Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 15 Aug 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science news, health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.





From Denny: These are all the posts I managed to get out this week while suffering through all this crazy summer heat and humidity. This summer Louisiana didn't have the usual whiners' bragging rights about the summer heat. The rest of America got to "share" - and a lot of the world too! :)

One bit of good news: Prez Obama is thinking of lifting the oil moratorium here on the Gulf coast. Uh, yeah, put 300,000 people back to work would be helpful for this economy - not to mention the rest of America would appreciate not having their fuel prices skyrocket this winter from a low supply.

Earth to White House: It sure would be great if you would lift this moratorium immediately - and gift it to Congressman Charlie Melancon to announce it. Lifting the moratorium would help Melancon win in November against Whore House Vitter, a complete embarrassment as a senator from Louisiana. Louisiana is all a twitter and excited about getting back to work - so make it happen, Mr. Prez, and it would be much appreciated.

And to my StumbleUpon friends: Now isn't one silly email a whole lot less annoying than a bunch of "shares"? :)


The Social Poets:


Obama Blasted for Saying Religious Tolerance OK in America - Republicans try to turn the Constitution into an issue for the November elections - now they are against religious freedom for anyone not Christian.

America and World Politics Cartoons - 14 Aug 2010 - Check out the latest opinions on the economy, the November elections, the building of a mosque on Ground Zero in New York City and education in America now that budget cuts have arrived.

Obama Sends Thousands More Jobs Out of America: Mexico - Prez Obama tricked by GM to send thousands of jobs out of America and to Mexico.

Doctor Says Kids Suffer More From Gulf Oil Spill - Check out the long term impact this BP oil spill has on America's children in the Gulf region.

How Male Journalists Fight: Whiz All Over Each Other - American male journalists in the Democratic Party and the White House fuss and fight each other while the public is frustrated about the economy.

Earth to White House: Why You Are Getting Criticized - The White House is complaining it is not appreciated enough for what it has done. Here's why fellow Democrats are angry with the President.

Funny Video: Colbert Reveals Master Plan to Ruin Gay Marriage

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Comments on Gay Marriage - Californigaytion

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 8 Aug 2010 - Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.





The Soul Calendar:


BP Oil Spill and Global Warming Cartoons - 14 Aug 2010 - The BP oil spill continues in the news as they try to squirm out of paying for the error of their arrogant ways.

Check Out Spectacular August Perseid Meteor Showers - Look up in the middle of the night to see as many as 100 shooting stars above your head for a spectacular show brought to you by the Universe!





Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Is Your Aim In Life? - How high - or how limited - are your goals in Life?

Friendship Quote: When Friends First Meet and Connect - How friendships begin and can last a life time.





The Healing Waters:


Want Others To Think You Sexy? Wear Red - How the color of red figures into our sexual preferences.

How Funny: Your Belly Button Key to Athletic Success - Check out your body type to know which sport is easier for you to excel.






Dennys Funny Quotes:


Hunh?! Cartoons - 14 Aug 2010 - Check out this week's great cartoonists and how funny everyday life can be.

Palin Memory Fails, Writes on Her Hand: Again - Strange Sarah Palin does it again and again: writes on her hand like it's an 8th grade math test for answers to cheat the test.

Weird News: Oregon Authorities Shut Down Girls Lemonade Stand - Local Oregon government looked like jerks shutting down the all American lemonade stand because the little girl didn't own a food handler's license that only adults can purchase.

Weird News: Woman Smashes McDonalds For Not Having Her Order - Check out this weird news of the day - what happens when McDonald's doesn't have what an enraged customer wants on the breakfast menu.

Funny News: 100 Year Old Scotch Whiskey Thaws Out to Drink - Strange but true: check out this funny news of the day.






Dennys People Watching:


Meet New Baby Elephant at Vienna Zoo: Big Ears - The naming process is in full swing for this one week old baby elephant born to a Vienna, Austria zoo. Vote online for your choice.






Dennys Food and Recipes:


Chef Recipe: Seared Grouper with Crawfish, Bacon Risotto, Softshell Crab - Louisiana chefs celebrate fabulous new recipes in local food and wine competition.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipe: Macaroni Chili Cheese Casserole - For back to school busy try this simple recipe for a slow cooker the whole family is sure to enjoy.

Cake Tuesday: Buttermilk Fudge Cake With Chocolate Gloss Icing - Make a stunning tasty chocolate cake to entertain your sweet tooth.

4 Easy Summer Dishes When Its Just Too Hot to Cook - Try some easy and quick summer recipes to beat the crazy heat - and avoiding cooking with any heat.






Visual Insights:


Tea Party, Republican, Gay Marriage Cartoons - 14 Aug 2010 - Check out the usual amusing rantings from the far-right-gone-over-the-edge-crazy.



*** Coffee photo by Quoquo @ flickr



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor

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Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 8 Aug 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.





