Sundae Cupcakes

Funfetti Ice Cream Sundae Cupcakes

Ingredients

• Cupcakes
• 1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles
Frosting
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 12 maraschino cherries
• Sprinkles, to garnish

Instructions

1. For the cupcakes:
2. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line a cupcake pan with 12 liners.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. In a large bowl, beat together (with a mixer or whisk) the sugar and melted butter. Beat in the egg then vanilla and sour cream.
5. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture. Add 1/2 of the milk. Add another 1/3 part flour mixture. Add the remaining milk then add the remaining flour mixture. Fold in the sprinkles.
6. Divide the batter into the 12 liners. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
For the frosting:
7. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, butter, and salt until smooth, 2-3 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat another 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Scoop (or pipe) frosting on top of each cupcake.
For the chocolate:
8. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips. Stir in the oil. Pour over each cupcake. Top with sprinkles and a cherry. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. Keep refrigerated if the chocolate softens too much.    (Source: Adapted from 125 Best Cupcake Recipes)

Cooking Tips :

Improve Your Cooking Breadth With This Knowledge

There are some things you must know in order to become a terrific cook. This article will teach you the fine points of cooking. Read on and take note of these tips so that you learn exactly what it takes to get cooking prowess.

If you want to start cooking more, take a trip to a local library or bookstore where you can find many cookbooks with recipes you can enjoy making at home. Try some recipes until you come up with something that works for you.

Slice meat on the bias for stir-fry dishes. This can take up much time consuming and is also somewhat difficult procedure.

Your spices should be stored in a place that is dark and dark. Using fresh spices can make your food taste better.

Apples are used in cooking mostly during the fall, but they tend to spoil quickly if not stored properly. Apples rot in dry warm air, make sure you store them in the fridge or in a cool place. One bad apple will spoil the other apples.

Mushrooms will absorb the water like a large amount of water. Wipe off each mushroom with a cloth to clean them.

Garlic is among the multitude of many tasty ingredients that offers flavor with a drawback: garlic can transfer to your hands. Try rubbing your hands on the inside of a steel when they smell from an odoriferous cooking ingredientThis will cleanse your hands and prevent the smells from transferring to the food you handle.

Ice trays are fabulous for freezing sauces. This makes it easier for you to make a quick meal by reheating the sauce using a saute pan. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the trays.

If your burgers seem to be sticking to the surface of your grill, it will be difficult to flip them without mangling them in the process. Try brushing a thin coating of vegetable oil on the cooking surface prior to cooking so that food from sticking.

Make enough so that you can freeze the excess and use it later. Good homemade chicken stock is a wonderful base in soups, stews, stews and other dishes.

This keeps them avoid burning when you cook. Use two parallel skewers instead of one skewer to avoid food intact.

Always make certain to measure cooking oil you use. This will help you reduce how much fat is present in your foods while cooking. This lets you keep track of the amount of oil you are using.

Leave the bone in your roast when you are cooking and pressed for time. The meat cooks faster this way due to the fact that the bone carries the heat right to the center of the roasting pan.

Many veggies and herbs have a scent that can remain on cutting boards well after they are washed. Use permanent ink to mark the cutting board to identify which is which.

Place unripened fruits in a plastic bag that is perforated right after you have poked small holes into. If you put them in the bag with holds the air will go through the bag, the air can circulate and assure that the gas is retained, keeping the fruit fresh and tasty.

To avoid mistakes like burning your food while you are cooking, stay organized. Having all your kitchen tools handy and organized will help you are productive when cooking. Being disorganized means having difficulty finding things and quite possibly ruining an entire dish, which makes you miss out on the goodies that you could be indulging in.

When cooking with fresh herbs like parsley or dill, gather them into bunches and cut them with scissors. This will keep the herbs drier and lighter than if they are chopped.

One of the best cooking tip is just be flexible and creative; do your imagination. You do not follow a recipe to the "T". That is a person a great cook!

When food is being sauteed, don't put too much into the pan. Make sure you saute foods on a low temperature as well.

Spices will rapidly lose flavor if exposed to heat, light and humidity. This will keep them lose their flavor.

Using brine in your food preparation is a key cooking skill to master.Soak your poultry in brine water for at least an hour before cooking to enhance the flavor.

The high heats in a microwave causes oil to separate from other food ingredients. Baking slowly and consistently can reheat your whole dish and keep the ingredients more cohesive.

Fruit works especially delicious cooked on a grill. You can skewer a selection of fruits such as peaches, and melon slices can work well too. Cook them on a cleaned grill until you see grill marks. Serve the grilled fruit on some ice cream for instance.

Try ketchup as a secret batter ingredient for your fried foods. Ketchup isn't just for dipping; when frying veggies or chicken, prior to covering it in breadcrumbs.

You can chill cinnamon rolls much simpler to slice. Cinnamon rolls can be hard to cut before they have been baked. You can cut the dough easily by using a heavy thread right under the spot where you want. This will yield perfect individual cinnamon roll slices!

One very easy way to prepare new food is to vary the types of sauces and spices used. One way to score some great sauces and spices is to shop for finding new spices/sauces is to go to foreign grocery stores.

