A Tribute to New York City Part 1

* My friend Hannah Flora asked me to be a guest blogger on her blog this week (and next).  She wanted me to write about my time in New York City and how it relates to living in Dallas, TX. You can read the full post here, but make sure to check out her fabulous blog: Hannah Kate Flora. 

I’ve known Hannah since we were young, like really young. Braces young. Even training bras young. And though we went to school together for many, many years, I never really got to know her- that is until I moved to New York. I was lucky enough to develop a friendship with Hannah during my brief time in the Big Apple. I had a hard time meeting and making friends there, but Hannah definitely made things easier for me. Honestly one of the sweetest people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, she was always reaching out and inviting me places. One of my favorite memories with her in New York was going to the Big Apple Barbeque Block Party. Rows upon rows of barbeque vendors from all over the US were there to share their finger lickin’ ribs and pulled pork, even some Texas standards such as The Salt Lick, which if you’re from Texas, you’ve no doubt heard about and hopefully had a chance to try- seriously good stuff.

It was actually at this block party that Hannah planted the seed, urging me to start my own blog writing about food and cooking, which is wherein my true passion lies. Before then, I was pretty oblivious to the world of blogging, but her suggestion intrigued me, and a couple months later I took Hannah’s advice and opened myself up to a whole new world of food blogging, a world I didn’t even know existed. But exploring this new world of virtual foodie friends and followers and writing and tweeting (twitting...?) about my culinary adventures, has allowed me to discover a new passion for writing, one that I didn’t even know I had, and that is, of course, thanks to Hannah.

I may have chosen to leave New York and return to the South, but that doesn’t mean my whole time spent up north was a waste or that it left a bad taste in my mouth.  I’m not bitter about my time there.  I actually had some fantastic experiences and was introduced to quite a few things, besides the smell of subways or how quickly rage could consume me when trying to fight my way trough the sea of people in Times Square.  It was in New York that I had my first encounter with a farmer’s market, which is hard to believe considering my immense love for local and fresh ingredients. 

I guess living in Dallas, the farmer’s markets here were always a destination, where as in New York, every time I stepped out in Union Square (after making my brief, but painful commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan) there were throngs of people scoping out what the vendors on that particular day had to offer.  I’d always stroll- ok rush, I hate crowds- up and down the congested aisles, stopping every so often to linger over a particular piece of produce, but never making a purchase. 

I had always thought farmer’s market purchases were supposed to be cheaper, encouraging folks to buy local instead of the chemical soaked copies that stock the grocery stores.  Alas, the minuscule budget I lived on in New York did not allow me to enjoy the organic fruits and vegetables farmers from upstate had worked so hard to haul down into the city. So a couple of weeks ago I decided to wake up early- on a Saturday (gasp!) no less- and drive all the way to downtown Dallas to check out the Dallas Farmer’s Market. 

I was like a kid in a candy store, except this candy store wouldn’t give me a stomach ache or rot my teeth.  There were so many choices of plump, juicy red Texas tomatoes, enormous green onions, the most delicious watermelon I’ve ever had, and some new little round “8-ball”squash that I had never seen before. 

And not to brag or anything, but the farmer’s markets in Texas have got it right, on the prices that is.  A bucket of 16 tomatoes cost $2! Ahhh, visions of bruschetta are dancing through my head… 

Another newbie for me in New York, although quite less profound, was the side by side escalators, one of which was for your shopping cart.  You New Yorkers, no doubt, know exactly what I’m talking about, while most Texans, I’m sure, don’t have a clue- that is unless you’ve made a trip to the brand spanking new Whole Foods that opened on Park Lane.  My mom and I first encountered these escalators during our venture out to the Target on Flatbush, deep in the heart of Brooklyn- and man do I mean deep.  My mom and I were pretty astounded at these escalators, which I guess is pretty silly, but that’s how we country bumpkins react to that fancy New York City stuff- ha. 

