Monday, July 1, 2013

Carol Channing?

I said hello, Sadie,....well, hello Sadie!

Now, we said to GamGam, "Don't you think Sadie looks a bit like Carol Channing with her new 'do?"  We haven't heard a word from GamGam since!

All we can say is,

You're lookin' swell, Sadie....I can tell, Sadie
You're still glowin' ... you're still crowin' ...you're still goin' strong!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Suddie's Fantabulous Coconut Cupcakes

They're Fantabulous

We're expecting guests to arrive.   They say they will arrive at 9:30 PM.  Just in time to tuck them into bed.  We suspect it's far more likely they will roll in around midnight!  They're coming from San Francisco via Boulder and driving.  It's very difficult to stick to a schedule on such a long haul.

We have Suddie's Fantabulous Coconut Cupcakes in the oven in case they arrive famished (in addition to very, very late).

I think we first got hooked on cupcakes when we experienced them in all their glory at Society Bakery in Dallas.   They are so good.  Later we found their coconut cupcake recipe in People magazine, of all places.  We tried it out and this recipe WAS NOT their coconut cupcake recipe at all.  We were more than sure of that.  And the accompanying 7-minute frosting recipe produced something just dreadful.

So I emailed Roshi, the owner of Society Bakery.

Hi Roshi,
Whenever I was in Dallas, my dad would walk us over to Society Bakery so he could have your amazing cupcakes.
We don't get to Dallas as often as we would like and I know my dad pines for your cupcakes.  He misses them so much that I tried to make some for him using the Society Bakery coconut cupcake recipe that was published in People magazine.  I have to say they didn't taste nearly as good as your cupcakes and the frosting recipe didn't come anywhere close.   It didn't seem to be the right recipe.  Was this recipe correct or do you use a different one? Would you be willing to share?
Thanks so much for baking such great cupcakes.
Suddie

Roshi replied:

Hi Suddie
We can always ship you some whoopie pies!  The frosting recipe we gave to People was a seven minute frosting recipe that we only do for custom orders.  We do not give out our traditional cream cheese icing recipe.  Another thing we do differently with our coconut cupcakes now is hollow them out and fill them with pastry cream.   We have experimented with several versions of our Flavors - so another thing you might want to try is making a traditional white cake and add coconut to the batter.  I hope this helps.  Let us know if you would like us to ship you anything.
Take care,
Roshi Muns

So, I had to take matters into my own paws and create a superior coconut cupcake recipe.  My dad says they are the best coconut cupcakes in all the land, far and wide.  And we have no problem sharing the recipe!

Suddie's Fantabulous Coconut Cupcake Recipe

Cake Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
scant 1 tsp salt
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 1/2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup 0% Greek yougurt
3 tsp vanilla extract
1 /2 tsp coconut extract (we got ours from Amazon)
3/4 cup milk

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour with next 3 ingredients; set aside.
2.  Beat sugar and butter at medium speed until fluffy, about 5 mins.  Add eggs, egg whites, vanilla and coconut extracts and Greek yogurt, beating until blended.
3. Add coconut mixture to the butter mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with coconut mixture.  Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
4.  Scoop (we used a small ice cream scoop)into lined muffin pans, filling 2/3 full.  Bake from 22 -25 minutes.  But start checking them at 20 minutes.  When finished baking a wooden pick inserted into the center will come out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients:
2 8 oz cream cheese, cold
4 tbsp butter, room temperature
1 tbsp 0% Greek yogurt
4 tsp meringue powder (or dried egg whites)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Beat the cream cheese and butter until creamy.  Be careful not to over beat.  Beat in the Greek yogurt and meringue powder (if using, you don't have to but we think it helps the frosting keep it's shape).  Add the vanilla.  Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time.  Mix until combined and fluffy.  Fold in coconut.  Sprinkle with remaining coconut.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Lola in the Sky With Diamonds

Lola with her favorite football (may it rest in peace).

Lola took Best of Winners both days at the Hawkeye Kennel Club show this past weekend.  Now she just needs one more big major and she's a champion.

Catherine of Windchimes Tibetan Terriers came.  She brought Millie and Griffin and her son Jake.  When he was a kid,  Jake was named the Best Junior Handler at two Tibetan Terrier National Specialty shows and was one of 40 junior handlers to receive an AKC Best Junior Handler college scholarship. Not bad!  Jake and his wife are now finishing up their PhDs in Neuropsychology at the University of Iowa.

Catherine and Jake with Griffin and Millie.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Travels With My Uncle (Angus)

Angus and Lola visit Arnold Arboretum in Boston

Lola was awarded Best of Opposite Sex in the puppy sweepstakes at the Bay Colony Tibetan Terrier Club Specialty Show over the weekend in Boston.   On Friday she took Winners Bitch at the North Shore Kennel Club show and moved closer to her championship.

Deep Acres Loco Por Lola, Best of Opposite in Boston

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Happy Birthday from Henry

Roxie's 10-month-old pup Henry

Dear Grandma,
Happy belated birthday!
I needed a bath before I sent you my photo so you would be proud of me. In about 15 minutes, I will look a lot worse for wear.  Hope you had a happy day!
Love,
Your Grandson Henry

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Strawberry Jam

Little Strawberry Jam Cakes

All this talk about strawberries made our mouths water so we made a simple jam.

Strawberry Jam
  • 12 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled, halved or quartered if large (about 3 cups)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • Finely grated lime zest and juice from 1 lime
Cook strawberries and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until jamlike in consistency, 12–15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lime zest and juice. Pour into a shallow bowl and let cool.

Once we made the jam we decided we needed to make tiny strawberry jam cakes.  They are great served with a scoop of ice cream or on their own.  You may substitute the strawberry jam with fresh apricot or plum slices or whatever you like.

Little Strawberry Jam Cakes

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 cup all-purpose flour (we used white whole wheat)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
Strawberry Jam (see recipe above)
2 tablespoons raw sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat muffin cups in a standard 12-cup muffin with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in another medium bowl, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, lemon zest, and vanilla and beat until combined.

With mixer on low speed, add dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Divide batter among muffin cups (cups will be only 1/3 full) and smooth tops. Top with a generous spoonful of strawberry jam and pat the jam down gently and slightly into the batter. Sprinkle with raw sugar.

Bake until cakes are golden and a tester inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 minutes or so. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let pan cool 5 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack and let cool completely.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Arugula Salad with Kumquats and Hazelnuts

As Easy as....

Kumquats are harvested through winter and into early spring and lend their sweet-skinned, tart-fleshed brightness to everything they touch.

Arugula Salad With Kumquats and Hazelnuts
 
3/4 cup whole kumquats
1/5 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tsp. for coating
Kosher salt
Juice of 1 Meyer lemon (regular lemon may be substituted)
1/4 pound arugula
3/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted in the oven until golden brown (you can toast them at the same time you roast kumquats) and then crushed
1 handful fresh mint, washed and picked

Place a shallow pan of water on the bottom oven rack to prevent the kumquats from drying out, and preheat to 400. (1) Toss kumquats with a teaspoon of oil and a pinch of salt, and place them in a baking pan on an upper rack. (2) Roast for 10 minutes.   We like to make them a day or two ahead of time to allow them to mellow.  Place them in an airtight container and store in refrigerator.  When ready to add to salad, halve or quarter them with a knife.

When ready to make the salad, whisk together 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil and the lemon juice and season to taste; reserve. (3) In a large bowl, combine the arugula, hazelnuts, mint, and kumquats. Dress with approximately 1/4 cup of vinaigrette, or to taste, and toss well. Season to taste. Serves 4 to 6.