From Denny: This week I was forced "off the grid" on two different days. Monday and to noon Tuesday my server was off line - which is rare - but when it happens on a Monday I always figure there was an obnoxious computer virus attack. Then again on Thursday we had some seriously severe thunderstorms in our area for the day, lots of intense lightning which we never used to see until this year. Even my outdoor cats made a run for inside the house with a "Make way, lady, we're running in full speed: incoming!"

Well, I made good use of the "snail time" and read some "snail books" - quite the treat when normally I'm fast paced and hard-charging. I might try this "off the grid" vacation a bit more often as it was enjoyable! Anyway, I wasn't able to publish all that I wanted to this week and will see what I can do to get caught up for you. Thanks for your continued support, much appreciated! :)


The Social Poets:


Cartoons: American Economy, Immigration, Iraq and Afghan Wars - 7 Aug 2010 - Check out what the cartoonists think this week about the smoke and mirrors going on in politics and the Afghan and Iraq Wars.

Vision of The Gardener Prophet poem - Libations Friday 6 Aug 2010 - 2012 begins early. Check out a poem of prophecy warning humanity.

What Is Prez Obama Really Thinking? Watch His Hands As He Talks - Our body language reveals much about our thoughts, telegraphing it to others if only we learn the language and how to read it.

Is The Oil Spill Really Gone in the Gulf, More Smoke And Mirrors From BP? - *** More bizarre reports from the BP and government corners trying to end the the politics about the Gulf oil spill, when all they did was stir up a hornet's nest of criticism and anger.

Speaker Pelosi Champions Unemployed, Orders House Back From Vacation - *** Speaker Pelosi relentlessly drives hard to pass two important bills: keep teachers in the classrooms and hire the unemployed out of work for two years.

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 2 Aug 2010 - *** Check out jokes from the late night comedians about American society, funny videos from Colbert and Stewart and a few of the newest political cartoons.

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Mocks Media For Sorry WikiLeaks Reaction - *** Check out Jon Stewart as he rips to shreds, in fine mocking style, the not so stealthy WikiLeaks leaker.

Funny Video: Colberts Live Tony Hayward Cam Tracking His Slow Resignation - *** Check out Colbert's reaction to BP finally - OK, temporarily - plugging the Gulf oil leak. The best news yet is the slow motion firing of BP CEO Tony Hayward.

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 1 Aug 2010 - ** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.






The Soul Calendar:

BP Oil Spill and WikiLeaks Spill Cartoons - 7 Aug 2010 - Check out what the cartoonists were lampooning this week, skewering BP for the Gulf oil spill and the WikiLeaks documents spill.

How Northern Lights Are Created By Sun Flares - Check out 3 video clips of the solar flares and magnetic filament in action as they create the Northern Lights on Earth.





Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:

2012: What Will Happen to Earth and Us? - What you can do to ensure your safety and survival as geologic time rapidly changes - and the resulting paradigm shift of humanity - is in the process of occurring.





Dennys Funny Quotes:


Hunh?! Just Plain Bizarre Funny Cartoons - 7 Aug 2010

Funny Video: BP Creates Rich Fish in Gulf Oil Spill - Mocking BP: An idiot public relations BP talking head points out the up side to the oil leak: the fish are rich!

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex - Yet another funny list joke making the rounds.

Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Miss-taken Use - Laugh at this funny use for a contraceptive that exemplifies the kind of humorous cases found in our court systems every day sure to amuse us!

Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job - Bad economy? No problem. Comic Stephen Colbert to the employment rescue to help you land that all important life-changing job.

Funny Video: Surfing Group Known as The Radical Rodents - Laugh at these funny talented rodents surfing the waves in Australia.




Dennys People Watching:

Ethics Investigations in Congress Cartoons - 7 Aug 2010 - Check out what the cartoonists had to say this week about political corruption and the Speaker's promise to drain The Swamp. Washington, D.C. sits on a literal swamp so it's natural to get a few rats running around the place.




Dennys Food and Recipes:

Chef Bergeron Appetizer: Zucchini Cakes With Unusual Garlic Dill Sour Cream Mayo Sauce - Check out a simple veggie recipe that can be an appetizer or served as an entree, your choice. And what an unusual outstanding yummy sauce.

Cake Tuesday: Italian Cream Cake - One of my favorite cakes to order a slice for dessert when we dine out - and also an easy cake to make at home!

Muffin Monday: Coconut Muffins - Check out this simple easy recipe and enjoy a sweet breakfast or afternoon snack.




Visual Insights:


Gay Marriage and Society Cartoons - 7 Aug 2010 - The more things change, the more they remain the same. As gays battle for their right to marry, soon they discover the same marital experiences as everyone else. Check out the cartoonists this week.

Funny Photos: How Your Brain Can Be Fooled - Funny photos that prove how easy it is to fool your brain into interpreting a photo to mean something other than is actually true.




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor

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Check Out Famous Chef Spike Mendelsohn at Dennys Food and Recipes

*** OMG, these are such great comfort food grilling recipes from one fun chef!




Farmhouse Bacon Cheeseburger by Chef Spike at his Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, D.C.



