Moms Mud Pies

My mom made these millions of times when we were kids.  Even now, people that I went to school with still talk about them (ahem…that was close to 30 years ago!).  My brother and I had primo goods to trade with our classmates who wanted our yummy snacks.  We called these Mud Pies.  I wrote down moms recipe when I left the house for my first apartment.  These are pure comfort food, a quick after school snack, super bake sale goodies and sooo easy to make.  Literally, 10 minutes and you’re a hero.  No excuses!

These never last long around our house.   Cocoa + coconut + oats = yummy….

Moms Mud Pies

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup shortening

5 tbsp good quality cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup fine coconut

1.  Combine all ingredients, except oats and coconut, in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Let boil one minute.

2.  Remove from heat and stir in oats and coconut.

3.  Drop cookies, tablespoon size, on to wax paper and allow to harden.

Cupcake Giveaway Today!

I have only just begun to wrap my head around this blogging world and already so many opportunities have come my way.  I’m really excited about the things that are happening and will share soon, I promise!  Today is a busy day in our house- we are baking and shooting cupcakes for a new site that is going to launch really soon!   Yay!  As my way of saying thank you to all of my faithful subscribers and readers, I am giving away some of the goodies that were made this morning.  The catch is….you must live in my area and you need to pick them up (unless you’re REALLY stuck, I may be convinced to help out ).  Even better, why not give them away to someone who may need a warm fuzzy today?  How about someone who is celebrating something?   It’s your choice!  Here is what’s up for grabs….

Strawberry Buttercream Cupcakes made with ‘just picked’ farm fresh berries.

and….

PB and J Buttercream Cupcakes

You guessed it, vanilla cakes with raspberry jam centers and peanut butter buttercream frosting.  These are very sweet and it’s really the icing that makes the cake here.

All you need to do is contact me (here!)  First 3 people get the goods!

SweetRevelations is located in the Woodstock, ON Area.

Gluten-Free Lemon, Lime and Quinoa Pudding Cakes

I am so grateful for all of the e-mails and feedback that I receive.  It lets me know that people are interested!  I have received quite a few requests for gluten-free and dairy free recipes.  This one is very simple and perfect for dinner on the patio.  The texture is very light, much like a mousse.  It’s a bit tart and very refreshing.  Serve warm or cold.

Enjoy,

Lemon, Lime and Quinoa Pudding Cakes

*from Canelle et Vanille

Preheat oven to 325° and grease 5 5oz ramekins

2 egg yolks
6 oz whole milk
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp lime zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup quinoa flour
pinch kosher salt
2 egg whites

In a medium bowl, whisk the yolks, milk, lemon zest, lime zest, lemon juice and
lime juice.

In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, salt and quinoa flour.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk.

Whip the egg whites until medium peaks form.   Fold a third of the egg whites into the batter. Add the rest
and fold gently.

Pour the batter into the greased ramekins.  Place the ramekins in a deep baking pan and pour hot water into the baking dish- enough to cover the ramekins half way. Bake for about 30 minutes until set.

Got Milk?

The only time I really drink milk is when it’s dressed up like this…

After work today I rushed home to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies for my daughters class party.  Much to my surprise, someone has been in the fridge and the chocolate chip bag has only a few morsels laying in the bottom.  I think it’s time to install the ‘fridge-cam’ that I have seriously pondered inventing.  For the amount of time I spend in the kitchen, I have no idea how my chocolate supply keeps going missing!  I had no other choice but to use chocolate chunks!

Oh my goodness, these warm cookies were so yummy with a huge glass of cold milk…. I had to keep counting them to make sure I would have enough for the party!

Super easy to make too..

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

*adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter (unsalted)

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 cups good quality semi-sweet baking chocolate, cut into chunks

1.  Pre-heat oven to 375°.  In mixing bowl beat butter and shortening until combined, approx 1 min.  Add 1 cup of the flour, both sugars, eggs, vanilla and baking soda.  Mix until well combined.  Add the last cup of flour and beat for one minute.  Stir in the chocolate chunks.

2.  Drop dough by rounded tablespoon on to parchment lined cookie sheet (about 2″ apart).  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden at the edges.  Cool on a baking rack.

Good Things Come In 3′s….

The first person every little girl falls in love with is her dad.  And I, like I’m sure many others, have spent a good deal of my life comparing the other men in my world to my dad.  He’s  an ultra-focused, perfectionistic kind of guy with a killer dry sense of humour.  He’s my ‘go to’ guy when I need a home inspector, an appliance repair person, someone to tell me how to cook my seafood dinner, someone to teach me how to build something, a financial advisor and the list goes on….Thank you dad for teaching me all about my heritage.  I love your family stories and how you have shown me all the neat places and people from your childhood.

