies until coated and then the mini marshmallows.  Pour into a dish sprayed with non-stick spray and lightly press down into the form.  Allow to cool and cut into squares.

Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes

These turned out so delicious I've made them twice already; double batches at that.  Just the perfect combination and oh so summery.  Seriously though.  Truly fantastic.  Recipe off
http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/08/22

Lemonade Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting


1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
grated zest and juice of a lemon
1 cup milk, divided

Preheat oven to 350 F and line 24 muffin tins with paper liners.
In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture a third at a time, alternating with half the milk and half the lemon juice after each of the first 2 additions of flour. Beat until just combined.
Fill the prepared tins and bake for 20 minutes, until springy to the touch. Tip the cupcakes in their tins to help them cool. Let cool completely before frosting. If you like sprinkle with colored sugar. Makes 2 dozen.

Fresh Raspberry Frosting
1 cup fresh raspberries (or thawed from frozen)
1 cup butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
In the bowl of a food processor, puree the raspberries until smooth. If you like, press the mixture through a sieve to get rid of the seeds.
In a medium bowl, beat the butter and half the sugar until smooth. Add the raspberry puree, then more sugar until you have a fluffy, spreadable consistency. Add a splash of water, too (a tablespoon or two) if it needs it.

Udon Noodles with Spicy Ground Pork

I was in the mood for a new ground pork recipe and the Udon noodles caught my eye.  Recipe off www.smokywok.com.  These turned out fantastic.  So easy and so tasty.  I just loved them and will definitely be making this dish again.  I edited the original recipe just a bit based on what I had on hand and that posted below reflects my changes.  Awesome Asian dish with just the right amount of spice!

Udon Noodles with Spicy Ground Pork
Ingredients:

1 packet of udon noodles
oil for pan frying
1/2 pound of ground pork
2 stalks green onions, sliced
3 stalks of boy choy - boil separately
3 red chilli peppers
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced

Seasonings:
2 tbsps dark soy sauce
dashes of hot chili sesame oil to taste
1 T sugar
  
First, boil the noodles according to package instructions. I ran my noodles under some cold water to lessen the starchiness. Next, heat about 2 T of oil in your wok or pan. Add the minced garlic, shallots, red chillis and green onions and saute on low heat till fragrant. Add the ground pork and stir around briskly. Pour in the seasoning ingredients and stir-fry till cooked. Finally, add in the cooked noodles and stir-around to coat evenly or dish the pork mixture on top.   Serve with a side of steamed bok choy (salt and pepper to taste).

Eggnog Cupcakes with Spiced Rum Buttercream

I found this recipe off www.bakersroyale.com.  At the time it was the Christmas season and I was feeling festive!  These turned out really good!  Great flavor and not too overpowering.  And so pretty!  I used yellow glass sprinkles on top.

Eggnog Cupcakes with Spiced Rum Buttercream

Cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• ¾ cup eggnog
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Spiced Rum Buttercream:

• 5 large egg whites
• 11/2 cup sugar
• 4 sticks unsalted butter, diced and softened
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup spiced rum

To make cupcake:

1. Measure out flour and set aside.
2. Add sugar and butter in a bowl and cream on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs in 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the eggnog and vanilla to start. Mix after addition until incorporated-do not overbeat.
3. Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer cupcakes from tins to cooling rack. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

 To make Spice Rum Buttercream:

1. Combine egg whites and sugar in a bowl placed over simmering water. Bring mixture to 150 degrees F while whisking constantly.
2. Transfer mixture to stand mixer bowl, fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on medium  high speed (speed 8 on a KitchenAid stand mixer) until mixture cools and doubles in volume and forms soft medium peaks; about 10-12 minutes).
3. Add butter in one piece at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition. The mixture may appear clumpy and almost curdled looking at first-this is normal. Keep mixing and it will become even and smooth again.
4. Add salt and spiced rum and mix to combine.

Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings

Now sure, this may not look pretty.  But if you've ever had chicken and dumplings, it never is.  I tried this dish at the Cracker Barrel and thought I'd died and gone to heaven.  Where had this dish been all my life?  So I started doing my research and realized everyone has their own version.  The difference I repeatedly found was people saying "real" chicken and dumplings use crisco (vs. butter).  It's the secret ingredient!  I also read you can use chicken fat instead and it's healthier and even more flavorful.  You'll need to make the chicken a day ahead though so the fat hardens on top of the broth.  This tasted just like the Cracker Barrel's.  Yummmm-O!  Recipe off www.backtothecuttingboard.com.