From Denny: Check out some fabulous kicked up versions of summer grilling recipes by Washington, D.C.'s new food hit, Spike Mendelsohn. These would be great for Labor Day celebrations too. Chef Rachel Ray interviews Chef Spike for Amazon books as he promotes his first collection in "The Good Stuff Cookbook."

Dennys Food and Recipes is where I've combined all the posts from three food blogs, Romancing The Chocolate, Comfort Food From Louisiana and Unusual 2 Tasty. This is quite the database of recipes and food videos to check out. I'm always on the hunt for interesting recipes, the latest food trends and just plain good food and bringing it home to you! :)




Chef Spike with Food Network Chef Rachel Ray


Featured Recipes:

Blazin' Barn Burger
Make Your Own Sriracha Mayonnaise (the "new" ketchup)
Homemade Basic Mayonnaise
Farmhouse Bacon Cheeseburger
Good Stuff Sauce
Mac 'N' Cheese
Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Farm-Fresh Caesar Wedge
Grilled Watermelon, Yuzu, and Feta Salad
Spike’s Village Fries
Milky Way Malt



Dennys Food and Recipes: Chef Spike Monday: Fun Recipes For Pizza, Burger and Salads


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor

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Muffin Monday: The Best Blueberry Muffins

*** Enjoy some great blueberry muffin recipes and 2 breads: Chocolate Zucchini Bread and Banana Chocolate Chip Bread.





From Denny: Muffin Monday is back and people are already arguing who has the very best blueberry muffin! This first recipe is from a bed and breakfast in Michigan. This bed and breakfast sports a number of interesting themed packages to enjoy.

They have a special shopping package where they have teamed up with 10 shops in their area where you can get some great discounts with the range from clothing to food and drink and even local art. These shops are a wine sellar of 200 wines from around the world, local pottery, a green recycled products shop carrying famous names, a spice merchant, a gourmet food and kitchen supply shop, an antique mall of 175 merchants, a local folk art shop and artisan hand-knit clothing.


Recipes Featured:

Becky's Best Blueberry Muffins
Sophia's Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
Kale's Chocolate Zucchini Bread


A link for another blueberry muffin recipe is provided to The Bitten Word blog for a recipe from Cook's Illustrated that they gave a test drive and folks weighed in with their comments. That recipe looks like too much sugar for our house.

But you really have to know, and taste, the blueberries you are using in the recipe. Some blueberries are wonderfully sweet while others are tart or even bland and watery. I love Maine blueberries as they have the most intense blueberry flavor and are small and relatively sweet so you don't have to add much sugar.

On the flip side, down here in Louisiana where it's hot and muggy, the blueberries grow large, are mild in flavor and watery so I use the amount of sugar called for in most recipes, about 1/4 cup less. You will have to be the final judge on the sweetness level that will fit the muffin recipe best for your personal taste and whatever kind of fresh blueberries you can find in your area.




Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast


From the website: Our beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast offers inviting elegance in a wooded setting. Hardwood floors, leaded-glass windows, and wraparound porch add to the ideal surroundings. Perfect for romance or a much-needed getaway, our guest rooms are complete with antiques, cozy wing chairs, and Jacuzzis and fireplaces.

Two suites are available: the first reproduces the serenity of the north woods as a replica of the inside of a log cabin. It includes a stone-mantle gas fireplace, viewed from either the two-person Jacuzzi or the comfort of the bedroom. The second suite features the same amenities but is decorated in the flair of the late 19th century.

Another room sports a hand-painted mural that transforms the room into a canopied tree loft and is complemented by a gas fireplace.

Breakfast features such favorites as pecan streusel coffeecake, cinnamon-orange French toast, or potato quiche.

During the summer, guests can swim in the heated pool adorned with a giant mural of a sunken ship half embedded in a coral reef surrounded by a couple of hundred fish, not to mention a Mermaid or two, or walk 1/2 block to a Lake Michigan public beach to enjoy spectacular sunsets. Bicycles are available for exploring the scenic lakeshore.

In winter, X-country ski or hike along wooded paths, or visit the shops in charming Saugatuck and Douglas.

Sherwood Forest Package of the Month: Melt Your Stress Away

Melt Your Stress Away Upon arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit, you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. The cost for this R&R is $165 with one massage; $235 with two massages (does not include room rate).


Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast

Voted #1 in Best of Personal Luxury in the State by Lake Magazine.
Featuring Fireplace-Jacuzzi suites, 1/2 blk to Lake Michigan

Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center Street
P.O. Box 315
Saugatuck, Michigan 49453

1-800-838-1246 for reservations

Fax: (269) 857-1996
email: sf@sherwoodforestbandb.com

Keith & Susan Charak, Innkeepers


Recipes Featured:

Becky's Best Blueberry Muffins
Sophia's Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
Kale's Chocolate Zucchini Bread



*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.






Becky's Best Blueberry Muffins

From: Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast


Ingredients:

1/2 Cup (1 stick) butter, at room temp.
1 Cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ½ Cups blueberries (mash 1/2 cup with a fork)
2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup milk
1 Tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees and grease 12 muffin cups.

