Revisiting Cherry Bomb Cupcakes

Put some sizzle in your holiday baking with Cherry Bomb Cupcakes.  The recipe was first posted in 2014 https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/06/cherry-bomb-cupcakes.html
A cherry was added to the chocolate batter and frosted with a confectioners frosting and decorated.  
A great cupcake recipe. 

This go around a southern buttermilk red velvet cupcake batter was used with a cream cheese frosting.  Both recipes worked well. See what you think.

We were celebrating my husband's birthday and he loves anything chocolate 

  Buttermilk Southern Red Velvet Cupcakes  

A 13 x 9 pan can also be used, sprinkling crushed pecans over the cream cheese frosting. I must say this was one of the best Red Velvet cakes I have ever tasted. It was a moist and fluffy cake. Using 2 TB. of food coloring does give it a rich red color. No need to use a whole bottle of red which some recipes suggest. Store cake or cupcakes in refrigerator and recipe makes 15 cupcakes. 
For decorating cupcakes drain 15 maraschino cherries on a paper towel. Add cherries and flags just before serving. Paper flags were purchased at Michaels. 
Ingredients:

• 2 -1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1- 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp.fine salt
• 4 heaping tsp. cocoa powder
• 1-1/4 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk (fluid) at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 TB.red food coloring (1 ounce)
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Cream Cheese Frosting-recipe below
• Crushed pecans or walnuts for garnish 

 Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil and flour 2 round cake pans, a 13 x 9 pan or use cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
• In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
• Using a mixer blend the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.
• If using cake pans:Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake until the cake pulls away from the side and the center of the the cakes come out clean using a toothpick about 16-18 minutes.
• If using a 13 x 9 pan bake 22 minutes.. Cupcakes check at 15 minutes. 
• Cool cake in pans for 6 minutes and then invert each cake  onto a plate lined with wax paper and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely before frosting.
• For a 13 x 9 pan leave cake in pan.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1-3 oz. package softened cream cheese
• 3 TB. softened butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 cup milk 
• 2 TB. drained cherry juice

 Directions:
Beat all ingredients until smooth -add in more milk if needed for correct consistency.

Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with Fresh Veggies

Looking for Spring
I had to drive south to find spring-way too cold and rainy up north.

"Spring Is"
by Sharon Harris
spring is
a bough of lilacs,
tenderly fragrant,
nodding in the wind
with their perfume drifting
away across the world
like sweet music
scattered by the breeze.

Previously published in 1986 in Newsletter Inago

Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with Fresh Veggies

Cook's Notes: Greek flavored chicken with orzo, fresh spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes make this a lunch or dinner time WINNER! Great for parties, picnics, and potlucks. The orzo is cooked al dente, and the feta cheese pairs well for this recipe. Since this is a ‘pasta salad’, there are no rules what substitutions or additions you can make. Other add ins include: fresh basil, green onions, red bell peppers, zucchini, marinated artichokes, and olives. I used English cucumbers and grape tomatoes but later on in season if you have a garden full of regular cucumbers (or zucchini) and regular tomatoes, go for it. This salad will help you enjoy the bounty of your garden.

Serve this salad as a side recipe for six or four if a main meal. Recipe was inspired by averiecooks.com

Ingredients:

• 1/2  pound orzo, cooked according to package directions and drained about 4 cups, cooked
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 large chicken breasts,diced small
• 1 cup sweet onions,  diced small
• Purchased Greek Seasoning  

or homemade seasoning recipe below

• 3 garlic cloves, minced 
• 3 handfuls of spinach with stems removed 
• 1/2 English cucumber, diced small
• 1 cup mini sweet peppers, diced 
• 1- 1/2 cups sliced cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, or to taste
• 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese or mini marinated mozzarella balls (deli section)  

Directions:

• To a large pot, add the orzo and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• In a bowl mix chicken with 1-2 tablespoons of Greek seasoning. 
• While orzo is cooking, to a large skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil, peppers, onions, and seasoned chicken pieces. Cook chicken and stir constantly. Last few minutes of cooking add in garlic and spinach.  Cook until spinach is wilted. 
• In a large salad bowl add orzo, chicken mixture, cucumbers, tomatoes, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and stir well to incorporate. Add in feta cheese. 
• To punch up the flavor I added 2 tablespoons of prepared Greek Dressing to the pasta salad, all depends on your taste preference. Cover with plastic wrap and chill a few hours before serving.  

Greek Seasoning Blend 
Bonus points for making your own. It's cost saving and avoids unhealthy chemicals or additives. 
Ingredients

• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic

Directions:

Mix well and store in a jar with a screw type lid. 

Literary Conversations Over a Plate of Food Part Two

Add a plate of food, cup of tea with very fine conversations and you have a recipe for success. 