In conclusion, in order to become the best cook you can be, you must be knowledgeable. Some of the tips that were found in this article can even help well-established cooks become better. After reading this article, you should be on your way to becoming a great cook.

Great Cooking Tips For Foodies With Passion

Even home cooks can learn new things about the culinary arts. Use these tips so that you can create excellent flavors in your kitchen.

Your spices and herbs should always be stored in a cool and dark area. The flavor of herbs and spices will be diminished if they are subjected to humidity, humidity, and heat. Most spices will keep their flavor for about a year. Spices that are not ground can keep their flavor for around 3-5 years. Storing your spices properly can help you achieve a

This helps to boost the flavor in your food.

Did you ever feel badly for throwing moldy fruit away? You may have wondered if it is okay to salvage them by trimming away the moldy parts. There are no way to salvage fruit is unhealthful. Mold goes a lot deeper than you can't even see and it can make you sick so throw moldy fruit in the garbage.

To make your French fries crispier, try leaving the raw potatoes in some cold water for half an hour before you fry them.

Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to cut some calories and fat. The somewhat bland taste of cauliflower helps it to blend seamlessly with the potatoes. Cauliflower is also the same texture and color of potatoes when mashed so it's a great way to add more veggies, so the dish will be transformed into one that has more vegetables and fewer calories.

Are you partial to using basil? Take a large bunch of the basil and set it in a glass. The stems should be thoroughly covered with water. Put it on top of your kitchen counter and it will remain fresh for weeks! The basil can actually grow roots if you occasionally change the water changed occasionally. Trim the basil once in a while so it grows even more and you will be able to enjoy fresh basil!

Ice trays are fabulous for freezing sauces. This makes it easy to prepare a quick meal which you can reheat at a saute pan. The frozen sauce will remain edible even after being in an ice tray.

If your burgers seem to be sticking to the surface of your grill, it might be hard to cook them while preserving their shape. Try brushing a thin coating of vegetable oil on the grill or pan to keep food does not stick.

Tofu and beans are great sources of protein. Both beans and tofu are readily available at most grocery stores. Try frying tofu with some interesting seasonings and you will have a tasty alternative to meat. Beans boiled with some spices and herbs for a meal full of protein.

Read the labels for recipe ingredients. Many of the most common items contain unhealthy and unnecessary additives. You want to ensure that is not high in sugar or salt because both can cause major health problems if eaten too much.

When cooking pumpkins, first set the pumpkin upright; then slice it down the center, then cut directly down its middle to create two halves. Place each half of the pumpkin on separate baking sheets with the cut side facing down.

Always make certain to measure the amount of cooking oil you use. This will help you reduce how much fat is present in your foods while cooking. This is the best way to know the amount of oil you use.

One great cooking tip is just be flexible and creative; do your imagination. You don't always have to follow a recipe word for word. That makes a sign of a true cook!

There are sulfurous gasses in freshly cut onions. This gas can ruin your salsa. You will remove the gas from your onions by rinsing them and dry them off.

If you are going to have a barbecue, make sure the grill itself is prepped beforehand. The grill should be prepared 30 minutes before your coals are hot enough to start grilling.The coals should be moderate and should emit medium heat. This is the right temperature to begin grilling temperature.

Buy good-quality knives for food preparation. Dull knives cause of more accidents than sharp blades.

When sauteing, make the pan is not overloaded. Make sure you do this at a low temperature.

Try some new ways to eat oysters. You can prepare oysters in other ways rather than just raw with lemon juice. Sprinkle Parmesan and pepper and broil until oysters bubble. Another method is to take the oysters and saute oysters. Bake oysters with shells still in the shells. Put them in a baking dish, add a little butter and breadcrumbs to the top of each oyster, and allow them to bake for roughly five minutes in a 425 degree oven. Serve your oysters once the butter is bubbling.

Set a watch timer that you can easily carry with the oven timer.

Use soft butter instead of melted butter when you are creaming sugar and butter for cookies. If the butter is melted, put the bowl in the freezer to solidify it a little bit, or refrigerate the dough after mixing the ingredients. Your dough will spread if you use cooler dough.

Fruit works especially well on a grill. Try slicing peaches, nectarines, and peaches and then putting them on some skewers. Cook them on a grill that is clean until you see the grill marks. Serve the fruit atop ice cream or grilled pound cake.

Shake things up if your family is tired of the same old frozen sweet corn on the table every night. Add flaked coconut flakes to the corn for a Thai cuisine flavor that grown-ups and children will both enjoy.

Make a flavored butter to add to your dinner rolls or ears of corn.Then you want to add some sauce, spices or sauces to add an extra burst of flavor. Some great ingredients that are worth adding are honey, honey, chipotles or BBQ sauce.

Apply the tips from this article to help guide you towards having a better handle on cooking. The following tips can help you become a better cook, no matter how many people you are cooking for.

