Cantaloupe Melon With Paté In Tasting Spoons

So, I had my Porch Party yesterday. Few things in life are as sweet as being surrounded by friends while laughing, eating and drinking. A new porch doesn’t hurt.

I have a ton of party recipes to share, but thought I would start with one that is not a cupcake nor chocolate. Those are coming in abundance.

I was in Pier 1 Imports recently and fell in love with the Tasting Party Collection. The spoons, especially, caught my eyes. I bought a bunch and then searched the net for ideas to fill the spoons with. This four ingredient idea sounded interesting. It was.

Cantaloupe Melon With Paté In Tasting Spoons

Ingredients:

Cantaloupe
Paté
Basil
Blueberries

Directions:

1. Put a small slice of cantaloupe and paté on a tasting spoon. Garnish with a blueberry and basil.

Spoon would work right about now.

These are my two favorite Spoon songs.
Spoon-You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb

Spoon-The Underdog

Fork over some cash and buy some Spoon on their website.

Cheers!

Posted in Starters | 2 Comments

Short And Sweet. Bug Cupcakes.

I am most definitely NOT a fan of insects of any sort. But, these edible bugs are just too cute not to love.

Bug Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 pkg white cake mix
2 (16 oz) containers vanilla frosting
Assorted food coloring
Assorted candies (such as M & Ms, Necco Wafers, jelly beans, strawberry covered malted milk balls, cake decorating sprinkles, string licorice, candy eyes)
Food writer pen to draw mouths and pupils

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Place paper liners in 24 muffin cups.

2. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Cool completely on wire rack.

3. Divide and tint frosting with desired colors. Frost cupcakes.

4. Arrange candies on cupcakes to make bug heads, bodies and wings. Use pieces of licorice and/or jelly beans for antennae. Attach candy eyes with dabs of icing. (Tweezers come in really handy for the sprinkle legs and attaching the decorations)


A short song:
The Andrew Sister-Boogie Woogie BUGle Boy

Let’s face it. I’m not going to find a sweet bug song.
The Cure-The Caterpillar

Cheers!

Posted in Cupcakes | Tagged , | 2 Comments

S’more Brownies

You want to hear something incredible? We have not had a BBQ grill for the last 7 years. Can you believe that??

The reasons were numerous, the major one being a patio with an ungated pool when my little ones weren’t safe swimmers. The other reason is that my husband insists on charcoal.  I am fed up with the mess and want a gas grill.

What’s a grill girl to do? Well, I contend that one of the major reasons for my long and happy marriage is his and her bathroom sinks. So why not his and her grills?

This weekend we are getting our BBQs. Woo Hoo!

The real Woo Hoo in this post, though, are these amazing S’more Brownies. Easy, Easy and really good. They are just the thing to serve after a BBQ meal.

S’more Brownies

Ingredients:

10 graham crackers, broken in half
3/4 cup butter
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
2 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.

2. Line a 13×9 inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. Place graham squares in pan. Break remaining grahams into pieces.

3. Microwave butter and chocolate squares on high 2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in flour. Pour over grahams in pan.

4. Bake 30-32 minutes or until a tester inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake). Sprinkle with marshmallows and chocolate chunks.

5. Bake for 5 minutes or until marshmallows begin to puff. Press reserved graham pieces gently into marshmallows. Cool. Use foil to lift brownies from pan before cutting to serve.



Recipe from Kraft Foods

I figure that our grill solution is a Win/Win situation. So how about a Hero/Heroine song? And Boys Like Girls? Yes, sometimes they do.
Boys Like Girls-Hero/Heroine

Check out Boys Like Girls and buy their music on the band’s website.

We’ll be needing some gas as well as matches.
Buddy & Julie Miller-Gasoline & Matches

You can buy Buddy & Julie’s music here.

Cheers!

Posted in Brownies | 2 Comments

Salted Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I am so ready for a party. I am so NOT ready for my Porch Party as of right now. Baseball games, lacrosse, May Fest (!!), band concert tonight, orthodontist appt this morning, piano lessons, the “furnace guy”…oh yeah, I see dollars bleeding out of my eyeballs….I need to be in my kitchen!!

Enough whinging. Here is a really wonderful cookie recipe. Make it and relax.

In the end, I always get things done. I just wish it was Saturday and it was all done but for the partying.