The idea of 24/7 delivery, of absolutely anything, was also new to me in New York.  Although I was only exposed to this luxury for a brief time, and this luxury was also “limited” to me living in Brooklyn, it has still spoiled me rotten, right to my core.  There have been many, many nights that I have found myself lying on my couch, paralyzed with laziness, wondering what I should have delivered for dinner, and upon making my decision, only then do I realize that I don’t even have that option.  There are sadly very few places that will deliver, and even fewer that do so past 9 pm.  In New York, you could have groceries, wine, greasy Chinese food, and even toothpaste delivered at 4 am if necessary.  How dare Plano make me get in my car and drive all the way to the nearest Asian take-out.

Bakeries were obviously not introduced to me during my time in New York, but the immense amount of them was.  I probably could have a tried a different bakery each week during my year there and though I tried quite a few of them, there were more than a few that I never had a chance to sample.  However, the two bakeries that really resonated with me were the two darlings of New York City: Billy’s Bakery and Magnolia Bakery.  The two have long held an infamous rival with one another and it’s easy to see why.  The cupcakes, which were basically made famous by Magnolia with thanks to Sex and the City, were, while delicious, not the real reason why I would frequent these bakeries. (But for anyone wondering which cupcake I favor of the two… I’d have to go with Billy’s- the actual cake of the cupcake is much lighter.)  No, it wasn’t the cupcakes that kept me coming back, not even with their towers of buttercream.  At Billy’s, it was their heavenly banana cake with cream cheese frosting.

I remember the exact moment that I had put that first bite into my mouth.  I had just come from the Bronx Zoo and decided to take a detour to Billy’s Bakery.  I took my tired self home, from the Bronx, to Chelsea, and all the way back to Brooklyn, climbed the stairs to my 3^rd story apartment, and before I even allowed myself to sit down, I took that first fateful bite of banana cake.  It really was life changing. The creamy, tangy frosting paired with the impossibly moist cake with small bits of banana baked through, (pause to wipe drool) literally made me weak in the knees.  Like I said, heavenly.  Then there is Magnolia Bakery, that has my second and third favorite desserts, and, oddly enough, one of them is also made of bananas.  The banana pudding there is insane.  It’s not your grandma’s banana pudding.  The other dessert is the red velvet cheesecake.  I had never heard of red velvet cheesecake before this.  And I love red velvet anything.  And I adore cheesecake.  So this particular dessert had high standards to live up to.  It did not disappoint, but rather soared right past those expectations. 

While I do feel a little sad reminiscing about those delectable desserts from such charming bakeries, don’t feel too sorry for me.  Dallas has some quality competitors.  I ordered a cake for my mom’s 50^th birthday from Society Bakery, but this wasn’t just any old cake.  This was a chocolate, turtle, caramel, gooey, rich- did I mention chocolate?- cake.  It was pretty darn awesome.  While I was there picking up the cake, I of course also had to pick up a couple other goodies, a couple of cupcakes and some petit-fours.  The petit-fours are definitely where it’s at.  The cupcakes were somewhat forgettable for me.  If you want a good cupcake in Dallas, check out Dimple’s, they’re delicious and jumbo sized which is always a plus.  I mean, is there such a thing as too much cupcake?

I still haven’t found a worthy replacement of the banana cake, however.  So making my own would have to suffice.  My recipe for Banana Cake is a good enough substitute, so I invite you to indulge in your own “Billy’s Bakery” moment.  For me, it’s like having a little slice of NYC, where each bite allows memories to come flooding back.  I can’t promise the same for you, but it’s worth a shot.  The frosting alone, if nothing else, is worth it.

I’ll be back next Friday with a follow up post on more New York memories and another NYC inspired recipe.

(banana cake recipe follows)

Heavenly Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 

Inspired by Billy's Bakery 

Ingredients:
Crisco for greasing pans
2 3/4 cups cake flour (plus more for pans), sifted
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
5 ripe bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans
1/2 cup chopped, toasted walnuts
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Grease and flour 3, 9-inch round cake pans; set aside. Pre-heat oven to 350º F.