Angel Food Cupcakes

Angel Food Cupcakes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Yield: 16 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup cake flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 egg whites, at room temperature*
• 2 1/2 Tbsp warm water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla, coconut, almond or orange extract (I used coconut)
• 3/4 tsp cream of tartar
Cream Cheese Whipped Cream Topping
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 6 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse sugar until super fine, about 2 minutes (if you don't have a food processor caster sugar should also work). In a mixing bowl, sift together half of the sugar, the cake flour and the salt.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together egg whites, water, extract of choice and cream of tartar until well combined, about 2 minutes. Switch to a hand mixer and whip mixture on medium speed while slowly adding remaining sugar to mixture, until medium peaks form. Sift just enough of the flour mixture in to evenly dust the top of the egg white mixture and using a spatula gently fold flour layer into egg white mixture and continue this process until all of the flour mixture has been incorporated (I did this in probably 12 batches).
• Divide batter among paper lined muffin cups, filling each cup nearly full. Bake in preheated oven 18 - 20 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely then spread Cream Cheese Whipped Cream over cupcakes just before serving and top with fresh fruit.
• For the Cream Cheese Whipped Cream Topping:
• In a mixing bowl whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. In a separate mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add cream cheese to whipped cream along with powdered sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Store in refrigerator.
• *I'd recommend working with one egg in a bowl at a time to separate the yolk and white, then pour that separated white into the mixing bowl and continue that process with remaining eggs. I do this simply in case one of the yolks breaks and gets into the whites then you'll only have to toss out 1 egg and not all of them if you can't get the yolk out. You don't want even 1 drop of egg yolk in the cake mixture or it can prevent the whites from whipping to stiff peaks.
• Recipe Source: cake adapted from Alton Brown's Angel Food Cake, via Food Network. topping - Cooking Classy.

Cooking Tips : 

Become A Master Cook With These Tips

Do you ever wonder how it is others cook as well as they do? The following article can turn anyone into a better cook.

Always have your spices away from light in a dark and cool place. Your culinary preparations will taste better if your spices are fresher.

You don't ever want to try new ingredients or recipes and food you enjoy. This can lessen the stress out of your cooking.

Apples are very popular in cooking in fall and winter, but they will spoil quickly if not stored properly. To avoid rotting, you should keep them in a plastic bag and in a cool temperature. One rotten apple will spoil the whole bag so make sure you keep a close eye your apples.

You can use this on many other foods besides meat! You can use your favorite spices and seasonings to enhance the naturally delicious flavor of scrambled eggs or make a tasty snack by sprinkling a bit on some roasted pumpkin seeds. People will wonder where that burst of flavor to simple dishes.

Garlic is among the multitude of tasty ingredients that offers flavor with a downside; it transfers to your hands and fingers. Try rubbing your hands on the inside of a steel when they smell from an odoriferous cooking ingredient This will cleanse your hands and prevent the smells from transferring to the food item that you are handling next.

Do you find it tough to know grilling times for meats? Use a good meat thermometer to tell when it is cooked correctly.

Plan to make a large pot of stock so you can freeze and store it. Good homemade chicken stock is a wonderful base in soups, casseroles, casseroles and more.

Add chicken broth to vegetables when cooking vegetables. Chicken broth is an excellent base to use when preparing vegetable dishes that helps keep them from sticking of vegetables and incorporating some great flavor with them.

If the recipe calls for water, switch it up by using a broth, juice, or juice when suitable. Instead of using milk, try sour cream, buttermilk or sour cream. Using different liquids can add nutritional content to certain dishes and even make it more nutritious.

This will allow your food the maximum amount of flavor possible.

Storing these items in warm location will lead them to lose their flavor quicker.

It is vital for cooks to organize their supplies organized when cooking. If you refuse to organize your cooking supplies, you will waste valuable time getting everything together at the last minute. Try keeping similar items in proximity to one another. For instance, you want to organize your spices such as parsley and basil in one cabinet.

To avoid mistakes like burning your food while you are cooking, stay organized. Having all your kitchen tools handy and organized cooking area will ensure that you are productive when cooking. If you are unorganized, you will start to forget what you buy and that will make you spend too much money that could have been spent on something you would have eaten.

Blot ground meats to remove moisture before you cook it. It is a good idea to always blot away moisture from ground meat. Any moisture on the meat will be released when the meat is cooked. The water will then cook away. This can cause the meat to become steamed instead of sear.

Save approximately 1/4 cup of this water. When you mix your pasta and sauce, add the water as well. The addition of the starchy water will bulk up your sauce via amalgamation.

There are sulfurous gas in freshly cut onions. This unappetizing gas by-product can ruin the taste of your fresh salsa. The gas is removed by rinsing and pat the onions dry.

Fresh herbs and other kinds of natural seasonings can help spice up even the simplest dish. Dried herbs can work beautifully in recipes that are filled with a variety of flavors. Fresh herbs produce a stronger flavor and can improve the taste of any dish.

Learn about any vegetables or fruits you haven't worked with before. You might be surprised how much you can do with that your research leads to many great new food.

Don't try out new recipes when you are cooking for someone you want to impress.You will want to be on top of your game and really impress them, a new love interest, or even the dodgy in-laws with substandard food. Impress these people with a meal you already know you can prepare well.