Salted Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 Tbs butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar
72 (about) Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Kisses
Sea salt to sprinkle

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 325℉. Line baking sheets with parchment.

2. Melt chocolate and butter together. Cool to room temp.

3. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt in medium bowl.

4. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate and flour mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight (dough will be very soft).

5. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl. Roll 1 Tbs dough into a ball and then roll in powdered sugar. Place 3 inches apart on baking sheets.

6. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and press one Kiss lightly on each cookie. Bake for about 15 seconds longer or until Kiss just starts to get shiny.

7. Remove from oven and sprinkle Kisses with salt.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies

Recipe from CookingClub.com

I wanted to play some party music to put me in the mood or, more correctly, just some great music to sing in the kitchen. Then Dance Party In The Balkans popped into my mind. It’s been all Alaska In Winter ever since. ***smile***
Alaska In Winter-Dance Party In The Balkans

Alaska In Winter-Staring At The Sun

I absolutely love Alaska In Winter. I get a hint of sadness when reading the band’s website. Let’s give Brandon a little fan love. Play his music. Buy his music.

Cheers!

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Asparagus, Sundried Tomato, Olive And Gruyère Loaf

We just built a porch. So, this weekend I am having a porch party. I’m up to my elbows in chocolate and butter. It’s a good look.

You should have seen my experiments yesterday with black royal icing and red velvet cake balls. (Oh, but you will). What a freakin’ mess I made. And, in the midst of it all I realized that I was wearing my beloved Decemberists’ Hazards Of Love concert t-shirt. I thank you, music gods above, for protecting it from harm.

This recipe has nothing to do with porches or kitchens dripping in food dye. It has everything to do with a really good, savory bread. Serve slices alongside salad or cut into small squares to accompany drinks.

Asparagus, Sundried Tomato, Olive and Gruyère Loaf

Ingredients:

100 ml olive oil
1/2 lb asparagus, each spear cut into three pieces
8 oz self-rising flour
1 Tbs fresh thyme
3 eggs
100 ml milk
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
4 oz sundried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 lb Gruyère, grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375℉. Grease an 8×11 loaf pan.

2. Cook asparagus in boiling water for 2 minutes and drain.

3. Mix flour with thyme leaves. Make a well in center and add eggs, milk and oil. Beat until smooth.

4. Reserve 5 asparagus tips and a few olives. Add remaining asparagus, tomatoes, olives and 2/3 of cheese to batter. Pour into loaf pan. Arrange reserved asparagus and olives on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

5. Bake for about 40 minutes until the loaf feels firm and is golden on top. Cool in pan for 5 minutes then turn out onto cooling rack.

Recipe from BBC Good Food Magazine

I’ve got Camper Van Beethoven on the brain. Now you will, too.
Camper Van Beethoven-Eye Of Fatima, Part 1

Camper Van Beethoven-When I Win The Lottery

You can check out the band’s website and listen to their music there. Buy it here.

Cheers!

Posted in Bread, Side Dish, Starters | 1 Comment

Red, White And Blue Cupcakes

Here are some tie dye cupcakes in patriotic colors. Great for Memorial Day or the 4th of July. They are very simple to make and always draw smiles. Like these jokes.

What did one flag say to the other flag?
Nothing. It just waved!

Why did Paul Revere ride his horse from Boston to Lexington?
Because the horse was too heavy to carry.

Teacher: “The Declaration of Independence was written in Philadelphia. True or false?”
Student: “False! It was written in ink.”

I know. Enough already. Bring on the cupcakes. :)

Red, White And Blue Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (use clear to get a whiter cupcake)
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup milk
red, white and blue gel paste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12 cupcake pan with paper liners.

2. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at at time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

4. On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

5. Split the batter evenly into three small bowls. Add red, white and blue gel paste until you achieve the colors that are desired. (The white won’t turn completely white, but a squirt or two will lighten up the batter a little bit.) Note: I didn’t have white paste and they still looked allwhite alright.

6. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups placing a spoonful of red, white and blue in each cup.

7. Bake 16 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

8. Cool completely before icing.

9. I used the Buttercream Icing from here to ice the cupcakes. Prepare the recipe for Buttercream Icing, then divide it into 3 bowls and color red and blue. Put the red, white, and blue icing in the same piping bag and you’ll get a nice swirl effect from all three colors.

