I have the world's best Grandma.

When I was growing up, every summer until I was 11, my Grandma would take my sister, brother, and me as well as 5 of our cousins during the school summer break. She had a 3 bedroom house that would nearly burst at the seams most days. We learned at a very young age what a hard day's work really was. She had us up at 6am and to bed by 9pm. We were never allowed to say a mean word to or about one another, but if you were caught, it was Hades for you. She broke every child labor law there was. She drove a Chevy Nova and SOMEHOW got everyone of us in that car to go to grocery shopping and church every Sunday.

Funny thing? These are my most memorable and favorite childhood memories.

She was awesome in the kitchen. She made some amazing meals and nothing ever went to waste. She lived in the country on some good acreage, so berries of almost every kind were quite abundant. She also had a rhubarb patch not too far from the house. She would often promise a nice treat after a long day of hard yard work. We learned all too soon not to get too excited.

Her idea of a nice treat was stewed rhubarb. With no sugar. Ick. I began to hate that patch with a passion. I didn't come around to the idea of rhubarb until I was in my 20s and she made this magnificent cobbler for a BBQ. Seriously, where was this deliciousness when we were growing up??

Grandma is now 93 years old. She's in a nursing home, living out her winter years. She sometimes forgets who I am when I visit, but I don't mind. She's given me the most wonderful memories a girl could ask for which helped mold me to the person I am today.

This post is dedicated to you Grandma. You made me eat rhubarb until it beat me into submission.

And for that, I thank you.

GRANDMA'S RHUBARB TARTS

Recipe adapted from my beautiful Grandma

Before making the tarts, the rhubarb must be blanched.

BLANCHING RHUBARB

½ cup water

½ cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons sugar

5-6 cups rhubarb, chopped into bite size pieces

Combine water, lemon juice, and sugar in heavy large saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring sugar water to a boil. Add rhubarb and boil for a minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Allow rhubarb to simmer for several minutes. Remove pan from heat, keeping covered until rhubarb is tender. Uncover and cool completely.

To make crust:

Sift flour, sugar, and salt. It's important to always sift cake flour. In a stand mixer (or using a fork or pastry blender), mix flour mixture and butter together. Start on low speed, combine until flour resembles course meal. Empty dough onto floured surface and bring together until just incorporated, You don't want to work the dough too much or it will yield a tough texture. Roll into logs and cover with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator and chill for several hours.

To make filling:

Combine blanched rhubarb, sugar, and flour. Stir together.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Prepare a 12-cup muffin tin and generously sprinkle with flour. To avoid over working the dough, I cut mine into small sections and work.

Roll out dough. Using a circular cookie cutter, cut out 12 circles and press to fit into hollows. Set aside.

In large bowl, combine sugar and flour and mix until incorporated. Add to rhubarb and mix well. Fill cups to top.

In small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, almonds, and oats. With pastry blender or fork, add butter and mix until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on top of rhubarb mixture.

Bake 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is set in center. Cool completely.

Yields: 12 Rhubarb Tarts

Happy Baking!

I was watching the reality show, Four Weddings, over the weekend and I ended up throwing a shoe at the TV. 

Well, it was actually a slipper, but still.

Why on earth would a bride subject herself to such scrutiny on one of the most important days of her life....on purpose?? Is a honeymoon that important to win? Some of these girls are really mean and catty. I can't even imagine what thoughts would be running through my mind if I were a contestant and the episode finally aired. Actually, I would probably be pretty devastated. I wouldn't like someone criticizing my choices. Thankfully I'll never have to find out.

The upside to watching was one of the girls had this amazing dessert table. She had all sorts of candy, cupcakes, cookies, tarts. And chocolate eclairs. 

Oh My Yum.

Naturally, I was on it. 

I'm certainly not a pastry chef by any means of the word, but I do have an incredible eclair recipe from a family friend I attempted once years ago and it was a major flop. Literally. My puffs deflated 4 seconds after they were removed from the oven.

This time, I figured it out. It's all about the air.

Which is probably the main content in the brains of those that choose to go on reality shows.

Lots of air and a smidge of insanity.

Recipe adapted from family friend, Marie McKinnon

¾ cups milk

½ cup butter
1 cup flour

3 large eggs
2 teaspoons sugar
pinch salt

Baileys Custard Filling:

Please see my Boston Cream Cupcakes for cooking instructions

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

½ cup heavy cream

1 cup good quality chocolate

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone mats. 

Put saucepan back on heat and continue to work with a wooden spoon. Continue to vigorously stir until dough forms a ball. 