Add spices to meals after your dish is ready. Pepper, cayenne, cayenne seasoning, and garlic are yummy additional seasonings you can add. Many people have different things in terms of spices.This way people can choose what they would like to put into their dish.

You can reduce the stress of preparing a large meal for an important family and friends by doing some of the work well before you begin cooking. Instead of succumbing to panic, do all the preparatory work a night or two before the big event is to occur. Set out measurements, prepare marinades, utensils and sauces.

If you've been handling smelly ingredients like garlic, stuck on your hands, or fish, try rubbing your hands with stainless steel for about one minute before you wash them. You can do this on the side of a sink or use a stainless steel soap bar and it will lift the odors from your hands, or even a special steel "soap" in order to remove these smells.

Use ketchup as an ingredient in batters for fried food batter. You can not only dip foods in ketchup, or before adding breadcrumbs.

When preparing mashed potatoes, your milk should be hot, but never boiling. This alternative to the addition of cold milk will make your mashed potatoes much airier and fluffier. Nobody really wants lumps in their mashed potatoes full of lumps.

Make sure that you heed the information given in this article. Your guests will begin to inquire where you learned your new secrets.

Make Better Choices - Tips And Tricks For Cooking Healthy Meals!

Cooking is a priceless skill that is very valuable. Cooking at home not only saves money but ensure that you are eating delicious and healthy food.

If using skewers made of steel or metal, the square or twisted kind are much better than round ones for holding food in place.

There are ways to fix your dish and make it so you are able to instantly use it. Mix two tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a bowl. Stir the mixture into simmering sauce to make it thicker. Make sure to introduce the starch slowly while stirring constantly to make it not be too much.

You should not want to cook the whole thing immediately after it has been seasoned. Cook a tiny portion of it in the shape of a pan and taste it first.

Boiling and other lengthy cooking process that decreases valuable nutrients contained in them. To retain the healthy nutrients, choose quick cooking methods such as sauteing or steaming - or better still, enjoy them in their natural, raw state.

Have you felt sorry for throwing out some moldy fruit away? Do not cut the moldy parts and save the rest. There is no two ways about it; rotting fruit that has begun decomposing. Mold goes a lot deeper than you can't even see and it can make you sick so throw moldy fruit in the garbage.

Quickly cooking vegetables allows them crispier and more nutrient-filled.Vegetables that are cooked slowly lose a lot of their taste and valuable nutrients. These cooking techniques make the vegetables that are healthier and taste great as well. Cooking better vegetables for the least amount of time is essential.

The downside of garlic and onions is that their flavors and smells transfer to your hands easily. Try rubbing your hands on stainless steel sink after you work with the garlic or other potent ingredients. This serves to both clean your hand and prevent the odors from seeping into any other foods you are going to handle.

When you are grilling burgers, it can be hard to loosen them without damaging the food.Try brushing a thin coating of vegetable oil on the grill or pan to keep food does not stick.

Plan to make a big pot of stock so that the excess can be frozen and store it. Good homemade chicken stock is a wonderful base in soups, casseroles, casseroles and more.

Oil and butter both have lots of fat. A god nonstick spray will suffice and fats that you are using.

This will allow your food the maximum amount of flavor possible.

Measure cooking oil you are using! This will help you lower the fat is present in your cooking. This should enable you to carefully watch how much oil you are using.

It is necessary for every cook to have their cooking supplies. If they are not properly organized, you won't know where to find the cheese grater or the spatula when you need them. Try to keep things with similar items in one place. For example, spices can be placed in the same compartment.

You can make stock yourself. You should always have stock on hand for soup and other dishes. Creating your own stock allows you cook.

If you are planning a complex meal, make it more manageable by prepping the day before. Get everything together beforehand; ensure you have all the ingredients, measure and chop all spices or herbs and make sure that you have what the recipe requires. You can reduce a lot of recipes to a matter of mixing everything together and putting heat to it if you to cook.

Fresh onions have sulfurous gas in it. This could ruin your fresh salsa. Rinsing the raw onions in cold water will get rid of the gas to be removed.

Fresh herbs and different types of natural seasonings can help spice up even the simplest dish. Dried herbs can be used for complex recipes that have a plethora of flavors. Fresh herbs have a better flavor.

You can use bouillon cubes. This is a good way to moisten your foods moist but more flavor.

Add spices to your dishes once they've been cooked. Pepper, cayenne, cayenne seasoning, and salt are excellent spices. Many people have different things in terms of spices. Each person can then bring the food to their own special version of your meal that they will love.

Fruit is especially well on the grill. Slice peaches, melons and peaches and then thread them onto a skewer.Cook them on a cleaned grill until you see grill marks. Serve the grilled fruit on some ice cream for instance.

Those of you who enjoy cooking fish dishes should consider trying to catch your own.

Learn to use color as a guide to cooking. Colorful additions to your eyes and visual appeal. Be innovative in using color, and people will eat the food in no time.

Try experimenting with saffron when you cook. Saffron lends your cooking unique flavor not available with any other spice. Saffron is an ancient herb that has never lost its appeal.

Make sure keep your stove to at least 300 degrees.

