Chocolate Cupcakes

Ok so I was craving sweets again, a repetative theme if there ever was one, and I decided to make Cupcakes!

Why? Well, because they're a recent obsession. It's a problem, really...I swear, I'll give them up soon. Right after I figure out how to make a good buttercream frosting.


Ingredients
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, softened
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Firmly Packed Light Brown Sugar
4 Large Eggs, at room temperature
6 Oz Unsweetened Chocolate, melted (I think I'll try using 8 oz next time. I would have loved more chocolate, but I'm kind of a chocoholic sometimes...)
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract


Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 and line 2 muffin tins with cupcake papers

2. In a small bowl mix your flour and baking soda

3. In a large bowl, cream the butter til it's smooth and then add all your sugars. Beat until fluffy.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, beat well so it stays fluffy. Then add the chocolate and vanilla and make sure it's all mixed in.

4. Add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, alternating with the buttermilk. beat until all the ingredients are incorporated, but don't overbeat (or you end up with this really fluffy batter that looks like mousse. No...don't ask how I know).

5. Using a spoon or spatula, make sure everything's well blended then spoon the batter into the cupcake liners. You'll want to fill them about 3/4 full (unless you have the mousse...then just fill them up, they won't raise too much).

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutse in the tins, then move to a wire rack and cool completely before icing.

So tasty...

I got the recipe from here.
http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2010/01/magnolias-chocolate-cupcakes.html

Fried Tilapia

Ok...so, I have a confession.

Fish, fish intimidates me. Ok, well, any fish that's not wrapped in tinfoil with butter and lemon and then thrown in my oven.

I'm always worried I'll make it too dry or I won't cook it enough. Or the whole dish will just fall apart and I'll be stuck holding a bill for $20 and a rumbly stomach.

Well...NO MORE! Last weekend I sauted cod for the first time and I was stunned with the ease of cooking that fish. And tonight, I breaded Tilapia and fried it. Who knew breading was so easy to make too?




Ingredients
1 egg white
1/4 cup of water
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
4 fillets of tilapia (or cod, or whatever fish you want) About 3 oz each
1/2 cup - 1 cup oil for frying (be your own judge)

breading
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp italian seasonings
1/8 tsp dried jerk seasonings (or cayenne if you have it, I didn't)

This is the easy part!

1. Soak your tilapia in the first 3 incredietns (egg white, water and juice) for 5-10 minutes. While doing so, place the oil in the pan and turn it up to medium heat so it'll be nice and ready for your fish.

2. Mix all the dry ingredients in a long flat dish.

3. Coat the fish in the breading material and then place in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown (about 5-10 minutes tops really).

And... ta-da! All done. I'll never know why I was so intimidated! I also want to try this breading on Chicken. Something tells me it'd taste great!

Oh also, I found out how easy it is to make homemade Tarter Sauce.

Ingredients
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 tsp sweet relish (more if you want it)
1 tbsp lemon juice (if desired)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix and chill for an hour. Ta-da! You just saved $4 at the store.