2. Mash the bananas with a fork in a small bowl. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine; set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugars, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add the eggs and oil and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened; do not beat.

4. Gently stir in the sour cream, banana mixture, pecans, walnuts, and vanilla. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and place in the oven. Set a pan of water on the rack below the cakes; it will help to keep the cakes moist. Bake for 23-28 minutes or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake layers in the pans for 10 minutes, and then turn them out onto a rack to cool completely.

5. Once completely cooled, assemble, fill and frost the cake. Sprinkle with additional chopped pecans or walnuts. Enjoy!

(cream cheese frosting recipe follows)

Cream Cheese Frosting 

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen 

Ingredients:
2, 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 pound confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth in consistency, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the confectioner's sugar and continue to beat until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla.

2. The pecans/walnuts can be stirred into the frosting or reserved to sprinkle on top of the frosted cake.

Cherry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream

I'm ending my Father's Day menu installment with the recipe for the cherry cobbler I made especially for my Dad. See, he loves cherry pie, but then again who doesn't? It is about as quintessential Americana as the timeless apple pie. Every Thanksgiving, when putting together our menu of sides and desserts to go along with the turkey of choice that year, a cherry pie is always included. My dad doesn't care for pecan, the aforementioned apple, or even pumpkin. Since the cherry pie usually belongs to him and him alone, a canned cherry pie filling and store bought crust usually suffices. However, that is not how I prefer to assemble my desserts. Especially during the peak of cherry season. I bought a large bag of dark, sweet cherries and they certainly tasted as advertised. They were plump and juicy- the flesh the color of a mature merlot. Thankfully I bought more than I needed for the cobbler, because I just couldn't resist eating a handful or two while meticulously pitting each cherry. And though the cherries were the real star of this dessert, the crust was a fierce competitor. It was impossibly fluffy, thanks to the addition of buttermilk and heavy cream. The cobbler didn't need anything else at this point- it was already quite tasty, but I decided to make a batch of homemade vanilla ice cream. Partly because cobbler and vanilla ice cream go together like peas and carrots, but also partly because I had just bought a new ice cream recipe book by David Lebovitz and I was dying to try one of them out. Vanilla ice cream, though standard, is sinfully delicious and rich when made the traditional French way with egg yolks heated with cream, but when paired with a fresh-from-the-oven cherry cobbler, it's out of this world. 

Cherry Cobbler

Adapted from Gourmet Magazine, July 1997

Ingredients:

For cherry filling-
2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
12 cups fresh or frozen pitted tart cherries (about 4 pounds fresh, picked over)
2 tablespoons Frangelico or Di Saronno Amaretto
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
¼ tsp allspice
2 tbsp lemon juice

Topping-
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3/4 cup chilled buttermilk
3/4 cup chilled whipping cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.

2. To make filling, whisk together sugar and cornstarch in a large heavy saucepan. Add fresh cherries, liqueur, vanilla, almond extract, allspice and lemon juice and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally. Simmer mixture, stirring, 4-5 minutes and transfer to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Set aside.

3. For topping, whisk flour, 1/2 cup sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Add butter; rub in with fingertips or use a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Slowly add buttermilk and cream, tossing with fork until dough comes together.

4. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls over hot filling to cover. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake cobbler until topping is golden and tester inserted into center of topping comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Serve cobbler warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Serves 12

Vanilla Ice Cream

Courtesy of The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream, divided use
pinch of salt
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
6 large egg yolks
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Warm the milk, sugar, 1 cup of the cream, and salt in a medium saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the warm milk and add the bean as well. Cover, remove from the heat, and let steep at room temperature for 30 minutes.

2. Pour the remaining 1 cup of cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan.

3. Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Be careful to not let the mixture boil. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Put the vanilla bean into the custard, add the vanilla extract, and stir until cool over an ice bath.

4. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator. When ready to churn, remove the vanilla bean, rinsing and reserving for another use, and then freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Makes about 1 quart

Stuffed and Grilled Jalapeño Peppers

I have had my eye on the jalapeño grill rack from Sur La Table for quite awhile now, but never had a real reason to buy it- that is until last weekend. Making stuffed and grilled jalapeños part of my Father's Day Menu gave me the perfect excuse to go out and make the purchase. I love jalapeños. Fried, stuffed, sliced, pickled, on top of a taco, wrapped in bacon, puréed in salsa, you name it. I even have several jalapeño plants growing in my new garden in my backyard. I scoured online for different recipes, but never came across one that appealed to my liking. I knew exactly what I wanted from these particular jalapeños. I wanted a creamy cheese filling and plenty of smoke flavor. The grill would take part of the latter. All I had to do was come up with the perfect cheese filling, which I think I managed to come pretty close to. The beauty of cheese stuffed jalapeños though, however, is that any combination of cheeses can be substituted in this recipe to fit your own personal tastes. Give it a Spanish flair by adding Manchego or perhaps try goat cheese. The possibilities are endless really, just remember to pace yourself. 

Stuffed and Grilled Jalapeño Peppers

Ingredients:

18 large jalapeño peppers
6 oz cream cheese, softened
¾ cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup minced green onions
1 clove garlic minced
salt and pepper to taste

Optional Add-ins:
cooked ground spicy sausage
chopped and sautéed bacon
1/2 cup corn kernels

Directions:

1. Cut ¼- inch off the top of each jalapeño; reserve the tops. Using a thin knife, small melon baller, or pepper corer, hollow out the centers of the peppers, removing the seeds and ribs; do not cut through the flesh.

2. Prepare a grill for indirect grilling over medium-high heat.

3. In a bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Monterey jack, cheddar, green onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Stuff the center of each pepper with 1-2 tbsp of the cheese mixture, filling to within 1/8-inch from the top. Place the filled peppers upright in a jalapeño pepper roaster and set the tops back on the peppers.

4. Place the pepper roaster on the grill over indirect heat and cover the grill. Roast the peppers until they are tender and the cheese in melted, about 25-30 minutes.

5. Transfer the peppers to a platter and serve immediately.

Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad

I made this particular salad for the first time last summer, when my mom came to visit me in New York. I took her to Central Park for a gourmet picnic with a menu that included grilled vegetable panzanella, spicy apricot glazed shrimp, and the now famous (around my inner circle at least) chocolate-caramel-espresso bars (too bad I can't really take credit for them...). I haven't made the watermelon salad since, but I've been itching to for quite some time. While watermelon isn't my favorite fruit, there isn't much else that tastes quite as good on a sweltering hot summer day. The list of ingredients might sound odd at first, but the flavors mix and mingle so well. The sweet and juicy watermelon contrasts perfectly with salty feta, peppery arugula and acidic balsamic- a perfect balancing act. The flavor combination was exactly what I was looking to add to my Father's Day menu of grilled quail, stuffed jalapeno peppers, grilled corn, and cherry cobbler. There is nothing better than using summer's bounty to your advantage to create a memorable and delicious meal. 

Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Recipe Courtesy of Bon Appétit

Ingredients:

1 5-ounce package baby arugula
8 cups 3/4-inch cubes seedless watermelon
1 7-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar glaze (see note)

Directions:

1. Arrange arugula over a large platter. Scatter watermelon, then feta on top. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper.

Note: Balsamic vinegar glaze can be found in the vinegar section at many supermarkets. If unavailable, boil 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan until reduced to 3 tablespoons, about 6-7 minutes.

Father's Day on the Grill: Quail with Pomegranate Glaze

I've never been particularly good at picking out gifts for friends or relatives belonging to the male gender. However, shopping for my dad takes the stress of gift giving to a whole new level. He's a simple man with few interests beyond sports and wine (as well as my cat- He really loves my little Oscar) and there are only so many necessary items you can give a person associated with these said interests. Sentimental and handmade items have always had their place, like the hand painted mug or "family portrait" I so meticulously crafted out of crayons and watercolors during my earlier years, but I guess you could say I'm a little old to pass off a gift like this. I can, however, make a homemade meal, something that is just as personal and straight from the heart as the popsicle stick frames spattered with glitter and glue that I used to be so proud of.