Remove from heat and add eggs, one at a time, stirring as fast as you can! It is important that you do this. You will end up with scrambled egg dough if you do not work quickly. I prefer and recommend that you use a stand mixer if you have one. Place dough in mixer and add eggs one at a time. I did the hand method to show it can be done this way while getting an upper body workout!

Fill a piping bag with dough. Squeeze out 4 inch lines onto baking sheet, keeping them spaced apart about 2-3 inches. 

Bake for 10 minutes. Turn oven down to 375°F and bake another 12 minutes with the oven door open. Remove from tray and allow to rest on a wire rack. It's important to keep them well ventilated so they don't go soggy.

Using a knife, cut slit at top of eclair and pipe custard into it until it's filled. Set aside to rest.

To make Chocolate Ganache:

Place cream in saucepan and bring to a good simmer. Place chocolate into a heatproof dish. I use a glass measuring cup. Pour hot cream over chocolate and stir until melted. Let cool. Transfer into a piping bag. I used a star tip for decoration, but you can use any tip (or none) if you wish.

Yield: About 18 eclairs.

Happy Baking!

There is nothing like a good cup of tea.

Since the benefits of tea are pretty remarkable, I have experimented with it in some unorthodox methods - in a bath, in soap, as a mask on my face, even incorporated it into some recipes. Unfortunately, I don't look any younger, my laugh lines are still intact, and it didn't save me money on my car insurance. I'll just stick to what I know and pray it's doing something other than requiring me to use a whitening toothpaste daily.

To appease my neglected cookie jar, I made her some treats. Because Chai is my most favorite tea blend of all, I made some Vanilla Chai Shortbread cookies. These are major and the flavor is incredible.

My cookie jar is speaking to me again and my stomach is one happy organ. It's a win-win all around. Except for my thighs. Yeah. Not so much for them.

But you can't please everyone.

VANILLA CHAI SHORTBREAD COOKIES

2½ cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup sugar

Baseball season is back! 

We love the sport collectively as a family, but it's my husband's pride and joy of all sports, which is quite funny considering he's from England. He looks forward to opening day for months. In fact, he and a bunch of his cronies headed to Cleveland last week for their opening day. He couldn't wait for the season to hit here.

Unfortunately, my daughter continues to break his heart where the sport is concerned. He is a diehard Atlanta Braves fan, she is a Colorado Rockies fan. Why? Because the team wears purple. What can I say? We're girls. We do that. Thankfully, he's extremely patient and forgiving. 

I decided to celebrate our city's opening day with some cupcakes. I don't know what it is with me and cupcakes lately. I haven't abandoned my love of cookies, it's just that cupcakes have been calling to me more so than usual. Mind you, I do think I need to make a batch soon. I don't know if it's me or all the sugar I've been ingesting lately, but just the other day, I SWEAR I saw my cookie jar flip me the finger.

But that, my friends, is a WHOLE other ballgame. 


CRACKER JACK CUPCAKES

Peanut Butter Cupcakes:

2½ cups flour

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

½ cup butter

1 cup peanut butter

1¼ cups buttermilk

1 cup sugar

½ cup heavy cream

4 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

½ teaspoon salt

**This recipe yields 2 cups. The frosting recipe I have above is for 12 cupcakes. You can either double the frosting recipe or store remaining caramel in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for the next use. This is really tasty over vanilla ice cream!

To make salted caramel:

Fill liners about two-thirds of the way. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean, checking as soon as 13 minutes. Do not overbake. Mine were done in 17 minutes.

Remove from oven and transfer onto rack. Allow to completely cool.

To make frosting:

Using an electric mixer, add butter and beat until light in color and fluffy. Add salted caramel and powdered sugar slowly and mix until fluffy and completely incorporated. Cover and refrigerate until stiff in form, but still spreadable.

Pipe or spread cupcakes with frosting and top with caramel corn and chopped peanuts. Drizzle with salted caramel.

Yields: 24 cupcakes.

Happy Baking!

Happy Easter!

Aside from the usual suspects, for me, nothing screams Easter quite like coconut. It's really the only time of year I will consume my weight in the nutty fruit. That is if you don't count Bounty, Almond Joy, or Mounds Bars. I can eat those everyday.

Unfortunately, as I was taking the last process photos of these lush bars, the memory card decided it needed to format itself - and delete all the photos on it as well. Are you kidding me? I was absolutely raging, but then I took a moment to chill. There are worse things happening in this world than losing photos, not to mention the sacrifice the Lord took for us and the reason we celebrate Easter in the first place. Yeah. Perspective.

So, I decided to take the high road, put my big girl panties on, and share the only photo I have. Hopefully it will speak a thousand words, which is funny because that's about how many delicious calories are in them. 

Indulge my little chicken. Be blessed.