Beat butter until creamy, then beat in sugar, then beat in eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt.

Mix mashed berries into batter, then fold in half of flour and half of milk. Add remaining flour and milk, then fold in remaining blueberries.

Fill muffin cups and sprinkle with nutmeg sugar.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool 20 minutes in pan before removing.







Sophia's Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

From: Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast


This bread is awesome; it's one of our favorites at the bed & breakfast. You'll love it, mainly because "Chocolate Rules."

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 large bananas will do)
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F., spray cooking oil (you can use butter) to coat the bottom of a 9 x 5 x 3-inch bread pan, then lightly dust the pan with flour and tap out the excess.

Next, in a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until blended. One at a time, add eggs, beating well with a fork after each addition.

Stir in bananas, milk and vanilla until combined. Stir in flour mixture just until blended. Stir the chocolate chips. Scrape batter into a prepared pan and spread evenly.

Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until you test with a knife in the center of the bread and it comes out clean.

Remove the pan to a wire rack, cool 10 minutes before removing bread from the pan, then finish cooling on the rack.

And it's chow time! (Bread can be frozen for later use, thaw overnight.)





Kale's Chocolate Zucchini Bread

From: Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast

Ingredients:

3 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 Cups vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 Cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 Cups zucchini, grated
2 1/3 Cups flour
1/2 Cups nuts

optional: 1/2 Cup unsweetened cocoa


Directions:

Combine wet ingredients, then dry ingredients, and combine. Add zucchini & nuts, bake in 2 greased loaf pans at 350 degrees F. for 45 min.



*** See Also for Muffin Monday: Muffin Monday: Sweet Potato Muffins

*** Here's another Blueberry muffin recipe to enjoy:

Best Blueberry Muffins over at The Bitten Word From Cook's Illustrated (May/June 2009)


*** Photo by thebittenword.com @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd


America tourism, travel, hotels, bed and breakfast inns, Michigan bed and breakfast, Sherwood Forest Bed and Breakfast

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Muffin Monday: Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins

*** Chocolate and cheese together in one muffin. Does Life get any better?




From Denny: This muffin is a star any time of day. It has sweet goodness, chocolate awesome and the protein of cheese. Color me into the breakfast corner with this winner! :) And its versatile: For this muffin you can use ricotta cheese or small curd cottage cheese if the ricotta is not easily available.

It's been fun to explore the bed and breakfast inns behind these recipes. Each one is a surprise from the last one visited. I've been thinking about how to help the economy with blogging about these inns. Muffin Monday is quickly becoming a brain child for stimulating and growing our economy. By promoting these bed and breakfast inns, who are small businesses, we can help our economy because it keeps jobs here. Small business is the engine upon which the economy has traditionally run. Keep them strong, rejecting the big businesses whenever possible, and we can restore our healthy economy.

Just because the politicians have sold out to Big Business does not mean the regular American has to follow their wrong lead. So, next time you are traveling for business or pleasure, take a little time and find a bed and breakfast inn instead of the usual hotel. The prices are comparable, many times they are a better buy. And it certainly is a more sociable and welcoming atmosphere than the usual impersonal hotels. Try a little social consciousness along with a great recipe! :)

This innkeeper has a sense of humor and names their rooms: The Hide N Seek, The Spelling Bee, The Graduate, The Honor Roll, The Schoolmaster, The Schoolmarm, Miss Edna's, The Prose, Dick & Jane's, The Show 'n' Tell, and, of course, Teacher's Pet.





From the website: Located in the quaint village of Rocheport, Missouri, the School House Bed and Breakfast Inn provides premium accommodations in a restored historic 1914 building that served as Rocheport's public school from 1914 to 1972.

The School House Bed + Breakfast has ten distinctive guest rooms, each decorated in beautiful antiques with luxury sheets, spa-quality linens, goose down duvets and featherbeds. Light from the large schoolhouse windows, covered with plantation shutters, softens shades of pinks and yellows and dramatically deepens bold plums and greens. Each room in the bed and breakfast is accented with a few reminders of the building's simple past. First- and second-floor rooms have 13-foot ceilings with original hardwood floors, eight-foot windows and ceiling fans.

The B + B's two secluded third-floor rooms, created from the school's original attic, have gothic doors and skylights for star gazing.


School House Bed & Breakfast Inn
504 Third Street (Third & Clark Streets)
Rocheport, Missouri 65279

Phone: (573) 698-2022
email: innkeeper@schoolhousebandb.com

'Stay in Class!' at the School House Bed and Breakfast in Rocheport, Missouri.



*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.


Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins

From: School House Bed & Breakfast Inn

Yield: approximately 18 muffins

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup ricotta cheese (or small curd cottage cheese)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canola oil
Cooking Spray


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, chips, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

In a medium bowl mix cheese with eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Whisk in milk and vanilla until blended. Fold cheese mixture and oil into flour mixture until just blended. Spoon approximately 1 cup batter into each muffin cup.

Bake 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans immediately and cool on a wire rack. These are delicious and moist, like cheesecake.



