Easter Chai Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

I always forget that I love the idea of making and decorating cupcakes more than the actual project when I get started!  However, I was pretty impressed with the results of this little project.  They tasted amazing, and I thought they looked pretty cute too given my lack of patience when it comes to decorating.  Ever since I made my chai tea latte at home, I was thinking I could use the same method to make other chai tea flavored goodies, and cupcakes where the first thing that came to mind.  I googled "best vanilla cupcake recipe" and decided to try this recipe posted on 52 cupcakes blog, amended slightly for the chai tea flavor, and used a buttercream icing recipe from my cupcake cookbook.  The little chick decorated cupcake idea came from Paris Pastry's blog.  Her's look wayyyy cuter but I gave it my best go at it!!

For those wondering where the name of blog came from, here is the inspiration!

PS. These are not Weight Watcher's friendly (if you really must know, 8 points!)  Two of these killed my points counting this week, but one was definitely worth it! :)


Chai Tea Cupcakes (makes 24-30 cupcakes)

What you need:

1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
2 chai tea teabags
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pans with paper liners and set aside.  Add milk to saucepan or small pot on medium heat.  When it comes to a simmer, add teabags and simmer on low heat for approximately 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and wring out tea bags.  You may need to top up the milk to measure 1 cup again.

2. In a large bowl combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined (or can mix by hand if don't have a large stand mixer.  I don't at home and really want one now!)

3. Mix butter with mixer into the dry ingredients until in less than pea sized pieces and coated with flour.

4. Whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.

5. 3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about two-thirds full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

6. Cool on a wire rack until completely cool before icing.

 

Vanilla Frosting (from Crazy about Cupcakes)


What you need:

3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk

What to do:

1. Gradually add the sugar to the softened butter and cream together with electric mixer.
2. Stir in the vanilla and milk and beat until smooth and slightly thick consistancy (you need thicker icing for the details when decorating)

3. I followed the directions for decorating from Paris Pastry's blog.  I used ziploc bags for piping bags for the little bits of coloured icing (do be prepared, they busted a seam a couple times!)   The yellow icing for the base, you'll need to thin a bit so it spreads easily.  Just add a few drops of milk at a time so it doesn't get too runny.

4. Decorate until your little chicks are complete!  I had a tube of candy kote in blue from a previous decorating project, so I used that for the eyes to simplify things.

5. The remainder of the cupcakes (for variety and lack of artistic ability), I piped with icing and decorted with chocolate mini eggs.

6. Share and enjoy!

BST Panani and Bucketlist

In the span of a couple days this week, twice the question came up, "What's on your bucket list?"  Naturally, I always have ideas in my head about what I'd like to do and see, projects to tackle, and new challenges to keep bettering myself.   I decided that this question having come up twice in a couple days was a sign that perhaps was time I actually put this list in writing, so I thought about it while making some lunch the other day. And what better to have for lunch than my favorite kind of sandwich - a panini!  My panini press is a fixture on my counter, right beside the coffee maker.  I was looking for some new ideas to try and came across the idea to use the focaccia bread inside out so I gave that a try. It was a good day!  Bucket list is now in writing, and came up with a new and improved panini idea (I liked it much better inside out as I usually find the focaccia gets to tough when put in the panini press the normal way).  So, what is on your bucket list?

Cheryl's Bucket List

See Sydney Harbour
Stay in an over-water bungalow in Bora Bora
Visit The Netherlands (where my grandparents immigrated from)
Go to the Louvre in Paris and see the Eiffel Tower
Learn to make Hollandaise sauce
Go on a winery tour
Have my cake and eat it too
Learn how to golf
Learn to snowboard
Become a better listener
Master making Pad Thai
Visit Tuscany
Go to Carnival in Venice
Discover zero calorie cheesecake
Visit Hawaii
Finish my cross stitch I started 15 years ago
Skydive
Hike in the grand canyon
Organize all my digital photos
Visit NYC
Learn to take criticism
Learn to accept compliments
Sleep in a castle
Go to a NFL game
Go to the ballet
Make the grass greenest on my side of the fence

BST panini - Bacon, Spinach & Tomato
(okay, and some yummy mozzarella cheese!)

1. Slice open the focaccia and turn inside out to assemble, so the cut sides are outside to get buttered up for the grill, and the crispy outside doesn't get any crispier.  Layer the bacon, cheese, tomato seasoned with pepper, and spinach.  Add some mayo and/or pesto.

2. Butter (or brush with olive oil) the outside of your sandwich and place in panini press (I love my Griddler, but you can also do this in a frying pan with a heavy pan over your sandwich to help press it).

3. Your panini is done when the cheese starts to get all melty and is golden brown!

4. Eat and enjoy!

Black Bean Salad - 4 points

This is one of my favorite salads for summer and with spring in the air I had to make it for the first time in 2011.  I've found a few variations on this salad I'd like to try, but this is the basic recipe.  Leftovers are great, not only on their own, but I've used it on tacos, in taco salad, and on tostadas or nachos.

For Weight Watchers, 4 points for a 1/2 cup serving.

What you need:

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime, juiced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1-2 teaspoons Italian seasoning or herb mix
(in place of oil, vinegar, and herbs, you can substitute 1/3 cup Italian dressing)


What to do:

1. To mixing bowl add black beans, corn, onion, tomato and pepper.

2. Add jalapeno pepper (can do 2 if you like more spice), garlic, garlic salt and herbs (if using).

3. Add olive oil and vinegar (or Italian dressing) and fresh squeezed lime.

4. Add cilantro and mix. 

5. Serve and top with avocado (the avocado doesn't keep well and goes mushy in the leftovers, so I just prefer to add it when serving).  Enjoy!

