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Showing posts with label recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipe. Show all posts

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Cupcakes - The Newest Sweet Treat Trend


Cupcakes - The Newest Sweet Treat Trend


By Denny Phillips













Have you been to an event recently and been surprised that instead of a regular cake, you were treated to an elaborate cupcake display? Cupcakes seem to be all the rage nowadays. Cupcakes seem to be the trendy thing to serve at any gathering, from baby showers to weddings, or birthday galas to Super Bowl parties. Cupcakes are easy to eat, full of delicious flavor and exciting eye-catching delights. It seems everyone loves those sweet little concoctions. But, are they really just cute little miniature cakes, or are they a wonderfully flavorful dessert deserving their own title?


The origins of cupcakes are controversial. Some believe that cupcakes were invented by people baking cakes in little teacups, so that the little cakes would not take so long to bake and would cool faster. Others believe that cupcakes were named by the way the ingredients were measured (1 cup of flour, 2 cups of sugar, etc.) Whatever the origin, the cupcake has come down through history as a delightful treat that everyone can enjoy.


Cupcakes are making a surprising reappearance in today's society and are becoming extremely popular and trendy. They are sweet little treats that are easy to make, satisfy everyone's sweet tooth and can be made in various eye-catching ways.


Cupcakes can be served as a dessert for an everyday supper, at birthday or special occasion parties, or today can even replace the traditional wedding cake. They are great at baby showers, as Halloween treat give-aways, for Christmas buffet tables, or as a sure money-maker at bake sales and church bazaars. Cupcakes can even be served at masculine events, or at a sports party-like the Superbowl! And, what can be sweeter than a cupcake as an individual Valentine's Day love offering?


The variety of flavors you can use to create a cupcake are varied and many. You can have delicate white cake cupcakes, velvety chocolate cupcakes, light lemony cupcakes, marble-cake cupcakes or many other combinations of flavors. Cupcakes can even have good-for-you ingredients like applesauce, shredded carrots or zucchini in them to help them stay moist.


Cupcakes are generally frosted as are most cakes, with vanilla, chocolate, orange-flavored, or any other flavor that compliments the small cake underneath. Cupcakes can also sport various toppings, like rainbow or chocolate sprinkles, coconut, miniature chocolate chips, candies, pieces of gumdrops or even can be glazed. You can decorate the tops with faces, create tiny animals or flowers, make them into butterflies or simply place a nut in the centre.


Cupcakes can be used on stands to create a unique display. In today's world it is not uncommon to see a cupcake display in lieu of a wedding cake. Cupcakes can take a significant role on a dessert table placed on a tiered cake plate at Christmastime. If you line cupcakes up, circling round on a covered board, you can create a 'caterpillar' effect for a child's birthday party. There are many ways cupcakes can be used for special occasions.


You can even have filled cupcakes. Doesn't a chocolate cupcake filled with sweet vanilla crème sound fantastic? How about a cupcake with a chocolate 'kiss' treat or a caramel in the centre?


Cupcakes are easy to eat. They are small enough to eat with your hands, without needing the use of a fork or a spoon. Often they come in their own little ridged paper cup, which helps make them beautiful as well as tasty. The paper cups are often white, but can come in any color-and even sometimes in gold or silver papers for those extra special occasions.


Why not try your hand at making these sweet little cakes tonight? Join the trend and become a cupcake fanatic!


Article by Dee Phillips, author of the newest cupcake recipe book 25 Yummy Cupcake Recipes now available on Kindle.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denny_Phillips http://EzineArticles.com/?Cupcakes---The-Newest-Sweet-Treat-Trend&id=6137504

Image source: Google

Post Title → Cupcakes - The Newest Sweet Treat Trend

Friday, March 25, 2011

Weekend Dessert - Black Forest Chocolate Torte Recipe






Black Forest Chocolate Torte Recipe

By Mark F Weber







Germans believe Der Zweck einer Mahlzeit Dessert, or the purpose of a meal is dessert. This recipe is for a chocolate cake with Kirschwasser, whipped cream, cherries and chocolate shavings is native to the Black Forest in southwest Germany. Kirschwasser never tasted so sweet and the objective of a meal was never more appealing.

The Black Forrest is 4,600 square miles of woodland in the southwest corner of Germany, not far from France and Switzerland. The name came from the Romans because very little light shined through the trees. The Black Forrest is so dark and mysterious that much of Germany's folklore, including many of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales comes from the area.

Brother Doug, a professional chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, adapted the following recipe from the archives of the Weber family, who immigrated to the United States in 1858.

Black Forrest Torte

Chocolate Genoise, (yields 2 - 10" cakes)

Eggs,(18 ounces); sugar,(12 ounces); cake flour,(10 ounces); cocoa powder,(2 ounces); butter,(4 ounces); and vanilla extract, (¼ ounce)

1. heat sugar and eggs to 110 degrees Fahrenheit over water bath

2. whip in mixer with whip attachment for approximately 15 minutes

3. sift cocoa with cake flour

4. gently fold flour and cocoa into sponge being very careful not to deflate

5. gently fold butter and vanilla into batter being very careful not to deflate

6. divide mixture into 2 10" cake pans which have been greased and floured

7. bake in 360 degrees for 30-35 minutes

8. cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing cake onto a rack to cool completely

Kirsch Whipped Topping

Heavy whipping cream, (1 quart); powdered sugar,(4 ounces); and Kirschwasser, (3 ounces)

1. whip cream to soft peaks

2. fold in sugar and kirsch

3. whip cream to firm peaks but do not over mix

Kirschwasser Soaked Cherries

Dark cherries, (32 pitted); and Kirschwasser, (½ cup)

1. soak cherries in kirsch for two hours

Chocolate Shavings

1. temper 4 ounces of bittersweet chocolate and pour out over a marble slab

2. allow to set

3. scrape with blade of knife to create curls or shavings

Assembly

1. Split each cake into two layers

2. brush each layer with Kirschwasser, ice with whipped cream with 16 cherry halves on each layer

3. stack cake four layers high, complete icing entire cake with whipped cream

4. decorate as desired

5. garnish top of cake with 8 whole cherries and chocolate shavings

Do not sample too much of the Kirschwasser when preparing the recipe. If the wicked witch served my brother's Black Forest Chocolate Torte, Hansel and Gretel would have stayed for dinner. Bon Appétit!

Mark Weber is an international business professor in Rochester, NY, who traveled the world on behalf of the Eastman Kodak Company and Heidelberger Druckmachinen, especially Germany. Weber brings a unique perspective on the customs, attractions, transportation options, language, and food.

Freiburg - Where Wind, Sun, and Water Meet http://mygermantravels.com/2011/02/freiburg-where-wind-sun-and-water-meet/

Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks - The Magic http://mygermantravels.com/2011/02/black-forest-cuckoo-clocks-the-magic/




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_F_Weber


http://EzineArticles.com/?Black-Forest-Chocolate-Torte-Recipe&id=5994638









Image source: google and above image may or may not reflect actual recipe.

Post Title → Weekend Dessert - Black Forest Chocolate Torte Recipe