Triple Chocolate Cupcakes

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Triple Chocolate Cupcakes

For the Cupcakes:

• 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1¼ teaspoon coarse salt
• 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2¼ cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature

For the Ganache Filling:

• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup

For the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup(1 1/2 sticks)unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 18 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream

Directions:

1. To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350˚ F.  Line standard cupcake pans with liners. In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and hot water until smooth.  In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the butter and the sugar. Stir to combine, until the butter is melted and remove from heat.  Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat on medium-low speed, 4-5 minutes, until the mixture is cooled.  Mix in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed and beating well after each addition.  Mix in the vanilla and then the cocoa mixture and beat until incorporated.  With the mixer on low speed add in the dry ingredients in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, beating just until combined.
3. Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners, filling them about ¾ of the way full.  Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, rotating the pans halfway through baking.  Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. To make the ganache, place the chopped chocolate in a medium heat proof bowl.  In a small saucepan bring cream and corn syrup to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Let stand 2 minutes. Starting in the center and working outward, stir melted chocolate into cream until mixture is combined and smooth. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill and thicken.  Whisk every 5 minutes to help it cool evenly. Once the mixture is slightly thickened you are ready to fill the cupcakes.
5. To assemble the cupcakes, place ganache filling into a decorating bag fitted with the number 230 round decorating tip. Insert the tip into the center of the cupcake and gently squeeze the ganache into the center of the cupcake. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.
6. To make the frosting, melt the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water.  Stir until smooth and set aside to cool 20-30 minutes. Sift together confectioner’s sugar, cocoa, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Gradually add sugar mixture and mix until incorporated. Beat in the melted and cooled chocolate and then the sour cream. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Place frosting into decorating bag fitted with the 1M decorating tip and approximately 1/4″ above cupcake top at a 90° angle to cupcake surface,  pipe a spiral of icing, beginning at the outer edge and working inward.

Source: adapted from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes and Annie’s Eats

Cooking Tips : 

Things You Have To Know About Cooking

Cooking methods which will result in a great dining experience are diverse and techniques to create delicious food.Some cooking methods are simple and others are quite complex.

If you are looking for new ideas for meals to prepare for yourself or your family two great places to look are the library and the internet, try the library for cookbooks that offer a variety of easy recipes that will be fun to prepare. Try different recipes and be patient as you come up with something that works for you.

Bake pie crusts a little longer time than you think they should be baked. They need to be a light golden caramel color rather than pale blonde. The darker color results when the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and will have a much sweeter and crisp flavor.

You do not want to deal with the stress of trying to make something that you enjoy. This will take the stress out of your cooking.

People use apples for cooking many things during the holiday season, but if they are stored incorrectly they will quickly spoil. To properly store them, store apples in open-mesh bags or baskets in a cool basement or in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. One rotten apple will spoil the bunch so make sure you keep an eye on them while stored.

Do you ever find it difficult time figuring out how long you should grill your meats? Use a good meat thermometer (a digital one is more accurate) so that you can ensure the inside is cooked properly.

To prepare pumpkins for baking, halve it vertically first. Place the two halves on two separate baking sheets.

Measure your cooking oils carefully. This will help you lower the fat is present in your cooking. Doing this will make it easy for you to keep track of exactly how much cooking oil you're using.

Don't use a type of wine in your meal that you don't enjoy drinking. There are cooking wines available at the supermarket.

You can make your own tomatoes. You can use Roma tomatoes cut lengthwise, or by cutting Roma tomatoes in half lengthwise. Dried tomatoes can be placed into a jar containing fresh herbs and olive oil. The jars can be kept in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Never throw away your leftovers after cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving or another meal. Cut it up and put it away in an airtight containers. The turkey meat will keep its freshness and can stay fresh for weeks this way.

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

This adds some extra flavor to the herbs on the board. Do not over-salt by making sure you don't directly add any extra salt to your dish. The salt will stick to the herbs some extra flavor because it sticks to them.

This will stop you from having your oven or stove on for too long, as well as prevent other dangerous situations resulting from distractions.

When sauteing, don't put too much oil in the pan. Make sure you do this at a low temperature.

There are a vast array of potato varieties, and they are not all the same.

Set a watch timer that you can easily carry with you as well.

Use soft butter not melted butter when creaming sugar and butter for cookies. If the butter melts, put it in the freezer for several minutes until it hardens, or put the prepared dough in the refrigerator. Your cookies will spread if the dough is cooler.

Fruit is especially well on the grill. You can skewer a selection of fruits such as peaches, and melon slices can work well too. Place the fruit directly on a grill and allow it to cook until you see grill marks. Serve the grilled fruit with ice cream or pound cake that has been cooked a few minutes on the grill.

Leafy dark greens are a very healthy food, but getting them to the dinner table can be an ordeal. Removing the tough stems can be difficult and tiresome. Make it easier by folding the leaf lengthwise in half and breaking the stem. You will otherwise need to cut out the stem from the folded leaves with a knife.

Those who like making fish should consider trying to catch your own.

Microwave your citrus fruits before juicing it to get every last drop of juice. Heat up your fruits for about ten seconds. After microwaving, roll it on the counter before you cut it.

Learn to use color as a guide to cooking.Colorful foods appeal to your meals will add both nutrition and visual appeal. Be creative with color, and watch your food get eaten up quickly.

Try using saffron if you cook. Saffron gives your cooking unique flavor not found in other spices. Saffron is an old herb that hasn't lost its delight.