*** More Muffin Monday recipes:

American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

Muffin Monday: Egg, Ricotta Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomato Breakfast Muffins

Muffin Monday: Sour Cream Walnut Cinnamon Muffins

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins

Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread



*** Photo of Starbucks version of the chocolate cheese muffin by Kaunokainen @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Cake Tuesday: Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake, Tunnel of Fudge Cake

*** Two delicious chocolate fudge cake recipes for the price of one post! :)




Clever creatively photographed Chocolate fudge cake with fork impression by truth82 @ flickr


From Denny: Is this not a clever way to photograph your favorite slice of chocolate cake or what? It sure amused me so I just had to share it with you so you can get a grin too. I wasn't successful in finding a photo of this cake with coffee, toffee and fudge in it. These bed and breakfasts have yet to post photos to go with their recipes. People eat with their eyes first and if they post these delicious photos people will be booking rooms in speedy time!

Of course, the added bonus of searching a database is to find something else interesting that catches my eye. There it was, smiling back at me, this old recipe that pulled up the fondest memories of living in Atlanta, Georgia, when I used to bake these fun tunnel cakes. My other fav tunnel cake was the chocolate cake with a tunnel of cream coconut. That was a real OMG moment of explosion of perfect flavors.

For all my sugar-holic friends and blog fans out there in online land, these blow-out-the-calories sweet chocolate cakes are for you! When you bake one of these darlings, save a slice of chocolate goodness for me, done with great reverence - of course. And, then, think better of it to share - and instead woof it down in proper chocolate etiquette homage. :)


From London House Spa: With the Ottawa River at our door, our Country Inn guests can take time to relax beach side, walk through old growth forests on walking trails with beautiful perennial gardens that surround the spa and London House Inn.

Located just one hour west of Ottawa in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. Just minutes away from Renfrew, Pembroke, Cobden, Arnprior, Beachburg and Westmeath. The London House Spa offers professional treatments in a spectacular country setting.






London House Inn & Spa
P.O. Box 179
Beachburg, Ontario
K0J 1C0

Email: info@londonhouseinn.com



Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake


Ingredients:

7 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (200 g)
1/2 cup butter, cut in pieces (125 mL)
1/4 cup coffee liqueur (50 mL)
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (15 mL)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (125 mL)
4 eggs, separated
2/3 cup all-purpose flour (150 mL)
1/4 teaspoon each salt and cream of tartar (1 mL)
1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 mL)
4 bars (each 39 g) milk chocolate-covered toffee, finely chopped

Chocolate Glaze

1/4 cup whipping cream (50 mL)
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (25 mL)
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules (10 mL)
5 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (150 g)

Directions:

In saucepan, heat semisweet chocolate, butter, liqueur and coffee granules over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat; whisk in brown sugar until dissolved. Whisk in egg yolks, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in flour in three additions; let cool for 5 minutes.

In bowl and using electric mixer, beat together egg whites, salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form; gradually beat in granulated sugar until stiff peaks form. Whisk one-third into chocolate batter; fold in remaining egg whites. Gently fold in half of the chopped chocolate bars.

Pour into well-greased 8-inch (750 mL) round cake pan. Run knife through batter to remove air bubbles. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 45 minutes or until top is firm to the touch and crust has formed. Let cool on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely.

Chocolate Glaze: In small saucepan, bring cream, liqueur and coffee granules to boil over medium-high heat. Immediately stir in chocolate; remove from heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature. Pour over cake, letting some drip down sides. Garnish with remaining chopped chocolate bar. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until glaze is set. (Cake can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 1 week.)







Tunnel of Fudge Cake by hfb @ flickr




Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Serves: 16
Prep Time: 35 min (Ready in 4 hr 30 min )
From: Pillsbury

Cake:

1 3/4 cups or 4.2dl sugar
3,5 sticks or 400g margarine or butter, softened
6 eggs
2 cups or 4.75dl powdered sugar
2 1/4 cups or 5.5dl all-purpose flour
3/4 cup or 1.75dl unsweetened cocoa
2 cups or 4.75dl chopped walnuts (NOT optional)
Glaze:
3/4 cup or 1.75dl powdered sugar
1/4 cup or 3/4dl unsweetened cocoa
4 to 6 teaspoons milk


Directions:

Heat oven to 350F/190C. Grease and flour 12-cup/28dl Bundt® pan or 10-inch/25cm tube pan. In large bowl, combine sugar and margarine; beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar; blend well. By hand, stir in flour and remaining cake ingredients until well blended. Spoon batter into greased and floured pan; spread evenly.

Bake at 350F/190C. for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is set and edges are beginning to pull away from sides of pan. (Since this cake has a soft filling, an ordinary doneness test cannot be used. Accurate oven temperature and baking times are essential.) Cool upright in pan on wire rack 1 1/2 hours. Invert onto serving plate; cool at least 2 hours.

In small bowl, combine all glaze ingredients, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Spoon over top of cake, allowing some to run down sides. Store tightly covered.