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Recipe from RecipeGirl.com




How about some red and white and blue music?

I have it really bad for Swedish bands. The Carnation are no exception.
The Carnation-Roses Are Red

Check them out and buy their music on The Carnation’s Myspace Page.

The Mint Chicks refer to their music as ‘Trouble gum’. Works for me. Check out their website to learn more.
The Mint Chicks-Red, White Or Blue

How about some Italian electronica? Not usually my thang, but the ‘Da Ba Dee’ is awfully catchy. Buy Eiffel 65’s music here.
Eiffel 65-Blue

Cheers!

Posted in Cupcakes | 2 Comments

Chocolate Toffee Cookies

If you love chocolate, these are for you. I really love the sea salt on top.

Chocolate Toffee Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
5 (1.4-ounce) chocolate-covered English toffee bars (such as Heath), coarsely chopped
1 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
Flaky sea salt for sprinkling (optional…but really should be definitely!!)

I had masses of Callebault Milk Choc on hand, so I chopped up about a cup of chunks and added that, too.

Directions:

1. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl.

2. Melt chocolate and butter in tmicrowave until melted and smooth. Cool mixture to lukewarm.

3. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs in bowl until thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in melted chocolate mixture and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, then toffee, nuts and additional chocolate chunks if you are using. Chill batter until firm, about 45 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Drop batter by spoonfuls onto sheets, spacing two inches apart. Sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt, if you’re using it.

5. Bake just until tops are dry and cracked but cookies are still soft to touch, about 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on sheets. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Adapted from Bon Appétit Magazine

Let’s start the week with some music from the fabulous Miss Martha. Definitely what I need as I sit looking out at yet another grey day. Who kidnapped the sun?
Martha Wainwright-Jesus & Mary

Martha Wainwright-You Cheated Me

Read more about Martha Wainwright and buy her music here.

Cheers!

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Poutine

Have you heard of Poutine? The first time I had it was a few years ago when we went skiing up by the Canadian border. French fries and cheese curds covered in a rich brown gravy. Sounds strange, tastes wonderful.

We were recently in Montreal and there was Poutine everywhere. We went to Montreal Poutine (Oh, can you stand it?) for lunch. Sitting outside with a draft beer and a plate piled high with Poutine was just heaven.

Poutine

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups beef stock
Salt & pepper
2 pounds frozen fries
1/2 pound fresh cheese curd

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, over medium heat, combine the butter and flour. Stir until incorporated. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes for a dark roux.

2. Stir in the stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and keep warm.

3. Cook the fries per instructions. Season with salt and pepper.

4. To serve, mound the fries on bowls or plates, crumble on the cheese, and spoon gravy over both the cheese and fries.

Recipe from The Cooking Blog. A definition of Poutine is included there and copied here.

What is Poutine?
The dish originated in rural Quebec, Canada, in the late 1950s. Several Québécois communities claim to be the birthplace of poutine, including Drummondville (by Jean-Paul Roy in 1964), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and Victoriaville. One often-cited tale is that of Fernand Lachance, from Warwick, Quebec, which claims that poutine was invented in 1957. Lachance is said to have exclaimed ça va faire une maudite poutine (“it will make a damn mess”), hence the name. The sauce was allegedly added later, to keep the fries warm longer.

Ba ba ba ba ba da ba da. No can sit still when this is on. No can sing along except for Ba ba ba ba da ba das. Here are the lyrics and translation. I stand by my Ba ba bas. No pa pa pas.
Malajube-Montreal -40C

More Montreal related goodness.
The Stills-Of Montreal

Cheers!

Posted in Main Courses, Starters | 1 Comment

Short And Sweet. Sunflower Cupcakes.

I had some leftover yellow icing from the Big Bird Cupcakes. I always have Oreos. And there are usually cupcakes hanging around in my kitchen. So I thought I would try to make some sunflower cupcakes. Since there has been practically zero sun in my neck of the woods lately, these sunny cupcakes hit the spot.

Sunflower Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes of your choice
Icing tinted yellow
Oreo cookies

Directions:

1. Affix Oreo to cupcake with a dab of icing.

2. Use a star tip to make the petals.

That’s it.

Here’s a short song.
Trains Across The Sea-I Will Meet You There

And this song is so sweet.
BMX Bandits-Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby

Cheers!

