Insanity Flees

Source: http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2011/01/
chocolate-cupcakes-with-flaming.html

Flaming chocolate cupcakes

Right, in deference to my crazy dreams and insomnia, I will go out

and purchase a blowtorch as I want to make creme brulee sometime

soon. This isn't creme brulee but it is a close simile or sorts and 

makes me happy. Hopefully it will work at the parties I'll be attending

soon!

Shichimi Mushroom Rice Bowl

Was in quite a strop today and grated my frustration away (and my housemate

helped cheer me up as well!). Baked the carrot and ginger cupcakes I meant to

do at the weekend today and they turned out great. But I'm in dire need of a 

good piping bag. Using parchment paper isn't working and I'm becoming more

of a perfectionist day by day. And I need to take better photographs! Ugh,

mine are simply awful. Well, tomorrow I hope to make a variation of the 

orange glazed tofu but will substitute steamed salmon instead of fried tofu. 

Yum!

Weekend Bakes

Source: http://www.sliceoffeist.com/2011/02/seven/
Photographer: http://www.mrlentzphotography.com

Carrot cake cupcakes

There's been a lot of construction these past few weeks and I'm finally

feeling the full weight of it. Monday to Saturday, construction next door 

starts up at 8am every morning (not so bad at the weekday). Everyone

in the house is getting grumpy with the lack of sleep and we all hate

being at home in the daytime. So to offset all the grumpiness in the

house I'll bake us some carrot cake cupcakes tomorrow. Should be a

great dessert and a nice little snack to bring into uni tomorrow. Looking

forward to it!

07.02.2011

Carrot and Ginger Cupcakes

Makes 40 cupcakes, 24 muffin size

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups canola oil

4 large eggs

3 cups grated peeled carrots - approx 9-10 large carrots (hand grating makes it finer and be sure to sieve out the liquid)

                  1) Preheat oven to 180°C.

                  2) Line the cupcake molds with papers, or butter and flour them.

                  3) Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in medium bowl to blend.

                  4) Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time. 

                  5) Add flour mixture and stir until blended. 

                  6) Stir in carrots, walnuts and raisins, if using them. 

                  7) Divide batter among cupcake molds, filling 3/4 of each.

Bake cupcakes 14 to 18 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Let cool in pans for five minutes or so, then transfer cakes to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing them.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

400g cream cheese, softened

 25g unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy. Chill the frosting for 10 to 20 minutes, until it has set up enough to spread smoothly.

I used a sheet of parchment paper, folded it in half and snipped off a bit of the end to create a piping effect (highly not recommended - looks and refilling is rather messy).

Healthy-ish continues

Orange Glazed Tofu

It's been an eventful yet tiring week filled with plenty of highs and lows.

I started Friday with a morning of jogging and yoga which really prepared

me for an afternoon of uni work - staring at a computer for 5 hours only

to learn that the numbers are integrally incorrect. 

But lunch was left over dill aioli on sourdough with steamed salmon instead 

of grilled (sorry to my housemates again - I know that smell has completely taken 

over the kitchen!). Completely delish yet much messier than the grilled

version - can't really recommend it even though it is sincerely healthier. 

Tomorrow morning is going to be a mushroom, spinach and bacon omelette 

(whites only) and maybe the above for supper. After tonight's guilty pleasure

 of curry my stomach is seriously craving non-spicy foods!

The start of a slightly more fruit-tastic month

Strawberry Apple Crisp

I've made a lot of food between last week and today and it has all culminated with 

the decision that I bake. a lot. and my classmate would prefer it if I brought more

in to share with others or stop so they don't get fat (which would never happen!). 

So I'll be cutting back on the sugar for the entirety of February and experiment

with different ways of baking more fruit into dishes. Let's hope its successful!

Semi-picnic at uni

Grilled Salmon Sandwiches

Right, no photo yet but soon to come!

Will be making these for my uni group for lunch tomorrow. 

Should be all right slightly cold and meaty enough to keep us going all day. 

Just hope the aioli turns out delish!

Still on the slightly healthy kick

Blue cheese and pear salad with honey roasted walnuts

Although I'm not a terrible fan of walnuts myself, I find myself enjoying this salad in particular.

Maybe it's the saltiness of the blue cheese or the acidity from the vinaigrette?

I don't know but I'm keen to have some now. It's been a strange Monday

and I'm sure everyone could use a light little pick-me-up! 

I gave my classmates the smore bars I made at the weekend and it was a hit!

Much too sweet though. My stomach hurts.