*** See Also: Cake Tuesday: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

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Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins

*** Have a little fun in your muffins today!





From Denny: Here's a fun little recipe from a bed and breakfast down in Florida. It includes coconut and pineapple for a sweet moist muffin of sheer delight. It's also very easy to make because it employs a yellow cake mix. If you don't have any rum extract you can easily substitute vanilla extract in its place.


*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.


Pina Colada Muffins

From: Magnolia Plantation Bed & Breakfast Inn
309 SE 7th Street * Gainesville, Florida 32601

Email: info@magnoliabnb.com

Makes: 24 Medium muffins.

Ingredients:

1 lb box of yellow or butter cake mix
1 tsp. pure coconut extract
1 tsp. pure rum extract
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2-1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Add remaining ingredients and mix for 1 minute. (Do not over mix.)
Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.



*** Check out:

American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread



Muffin collage photo by _Nezemnaya_ @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

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Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 19 June 2010

Stepping Through Life poem - Libations Friday 18 June 2010

BP Gets Their Moneys Worth From Apologetic GOP Texan Barton

Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Foreclosure Violated Military Act: Yet Another Reason Not to Live in Texas

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda

Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas






Dennys Global Politics:


BP Problems: Political Cartoons 19 June 2010

Kevin Costner Blasts Big Oil, GOP Apologizes to BP - News Headlines 17 June 2010

Obamas Oval Office Speech, CEO Weigh in on Obama, Reality of BPs $20 Billion Escrow - News Headlines 16 June 2010

BP On Hook for $75 Billion in Claims, 1-Man Mission American Ninja Faulkner Hunts bin Laden, News Headlines 15 June 2010

BP Nightmare Well, Congress Ready to Nail BP, Kennedy FBI Docs, Obama Gets Oil Spill Help - News Headlines 14 June 2010






Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Does Tenacity Figure in Your Life?

Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?

Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times






Romancing The Chocolate:


5 Tasty Sweet as Candy Chess Pie Recipes

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

Muffin Monday: 3 Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipes



Comfort Food From Louisiana:


7 Simple Ingredients Brisket and Southern Corn Pudding

Muffin Monday: Mushroom Dill Muffins From Louisiana Mushroom Farm




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex





Dennys Funny Quotes:


Oops and Hunh?! Cartoons 19 June 2010

Funny Family Quotes

Joke: When A Bunch of Nationalities Are Stranded on an Island





Visual Insights:

BP Oil Slicked Animals: Outrage Cartoons - 19 June 2010





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

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5 Tasty Sweet as Candy Chess Pie Recipes

*** Taste a slice of Heaven of the most divine pie recipes to thrill your sweet tooth!




Lemon Chess Pie Recipe and Photo by little blue hen @ flickr


From Denny: Chess pie is an old time favorite in the South just like apple pie is across the country. This is a simple pie like our great-grandmothers would have made. You still find it in Amish country.

This is a sweet pie as Southerners do like sweet desserts. It is so rich and intensely sweet that you might wonder if you are eating candy instead of a slice of pie. So, for the calorie conscious you might want to serve this pie in small servings.

The foundation of this pie is the simplicity of eggs, butter and sugar. From there the variations jump off to tasty delights. The history of the chess pie dates back to when farm wives and busy homemakers had to get a good meal on the table without complication. Early farm wives had to use what they had on hand in quantity and butter and eggs were their products. Over the years, the recipes they created were handed down for generations in the families.

How did the name of chess pie come to be? Food historians like John Egerton, author of "Southern Food," speculates the pie may have derived its name from a similar one that was a British cheese pie. Egerton wonders if the name came from the old pie safe or pie chest in which the pies were stored before today's refrigeration. Maybe it was originally named "chest pie" that over time slid into "chess pie."

From the Louisiana perspective and Southern slang, Jody Harper Waggenspack of Houma, Louisiana, claims the name came from Civil War days. The story goes that whenever someone asked the family cook what kind of pie they were serving the answer was, "It's 'jes' pie" which eventually became spelled as chess pie.

Recipes for this pie generally use one stick of butter, almost two cups of sugar, three eggs and some vinegar as their common ingredients. Remember that baking times and addition of other ingredients can create the difference in how the pies taste and look.

A few pointers for great chess pie:

* Always check your milk products by smelling and tasting to make sure they are not about to turn sour as that will ruin a pie taste and texture.

* Always use pure vanilla extract. Skip the imitation product as it just doesn't work well in most baking goods, especially a pie like this based on a custard filling. Custard fillings have a way of amplifying a flavor so if the taste isn't simply divine, the custard will scream it and ruin all your hard work.

* If you have the problem of your chess pie puffing up too fast and quite high, then your oven temperature may be too high.

* Make sure not to over beat your eggs for the filling. What can happen when you beat too much air into the eggs is that the filling can become grainy and unpleasant in texture.

* To get the best flavor and texture for your chess pie, partially pre-bake your pie shell. The reason for this is that because it is a custard pie you can't cook this pie as long as others like a fruit pie. Usually, for a custard pie it is baked just barely until set in the center but not soupy. As it cools the center will firm up.