Firing up the grill is, with out a doubt, my favorite way to prepare a meal during the hot summer months. I love the smell of the smoke and sitting outside with a cold beverage while waiting for the food to cook. Any special meal made at my house during June or July is guaranteed to come hot off the grill, and Sunday night's Father's Day feast was no exception. My original plan was to make hamburgers and class them up a bit with a smoky bacon pimento cheese spread, however, considering we had just had bison burgers only days before, I decided to go a different direction. I had been telling my mom earlier that week about one of my new favorite restaurants in Dallas, Victor Tango's, and the delicious quail they serve there, so quail managed to stay on my mind throughout the week. I've never attempted to make a dish with the tiny little bird, but how hard could it really be?

As it turns out, not that hard at all. The most difficult part about the whole process was finding the actual quail, but I managed to find some frozen ones at Central Market. But at this time of year, that may have been my only option considering quail (hunting) season is around November, or so my manly, pro-hunting buddies tell me. In my efforts to spruce up the quail and add a little extra flavor, I came up with a pomegranate glaze to brush on top of the quail as they were grilling. It was quite successful if I don't say so myself. I served the quail alongside some grilled corn, which was accompanied by cilantro lime butter, a watermelon, arugula and feta salad with balsamic glaze, and stuffed jalapeno peppers that I roasted on the grill as well. But my real gift to my dad this Father's Day was the cherry cobbler I served for dessert. My dad absolutely loves cherry pie, but I thought a cobbler sounded a little more celebratory of summer. My dad loved it. He loved the whole meal actually. I think it's safe to say that my gift was an all around hit. Who say's you need money to buy a great gift? 

Stay tuned to see the recipes for the watermelon salad, jalapeno poppers, and cherry cobbler later this week!

Grilled Quail with Pomegranate Glaze

Ingredients:
1 cup pomegranate juice (I used Pom pomegranate-cherry juice, use any variety you like)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey
2 tbsp pomegranate molasses or mild-flavored molasses
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ancho chile powder
juice from 1/2 large lemon
salt and pepper to taste
12 quail, fresh or frozen and thawed, butterflied

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the grill to medium-high heat.

2. Mix the first 7 ingredients together in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Pour once cup of the glaze into a small saucepan and set aside. If using fresh quail, season with salt and pepper as well. (The frozen quail I used was pre-seasoned).

3. Place the quail, breast side down, and grill for 3-4 minutes until the skin is browned. Turn, baste, and continue to grill for 3-4 minutes longer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and turn the quail again back to breast side down, baste, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Turn once more, baste and cook for 1 final minute.

4. Meanwhile, bring the reserved glaze in the saucepan to a boil and reduce by half. Serve alongside the quail.

Serves 4-6 (2-3 quail per person)

Butterfly Cupcakes

Every time I've written a post this year (all 4 of them), I take a long hiatus in between each one, and then come back offering up excuses for my negligence. Well, I'm not going to do that this time. I could have found the time to quickly post a recipe or two. But sometimes in life, it's necessary to prioritize and focus your energy on the more important aspects. And for me, that has been trying to find another form of income (besides my small, but steady catering venture) so that I may ultimately move out of my parents house. Not that living at home is terrible by any means- my parents are very cool- but let's face it, when I was 18 and planning out my grand future, living with my parents in my mid twenties definitely wasn't on the list. And so I'm happy to report that I have indeed found a job. One that allows me the freedom to continue with my catering, which makes me very happy. This project that I have recently become involved with is an online magazine called shuzsociety. An online destination all about shoes. I feel really lucky right now to be able to work with my two passions- food and fashion.

So now that I've updated you on where I've been the last two months, I guess I should begin to mention something food related, since that is the whole reason you're here. These lovely cupcakes were my donation to a local elementary school's auction. Well, it was part of the donation. Along with these painstakingly detailed cupcakes, I offered up a dozen cupcakes, every month, for a whole year to the highest bidder. So 2010 will be filled with many cupcake related posts. (Next up is a ballerina theme- by special request).

