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Showing posts with label cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cake. Show all posts

Monday, February 27, 2012

Fellow Foodie Fun

Recently there has been a wave of "Getting to Know You" type blog-chains going around. And I thought, even though I did one on my other blog, that it'd be fun to do a Food-Themed one here and tag my favorite food bloggers (some are DIY bloggers or just foodies but it'll still be fun). 

The idea is come up with 13 (a baker's dozen) questions and then tag 13 fellow foodies to answer these questions. They post the answers on their blog, come up with a new 13 questions and tag 13 foodie-friends. Simple. (Just don't forget to tell the tagged people they've been tagged).

So the 13 Fellow Foodies I'm going to tag are:


Gorgonzola Fries -
My latest guilty pleasure

Now for some food-fun questions.

1. What food did you once hate (as a child or even more recently) that you have found an appreciate for and now enjoy?

2. What do you normally order when going out to breakfast/brunch? 

3. What is your favorite late-night snack?

4. What is the one dish you wish you could cook, but haven't yet mastered?

5. What is your favorite restaurant? Where is it located and what is your favorite dish on their menu?

6. Who taught you how to cook?

7. What is the worst cooking disaster you've ever caused?

8. What did you have for dinner last night?

9. What restaurant do you want to eat at and haven't?

10. What is your guilty-pleasure food item?

11. What food item/dish do you just love that your family/friends can't/won't try?

12. Cake or Pie? What kind?

13. If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would be your last meal?*




Don't feel like because you weren't tagged you can't play along....


*Thank you Anthony Bourdain for this fun food question.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Starbucks Secret Menu

This morning my mother sent me to Yahoo News to see pictures of a chupacabra... while there was no chupacabra there was an article called "The Ultimate Guide to Starbucks Secret Menu" - and I had to share. 

So I'm sure some people are going to give me shit but I'm a fan of Starbucks. They don't make the best coffee ever and there are certainly companies I like more. But over all they don't over roast or burn their coffee (something that I just can't stand) and they gave my little sister her first job (which she's excelling at) - so for that they have a soft spot in my heart as well.

Having someone on the "inside" is always fun. She comes home from after work and brings all sorts of concoctions she's created (although she does love to put the white mocha in EVERYTHING). haha. I love that places have "Secret Menus" I don't even have to know what they are. In a foodie world like today, where more and more restaurants are refusing any substitutions (even for allergies) it's refreshing to see some places allow for personalization (and no, I don't mean "Have it Your Way").

*          *          *

A list of the coffee giant's off-the-menu items

Frequenters of Starbucks know the situation all too well: You're standing in line, reciting the precise order of the five different descriptors that constitute "your drink," when you hear the person in front of you make a request so foreign sounding it completely throws your concentration.

A Zebra Mocha? A Grande Green Eye? A Captain Crunch Frappuccino? Say what? They may sound like a far cry from the standard drip cup or your simple Mocha Frappe, but these drinks are not Starbucks folklore. And really, considering that the coffee giant has in years past boasted offering some 87,000 different drink combinations, that such "secret" items exist should not be too surprising.

As it turns out, many of your fast-food and restaurant chain favorites have "secret" menus — places like Taco Bell, Wendy's, Subway, Chipotle, and even Jamba Juice. Of course, the one at beloved West Coast cult favorite, In-N-Out, is arguably the most famous. So well-known, in fact, that there's really not much "secret" about it anymore. Starbucks' off-the-menu items are certainly not as widely publicized as In-N-Out's, but they are known enough to the point where you won't get a dirty look from the barista when you ask for a Double Dirty Iced Chai.

Read on for an in-the-know guide to the "secret" drinks at Starbucks. Just remember that not all of the drink names may be universal so make sure you can at least explain how the drink is made to your barista.

Green Eye: A Red Eye or Black Eye, sure — that's one and two extra shots of espresso in a regular drip, respectively. But those that go for green get a sure-to-jack-you-up three shots of espresso boost to their cup of coffee.