*** And be sure to try out this recipe from the photographer of the photo: Lemon Chess Pie Recipe and Photo by little blue hen @ flickr

Enjoy these recipes from many Southern families and handed down for generations to this day.






Homestead Chess Pie

From: “Pie: 300 Tried-and-True Recipes for Delicious Homemade Pie” by Ken Haedrich, published by the Harvard Common Press, 2004.

Makes: 1 pie

From Ken: This recipe from the famed Homestead Restaurant in Lexington, Ky., first appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The pie embodies the genius I so appreciate about chess pies: that so few simple ingredients can make such a wonderful pie. I really am crazy about this pie, which can be served warm, at room temperature, or slightly chilled. Note: The recipe calls for a refrigerated unbaked pie shell, but Haedrich says that he often partially prebakes his pie shell. (Directions follow). If the pie shell is partially prebaked, it would not be refrigerated. He uses cider vinegar but believes that white vinegar will probably work, too.


Ingredients:

1 pie shell, refrigerated
3 large eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
7 tbls. salted or unsalted butter, softened
1 tbl. fine yellow cornmeal
1 tbl. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Directions:

1. Place the pie shell in the freezer for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine all the filling ingredients. Whisk well to mix thoroughly, then pour into the chilled pie shell.

3. Place the pie on the center oven rack and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Rotate the pie 180 degrees about halfway through the baking, so that the part that faced the back of the oven now faces forward. When done, the top of the pie will be a rich golden brown.

4. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes.


Ken Haedrich’s method of prebaking a pie shell:

1. Freeze the shell first. Then put a sheet of aluminum foil in the inside and fill the pan with pie weights or dried beans.

2. Put the pie shell in a preheated 400-degree oven on the center rack for 15 minutes to set the crust.

3. Without removing the pie, pull out the oven rack and gently lift the aluminum foil sheet and the pie weights. Take a fork and prick the pastry all over the bottom, seven or eight times, moving the fork to make the pricks a little bigger.

4. Lower the temperature to 375 degrees and continue to bake the shell for 10 to 12 minutes for a partially prebaked pie shell or 15 to 17 minutes for a fully prebaked pie shell.

5. Use the back of the spoon to gently press down any part of the shell that has puffed up.





Dussie’s Chess Pie


Makes: 1 pie.

From: Jody Harper Waggenspack of Houma, Louisiana. Dussie was her mother and this was her recipe.


Ingredients:

1/4 lb. real butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 tbls. mild vinegar
2 tsps. cornmeal
3 whole eggs
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie shell


Directions:

1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter slowly. Add sugar. Remove from heat and cool.

2. Add vinegar and cornmeal.

3. Beat the eggs slightly and add to butter mixture.

4. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 275 degrees and continue to bake until filling shakes slightly and is a little brown. Don’t overcook.






Chess Pie

From: Jane Winfree Flowers

Makes: 2 pies or 1 (9 x 13-inch) pie to cut into squares. Recipe is from Jane Winfree Flowers. Her mother, the late Winnie Winfree, got the recipe from the late Mary Lil Ford. “This pie has been such a staple in our home,” Flowers said.

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
1 tbl. flour
2 tbls. white vinegar
1 tbl. water
6 large eggs
1 tbl. vanilla
2 (9-inch) unbaked, deep-dish pie shells or 1 (9x 13-inch pan) with pastry on bottom and sides


Directions:

1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter and add sugar, flour, vinegar and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar is somewhat dissolved and not so granular. Cool.

2. Beat eggs well until yellow but not foamy. Combine with cooled butter mixture. Add vanilla and blend well.

3. Pour into two unbaked pie shells or into the (9 x 13-inch) baking dish. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Cool before cutting.





Sally’s Chess Pie

From: Sally James

Makes: 1 pie. Recipe is from Sally James, given to her by her grandmother, the late Jean Curet.

Ingredients:

3 whole eggs
3/4 stick butter, melted, not hot
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbl. cornmeal
1 tbl. vinegar
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie shell


Directions:

1. Mix eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, cornmeal and vinegar in the order given. Pour into unbaked pie shell.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and set in the middle.



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

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Muffin Monday: 3 Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipes

*** Enjoy 3 quick and easy recipes for chocolate and coffee all wrapped up and baked into the goodness of a muffin.





From Denny: Muffin Monday just seemed like a natural when writing about food. What a great way to start off our work week! I wanted to see what the Bed and Breakfast Inns around America offered up in the way of muffin delights and found a real treasure trove.

If you happen to live in the area of this inn, or will be traveling there soon, you can check it out. Whenever I travel I like to check the menus of the hotel, inn or local restaurants and plan my excursions around the local food. The local cuisine is half the learning experience when traveling and tells you so much about the culture.

I found the last two recipes while researching a Creative Commons usable photo from Flickr. My fellow photographers definitely like to eat well and enjoy posting many of their favorite recipes. Whenever I get lucky and run across them I try to post those recipes as so many of them are fabulous. Enjoy baking!


*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.


Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffins

From: Deacon Timothy Pratt Bed and Breakfast Inn c.1746
325 Main Street
Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475



Email: betterbedbreakfast@pratthouse.net



Ingredients:

6 T. butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 T. Instant Coffee
2 T. coffee flavored liquor (optional)
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 6-muffin pan. In large bowl, beat on medium speed: butter and sugar till light
and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, disolve coffee granuules, and coffee liquor until blended.

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternating with
milk, beating just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Divide batter among muffin-pan cups.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until centers spring back when lightly pressed. Serve warm.







William Shatner’s Cappuccino Chip Muffins

From: William Shatner, star of the Star Trek TV and movie series

Makes: 8-12 muffins (when you fill the tins up to the top you will get 8.)

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg (room temp)
1 cup milk (room temp)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips or equivalent of other chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with flour-added cooking spray. For bigger muffins, spray 8 of the cups.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk egg lightly. Whisk in milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and pour in milk mixture. Stir just until evenly blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among 12 or 8 greased muffin cups. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.






Cappuccino Muffins

From: Taste of Home magazine

Ingredients:

Spread (filling)

* 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Muffins

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips


Directions:

In a food processor (or using a hand mixer), combine the spread ingredients, cover and process until well blended.

Cover and refrigerate until serving.

For the muffins: In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, stir milk and coffee granules until coffee is dissolved.

Add butter, egg and vanilla; mix well.

Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full (Sprinkle with raw sugar...)


Bake at 375°F for 17-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
I used 2tsp of expresso powder instead of the instant coffee and mixed it with the milk to dissolve, added a few extra shakes of cinnamon and extra choc chips. I also overflowed the vanilla flavoring, I baked at 370 for 18-19 mins … made 17 muffins. Very moist and delicious!

Serve with espresso spread.


*** Check out the origin of Muffin Monday recipes: American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

*** Photo by Laura HB @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

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Cream Cheese n Sour Cherry Filling 4 Chocolate Cupcakes

*** Check out a new cookbook creating clever new twists on classic flavors for our favorites!





From Denny: I like this chef's style! She loves the classics and she loves tinkering with the classics to update and experiment with new exciting flavors that are sure to be crowd pleasers. Cat Cora sure grabbed my attention with her chocolate recipes. The combination of cream cheese and chocolate is a classic people love. Another classic like Black Forest Cake is the combination of cherries with chocolate. Cat took both and paired them into one delicious chocolate bomb to explode all over our taste buds! :)

When you place the chocolate cake batter in the cupcake tin, you place only one third of the batter, add only one half teaspoon of the cream cheese filling on top of that, place one sour cherry on top of the filling and then cover with the chocolate cake batter and bake. Nothing could be simpler yet so elegant with that unexpected surprise as you bite into the confection.

This simple yet elegant cupcake would be divine for a birthday celebration or special day like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. OK, I'd make it any time being the shameless chocoholic that I am. :) I love how pretty it is and yet so simple and bursting with flavor. Check it out and see what you think. Provided also is a link to her book at Amazon which is now discounted too. This is not a dessert cookbook but rather has a wide range of recipes to enjoy.




Chef Cat Cora's cookbook - Classics with a Twist: Fresh Takes on Favorite Dishes



Sour Cherry–filled Cupcakes

Makes: 12 cupcakes

From Cat: The cream cheese–cherry filling pairs perfectly with the chocolate cake. You can use the small amount of leftover filling to make a little white-icing decoration on top of each cupcake.

Ingredients

Chocolate cupcakes

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk, well shaken

Cream cheese filling

1/2 cup cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

12 canned sour cherries, drained

Chocolate–sour cream frosting

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup sour cream

Instructions

To make the cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

2. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.

3. With an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the oil, beating well. Beat in the egg and then the vanilla.

4. Turn the mixer speed to low and add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, in 3 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.

To make the filling:

With a wooden spoon, beat together the cream cheese and the sugar in a small bowl until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and stir until incorporated.

To bake the cupcakes:

1. Pour the batter into the muffin tin, filling each cup about one-third full. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the filling in the center of the batter and top with 1 sour cherry. (You will have about 1/4 cup of the cream cheese filling left.)

2. Spoon the remaining batter into each cup, filling the muffin cups no more than two-thirds full. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the tops of the cupcakes are springy to the touch.

3. Let the cupcakes cool while you make the frosting.

To make the frosting:

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips, microwaving for 10 seconds. Remove the bowl and stir, then return to the microwave for another 10 seconds. Continue microwaving and stirring until the chocolate is smooth. (If you don’t have a microwave, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a skillet of simmering water.) Stir in the sour cream.

Spread the frosting evenly on each cupcake. If you want to decorate the cupcakes, spoon the remaining 1/4 cup cream cheese filling into a ziplock bag with a small corner snipped off or into a pastry bag fitted with a narrow pointed tip. Pipe a curlicue or 2 thin white lines down the center of the top of each cupcake. Serve.




Chef Cat Cora's cookbook - Classics with a Twist: Fresh Takes on Favorite Dishes


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

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