These butterflies are made out of colored confectionary coating wafers- the same kind I use to dip my cake balls in. I got the recipe from Hello, Cupcake! and changed up the colors to make them a little more appealing to kids. The book provided a butterfly wing template which made the process much, much easier. The book suggests using a plastic baggie to pipe the melted wafers, however, I found it much easier to use a plastic squeeze bottle. I melted each confectionary color and poured them into individual plastic bottles. I felt I had more control this way, and also it allows me to save the unused candy coating for a later use. (Just place the plastic bottle in a tall mug of hot water for several minutes. Once it is slightly softened, microwave in 15 second intervals until thoroughly melted). The technique of piping the butterfly wings isn't difficult- it looks harder than it is, trust me- but it definitely was time consuming. So don't judge me for the fact that I cheated by using a boxed cake mix. At least I made homemade icing.

Butterfly Cupcakes

Adapted from Hello, Cupcake!

Ingredients:
24 vanilla cupcakes baked in liner color of choice
2 cups dark chocolate melting wafers (I used Wilton)
2 cups of candy melting wafers in color of choice (or you can use several colors like I did!)
3 tablespoons white nonpareils
3/4 cup dark chocolate frosting (from a can is fine, it's for the body of the butterfly only)
50-60 brown M&M's or chocolate chips
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (see recipe below)
food coloring in color of choice (be sure to only use paste dyes or gel based dyes- nothing water based!)

Directions:
1. Trace the wing (there are two sizes) and antennae templates (see below) onto a sheet of paper with thick, black ink. Cut out 24 small squares of wax paper (large enough to fit a pair of wings) and 24 really-small squares (to fit one antennae).

2. Place 1 cup each of the dark chocolate and colored candy melting wafers in two ceramic mugs (or if you wish to pipe using a plastic bag, place wafers in a ziplock bag and do not seal). Microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between each, until the candy is melted and smooth.

3. Using a small funnel, spoon the melted candy into individual plastic squeeze bottles (or seal the ziplock bags and snip a 1/6" corner from each bag). Using a cookie sheet as a work surface, place the template under a square of wax paper. Working on one wing at a time, use the melted dark chocolate to outline the wing template. You might have to go over the outline several times in order to thicken. Fill in the wing with the melted colored candy. Tap the cookie sheet lightly against the counter to flatten. Using a round toothpick, pull the dark chocolate into the colored candy to create the wing design. While the candy is still soft, sprinkle the outer edges of the wing with the white nonpareils. Repeat with the remaining melted candy, melting additional wafers as needed, to make 24 pairs of wings. Reheat the candy (in the plastic bottle or ziplock bag) in the microwave for 10-15 seconds if it become to thick to work with, but be careful not to over heat. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until set, about 5 minutes. Follow the same procedure to make the antennae, using the melted dark chocolate.

(The wings and antennae can be made 1-2 days in advance; keep in a cool, dry location)

4. Tint the vanilla buttercream to your color of choice, then spread the frosting on top of each cupcake. Spoon the chocolate frosting into a ziplock bag or a disposable pastry bag and set aside.

5. Carefully peel the chilled wings and antennae from the wax paper. Place two brown M&M's or chocolate chips, about 1/2-inch apart, on the center of each cupcake (this provides support for the wings). Press the inside edge of a pair of wings into the frosting about 1/4-inch apart, allowing the wings to lean on the M&M's or chocolate chips. Snip a 1/8-inch corner from the bag with the chocolate frosting. Starting at the head of the butterfly, pipe 4 or 5 "beads" of frosting down the length of the body, drawing the frosting into a small point on the last bead. Gently press an antennae into the cupcake, just ahead of the beginning of the butterfly body. Repeat with all the remaining cupcakes, and arrange on a platter. (Tip: by placing the wings in different positions on the cupcakes, you can create the illusion of movement and fluttering.

