Cherry Cordial Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream frosting

Multimedia message
Originally uploaded by kel h

I made these for a housewarming party tonight. Makes 1 dozen

Preheat oven to 350

Mix 1 1/3 c flour, 1 c sugar, 1/3c cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/8 tsp salt. Add 1 egg, 3/4c water, 6tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract.

In another bowl mix 1 8oz pkg creme cheese, 1/4 c sugar, 1 egg, 1/3c cherry pie filling, 2 tbsp coffee liqueur, 2 tbsp rum (the book calls for 1/2 c chocolate chips, but I omitted). Chill for 15 min

Fill your liners 1/4 with chocolate batter. Then add a tbsp creme cheese mix, and a tbsp cherry pie filling. Then cover with another dollop of chocolate batter. You should be a bout 2/3 to 3/4 full.

Bake for 20 min. Cool in the pan.





Frosting

Melt1 1/2c white chocolate chips, 1/2 stick butter with 3tbsp milk. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract. When combined, put in mixer and gradually add approximately 4 to 4 1/2c powdered sugar. Add sugar and milk to desired consistency (I also tossed in a shot of rum, because I'm like that)

Carrot Stew, Carrot Stew...It's my favorite thing to do

Today I made some Carrot Coconut soup. I know I have a real recipe for it somewhere, but I just improvised, and it came out OK, if a bit thick.

This particular recipe is full of cheats, because I'm sick.

in a big pot brown 1 diced onion (or 1 c frozen chopped onion) and 4 cloves diced garlic (or use prediced in a jar)

Then brown three pounds of carrot coins (I just used three one pound bags of frozen sliced carrots) You want to cook them until they're soft.

Add one can coconut milk and 2tsp (or more) grated ginger

Add some Curry Powder (I think I added at least two tablespoons of sweet curry)

Add 4c veggie broth (I think I added less, but I'm pretty sure 4c is the correct ammount)

throw in a Bay Leaf (the veggie soup's best friend)

Cook until the carrots get really soft. Take out the bay leaf and then either use an immersion blender, or pour the soup into a blender a little at at time and puree until you get a silky soup.

Add salt and hot sauce to taste and enjoy!

Kelly's Crazy Corn Muffins

Quick enhancements to boxed corn muffins (today I used Jiffy, which doesn't use oil. I think I like it better than the Betty Crocker ones that do use oil).

Add 1c frozen corn, 1 c shredded cheddar, 1 finely chopped chipotle pepper, 2 tbsp bacos (fine, or bacon), 1 tsp bacon salt (if you use bacon, don't use bacon salt) to a box that makes 6 corn muffins. Follow box directions & enjoy!

Pina Colada Bread Pudding

If you like pina coladas, and have leftover bread...add eggs, milk, sugar, and some more stuff...bake it up and you're fed

From the Delicious Disney Desserts cookbook my dad got me for Christmas (thanks Dad!)

Ingredients

-10 slices bread cubed and put in the broiler on a sheet until golden brown (or, in my case, one extraordinarily stale baguette)
- 1/2 c fresh pinapple finely chopped (I subbed most of a can of chunk pineapple drained)
-2 tbsp melted butter
-2 c milk
-6 beaten eggs
1/2 c heavy cream (I used buttermilk for both dairy items because it's the only dairy I keep in the house)
-1 c sugar (I used brown because I like it better)
-4 tbsp coconut milk (be sure to shake the can before you open it, I forgot)
-2 tbsp rum

Directions
-preheat the oven to 350
-toast the bread in the boiler and toss in a bowl with the pineapple
pour into a greased pan and drizzle the melted butter over it
-toss the eggs into a mixer
-heat up the milk (don't boil) add the milk, sugar, cream, coconut milk and rum to the eggs to make a custard.
-Pour the custard over the bread. You may need to stir to get it all covered
-Bake in an oven at 350 for 35-40 min when it springs back when you push down in the middle

The cookbook has a recipe for vanilla rum sauce, but I just used ice cream

Rum Sauce
Combine 2 egg yolks, 2tsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsbsp sugar in a mixing bowl til smooth
combine 1 c milk, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a sauce pan and boil
whisk egg yolk mixture into boiling milk (stir quickly)
Immediately pour into a bowl that is nestled inside of a larger bowl filled with ice water so it doesn't curdle. Add 1 tbsp coconut rum and whisk thoroughly

Quick post, quick meal, Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp over pasta

This is something I make frequently when hungry and in a hurry
I'd show you a picture (since I made it for dinner, but I ated it)

Boil salted water and add...like half a box of spaghetti
Coat the bottom of a pan with olive oil and melt 2 tbsp butter
add 2 cloves chopped garlic
zest one lemon
cook as many shrimp as you feel like adding 3-5 per serving usually
Add greens (today I probably added about a cup or two of frozen kale. when I have it I add a bunch of arugala)
wilt the greens, add the juice of the lemon
drain the pasta and add to the pan with the shrimp and stuff
cook for a bit to combine everything, add a few table spoons of a cheese like romano or something.
serve it up

Burnt Sugar Cupcake

Burnt Sugar Cupcake
Originally uploaded by kel h

Burnt Sugar Cupcake:
1/2 c shortening
1 1/3 C sugar
1tsp vanilla
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 c flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 c milk
Burnt Sugar syrup (w/2-3 tbsp reserved for frosting)
2 stiff beaten egg whites

Cream Shortening with sugar and vanilla
add yolks
sift dry ingredients together and add gradually, alternating with milk until blended.
Add syrup
fold in egg whites

Burnt sugar syrup
1/4 c sugar melted in a pan until dark brown like molasses (don't stir until it's already melted). Once it gets dark brown add 1/4c boiling water

Bake at 350 for 15-20 min at least (test with toothpick until it comes out clean)

Frosting

2 sticks butter softened
3 tbsp burned sugar syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar to proper consistency

cream butter and some sugar, then add syrup, salt and vanilla
continue to add powdered sugar until you get the consistency you want

Banana Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chip Muffins

Adapted from the Great Lake Effects Cookbook

Ingredients

3/4 c quick cook oats
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c all purpose flour
1/2 c whole wheat flour (or do 1 cup all purpose)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2-3 mashed bananas (1 cup)
1/4 c melted butter
1 egg

optional
1 c chopped walnuts
1/2 c peanut butter chips
1/2 c chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425
mix oatmeal and buttermilk
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well
mix banana, egg, and butter in a bowl, and add oat mixture
Add dry ingredients gradually and mix til smooth
Fold in nuts and chips

Pour into greased muffin tin and bake for approx 15 min