Coconut Cream Bars

Recipe adapted and slightly modified from Martha Stewart Living, May 2004

Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a large saucepan. Whisk in milk and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a boil, 5 to 6 minutes. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 3 minutes more. Remove from heat. Add butter, whisking until combined. Stir in 1½ cups coconut.

Spoon the custard onto cooled crust; smooth top with an offset spatula. Press plastic wrap directly onto custard surface, to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.

Beat cream and powdered sugar in a bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

I'm a complete teetotaller.

Actually, I lied. I'm not completely. I am known to have an occasional mixer or alcopop if I'm out for a girls night, hen night, or wedding.

Problem is, I nurse it all night that the alcohol pretty much evaporates before I hit the bottom of the glass. Other than that, I'm a total tea girl. Iced, hot, or chai. In fact, you buy me a venti nonfat Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks and I am all yours.

However, if cupcakes were alcohol, there wouldn't be time for a cup of tea.

I would be drunk. ALL. THE. TIME.

Mark my words.

TIPSY IRISH CUPCAKES

Recipe adapted and slightly modified from Smitten Kitchen

1 cup Guinness Stout Beer - or any stout beer will do

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
⅔ cup buttermilk - original recipe calls for the use sour cream. I just prefer buttermilk.

Whiskey Ganache Filling:

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate - I used semi-sweet chocolate chips
⅔ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter, room temperature
3 teaspoons Irish whiskey

Irish Cream Buttercream Frosting:

4½ cups confections sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
6-8 tablespoons Irish Cream Liqueur - like Bailey's
Cocoa powder for dusting - optional


Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12 cup muffin tins with paper liners. 

Bring 1 cup stout and 1 cup butter to simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt to blend. Beat in eggs and buttermilk. Add stout-chocolate mixture to mixture and beat just to combine.

Divide batter among cupcake liners, filling them about ¾ of the way.

Bake for 17-19 minutes or until tester inserted into center comes out clean. Mine took 18 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a rack completely.

Add chocolate (or chips if using), to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until it comes to a good simmer and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then stir until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined.

Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped into cupcakes.

Using the back of a large decorating tip or apple corer, cut the centers out of cupcakes. You want to go most of the way down the cupcake but not cut through the bottom — aim for about ⅔'s of the way. Put ganache into a piping bag with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

Frosting:

Whip the butter in the bowl with a hand or stand mixer for several minutes. You want to get it very light and fluffy. Slowly add powdered sugar in ½ cup increments, alternating with the Bailey's by 2 Tablespoons each time. Mix until everything has been completely incorporated. 

Pipe or spread onto cupcakes. 

Yields: 24 cupcakes

Happy Baking!

...Just because it's Wednesday. Enjoy.

NEAPOLITAN CRISPY RICE TREATS

Instructions adapted and modified from Taste of Home

Chocolate Layer:

3 tablespoons butter
2 cups mini marshmallows

2 Tablespoons milk
4 cups Cocoa Krispies (as in Cocoa Krispies)

OR

4 cups crispy rice cereal - I used Rice Krispies

3 Tablespoons cocoa powder (ONLY add cocoa powder if you can't find Cocoa Krispies!)

Vanilla Layer:

3 tablespoons butter
2 cups mini marshmallows

2 Tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups crispy rice cereal

Strawberry Layer:

3 Tablespoons butter
2 cups strawberry flavored marshmallows - I used Jet Puffed Strawberry Mallows**

2 Tablespoons milk
4 cups cups crispy rice cereal

**If you can't find strawberry flavored marshmallows, add ¼ cup strawberry jam and a drop or two of red food coloring as marshmallows are melting to give it the pink color needed to complete the Neapolitan look. Do try to get a jam without bits in it.

Line a 9×5 inch metal loaf pan with parchment paper or non-stick foil. I just buttered the heck out of my pan, but I do recommend foil or parchment paper for easier removal.

Melt butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan; stir until melted and smooth. This process will be used for each layer.

For chocolate layer, add cocoa cereal (or if using the crispy rice cereal and cocoa powder, mix together first, then add) into marshmallow mixture. Stir to coat. Empty into loaf pan and press down well.

Rinse out pan and repeat melting procedure with vanilla layer – add vanilla extract once marshmallows have melted, then cereal. Stir to coat. Empty onto chocolate layer and press down as neatly as possible.

Repeat melting procedure with strawberry layer. Add jam and food coloring (if using) to marshmallow mixture, then cereal, Stir to coat. Layer on top of vanilla portion. Press flat. At this point, your bars should be at the very top of the loaf pan.

Let sit for at least 1 hour. Lift from pan and use a serrated knife to cut into slices for best results. 

Happy Baking!