Cookies and Cream Cupcake

I recently joined again in Day by Day Christian Ministry Bible Study in our accommodation. I was active since I joined Hyatt until I met Jon and become invisible for about 2 years.

We will have a fellowship barbeque tomorrow and some Day by Day groups outside are also invited. Kuya Ding our head in our community asked us to bring one dish per person to be shared in our fellowship. Since I have work tomorrow and cannot cook Kare-Kare (requested by Ate Mary) I though of making Cookies and Cream Cupcake instead. See, my fall back is always the cupcake. If everything is in a rush good thing cupcake recipes are there to save me.

I hope that whoever eats my cupcake tomorrow will be blessed a million times. :)

Chocolate Cupcake

2 cups sugar

2 cups All purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup boiling water

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoom baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla

Direction:

1. Preheat oven to 175 C for about 10 minutes
2. Sift together all the dry ingredients such as sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt
3. Add on the eggs one at a time
4. Pour in the milk and vegetable oil. Mix on a medium speed for about 5 minutes
5. Stir in the boiling water and add the vanilla. Mix well
6. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the cupcake liner and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Cookies and Cream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter
5 cups icing sugar
20 pieces of Oreo Cookies ( crushed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
small wafer sticks for decoration

Direction:

1. Beat the butter until soft and fluffy
2. Add the icing sugar and mix well on a medium speed for 2 minutes. Then add the vanilla.
3. Fold in the Crushed Oreo Cookies until it is completely mixed.

Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream and White Chocolate frosting

I brought this in our office yesterday for 3 celebration in our office. It'a Ameya's birthday our Training officer, Ahmed, our local Immigration Officer and Edda's farewell party.

My colleagues brought something to share for all of us and since I am still on the process of masterpiecing pastry they all "winked, winked" at me to bring some baked goodies. They thought that I am going to bring cupcake which I normally bring in our office but since I want to try making cakes from the scratch (without using pillsburry or betty crocker cake mix) this is the best opportunity to try baking cakes.

It took me 2 days to conceptualize, plan and shop for my cake. I saw Anie's Eats blog and told my self this is it. This is want I want to make.

I tried it and it was awesome. I added shredded Cadbury Milk Chocolate around the cake to add color and looks yummier to those who are chocolate fanatics.

I just cut it into 3 layer. I am scared that my white chocalate mixture will not be enought for the whole cake.

CHOCOLATE CAKE

I used the ever stand out Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar
3/4 cups Hershey's Cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup boiling water
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt

Direction:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F or 175 C. Grease and flour 2 round 9" baking pan
2. Stir together the sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa in a large bowl. Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla mix on a medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the boiling water (the mixture will be thin) Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the wooden toothpicks comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. remove from the pans and transfer to wire rack. Let it cool completely.

White Chocolate Whipped cream

200 grams white chocolate, finely chopped

1 2/2 cups cold heavy cream

Whipped Cream Frosting

1 cup cold heavy cream

4 tablespoon powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Direction:

To make the white chocolate whipped cream:

1. Place the chopped white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Melt stirring occasionally. When the chocolate is almost melted, bring 1/2 of cold heavy to boil.
2. Once the chocolate has fully melted, transfer the bowl to a counter, pour in the hot cream and let it sit for 1 minute. Then stir gently with the spatula until the chocolate is smooth.
3. Let the Chocolate sit until it reaches room temperature. (The Chocolate can't me least bit warm when it is added to the whipped cream.
4. In a bowl of stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the remaining 1 cup cream only until it holds the softest peaks. With the mixer on high speed, add the white chocolate all at once continue to beat just until the mixture holds firm peak.
5. Transfer the cream to a bowl, press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface and refrigirate atleast for 2 hours.

To make the Whipped Cream Frosting:

1. In a bowl of stand mixer with whisk attachement. Beat in the cream, sugar and vanilla all together just until the cream starts to thicken. Start on a slower speed and increase the speed as the cream gains it's texture. Continue to beat until the cream holds it's stiff peaks. be very carefull not to ovebeat.

To assemble:

1. transfer one cake layer to a 10 inch card board circle (I used 12 inch) cut surface up.
2. Spread thick layer of white chocolate whipped cream on the top of the cake. Layer with fresh strawberry slices.
3. Lay another cake layer on the top of the cream and berries and press down gently. Top as before the hite chocolate whipped cream and strawberries.
4. Place the final cake layer on top and pressd own gently. Cover with whipped cream frosting and garnish with fresh strawberries. I added shredded milk chocolate.

Churros (Spanish Doughnuts)

I love churros. Everytime I go home in the Philippines I always try to eat them sa SM. Meron kasing food cart sa SM ng Churros.

One Saturday afternoon, while checking some recipes sa internet nakita ko itong Churros recipe sa ALL RECIPES.

Since I have all the ingredients. I gave it a try.. Well not bad for the first time coz it brings back memories of Manila. Churros with hot chocolate fudge during rainy days.

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts oil for frying
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used 2 teaspoon)

Directions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball.

Heat oil for frying in deep-fryer or deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pipe strips of dough into hot oil using a pastry bag. Fry until golden; drain on paper towels.

Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll drained churros in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Chocolate Cupcake with Whipped Cream

This is an accidental Hero. Paano naman kasi I was busy sa aking first ever from the scratch cake and I wasn't paying attention sa recipe. Sa sobrang toxic ko 2 batch ng chocolate cake mix ang aking nagawa. I thought kasi na 1 cake mix is not enough sa 3 layered cake.

Instead, I made 1 round 9" size cake and another miniature cake 6" and the rest.....Cupcakes :)

I adapted the chocolate cake mix at hershey's recipes

For the whipped cream

1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoon icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Direction:

1. Mix all the ingredients in the stand alone mixer using the whisk.
2. Beat all together in a high speed until the mixture reaches into firm peak.
3. Transfer the whipped cream mixture in a pastry bag using a star tip.

Pansit Bihon Guisado

The ultime favorite during birthday parties apart from Filipino Style Spaghetti.
I am alone when I cooked this Pansit there is no birthday party. I gave away some to my fellow nurses Katrina and Doreen and kept some for my husband when he comes home later.

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo Pansit Bihon Noodles ( I used Golden Q)
1 medium size garlic
1 large onion
500 grams pork belly (separate the fat and lean meat)
1/2 cabbage, sliced
2 medium size carrots, julianne
1 pack squid balls around 12 pcs cut into half
1/2 cup soy sauce
spring onions to garnish
5 cups stock
2 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste

You can also add black fungus (tenga ng daga) and pork liver. I just don't have this in our kithchen.

Procedure:

1. Saute Garlic until golden bron, add the onion and pork fat. fry until oil has come out from the pok fat.


2. Add the lean meat and keep it for 10 minutes until the meat is cooked.


3. Add the stock and soy sauce. Cover it for 15 minutes until the the pork is cooked completely.


4. Soak the bihon noodles to softened for 10 minutes.


5. Add the squid balls and let it simmer for 5 minutes.


6. Add the carrots and cabbage into the wok and immediately add the noodles so that the vegetables will still be half cooked.


7. Mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste.


8. Serve with lemon or calamansi. Add spring onions to garnish.

Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

These cupcake is for my friend Joseph. For the cupcakes I used the Perfectly chocolate cake recipe from Hershey's. and just added 2 teaspoon of peppermint extract.
I was able to make 30 chocolate cupcakes.

Mint Buttercream

1 stick butter
1/2 cup shortening
4-5 cups sifted icing sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract