Cup-a-cake & Frosting Recipes

As promised, here is the recipe I used for the Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chocolate cake. I got it from somewhere in the net, in one of the blogs but cant remember where. So if you feel that this is your recipe, fire away and don't hesitate to acknowledge.

200 grams butter (2 sticks less 1tsp)
200 grams dark chocolate (7oz)
200 grams sugar (1cup)
4 eggs
1 tbsp flour

Melt together the butter with the chocolate in a double boiler. I dont have a double boiler, so what I do in this case is to put a metal (or glass) container on top of a pot with boiling water. When fully melted, transfer the mixture into a mixing bowl. Add in sugar and stir with a wooden spoon and let cool a little. Add in the eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition. Finally, add in the flour and mix well.

This is actually a cake recipe enough for an 8-inch round pan. In my case, it was good enough for about 16 regular sized cupcakes. Pour the mixture about 3/4 full of cupcake papers. Bake in 350F pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes. Turn off the oven, but let the cakes stay in the oven for another 10 minutes. Take out from oven and let cool completely before frosting. You may also make this a day ahead, just cool completely, cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate and take out an hour before serving.

Now for the frosting, very simple indeed:

2 sticks softened butter
4oz soft cream cheese
3 cups confectionary sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Just cream the butter and cheese with your mixer, then gradually add sugar, salt and vanilla. This frosting batch is a LOT! It could have generously frosted maybe 2 dozen or more of cupcakes, so you may want to tweak it a bit accordingly to just the serving you need. I had some blue gel coloring, so some cupcakes I decorated white - which was immaculate-looking and which the girls liked, and the others blue - which the kids really liked - sprinkles and all.

Addicting Granola

Ive always wanted to make granola, seeing that the recipes seem easy-peasy. This is a great breakfast fare, and a great munch-on while slaving away in front of the TV. It's just so addicting! It isn't everyday that I come across something so good yet so healthy. Im encouraging the little Bee to snack on it, instead of her usual Oreos and Ritzs. This recipe is from marketmanila.com with a few tweaks.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, peanuts)

2/3 cups vegetable oil
1/2 cup good honey or more

1 cup mixed dried fruits (figs, apricots, raisins, berries)

Mix together oats, dessicated coconut and nuts in a big bowl. In a separate bowl, mix oil and honey until well blended. Mix the oil/honey mixture to the oats/coco/nuts. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet. Bake in 350 pre-heated oven, then mix well after ten minutes. Put back in oven for another 10-15 minutes or until evenly slightly browned. Watch well as it burns easily and can taste bitter.

Cool a bit and mix in chopped dried fruits.

Store in an airtight container. This will keep for weeks (if it lasts that long!) and there's no need to refrigerate.

Hooked On Cupcakes

Inspired by cupcake pics from chokylit, I embarked on my own cupcake journey with mixed results. Since my Sunbeam mixer (which was a hand-me-down from my Mom) conked out on me several times, I splurged on a new one last weekend hoping that it would as well be on sale just like the rest of the stores in the mall. Turned out it isnt, but I splurged nonetheless. I got a 3D with stand and bowl and was so dying to try it out that I bought cupcake ingredients as well. I was choosing from 4 chocolate cupcake recipes, but chose the one where it says Melt-in-the-mouth cakes. It turned out yummy, though still concentrated and thick inside coz my oven was conking as well! Duh! Anyway, Bee and I decorated it with edible silver balls, pink and blue sugar crystals and muticolored sprinkles. Bee had a very nice time, I say making cupcakes is a great mom-daughter bonding activity! The frostings came out yummy too, what's not to like about it, it's made of butter and cream cheese. I will post the recipes, I promise.. So anyway, we brought it to my nephew's 2nd bday party - decorations and all. Everyone was in awe at how lovely they look! My friend even wants me to do some costing so we can sell them! Wow, Im seriously contemplating it, but first - I have to do something with the oven!