How blessed I have been to have another father figure in my life too!  A step-dad who can tell you the back road route to any destination, whom I have called many (NUMEROUS) times when I needed directions or something was wrong with my car.  Oh, and not to forget the hell he put any date through who came to pick me up!  Thank you for making me proud to have the nickname “squirt” even though I’m a grown woman with a family of my own (who all have nicknames too!).

And, finally number three, a fantastic person who I love more each day for the role model he is to my own children.  He is a hard worker, ultra-loyal, laid back kind of soul.  And, he has taught my sons (without even realizing it), the way you respect and love your leading lady.   Thank you for showing me how easy it is to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

So, now that we’ve got all that mushy stuff out of the way, lets eat boys!  This one’s for you.  Who wouldn’t enjoy a dessert made with Irish Whiskey?  Yum!  Happy Father’s Day,

Irish Coffee Sundaes with Caramel Whiskey Sauce

from Epicurious - I did not change a thing from this recipe!  It is absolutely perfect as is.

For coffee nut crisp:

• 1 large egg white
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules, crushed
• 1 cup walnut pieces (3 1/2 ounces), coarsely chopped if desired

For sauce:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 Tablespoons Irish whiskey
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• good-quality coffee/cappuccino ice cream

1.  Whisk egg white, sugar, coffee powder, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Stir in walnuts until coated. Spread mixture onto a parchment lined cookie sheet (make an 8 x8 rectangle) and bake at 325° for 25 minutes or until fairly dry to the touch.  Remove to a rack and break into small pieces when cool (I left some larger pieces to use for garnish).

2.  For the sauce, bring the sugar and water to a boil in a 2–quart heavy saucepan over medium–high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil without stirring, until syrup begins to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Continue to boil, swirling pan occasionally, until syrup is a deep golden caramel.

3.  Remove pan from heat and carefully add whiskey, cream, and salt (mixture will bubble up and steam and caramel will harden).  Return the pan to heat and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved and sauce is smooth. Cool to warm.

Serve sauce over scoops of cappuccino ice cream then sprinkle with walnut crisp.

I would double the batch of walnuts, these are really addictive all by themselves!

Baby Shower Cupcakes

School is quickly coming to an end and it’s almost time for summer break (insert happy dance here!). Classes are winding down and this week and next week my children all have class parties. My sons class is having a potluck lunch today as a celebration for his teacher who will be having a baby in a few weeks time. So, up early to make and frost cupcakes. Pink and blue for the baby to be with cute little toppers. There are so many free printables online that can be used as toppers too. Blessings to the new mommy and baby!

These are just simple vanilla cupcakes with creamy Vanilla Meringue Buttercream.   The recipe can look intimidating, but it’s not, and sooo worth the extra effort.  This is very light and creamy and not super sweet.   I make Nick Malgieri’s version and I wouldn’t change a thing (check out his book on my homepage).

Meringue Buttercream

4 large egg whites

pinch of kosher salt

1 1/4 cups sugar

3 sticks unsalted butter, very soft

1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

1.  Fill a saucepan (large enough to fit your mixing bowl just a few inches) with a few inches of water.  Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low so water continues to simmer.

2.  In your stand mixer bowl, hand whisk the egg whites, sugar and salt just until combined.  Place over simmering pot and whisk for approx 4 mins until the egg whites are hot (about 140 degrees).  The sugar should be dissolved by this time as well.  Place bowl on stand mixer and attach the whisk attachment.  Whisk on medium until whites have increased in volume and the outside of the bowl is just slightly warm to the touch.

3.  Remove whisk attachment and replace with paddle attachment.  Beat on low speed until mixture is completely cooled.  Increase speed to medium and add butter pieces one at a time.  Scrape the bowl and continue to beat until buttercream is glossy, smooth and thick.  It may separate at first, but continue beating and it will emulsify.  Add vanilla flavouring and beat until combined.  Use immediately.

Below, just out of the oven, the sun is shining through the window as they are cooling!

Making the cupcake toppers are so easy.  Many templates on line, look here and here.  Just print onto cardstock and attach a sandwich pick on the back.

These look so yummy…luckily there was one left over (couldn’t fit in the box!), so I got to eat one for breakfast…..