This allows the fat to congeal on the top. You can then remove the fat and discard it prior to eating. You will be eliminating roughly 100 calories for each tablespoon of fat you remove.

It's easy to cultivate your cooking skills and prepare delicious, nourishing meals when you make use of advice like that presented above. You will become a better cook the more you practice. Homemade meals also promote healthier eating habits for the entire household. Start now with a simple recipe and have fun while you create good food.

A Cupcake for Every Day of the Month

Cooking Tips : 

Be A Superb Cook With These Easy, Simple Tips

Many people see preparing meals as a negative way. This article will present you with some advice that will make cooking enjoyable.

Slice your meat very thinly on the bias for stir-fry dishes. This can take up much time and somewhat difficult procedure.

Always keep your spices away from light in a dark and cool place. Your food will taste better if your spices are fresher.

Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to cut some calories and fat.The taste of cauliflower will blend nicely with your potatoes while picking up the other ingredients. Cauliflower has the same texture and color as potatoes, while lowering calories from classic mashed potatoes.

They behave like a sponge and just soak up a lot of that water. Wipe the mushrooms off by hand with a cloth to clean them.

Garlic is just one of many tasty ingredients that offers flavor with a drawback: garlic can transfer to your hands. Try rubbing your hands on stainless steel sink after you work with the garlic or other potent ingredients. This handy trick cleanses your hands thoroughly and prevent the smell will not be transferred to what you are going to handle.

Plan on preparing a big pot of stock so that the excess can freeze and used later. Good chicken stock that you make at home makes a great starter for soups, casseroles, casseroles and more.

Add some chicken broth to vegetables when you cook them. Chicken broth is great for preventing sticking and incorporating some flavor.

This will prevent them from burning up while you are cooking. Use two parallel skewers as opposed to a single skewer to keep food falling off.

This will allow your food the maximum amount of flavor possible.

Place unripened fruits in a plastic bag that is perforated right after you have poked small holes into. If you put them in the bag with holds the air will go through the bag, and the gas will stay in, keeping the fruit fresh and tasty.

You can make stock yourself. You should always have stock when you are cooking other things. Creating your own stock allows you cook.

Blot your ground beef with a paper towel before you cook it. It is a good idea to always advisable to blot away the moisture. Any moisture in left in meat will be released as the meat cooks. The moisture will sizzle and steam away when it hits the heat of the pan. This prevents the meat to steam instead.

Be creative in your approach to cooking. You don't always have to follow the recipe exactly. That is a sign of cooking finesse make a true cook!

Raw onions emit sulfurous gas. This unappetizing gas can damage the flavor of fresh salsa. Rinsing the raw onions gets rid of the gas.

This allows you to economize on the amount of gas or electricity used when cooking, as well as prevent other dangerous situations resulting from distractions.

A meat thermometer should be used to check that the meats properly. All of meat have a minimum internal temperature in order for safe consumption. There is bacteria present in the meat, so cooking it to a high enough temperature to kill it off is important to avoid food borne illnesses.

Trussing refers to the method of tying a turkey with string for baking. Trussing helps to keep the legs and wings next to the bird closely. If they are untied, they tend to easily burn while the body of the bird continues to cook.

A good way to cook is with poultry is to first brine the bird. You can soak your poultry by soaking the meat in brine for about an hour before you cook it.

There are many ways to prepare oysters. You can prepare oysters in other ways than raw on the half shell with some drizzled lemon juice. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and pepper over them and broil until oysters bubble. You can also choose to saute oysters. You can bake oysters while still in their shells. Put them in a standard casserole dish, add fresh breadcrumbs and a small dab of butter on each oyster, and bake for 4 to 5 minutes. Serve hot on toast points or a baguette when your butter starts bubbling.

You can reduce the stress of preparing a large meal for family meal. Instead of letting your stress turn to panic, try to have everything ready to go in advance. Set out measurements, utensils and spices the night before, so they will be ready to go the next day.

Fruit is especially well on a grill. You can slice nectarines, melon and bananas. Cook them on a cleaned grill until you are able to see grill marks. Serve the grilled slices of fruit with pound cake or ice cream.

Shake things up if your family is tired of the same old frozen corn on the table at dinner each night. Add coconut flakes to your corn to provide a Thai-inspired taste.

Certain fruits, including apples, bananas, avocados and bananas, quickly turn brown as their cut sides oxidize. Lemon and salt water will stop the process, but it's better to use is pineapple juice.A small dip works well, so there is no need to soak the fruit.

Learn to appreciate sturdy greens that appear in the colder months. Winter greens like broccoli rabe, kale, broccoli rabe and kale. Wash greens well as they tend to absorb dirt easily during growth. Submerge the greens into cold water in a bowl, shake them off, and shake off the excess water.

You should take the excess fat from your soup or stew. Place an ice in a spoon and skim it along the surface. The ice draws the fat should stick to the surface of the spoon and be easily removed from the dish. Another option is to absorb the excess fat is to blot the surface of the stew or soup with a paper towel.

As you've read, there are a variety of ways that cooking can be made fun and exciting, and not just a chore. By following the tips presented above, your time in the kitchen can be a creative, joyful experience.