Make sure you preheat your stove to at 300 degrees.

Take extra fat off of your soups or stews. Place an ice in your spoon and skim it along the surface. The fat will collect the fat. You can also just use a folded-up paper towel to absorb any excess fat.

When cooking, less is often more. Sometimes the simplest meals are the tastiest. If you follow the ideas here, you will have a greater understanding of not only cooking, but baking and serving in general.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes With Chocolate Cheesecake Frosting.

Weight Loss Foods

Weight Loss Recipes

50 Amazing Weight Watchers Recipes

All about Weight Watchers Food Points

Finding The Best Weight Watchers Recipes

Someone made frosting that tastes like chocolate cheesecake. Ugh. This is just great.

Someone who… has quite the fixation with cheesecake. Someone who started eating the frosting and the cupcakes and the sprinkles and sixteen more spoonfuls of frosting and didn’t take a solitary photograph until multiple cupcakes were consumed. Someone who completely forgot about even snapping one shot until the next day.

Someone is in trouble. And someone needs a life. Only so much chocolate cheesecake frosting can be consumed in 13 minutes. And it’s still not enough.

The worst part is that the cupcakes are pretty darn scrumptious too. The general consensus from the taste testers? Cupcakes that taste like Girl Scout Tagalongs.

Sweet. Someone doesn’t hate it.

Especially when one of those testers stacked together a double cheeseburger and topped it with salty, grilled kielbasa yesterday then claimed that he “didn’t want to waste the calories” from the vanilla ice cream offering I presented. Innnnnteresting. Instead he asked, “what about those peanut butter cupcakes you made last week?” Now that I can handle. Even if he did plan on stuffing one in his I’m-asking-for-a-heart-attack burger.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

makes about 12 cupcakes

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

2 whole eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/3 cup milk

3/4 cup peanut butter chips/morsels

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter and peanut butter together in the bowl of an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and eggs and beat together until fluffy. Add vanilla and mix for another minute or so.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add half of the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the milk. Once mixed, add remaining dry ingredients. Fold in peanut butter morsels.

Pour into cupcake tins and fill 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350. Let cool, then frost.

Chocolate Cheesecake Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 block cream cheese (8 ounces), softened

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

4 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup dark cocoa powder

1-2 tablespoons milk, if needed

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time and add cocoa powder, increasing the speed to mix. If the frosting it a bit too thick, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.  If it is too thin, add additional sugar gradually. Frost cupcakes once cooled. Top with chocolate sprinkles.

The Best Way To Learn How To Cook

There are a couple of important things you must know in order to cook well. 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 like a pro!

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Prepare some of your food the night before if you cannot handle doing everything in one night.Cut up vegetables and make the sauce the night before so you can save time. You won't be as stressed when you wake up.

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Never throw away your leftovers after cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving or another meal. Cut it up and put it away in airtight containers. The turkey can later be used for weeks this way.

Place unripe fruits in a plastic bag that is perforated right after you buy them.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.

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Allow the food to sit a bit before serving. Many home cooks do not realize that it is important it is to let the meal rest. It can be tempting to serve the meal from grill to tabletop. If you serve immediately off the grill, you aren't getting the full experience associated with your food. Always let the meal cool and sit for about 5 minutes before eating.

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Put heavier, then put the lettuce and other ingredients that wilt easily on top.

Microwave citrus fruit before juicing to get every last drop of juice. Heat your citrus fruits in the microwave for about ten seconds. Once you remove them from the microwave, roll the fruit on a hard surface before you begin juicing.

As stated before, there are some tricks and secrets you have to learn in order to be a good cook. Some people are naturally good at cooking, while others need more advice. After you read this article, you can be on your path to cooking great meals!

Are You All Out Of Cooking Ideas? Check Out These Tips!

Do you see the delicious meals that loved ones cook and marvel at how people make such masterpieces? This article has some great tips to help you to increase your abilities as a chef!

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

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Place unripe fruits in a plastic bags you buy them. If you put them in a perforated plastic bag, the air can circulate and assure that the gas is retained, helping the fruits retain their wonderful taste.

Follow the instructions on the packaging to the letter anytime you cook macaroni and cheese.The macaroni will be perfect and delicious because the nice velvety cheese is melted on top of the noodles. Use a wide spoon when you serve up with the finished product. Use some black pepper to add a little spice on your macaroni and cheese.

One of the best cooking tips you can find is to use your own thing. You do not follow a recipe to the "T". That is the definition of a genuine cook!

Do your prep work first to save cooking time. Many ingredients that can be prepared a few days in advance. There are many occasions where longer prep times actually lend a wonderful meal.

Using brine is a culinary secret that can make your dishes go from bland to bursting with flavor. You can draw out the delicious flavors of poultry in brine for an hour before cooking it.

There are lots of delicious ways to cook oysters. You can prepare oysters in other ways rather than raw on the half shell with some drizzled lemon juice. Add Parmesan cheese and freshly grated pepper before broiling. Another tasty method is to take the oysters is to saute them. You can bake oysters right in the shells. Put them in a standard casserole dish, add fresh breadcrumbs and a small dab of butter on 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.

Add some spices to your dish is ready.Pepper, cayenne, cayenne seasoning, and salt are excellent spices. Many people like different tastes when it comes to spice.Each person can then have his or her own special version of your meal that they will love.

Make sure to use of the tips in this article. Your guests will begin to inquire where you learned your new secrets.