Blueberry Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream

I admit, I’ve become a little cupcake obssessed lately.  There are so many flavour combinations to choose from and it’s a perfectly wrapped little treat for someone!  Yum!

Friday is usually our “meeting” day at work and I offered to bring snacks this time.   Since we meet fairly early, I wanted to find something that was deliciously sweet but also could be considered breakfast-y so people would eat it (really, our group of ladies need NO arm twisting!).  How does Blueberry Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream sound?  Let me tell you, delish.  Think blueberry pancakes with pure maple syrup.  The buttercream icing is so fabulous, easily one of my favs.   Who would not want to start the day this way??

First, make my Vanilla Cupcake Recipe and add a 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries to the mix.  Bake as directed.

*this recipe is adapted from Yumology

When the cupcakes came out of the oven, I poked a hole in the center of each one with a toothpick and poured just a few drops of pure maple syrup on top.  I spread it around with the back of a spoon and as the cupcakes were cooling it was absorbed into the cakes.

Frost with Martha Stewarts Maple Buttercream

3 large egg yolks

1 cup pure maple syrup

1 cup cold unsalted butter cut into cubes

1.  In a stand mixer, whisk eggs on high speed for 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, place maple syrup in a small pan and boil over medium heat until syrup reaches 240 degrees (10 minutes).  While mixer is running, slowly pour the hot maple syrup down the side of the bowl into the eggs (do not pour directly on the whisk attachment!).  Continue beating mixture for about 4 minutes or until mixing bowl is warm to the touch.  Add butter, one piece at a time and beat until fluffy (5 minutes).  Use immediately.

Easy Homemade Fondant

I decided this week-end I would give fondant a go.  Homemade that is.  It’s super easy, although a little messy, and there’s oodles of video’s on line about how to make your own.  It basically has 4 ingredients; water, marshmallows, shortening and icing sugar.  I flavoured mine with a bit of almond extract too.  It keeps well at room temperature for a few weeks and tastes way better than store bought.

Amanda at I Am Baker (amazing cakes!) made these cute cupcakes with fondant and fruit.  And it was so cute I totally stole the idea.  So although it makes me look super creative…I’m not…..

I have very few pictures to show you because..well, uh errr…we ate them as we were photographing them.  We voted and we liked the raspberry and chocolate best.  The chocolate cupcakes are absolutely amazing!  Recipe to follow soon….

A delicious surprise inside!  Even if you’re not crazy about fondant (you”ll like this one I promise!), you can still enjoy the berries and cake!

I added some raspberry preserves to the last one before topping with berries.  Yum!

Well we had to eat these anyway…they were all cut up!  We couldn’t let them go to waste!

And finally…playing with gel colours and attempting to decorate a mini cake (it’s actually 2 cupcakes).  My friend is getting married and I was trying to use her wedding colours on it.  Key word here is trying (she’s probably horrified).  It looks like a glorified Hostess Cupcake.  I was just playing!

This belongs on the boo boo plate, which is a plate that I throw all my mistakes on.  The kids hover over the boo boo plate like vultures.  I’ve never had people so eager to watch me make a mistake!  My son (bless him) carried this down to his buddies house and they were going to eat it anyway.  Love that boy!

Eat, Drink And Be….Showered!

A few weeks ago I went to my friends wedding shower.  Beautifully done!  No games, open house style with yummy food and pretty decorations.  Everyone got to spend a few minutes alone with the bride-to-be.  Of course I eyed up the dessert table which looked so000 pretty with different flavours of fancy cupcakes (and you can bet I ate every kind).   And, as we were leaving we were given these cute little thank you boxes filled with mint smoothies….mine didn’t even make it out of the parking lot!  Yum!  What a nice day.  Blessings to you my friend.

My Vanilla Cupcakes with buttercream frosting and white chocolate (coloured of course!) hearts.

Mmmm buttercream frosting again with fresh fruit.  Perfect for a summer BBQ!

Vanilla Cupcakes

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups vanilla sugar, regular white sugar is fine too

4 eggs, room temperature

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350° and line 2 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.

1.   In a small bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.  Set aside.

2.  In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy and well combined (2-3 minutes).  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating each egg until well incorporated.  Add the dry ingredients 1 cup at at time and alternate with the milk and vanilla.   Mix the last addition of flour until the ingredients are well incorporated but do not over mix!

3.  Fill cupcake liners until 3/4 full.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until cake tester comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

And now I must seriously go and eat some fruit….and not some on top of a cupcake!  I have had 3 cupcakes so far!