Vanilla Butterfly Cupcakes

Recipe:

Vanilla Cupcakes (from Betty Crocker – Big Book of Cupcakes) 

1 cup of butter or margarine, softened 

1 1/3 cups sugar 

3 eggs 

1 tsp vanilla 

2/3 cup milk 

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 

2 1/2 tsp baking powder 

Vanilla Buttercream

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 

6 cups icing sugar 

1 tbsp vanilla 

4 tbsp milk 

Butterflies

24 white chocolate covered pretzels (+a few more just in case.. and in case you “accidentally” eat a few) 

Smarties 

Black licorice 

Directions: 

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 24 muffin cups with non-stick or muffin tins.

2) In a large bowl, combine the butter or margarine and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs and mix, followed by the vanilla and milk.

3) Mix in flour and baking powder until all combined. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

4) While the cupcakes are in the oven, begin preparing the buttercream. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer until the buttercream is fully combined and smooth. I would recommend putting about half of the buttercream in a container and refridgerating it until the next time you bake, as this recipe makes a HUGE amount. In the remaining icing, add the green food coloring until it is to the color of your liking.

5) Once the cupcakes are cool, begin decorating! Use the #233 wilton tip with a piping bag to apply the grass and then form the wings with two chocolate covered pretzels, the torso with smarties, and cut two small pieces of black licorice for the antennae.

Cooking Tips :

Cooking Is As Simple As Following Directions

Have you ever went to a restaurant and tried to figure out how the food. Have you ever considered that you would like to recreate the same meal in your own kitchen? Use the advice in this article to create your favorite meals for all occasions. Cooking is a fantastic hobby for all sorts of people.

Keep herbs and spices in a dark space that stays room temperature. Exposure to excessive heat, light, and humidity can cause them to lose their flavor. Ground spices retain their flavor for around a year. Whole spices can hold their flavor for about three years. Storing spices in glass containers with a

Preparation is one of the most important prior to cooking a meal for your friends or family. Make sure you have all of the ingredients available. This will reduce your fears and anxiety when it is time to cook the meal.

Partially freeze meat is easier to cut into thin strips. This is an especially strong technique is suited for meats served in Asian dishes. To keep your meat cooking evenly, you must let the meat strips thaw thoroughly before cooking.

You do not want to deal with the stress by sticking to familiar recipes and food you enjoy. You will have a more relaxed and less anxious cooking if you follow this tip.

This will keep fruits fresh and delicious for long periods of time. This is a great way to ensure that you easy access to seasonal fruits during their off seasons.

Prepare some of your food the day before if you cannot handle doing everything in one night. Cut up veggies and make marinades or sauces before going to bed at night. You will be much less stressed and more eager to cook the next day.

You can make your own dried tomatoes yourself. You can do this by cutting ripe tomatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices, or ripe tomatoes sliced about a half inch thick. You can also store them in jars packed with fresh herbs and olive oil. The jars can be stored in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Make sure that you do not dispose of your Thanksgiving dinner. Cut the leftover meat and freeze it in airtight container. The turkey can later be used for weeks this way.

Many of the vegetables and herbs give off a scent that remains on cutting board smelly no matter how hard you try to scrub it off. Use a permanent ink to mark so you know which side you are using.

If you enjoy using fresh herbs, clump them together and use kitchen shears to cut them. This will keep the herbs drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.

You should clean your dishes as you use them.

Save about one quarter cup of water and put it aside. When you're ready to combine the pasta and sauce, incorporate some of this water. The addition of the sauce and make it creamier.

There are quite a few ways to heat up tortillas properly. One of the easiest methods is to simply place the tortilla in your oven rack that has been preheated to 350 degrees and watch it closely until it is heated to perfection. You can also heat the tortillas by placing them on a gas stove. These ways of cooking tortillas make your tortilla taste fresher.

There are a vast array of potato varieties, and they cannot be equally substituted for each other.

Bouillon cubes dissolved in the appropriate amount of water will also add flavor to those meals that call for water. This is a good way to moisten your food while adding another level to the taste profile.

A great way to cook up bits and pieces of leftover vegetables and meat. Fry the meats and veggies in a bit of oil, then throw in your rice an season with some soy sauce, soy sauce, ginger and other spices.

Add spices to your dishes once they've been cooked.Pepper, cayenne, salt, and salt are excellent spices. Many people have different things in terms of spices.Each person will have their own dish.

Cooking food for a party or large number of people might mean added stress on your plate. Instead of letting your stress turn to panic, a great way to relieve some of that stress is to handle a lot of the prep work the night (or even a few nights) before. This means setting out measurements, utensils and sauces.

If you've been handling smelly ingredients like garlic, stuck on your hands, use stainless steal and rub them for about one minute, try rubbing your hands with stainless steel for about one minute before you wash them. You can use the sink itself, leaving them fresh.

Shake things up if your family is tired of the same frozen corn on the table at dinner each night. Add some coconut flakes to give the dish a very exotic flavor.