Greek Style Potatoes - 5 points

Trying to recreate a potato found at my favorite Greek restaurants. The result was pretty close!

What you need:

6 medium potatoes, peeled and quarted (or in my case, 4 large potatoes)
2 cups chicken stock
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon
rosemary, thyme, oregano
salt and pepper

What to do:

1. Boil potatoes in chicken stock, with 2 cloves of garlic, until nearly cooked through.

2. Transfer potatoes and garlic to a baking dish, with about 1/4 cup of stock that the potatoes were cooked in.  Add one more clove of minced garlic.

3. Add olive oil and the juice of one lemon.

4. Add herbs and salt and pepper.

5. Bake in oven at 350 Celsius for approximately 30 minutes, until cooked, stirring once or twice while cooking.  Serve and enjoy! :)

Slow Roasted Lamb - 5 points

I've never made lamb before, but with Easter coming up in a couple weeks, and having seen an episode of Barefoot Contessa, where she mades this roasted lamb, I felt inspired!  It turned out so good, so it will definitely be on the menu for Easter! 

What you need:
Leg of lamb
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Fresh rosemary
Fresh thyme
6 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup white wine

What to do:
1.  Rub the lamb with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and some salt and pepper.

2. Add one tablespoon of olive oil into a dutch oven, on medium high heat and sear the lamb on all sides.

3. Once the lamb is seared, remove from heat and add the wine (everything is better with wine, right?!.

4. Add garlic and 4-5 sprigs of thyme and rosemary to the pot, and its ready for the oven!

5. Cook for 3-4 hours at 300 Celsius. Its ready to come out when you can pull it apart with a fork.  Enjoy!

Rosemary Poached Egg Sandwich - 7 points

A couple evenings ago I decided that if I was actually going to fit into my summer clothes, the gym wasn't going to be enough, and I needed to start to calorie count.  However, I HATE calorie counting.  So I decided that I would try the weight watchers online just to use the point system as a different way to calorie count.  So now all my recipes I'll be posting will include the point values!

This is my favorite, indulgent, breakfast sandwich (and not too bad for points!)

What you need:
English muffin
Egg
Fresh rosemary
Bacon
Tomatoes and other veggies as you like

What to do:
1. Fry 1 slice of bacon per person in frying pan.  Remove from pan when crisp.
2. I use the same pan, with the bacon drippings, for poaching the egg for extra flavor.  Add fresh rosemary to the water while bringing to a simmer.  I am by no means an expert on poaching an egg but ehow gives some instruction.  Poach egg for approximately 3 minutes, or until looks soft cooked.

3. Remove egg with slotted spoon and place on paper towel to absorb the extra water.  Toast english muffin.  Assemble your sandwich with egg, bacon, and tomatoes and any extras you may like (I added spinach - 0 points, and mayo - 1 point.  Cheese is also good and is 3 extra points).

4. Eat and enjoy! (Oh, and have a napkin ready!  They are a bit messy!)

Grape and Goat Cheese Salad

 

This salad is sooooo tasty!  I had a similar salad in Cancun, that used arugula.  It was good as well, but I prefer it on mixed greens.  This is so fast and easy, and great for a side or a light meal.

What you need:
Mixed greens
Grapes (red or green), cut in half
Goat cheese, crumbled
Walnut pieces

What to do:

1. Wash greens and dry, if not pre-washed.  Assemble in your bowl, green, grapes, and goat cheese.

2. Toast walnuts in the oven at 350 Celsius until they are fragrant.  Add to the salad.

3.  Dress your salad.  I made a simple balsamic vinaigrette by mixing about 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, a few grinds of salt and pepper, and whisked in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

4. Eat and enjoy! :)

Apple Cinnamon Scones

I made scones for the first time a few weeks ago, using a recipe from Fine Cooking.  They turned out wonderfully, but I've been wanting apple cinnamon ones, so I've adapted the recipe!  The original recipe had banana it in, and I've left it in since it didn't really have a banana flavor, and I don't want to affect the texture by taking it out! 

I found an apple peeler/corer/slicer in my sister's cupboard, and after looking at it a bit puzzled, I manged to figure out how it works for preparing the apple.

What you'll need:
2 cups all-purpose flour; more as needed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2-1/4 tsp baking powder
3/8 tsp table salt
5-1/2 Tbs. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 small ripe (but not mushy) banana, cut into 1/4-inch dice (1/2 cup)
1 apple, cored, peeled and diced
1-2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. heavy cream; more for brushing 
cinnamon and sugar to dust (optional)

What to do:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 Celsius.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or in my case, a silicone mat).
2.  In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3. With your fingers, rub the butter into the flour mixture until a few pea-size lumps remain.

4.  Add cinnamon to the chopped apple

5.  Stir in the banana and apples.

6. Add the cream and mix just until in comes together. I added a bit of extra of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg, just at the end of mixing.

7. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat gently into a circle about 1 inch high.

8. Using a chef’s knife or bench knife, cut the dough into 8 wedges. Transfer to the baking sheet, spacing the wedges 1 to 2 inches apart.  Brush the tops with cream, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

9.  Bake until the tops are golden, 19 to 25 minutes, rotating halfway through baking for even browning. Transfer the scones to a wire rack to cool.  Enjoy!