Front to counter clockwise Balsamic Caprese Bites, Egg Salad Toasts, Mango Chicken Chutney Salad,  Lime Mousse Tartlets, Gingersnap Cookies, Scone, Cucumber Sandwich

Lemon Curd Biscuits 

Cook's Notes: Food contribution by Char 

A burst of spring- these biscuits were served in flower petal cupcake holders

Ingredients: A box of whole wheat biscuits, a jar of lemon curd and a container of mascarpone cream, room temperature for easier spreading 

Directions: Spread on each biscuit a dollop of mascarpone and top with small teaspoon lemon curd.  

Balsamic Caprese Bites    

Cook's notes: Fancy skewers found at Party City. I wanted to use marinated mini mozzarella balls (deli section) but they were out so bought plain ones and drizzled skewers right before serving with a good quality chocolate balsamic but regular dark balsamic works too.    

Ingredients:Grape tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh basil leaf, dark balsamic vinegar 

Directions: Depending on the length of the skewer thread one tomato, fold one basil leaf in half and add a few mozzarella balls at the end. 

Egg Salad Toasts

Cooks Notes: Serve on firm bread with crust removed or cocktail size bread squares. 

Ingredients: My recipe contains the following ingredients: eggs, celery, onions, yellow mustard, pickle relish, dill, parsley flakes and Miracle Whip

Mango Chicken Chutney Salad 

Cook's Notes: A recipe previously posted and I added half a red grape on top as a garnish.
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/08/chutney.html
I found at Party City these great 2 inch mini containers (30 in a box) and mini wooden spoons that say Enjoy

Lime Mousse Tartlets 
Cook's Notes: A recipe previously posted
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/11/mini-bites-tempting-holiday-desserts.html
The recipe was served in fillo appetizer shells

if unable to find at your local store these containers, pots with lids, from Party City would work 

 or shooter glasses from the Dollar Tree.

Gingersnap Cookies
Cook's Notes:Recipe previously posted only change I made was not flattening the cookies before baking I just left the dough in a ball. Joan's Gingersnap Cookies
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/11/seasonal-plate-with-gingersnap-cookies.html

Cucumber Sandwich 
Cook's Notes: I used cocktail size bread with Boursin Garlic Herb as the spread. 
Cooking Tip: Slice cucumbers ahead and let sit on paper towel to absorb the moisture.

Scones
Cook's Note: As a timesaver purchase from your local bakery. Serve with jam.

Literary Conversations Over a Cup of Tea Part One

The Hatter (also called the Mad Hatter or Hatta) is a fictional character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel "Through the Looking-Glass". He is often referred to as the Mad Hatter, though this term was never used by Carroll. The phrase "mad as a hatter" pre-dates Carroll's works and the characters the Hatter and the March Hare are initially referred to as "both mad" by the Cheshire Cat, with both first appearing in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, in the seventh chapter titled "A Mad Tea-Party".

Amazing the conversations you can have when an editor, several authors and writers and a social media rep get together over a cup of tea.  For me, it was a chance to renew friendships, meet new people in the area and hear more about their writing journeys.

Add in some delicious treats and you have a recipe for success.

The tablescape was magazine worthy, thanks to Candace. She used vintage thrift store finds  to create individual place settings.

A tea pot from the thrift store was perfect for a floral centerpiece.  

Each guest had place card with a tea quote on cover (courtesy of Pinterest) and inside a bag
of tea and a poem. 
.
Food sustains conversation and there certainly were plenty of choices. 
Menu
Tea sandwiches
Mango Chicken Salad 
Balsamic Caprese Skewers  
Biscuits with Mascarpone and Lemon Curd 
Scones
Lime Mousse Tartlets

Check back for Part Two recipes

Ham and Swiss Cheese Stromboli with Roasted Red Peppers and Spinach

Ham and Swiss Cheese Stromboli with Roasted Red Peppers and Spinach 
The best thing about Strombolis are the endless possibilities.  A traditional Stromboli is usually made up of a mixture of Italian cheeses, cold cuts, Italian meats and vegetables. It can be healthy packed with veggies for a vegetarian meal. Some filling possibilities include:
15 filling ideas https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/stromboli-recipes/
135 filling ideas https://www.pinterest.com/thesneak50/stromboli-recipes/

Calzones are very similar to strombolis, but they are two different dishes. A Stromboli is made with square shaped pizza dough and then topped with toppings and rolled into a log and baked. A calzone uses round pizza dough that gets folded in half and baked.
Cook's Notes: A great easy party dish.  Add roasted red peppers to punch up the Stromboli's flavor.
Ingredients

• 1 Tube Thin Refrigerated Pizza Crust (I used a Pillsbury brand) 
• 3 TB. Dijon mustard
• 5 slices of sliced ham
• 5 slices Swiss cheese
• 6 green onion, minced
• Handful of spinach leaves, stems removed 
• Optional 6 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Sesame seeds
• 1 large egg, beaten
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese or  garlic bread seasoning mixture

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the refrigerated pizza dough on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Spread Dijon mustard evenly on top to one inch along all the sides.
• Add sliced ham and cheese as shown in the photo. Tear one piece of ham and one piece of cheese to fill out the sides. 
  