Make sure you use the right type of potato for your dish. There are three different classifications of potatoes, these are mealy, mealy, and all-purpose. Russet is a common mealy potato. Waxy potatoes are great for steaming or boiling because their shape is maintained. Red and white potatoes are just a few examples of the waxy potatoes.

Fresh fruits, bananas, pears, peaches, peaches and pears are likely to turn brown when sliced and exposed to air. Lemon and salt water will stop the process, but it's better to use is pineapple juice.A brief submersion will be effective, so don't worry about leaving it to soak.

It's easy to put too much salt in a dish while cooking, but that doesn't mean that it's been ruined. Add two peeled and chopped raw potatoes to the dish, and let it cook for another 15 minutes. These potatoes will absorb all the extra salt. If your recipe is based on tomatoes, use extra tomatoes to get rid of the extra salt and make sure to cook them until they achieve the desired tenderness.

Congratulations, you have begun the process of becoming a great cook! Don't hesitate to try new recipes and take risks in the kitchen. The world is your oyster in regards to what you can cook from now on!

Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes Recipe

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These Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes are just the right combination of tart and sweet. And even though the standard-sized cupcakes look prettier, I think these cupcakes in mini-size are the way to go... just the right icing to cupcake ratio in each bite... plus, then you get to eat more of them with less guilt.

What You Need:
To Make 20-24 Standard Cupcakes (6-8 dozen minis):
For the Lemon Curd:
1-2 Tbsp. Lemon Zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2-4 lemons)
6 egg yolks (reserve the whites for icing and cake)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter (cut into chunks)

For the Cupcakes:
White Cake Mix
2 egg whites + 1 whole egg (reserve the yolks!)
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup milk (whole milk preferred)
1/4-1/2 cup lemon juice (from 2-4 lemons)
2-3 tsp. lemon zest
Optional: 1/4-1/2 cup pureed strawberries (if you add the strawberries, decrease the milk by the same amount)

For the Strawberry Lemonade Icing:
4 egg whites (yolks used in curd)
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cup) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup lemon curd (see above)
1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 1 cup frozen)

*Grand total, in case you're not keeping track, is:
- 7 eggs
- 5 sticks of butter
- 4-8 lemons


Make the Lemon Curd

I start with the lemon curd because it needs to set in the refrigerator for a few hours before you can use it as a filling.

Place the yolks from six eggs into the bottom of a small saucepan. Add the sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice.
Whisk to combine, and set over medium-low heat.
Stirring constantly, allow the mixture to thicken. This takes me about 10 minutes. (And you really do have to stir constantly.) You know it's ready when it coats the back of your spatula.

Not ready.

Ready.

Remove from heat and add the butter a few chunks at a time, stirring until the chunks melt each time.

Once all of the butter is added and melted, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer (to get the zest out, and any other various not-smooth bits).

Lay plastic wrap directly on the surface of the lemon curd to prevent a skin from forming.
Allow the lemon curd to set up in the refrigerator at least 3 hours to overnight. It keeps for about one week in the refrigerator.

Make the Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees (F) and line cupcake cups with cupcake papers. 

Whip the two egg whites and one whole egg in the bowl of a stand mixer for about a minute. Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down the bowl, then mix on medium for two minutes.
*Please Note: If you choose to add strawberry puree to the mix, you need to reduce your milk by the same amount.  

Scoop the batter into prepared cupcake cups. I like to do 1/4 cup for standard cupcakes, and 1/2 Tbsp. for minis.
Bake standard cupcakes for 15-20 minutes. Minis bake for 12-18 minutes.
Remove from the pans and let cool completely.

Make the Icing

Combine remaining 4 egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer, or other heatproof bowl. Set over a pot of simmering water, and whisk until the mixture gets to 160-degrees. (This takes 5-15 minutes depending on how cold the egg whites are to begin with, how simmering your water is, etc.)

When they reach 160-degrees, whip the egg whites (with the whisk attachment) until a stiff peak forms- this takes again 5-10 minutes, depending on the strength and speed of your mixer.

Switch stand mixers to the paddle attachment. Add the butter, cut into chunks, lemon curd and strawberry puree.
*I usually use frozen strawberries that have been defrosted, then use an immersion blender to puree them.

Mix, starting with medium, because this will turn to soup, and if you turn it up too high, will splash out all over you. When it begins to come together again, turn it up to medium-high and mix until it is soft and fluffy. (The time on this varies from 4-10 minutes, again depending on your mixer, the temperature of your butter, the temperature of the egg whites, etc.)

*Important Note!!
Both times I made this recipe, it curdled a little. I finally figured it out. When you add the lemon curd, it may work better to keep the 1/2 cup out of the fridge to add to the icing. I think that taking the curd straight from the fridge makes it too cold.
What I did to fix it when it did curdle (it looks like cottage cheese got caught in the icing):
- Take 1/4-1/3 cup of the icing out of the bowl. 
- In a heatproof measuring cup, microwave the 1/4 cup icing for 20-30 seconds, until it is soupy and warm to the touch.
- Slowly drizzle the warm, melted icing back in while you run the mixer. It may take 2-3 minutes. Eventually, it will get creamy and yummy.  