Posted in Cupcakes | 3 Comments

Rock And Cinnamon Rolls

If I could have one thing for breakfast every day for the rest of my life it would be cinnamon rolls. Pizza is a close second.

These cinnamon rolls are so good. They take a bit of time, but it is not all hands on.

One of the best things about this recipe is that the rolls freeze perfectly. This is really good if you have overnight guests. And there was wine the night before. And you went to bed way too late. You can serve fabulous hot cinnamon rolls for breakfast without getting up at the crack of dawn to do so.

I had some issues with the quantities of flour in the dough and the cinnamon-sugar in the filling. My husband shook his head when I told him and asked me why on earth I was using an English recipe instead of, say, King Arthur Flour’s? Well, the cinnamon rolls looked so good in the magazine, and there was maple syrup in the icing, and you could freeze them. I was sold.

Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients for the dough:

110ml warm water
1/2 oz active dry yeast
1 Tbs sugar
1 Kilo flour (approx 7 cups) Note: I did not need (knead, Ha!) nearly so much. Just over 5 cups gave me a smooth dough.
75g (2 5/8 oz) custard powder (I used Bird’s)
4 oz butter, melted
2 eggs
16 oz milk

Ingredients for filling:

2 1/2 Tbs cinnamon
18 oz (2 1/4 cup) sugar
4 oz melted butter

Note: This is A LOT of filling. I just couldn’t imagine using it all up. I had about 1 cup of cinnamon-sugar left over. I put this in a container to use to make cinnamon toast, etc. Definitely let me know if you use the full quantity in the cinnamon rolls. I’d love to find out how they tasted. Mine were divine with the lesser amount.

Ingredients for Icing:

7 oz cream cheese, softened
3 oz butter, softened
13 oz (2 2/3 cup) confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs milk
4 Tbs maple syrup
3 Tbs lemon juice

Directions:

1. Combine water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside to proof for 20 minutes.

2. In another bowl combine 5 cups of flour, custard powder and 1 tsp salt. Set aside.

3. In bowl of a stand mixer, mix the eggs with the butter and activated yeast mixture and milk. It will look like sludge.

4. Gradually add the flour mixture and knead the mixture with a dough hook for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as necessary.

5. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth and leave it to rise for an hour.

6. After an hour the dough should be almost doubled in size. Punch the mixture down, recover and let rise for another 45 minutes.

7. Divide the dough in half. Place the half on a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10×15 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.

8. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the filling. Spread half of the melted butter over the dough and liberally sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar leaving a 1 inch margin along one long edge.

9. Roll up the dough tightly (this is important). Start from the long edge nearest to you and roll up to the edge without any sugar. Press together along the edge without sugar to seal.

10. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the roll of dough at approximately 1 1/4 inch intervals and place the slices flat down on the paper positioning them roughly 1 inch apart.

11. Repeat steps 7 to 10 for the other half of the dough.

12. Cover all of the cinnamon rolls with a cloth and leave to rest until they have doubled in size, around 20 to 30 minutes.

13. Preheat oven to 350℉/180C/gas 4. Place the cinnamon rolls in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Keep an eye on them and remove as soon as they turn a slightly golden color. You don’t want them to go too brown.

14. Make the icing by mixing all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Pour over the cinnamon rolls and leave to cool and set a little. They are best eaten warm.


What makes these cinnamon even more fantastic is that you can freeze them for up to two months. Be sure to put them in a covered plastic container where the icing won’t touch the lid since the icing stays soft even after freezing. I tried using a ziploc for some and it was a mess. They didn’t look as pretty, but still were delicious.

To reheat, microwave one roll for 20 seconds, 30-40 seconds for four.

Recipe from Simon Vowles courtesy of BBC Good Food Magazine

Rock and Roll is most definitely defined differently by everyone. These are some of my favorite rock songs.

You know I love concept albums. ‘Go To Hell’ has to be one of the best. It has stood the test of time. I love the story.
Alice Cooper-Wish You Were Here

Roxy Music. Just saying the band’s name makes me happy.
Roxy Music-Love Is The Drug

I cannot listen to this song without putting my hands to my ears. Ouch. Thanks, Quentin.
Stealers Wheel-Stuck In The Middle With You

Cheers!

Posted in Bread, Breakfast | 1 Comment