Dirty Chai: A chai latte (hot or iced) with a shot of espresso added in. And if you want two shots? That's called a "Double Dirty" or "Extra Dirty" Chai.

Zebra Mocha: Sometimes also called a "Penguin Mocha," this drink combines the white chocolate mocha with the regular mocha for those who can't pick a favorite. Or, if you really want to take it to the next level, ask to have raspberry flavoring added for something called the "Red Tux" Mocha.

Chocolate Dalmatian: A White Chocolate Mocha with java chips and chocolate chips sprinkled in.

Cake Batter Frappuccino: Perhaps a little deceptively named, as there are no actual pieces of cake or cake batter in it, this beverage vanilla and almond syrup to a Vanilla Frappuccino.

Captain Crunch Frappuccino: No, this doesn't involve bringing the childhood-favorite cereal into the store and asking them to blend it in a frappe. Still, fans say that the combination of hazelnut syrup (though some folks contend it should be toffee nut) in a Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino is a dead ringer for the flavor of the cereal.

"Short" Drink: The Tall drink's smaller, less expensive younger brother.

French Press: Apparently if you ask, Starbucks will brew any of the coffee they sell in a French Press.

Super Cream Frappuccino: Like to go heavy on the whipped cream? Ask for a "Super Cream" version of your Frappe and you'll get half a cup of whipped cream blended in.

Affogato-Style Frappuccino: This one probably classifies more as an in-the-know than a "secret" one. Order any Frappe "affogato-style" and you'll get a shot of hot espresso added on top of your drink as opposed to having it blended in.

Triple C's: And the award for best alliteration in a Starbucks drink name goes to the Three C's: Cinnamon Dolce Latte with caramel syrup and chocolate mocha syrup.

Biscotti Frappuccino: This off-the-menu item sounds a little like a Starbucks version of a DQ Blizzard or a McFlurry, except you have to have to buy a package of biscotti cookies separately and ask your barista to blend them into your Frappe. Note: There seems to be some contention online as to whether or not baristas are actually allowed to put biscotti in the blender, so maybe only ask someone you know is willing to do you a favor.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Quick Chocolat Fix

Sometimes you just need something ooey-gooey and chocolate. At some point we clipped a magazine recipe for chocolate cake in a cup. Two nights ago it hit the spot.

Chocolate Cake - Just One Slice

2 Tb flour
3 Tb sugar
2 Tb unsweetened cocoa
1 large egg
2 Tb milk
2 Tb vegetable oil
2 Tb chocolate chips
Small splash vanilla extract

1. Add dry ingredients to a coffee mug and mix well.
2. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour in milk and veg oil - mix well.
4. Add chocolate chips and vanilla extract, mix again.
5. Microwave mug for two minutes. Cake may rise over top but will deflate once taken out.

Careful! Inside will be gooey and hot!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Cupcake 911

To my fellow foodies and sweet tooth comrades, 

I am becoming over whelmed when I Google "cupcake". I need your assistance. Send me your favorite, your tried-and-true, cupcake recipes.

I'm not looking for something as simple as a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting combo.

I'm not looking for something so complex it will take me five tries to even pretend to understand what your recipe is telling me to do. 

What I am looking for is something light, fresh - perhaps berry or other fruit focused (though I'm not opposed to traditional chocolate/vanilla variations) - that would be perfect for an afternoon garden party (adults not children in attendance).

Send me links or put the whole recipe in the comment box. 

Who knows? 

Yours might just rock my socks so much I send you a little something special !

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Recipe: Meringue Layer Cake

Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes, largely unattended

Servings: 12 to 16

Note: Adapted from "The Gourmet Cookbook, Volume 1." and posted on the LA Times. Ice this cake immediately after you make the icing and serve soon after preparing.

Meringues
1 tablespoon butter (for parchment)
2 tablespoons flour (for parchment)
8 egg whites
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup ground almonds

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with wax paper or baking parchment. Trace 2 circles on each of two baking sheets, 8 inches in diameter, with 1 inch between them. On the third sheet, trace one circle. Brush the paper with melted butter and flour generously, shaking off the excess.

2. Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually beat in the sugar and continue beating until stiff and glossy. Fold in the flour and the ground almonds.

3. Divide the egg white mixture among the circles on the baking sheets, taking care to spread it evenly to the edges of the circles as thin spots will be fragile.

4. Place the sheets in the oven, reduce the heat to 250 degrees and bake for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the layers are just beginning to color. Reduce the heat to 200 and bake for two more hours.

5. Remove the meringues and cool briefly so they can be handled. Peel the parchment paper from the bottom of the disks, trying not to break them but not minding if you do -- icing will conceal it.

Icing and assembly
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa

1. As the meringues cool, make the filling. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter together; remove from heat.

2. Beat the egg whites until foamy and soft but not until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar and cocoa and then the melted chocolate and butter.

3. Put a meringue disk on a good pastry dish. Coat it with icing. Place a disk on top of the icing. Ice. Repeat with the remaining disks, finishing with a layer of icing. Serve immediately. The Italian walnut liqueur Nocino would be the ideal accompaniment.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Recipe: Grandma Angie's Crumb Cake

My Grandma Angie
I've been emailing back and forth lately with one of my aunts about family genealogy and such. She's found a number of old photographs that's she's scanned and emailed me, my great grandparent's in New Jersey and my great-great grandparent's back in Italy. 

We also have been talking food. That's one thing I connect most with my paternal grandmother. Food. Being the first generation born here in America she just embodied the "Italian Grandmother" stereotypes. Pleasant, smiling, loving on her grand babies, and always cooking. 

So my aunt has started to share and send me some of her recipes. I love to cook (as if a food blog wasn't evidence enough you now have a confession) and am glad to keep cooking the food that my grandmothers have cooked (both sides - Italian and German/English - are crazy-ass good cooks). 

So, of course, I wanted to share some with you. I haven't made this crumb cake myself (yet) but I do have vague memories of growing up and eating it with my Grandma Angie.

Grandma Angie's Crumb Cake*


*Note to any reader who tries this recipe. My grandmother didn't use recipes. She did everything from memory and knew what to add by heart. My family has tried years to recreate many of her recipes and after multiple tries have figured out the best measurement equivalents (i.e. How much does a "handful" of flour really measure out to?)


Mix the following ingredients
2 C flour
1 C sugar
1/2 C oil
2 tsp baking powder
1 C sour cream (my aunt said once she replaced this with strawberry yogurt and it was equally as good)
2 eggs
Dash of salt
sliced apples

Grease a baking pan - batter will be thick so you may need to spread to edges with a spatula.

Ingredients for topping:
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
dash of salt
lots of cinnamon (I warned you about the measurements not being exact)
1 stick of butter, softened to room temperature

Grab a fist full and squeeze.
Break off large chunks and place all over top of cake.

Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes or until golden.
Once cooled sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.



I hope it works for you and I hope you love it.
Thanks Grandma Angie.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Recipe: Easy-Bake-Molten-Cake

Now I am a huge fan of making things from scratch - cakes, cookies, soups, casseroles....but sometimes you just don't have the time. When you need something fast I don't think there's anything wrong with going the pre-packaged route or as the popular Food Network show calls it "Semi-Homemade". Tonight I made Mini Molten Cakes (with a little help from my friend Betty Crocker.

Ingredients: Betty Crocker Molten cake mix, 2 eggs, 1/3 C butter, handful of flower and muffin tins

Grease and flour muffin tins
Combine butter and chocolate chips (included in Betty Crocker box)
Melt together - NO LUMPS
Add cake mix
Spoon into tins - bake 425* for 12-14 minutes

Let rest 10-15 minutes (to prevent mouth burning)
Serve while warm (can be reheated 10-15 seconds in microwave).

Box or not - these were rich and warm...just melting in your mouth. Oh! And don't forget a glass of milk! :)
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