• Drain and mince 1/2 of 12 oz. jar roasted red peppers about one cup. Pat peppers really dry on paper towels before adding to the Stromboli.  
•  Place peppers down the middle of the pizza crust. Top with green onions, spinach leaves and bacon if using. 
  
   Roll the pizza dough up (long side) to center and repeat other long side to center.  
  
• Flip the roll over so seam is down on the baking sheet. 
• Whisk one egg with 1/2 tsp. water. Brush top and sides with egg wash. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese or garlic bread seasoning and sesame seeds.
  
• Bake 15-20 minutes or until top is golden and bottom is browned. 
• Cool 5-8 minutes before cutting. Use a serrated knife. Makes 10 servings.
  

Happy Mother's Day to All

Mother's Day, a day set aside to honor mothers, and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in spring.
Today, take time to thank your mom for her influence on your life's journey.
If you are a motherless daughter today there are some ways to keep your mother's memory alive.

• Share stories and anecdotes about your mother.
• Wear your mother's favorite color -- piece of clothing, nail polish, etc.
• Remember your mother's best advice and wisest sayings, follow and share.
• Prepare your mother's favorite recipes, and keep her in your head and your heart as you are making the dishes and serving them.
• Write something -- a poem, a song, a recollection -- about your mother.
• Perform an act of kindness to honor your mother.
• Give to a charity in memory of your mother.
  

My mother enjoyed cooking and trying out new recipes. With eight of us she got in lots of practice. She'd try out some of her recipes in advance for upcoming bridge groups. And then there was hardly a piece of chocolate she didn't like particularly Dove Bars.  A stash could always be found in her freezer. 

Mom circa 1943

A Chocolate Tribute to Mom as 

Chocolate Mousse
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/12/celebrate-jane-austin-with-decadent.html

Black Forest Cherry Chocolate Trifle
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/11/black-forest-desserts.html

Cafe Latte Cake 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/02/eat-dessert-first.html

Chocolate Tart
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/02/eat-dessert-first.html

Chocolate Amaretto Cookies
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/02/eat-dessert-first.html

Brownie Trifle
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/08/caramel-pecan-brownie-trifle.html

A Mother's Day Tribute

My Mother Kept A Garden
author unknown

My mother kept a garden,
a garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things
that gave my life its start.
She turned me to the sunshine
and encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
the seeds of self-esteem...
And when the winds and rain came,
she protected me enough-
But not too much because she knew
I'd need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example
always taught me right from wrong-
Markers for my pathway
that will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother's garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
reflected back from me.
__________________________________
I found this poem in a local newspaper in a section on Mother's Day tributes. Pass it along to someone you know who would enjoy it. The verse is rather timely with Mother's Day on the horizon.

A friend highly recommended this book to me. If you need a Mother's Day gift idea this might be just the one for you. I really enjoyed it.

It's a non-fiction book, a collection of essays that illuminate the complexity of mother- daughter relationships. The contributors include some best selling novelists, broadcast journalists and Pulitzer Prize winners. Some of the names you might recognize are Mary Gordon, Rita Dove, Joyce Carol Oates, Ann Hood, Carol Leavitt and Reverend Lillian Daniel.
The author, Elizabeth Benedict's book The Gift My Mother Gave Me, began as an obsession. Toward the end of her mother's life the last gift Benedict got from her was a winter scarf. For 7 years Benedict wore this scarf around her winter coat. In 2011 she began thinking and wondering if other women have had similar experiences becoming attached to a gift from their mother. And so the seed was sown for the book.

Each contributor to this book was challenged to think about one gift from their mother that might reveal the story of their mother-daughter relationship and reflect on it in essay form. The treasured gift written by each contributor varied from tangible items like an etiquette book, a family photograph, a quilt, a cake pan to intangible items such as resilience and determination. Many of the contributors did not realize until years later the importance of a particular gift from their mother and how it ultimately shaped their lives.

This collection of essays portray the beauty that can be found in a wide variety of mother-daughter relationships, whether the relationship was one that offered endless support and unconditional love, or was terribly complicated and broken, or somewhere in between. Even the writers who experienced heartbreaking unhappy childhoods were able to reflect on some gift their mother had given them and how it greatly impacted their life. Each story was unique and it was interesting to consider complex mother-daughter relationships from different perspectives and contexts.

I enjoyed the variety of writing styles from each of the 31 writers. At the back of the book is a great bio section listing important information about each contributor.
The book was thought provoking as I reflected on a memorable gift my mother has given me.

Perhaps I might say love of cooking and good manners :)