You're Welcome, I'm Sorry, and Really...There Is No Excuse For This, But Still.
From Adelle, who does not lie.
The easiest and greatest summer salad ever. Ever.
1 1/2 cups orzo (the greatest pasta ever. Ever)
some sweet onion
red & green peppers--one of each
cucumber
some fresh basil
crumbled feta
lemon juice
Tspoon or two of olive oil
fresh pepper
salt
I have also substituted/included green beans and artichoke hearts
You're Welcome.
From Ina Garten in all her Barefoot Contessa'd Wonderment, this is the cupcake recipe from her cupcakes with peanut butter icing recipe (which do not sound appealling to me one bit) and the frosting recipe from a chocolate cake recipe. Together. As they were meant to be.
The Chocolate Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350. Use paper cupcake liners. Just because it keeps you from double fisting the cupcakes after they're made. You have to slow down long enough to peel the paper away or you might choke.
Cream together 1 1/2 unsalted butter, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, and 2/3 cup light brown sugar (packed...as if it's ever NOT packed. Brown sugar is SO predictable) until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutesor 1 and a half like I did and they turned out great.
Lower the speed, proclaimeth Ina, and add 2 egg, one at a time.
Add 2 tsp vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup buttermilk (what do people DO with buttermilk other than bake?), 1/2 cup sour cream (I used light, which is kind of funny when you consider the big picture here), and 2 TB brewed coffee - which, if you are me, you will drain out of the morning's coffee cups still on the dining room table because making coffee for 2 TB seems like too much work. Apparently, if you are like me, you are also hideously lazy.
In another bowl, sift the hell out of 1 3/4 cups flour, 1 cup good cocoa powder (No. Nestle's Quik is not good cocoa powder.), 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. I don't know what would happen if you didn't use kosher salt, but I've read parts of the Old Testament, and I wouldn't tempt fate if I were you.
Alternate adding wet and dry ingredients to butter/sugar sludge bowl while mixing at low speed.
Bake in cupcake pans for 20-25 minutes. When I first typed that, I accidentally wrote "cupcake pants," which seems more festive, but in the interest of clarity, I changed it back.
The Frosting
Chop 6 oz good semisweet chocolate (but not chips says Ina and I'd listen to her if I were you, she looks like she could whup your ass if she felt like it), melt it in a double boiler (or a microwave but don't tell Ina I said so).
Set aside until cooled to room temperature. Doesn't this drive you crazy? Shouldn't writers of recipes tell you AHEAD of time that you're going to need to make time for chocolate the temperature of lava fresh out of Kilauea to cool?
Beat 2 sticks unsalted butter (it should be room temp first. Again...same principle applies. Who's to say that you might not want to make some chocolate frosting at 2 a.m. out of the clear blue??? Nobody has butter just hanging around warming to room temperature) until light yellow (??!!! As opposed to....?) and fluffy.
Add 1 egg yolk at room temperature (this is getting exhausting) and 1 tsp vanilla.
Turn the mixer to low and add 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar. You absolutely must sift it. This is non-negotiable. You also must turn the mixer to low or you will look like you work in a cocaine lab or Lucille Ball in a baking episode.
Beat until smooth and creamy.
Dissolve 1 TB instant coffee powder in 2 tsp of the hottest tap water you get wrangle out of your sink. Add this and the chocolate to the blended goo and mix.
"Don't Whip!" admonishes Ina.
Hide the spoons before you make this or there may be a little problem involving you and a bowl of frosting and an unhealthy afternoon.
I'm Sorry.
I realize that showing you this next product photograph reveals more about what is happeningin certain areas Chez WRH, but I think the disclosure is worth it.
Really...There Is No Excuse For This, But Still.
The easiest and greatest summer salad ever. Ever.
1 1/2 cups orzo (the greatest pasta ever. Ever)
some sweet onion
red & green peppers--one of each
cucumber
some fresh basil
crumbled feta
lemon juice
Tspoon or two of olive oil
fresh pepper
salt
I have also substituted/included green beans and artichoke hearts
You're Welcome.