Chicken:

• 1 large fryer chicken (4-5 lbs.), neck and gizzards removed
• 1 large onion, peeled and cut in half
• 3 carrots, cut into large pieces
• 3 stalks of celery, cut into large pieces
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

Dumplings:

• 3 cups cake flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 4 1/2 tbsp. shortening
• 1 cup milk

Process

1. Place the chicken, onions, carrots, and celery in a large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat so water maintains a gentle simmer. Cook chicken for 1 hour or until cooked through (about 165 degrees). About 30 minutes after you start cooking the chicken you can skip to Step 4 and start making the dumplings or you can wait until the chicken is fully cooked.
2. Once chicken is done, remove from the broth and let cool. Remove chicken from the bone (this shouldn’t be hard, it should be falling off pretty easily at this point) and shred into medium-sized pieces, discarding bones and skin.
3. Pour the chicken broth through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheese cloth (I improvised and used a coffee filter), discarding vegetables. Reserve 6 cups of the broth for the dumplings. Refrigerate or freeze the rest to use in for another recipe. It’s much more flavorful than the chicken broth you buy at the grocery store.
4. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles small peas.
5. Add milk — 1/4 cup at a time, you may not need a full cup — and stir until a ball of dough just begins to form, being careful not to over-mix.
6. Roll out the dough onto floured surface that you don’t mind cutting on. Roll about ¼ inch thick. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into rectangles about 1 inch wide by 3 inches long. Place strips on wax paper and allow to harden up a bit, about 30 minutes.
7. In a large pot or dutch oven over medium-low heat, bring broth to a gentle simmer and drop in dumplings. Cover and allow to cook for 6-7 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to low and add chicken. Allow to cook until thickened, approximately 15-20 minutes, or longer. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

This recipe is seriously the best carrot cake I have ever eaten.  The pioneer woman is a culinary genius.  This recipe is off www.thepioneerwoman.com.  Love her stuff.  She describes it as "eat...faint...repeat as needed".  Yeah, pretty much.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

• FOR CAKE:
• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 4 whole Eggs
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 2 cups Grated Carrots
• _____
• For Icing
• 1 stick Regular Butter, Softened
• 1 package (8 Oz) Cream Cheese
• 1 pound Powdered Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1 cup Pecans, Chopped Finely

Preparation Instructions

Cake:
Preheat oven to 350F
Mix together the sugar, oil and eggs in a large bowl. In another bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Add to first mixture and combine. Then add carrots and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured (Baker’s Joyed) pan (bundt, sheet cake, 9 x 13 pyrex) and bake at 350F until done, 25 (sheet cake) to 50 (Bundt pan) minutes, depending on the pan you use.
Cool completely.
Icing:
In larger bowl, cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and vanilla and blend, then mix in the nuts. Spread on cooled carrot cake.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge

I found this recipe on www.pink-parsley.com because I was looking for something out of the norm to make (vs. cupcakes or bars).  Plus, I'd never attempted to make fudge before.  The recipe was fairly easy and didn't take long.  The entire plate vanished amidst my coworkers.  The one mistake I made which I learned was a critical step! was to cool fudge SLOOoooooowly.  I thought the recipe was just written by a slacker.  Nope, it must be cooled gradually or else the sugar will precipitate out and form an entirely different consistency (think grainy rather than smooth fudge).  But it was tasty nevertheless and I will definitely try my hand at fudge again.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge

• 1 3/4 c. sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1 Tbs corn syrup
• 3/4 tsp  kosher salt
• 2 Tbs unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Spray an 8x8 inch  baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

In a 3-quart saucepan, combine the sugars, cream, milk, corn syrup and salt.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 242 degrees (ie the soft-ball stage).  Remove from heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and flour.

Pour the mixture into a 9x13 inch casserole dish, and allow to cool until it reaches 110 degrees, 10 to 20 minutes.

Use a large spoon to scrape the mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat at medium speed until the fudge thickens and holds its shape, 3 to 5 minutes.  Transfer the fudge to the prepared 8x8 inch dish and smooth the top with a spatula.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top, pressing them lightly into the fudge.

Allow to set at least 2 hours.  Cut into squares and store in an airtight container.