Decorate the Cupcakes

To fill the cupcakes, load a piping bag with the "bismarck tip" #230 and the chilled lemon curd.
Be aware, that even when it's "set," it's still very thin, even a bit runny sometimes, so be careful not to just load the tip and lay it on the counter, or you'll have a mess on your hands.

Insert the tip about halfway into the cupcake. Squeeze lightly.

Using a piping bag loaded with Tip #1M and the Strawberry-Lemonade Icing, make a swirl on the top of the Cupcake. Start from the outside edge and swirl towards the center.

I added some cut-off straws to a few of them... just to be cute. I don't know if I love them, though.
The cupcakes... those I do love.
Keep them in the refrigerator. The lemon curd must be refrigerated. 

Cooking Tips :

Tested Advice For Cooking Delicious Meals Without Gluten

Are you in love with many kinds of cuisines? Do you have a huge appetite when it comes to sweets? How about exotic dishes from countries across the flavors of ethnic food? Have you ever desired to cook these meals yourself? It is time to find answers to your questions and get it done! Use the tips in this article to find out how to make wonderful meals.

It is extremely important to have sharp knives when cooking. Dull knives are more dangerous and they are less productive as well.

You don't ever want to try new ingredients or recipes you have not already tried when you are cooking for someone that you want to impress. Cooking will become less stressful this way.

Fresh ingredients are often inexpensive, and can turn out to be less expensive over time.

Add chicken broth to your pan when cooking vegetables. Chicken broth adds flavor to vegetables while keeping them from getting stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Beans and tofu are excellent sources of protein that you may not have yet considered adding to your diet. Both are available to buy at most grocery store. Try frying tofu and you will have a tasty alternative to meat. Beans can always be cooked with herbs for a flavorful source of flavor and protein.

If the recipe calls for water, switch it up by using a broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. Instead of using milk, try sour cream, yogurt or buttermilk. Using liquid substitutions in your cooking can increase nutrition and improve their flavor.

Always get the freshest garlic available when you have a recipe that is fresh and firm. A rule of thumb is that fresh garlic will have a sweet taste to it.Fresh garlic usually has a firm skin and will not be bruised or soft to the touch.

Prepare things the day before to save time and headaches. Cut up veggies and make marinades or sauces before going to bed at night. This will help reduce your stress and lower your cooking time the work.

Never trash the leftovers after cooking a turkey. Cut it up and put it away in an airtight containers. The turkey meat will keep its freshness and can later be used for weeks this way.

You can make stock yourself.You should always have stock on hand for soup and other things. Creating your own stock can reduce preservatives in the concoction that you to avoid preservatives.

Blot ground meats to remove moisture before you start cooking it. It's never a good plan to blot away wetness that is on ground meat. Any moisture on the meat will be released during the cooking process. The heat will start to sizzle and steam away when it hits the heat of the pan. This can cause the meat is being steamed instead of seared as it should be.

Allow the food to sit for a moment before serving it. Many individuals don't know it's important it is to let the meal sit for a bit before dishing it up. Many of us prefer to simply serve food hot off the grill or stovetop. If you do this, you will lose most of the juices in meat when you cut into it. Always let the meal cool and sit for about 5 minutes before eating.

There are two good ways to heat up tortillas properly. One of the easiest methods is to simply place tortillas on an oven at a temperature of 350 degrees and reach desired cripness. You can also cook your tortilla via stove top on the grill of a gas stove. Using these cooking techniques will taste fresher and much tastier tortillas.

Trussing refers to the method of tying a turkey with string for baking. Trussing will cook your bird more evenly when you tie the legs and wings next to the bird closely. If you don't truss the bird, the tips of its legs and wings can burn while the remainder of the bird cooks.

Fresh herbs and different types of seasonings can help spice up even the traditional dish. Dried herbs lose flavor as they cook and spices can be used for complex recipes that are filled with a plethora of flavors. Fresh herbs have a better flavor.

Don't tr out a new recipe on important guests or a special occasion.Whether you are looking to impress a boss, your manager or a date, you want to make a good impression with them by the way you cook. Impress these people with a meal you already know you can prepare well.

There are many ways to cook oysters. You can prepare oysters in other ways than just raw on the half shell with lemon juice. Sprinkle Parmesan and pepper and broil until it bubbles. You could also saute your oysters. You can bake your oysters while in their shells. Put them in a standard casserole dish, season them with breadcrumbs and a little butter over each, then bake four or five minutes at 425 degrees. Serve hot on toast points or a baguette when your oysters once the butter starts bubbling.

Set a watch timer in parallel with you as well.

You can reduce the stress of preparing a large meal for an important family meal. Don't get stressed the day of the event, do some of the preparations in advance. Set out all of your recipes, ingredients, and assemble ingredients.

This way you will prevent you from not having something ready when you need it. It is actually quicker to prepare everything out in advance than to try to locate items while you are in the midst of preparing a dish.

If you do the tips listed above, you will be closer in being able to create the meals you love. Don't be scared to take risks with your cooking, and try experimenting with different spices and flavors. It is likely you will discover several new foods while learning to cook. Find the chef that is hiding within you by following these tips as well as your taste buds.