From Ina Garten in all her Barefoot Contessa'd Wonderment, this is the cupcake recipe from her cupcakes with peanut butter icing recipe (which do not sound appealling to me one bit) and the frosting recipe from a chocolate cake recipe. Together. As they were meant to be.
The Chocolate Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350. Use paper cupcake liners. Just because it keeps you from double fisting the cupcakes after they're made. You have to slow down long enough to peel the paper away or you might choke.
Cream together 1 1/2 unsalted butter, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, and 2/3 cup light brown sugar (packed...as if it's ever NOT packed. Brown sugar is SO predictable) until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes
Lower the speed, proclaimeth Ina, and add 2 egg, one at a time.
Add 2 tsp vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup buttermilk (what do people DO with buttermilk other than bake?), 1/2 cup sour cream (I used light, which is kind of funny when you consider the big picture here), and 2 TB brewed coffee - which, if you are me, you will drain out of the morning's coffee cups still on the dining room table because making coffee for 2 TB seems like too much work. Apparently, if you are like me, you are also hideously lazy.
In another bowl, sift the hell out of 1 3/4 cups flour, 1 cup good cocoa powder (No. Nestle's Quik is not good cocoa powder.), 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. I don't know what would happen if you didn't use kosher salt, but I've read parts of the Old Testament, and I wouldn't tempt fate if I were you.
Alternate adding wet and dry ingredients to butter/sugar sludge bowl while mixing at low speed.
Bake in cupcake pans for 20-25 minutes. When I first typed that, I accidentally wrote "cupcake pants," which seems more festive, but in the interest of clarity, I changed it back.
The Frosting
Chop 6 oz good semisweet chocolate (but not chips says Ina and I'd listen to her if I were you, she looks like she could whup your ass if she felt like it), melt it in a double boiler (or a microwave but don't tell Ina I said so).
Set aside until cooled to room temperature. Doesn't this drive you crazy? Shouldn't writers of recipes tell you AHEAD of time that you're going to need to make time for chocolate the temperature of lava fresh out of Kilauea to cool?
Beat 2 sticks unsalted butter (it should be room temp first. Again...same principle applies. Who's to say that you might not want to make some chocolate frosting at 2 a.m. out of the clear blue??? Nobody has butter just hanging around warming to room temperature) until light yellow (??!!! As opposed to....?) and fluffy.
Add 1 egg yolk at room temperature (this is getting exhausting) and 1 tsp vanilla.
Turn the mixer to low and add 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar. You absolutely must sift it. This is non-negotiable. You also must turn the mixer to low or you will look like you work in a cocaine lab or Lucille Ball in a baking episode.
Beat until smooth and creamy.
Dissolve 1 TB instant coffee powder in 2 tsp of the hottest tap water you get wrangle out of your sink. Add this and the chocolate to the blended goo and mix.
"Don't Whip!" admonishes Ina.
Hide the spoons before you make this or there may be a little problem involving you and a bowl of frosting and an unhealthy afternoon.
I'm Sorry.
I realize that showing you this next product photograph reveals more about what is happening
Really...There Is No Excuse For This, But Still.
Here's to hoping the Anti-Monkey Butt Powder doesn't get mixed up with the well-sifted powdered sugar.
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If I may, and forgive me if this is common cupcake-baking-knowledge...
Recently, after my first foray into the cupcake, I learned that it is probably best to show some restraint in the batter-fill department (to just below the pan's rim) otherwise your cupcakes end up looking like the GIANT muffins found at Costco. (though Shamu does love big bakery)
ps. spellcheck wants to change "Shamu" to be "shame." Interesting. Poor misunderstood Shamu.
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Wow. Feta and Old Testament threats and monkey butt powder all in one post.
That there's some REAL good work.
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Oooh, I love that Miss Ina!! I have yet to make a recipe of hers that wasn't truly exceptional.
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I'm trying that orzo salad tonight ... yum!! I do a variation, but with tortellini instead of orzo, plus i add shrimp and kalamatas to all the other stuff you listed (minus the green pepper).
I'd try the cupcakes, but i've been banned from baking ever since i used olive oil in my christmas cookies one year. duh!
....babspeapod
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