gourmet

  • Easy Gourmet Cupcakes – Recipe

    ChocolateCupcakeRecipe

    Easy Gourmet Cupcakes
    1 box cake mix  – any flavor
    1 small box pudding mix
    4 eggs
    1 C. sour cream
    1/2 C. water
    1/2 C. oil

    Choose a cake mix and a pudding mix with compatible flavors.  Mix this stuff all together and bake as instructed — till toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack, then add frosting.  Easy peasy.

    Spread the frosting.  Spread the word.  Spread the love.

    ChocolateCupcakes

    Shall we move on from Christmas? 

    Perhaps.

    I swear, you’ll never hear from me much at the new year, regardless of my well-meaning resolutions.  I not only have Christmas and New Year’s to recover from, but my wedding anniversary and both of my children’s birthdays are mixed in there as well.  Elijah’s LAN party was a week ago and Charlotte’s party is this weekend.  Her requested theme: Legendary.  She wants to have a “Legendary” party. 

    Who doesn’t, right? 

    So, Legendary, it is.  Sounds like a tall order.  I guess that’s what you get from a kindergartener with a crazy vocabulary.  However, I do believe her 5–year-old imagination is conjuring dragons and elves, not preeminent perfection.  Thank goodness for that.  Have I ever mentioned that her first word was dignity?  No joke!  She was only nine-months-old.

    Gooey chocolate cupcakes were a big success at Elijah’s party — truly, the easiest way to serve birthday cake.  So, I’m going for cupcakes again for Charlotte.  Above is my easy solution for exquisite cupcakes.  Isaac’s sister, Evie, shared this trick when she visited a while back.  Always a big hit.  The cupcakes, and Evie.


  • Frozen Bozo

    This photo cracks me up.  Can anyone guess what my concept was here? 
    That’s right, it’s a dessert interpretation of a 70s clown.  You’re not
    afraid of clowns are you?

    BananaSplit470
    My new ice cream recipe
    from Father’s Day this year is Double-Chocolate Banana Split ice cream,
    newly coined “Frozen Bozo,” presented with a waffle cone hat, a cherry
    nose and a doily ruff.  It’s interpretative.

    The ice cream isn’t just chocolate either.  It has bananas, cherries and brownies in it.  A fool-proof mix <3:o)

    Also, I’ve drawn up a list of tutorials I’m eager to post. Without
    revealing the specifics, where would you like me to start:  jewelry,
    paper craft, sewing project, home decor?  Lots of plans.  What are you
    in the mood for first?

    Ingredients470a

    Frozen Bozo – Chocolate Banana Split ice cream

    Chocolate Ice Cream Base
    6 C. heavy cream
    2.25 C. sugar
    3 T. pure vanilla extract
    3 C. milk or half ‘n’ half
    16 OZ. bittersweet chocolate

    Mix Ins
    1 C. sliced bananas
    1 C. maraschino cherries
    2 C. chocolate chip brownies (prepare in advance, then
           cut into bite-size pieces and chill)

    Prepare Ice Cream Base

    Icecream308
    Heat cream, sugar, vanilla, and half ‘n’ half mixture to near boiling.
    Meanwhile, heat bittersweet chocolate in microwave-safe bowl at 50%
    power for approx. 3-4 minutes, or until the chocolate is mostly melted.
    Remove chocolate from microwave and stir till all chocolate is melted.
    Next, remove cream mixture from heat and fold in melted chocolate. Stir
    until combined. Refrigerate mixture until thoroughly chilled.  Transfer
    chilled mixture to an ice cream maker and process following
    manufacturer’s instructions.

    After ice cream has reached soft-serve consistency, place ice cream
    cylinder in freezer, or leave in ice cream maker (if there is still
    sufficient ice) to harden for about an hour. Meanwhile, prepare mix-in ingredients as directed below.

    Mix-in the Good Stuff

    Chill
    a large bowl by placing it in an ice bath, or in freezer. When ice
    cream has chilled for about an hour, scoop it into chilled bowl.
    Immediately add all mix-in ingredients and stir till just combined.
    Return ice cream to cylinder or a prepared container of your choice*.
    Place ice cream back in freezer to harden overnight.

    *Try a new, food-safe paint can from your home improvement store, cleaned with bleach-water.

    Enjoy!