Makes 24 cupcakes

Vanilla Buttercream

Courtesy of The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
6 1/2-7 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Directions:
1. Place the butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Add 4 cups of powdered sugar, then the milk, vanilla, and salt. On medium speed, and with the paddle attachment, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.

2. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days at room temperature. Do not chill or the icing will set and harden.

Makes enough for 2 dozen cupcakes or one 2-layer 9-inch cake

Three Cheese Lasagna

So once again it looks like I've been slacking off. I'm not sure how some bloggers out there find the time to make such elaborate food items, take stunning photographs, and then post an entry about it week after week, and sometimes several times a week, and not only that! I've seen some bloggers post a drool worthy recipe daily! Daily. D-A-I-L-Y. I mean, seriously, where do these people find the time to have a job, be with family, take care of day to day chores, and then whip up something spectacular and share it for all the world to see. I envy those types for their time management skills. Kudos to you. But back to me and my lacking of time management prowess. This time around I would like to blame it on the weather. It has been too cold for too long. I live in Texas for pete's sake! Where are you spring weather!?! The cold and snow has made me lazy and unmotivated. All I want to do is stay wrapped up in a blanket, by the fire, all day long. But this weather can also be blamed for my latest culinary obsession: lasagna.

While I consider myself a lover of carbs, it's not often that I crave a large bowl of pasta. My carb cravings usually stem from something of the likes of cake... or cookies... or anything that's got a good serving of butter and sugar really. (Come to think of it, maybe it's not carbs that I'm craving after all...) But this past weekend, I went to a popular restaurant here in Dallas, Avanti, and while I ordered their filet mignon sandwich, the menu item that was most alluring to me at that moment was their lasagna. I wiped away the drool dripping from my bottom lip and went with the sandwich instead. However, the next morning, which just so happened to be bone chillingly cold, I woke up with a massive craving for cheesy, warm, gooey lasagna. Like I said, it's the weather. What's better on a cold day than something warm, comforting, and soul satisfying? Not much. And what's more comforting than melted cheese, spicy beef, and tangy tomato sauce layered between tender sheets of pasta? Come to think of it, nothing.

Three Cheese Lasagna

Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com

Ingredients:
Sauce-
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/4 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup finely chopped peeled carrots
2 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
12 ounces lean ground beef (I used 96% lean)
10 ounces spicy Italian sausages, casings removed (I used lean Italian hot turkey sausage)
42 ounces crushed tomatoes (I used Muir Glen)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 tablespoons golden brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Lasagna-
12-15 lasagna noodles (about 12 ounces)
30 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 3.5 ounces)
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry
2 large eggs
4 3/4 cups grated mozzarella cheese (about 1 1/4 pounds)
*(I think fresh mozzarella would be a great addition! I'll try this next time!)

Directions:
1. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and garlic; sauté until softened, about 12 minutes. Add beef and sausages to pan; sauté until cooked through, breaking up meat with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer until flavors blend and sauce measures about 7 cups, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let cool.

2. 
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender, about 7 minutes. Drain; cover with cold water.

3. Combine ricotta and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese in medium bowl. Mix in spinach. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in eggs.

4. Drain pasta and pat dry. Spread 3/4 cup sauce over bottom of 13x9-inch glass baking dish. Place 4 or 5 noodles over sauce, overlapping to fit (I used a more narrow baking dish, thus only needing 4 noodles per layer). Spread half of ricotta-spinach mixture evenly over noodles. Sprinkle 2 cups mozzarella cheese evenly over ricotta-spinach mixture. Spoon 2 cups sauce over cheese, spreading with spatula to cover (sauce will be thick). Repeat layering with 4-5 noodles, remaining ricotta-spinach mixture, 2 cups mozzarella and 2 cups sauce. Arrange remaining 4-5 noodles over sauce. Spread remaining sauce over noodles. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese evenly over lasagna. (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.)

5. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake lasagna 40 minutes; uncover and bake until hot and bubbly, about 40 minutes more. Let lasagna stand 15 minutes before serving.

Serves 10-12