Ellen Foster(chapters 1-5) Alcohol Infused Cupacakes!!!

     This recipe we are taking inspiration from A NEW BOOK!!! We are going to be looking at Kaye Gibbons Ellen Foster. This book is great and is definitely a good read. Anywayyyyyy, this week we are going to be making Alcohol Infused Cupcakes. Definitely gonna need a whole batch or two with all of schools stress....just kidding of course (0-0). No, there is an actual reason for making cupcakes with alcohol. In the book you learn that the main characters father is a big drunk, and we are going to take inspiration from him. As the book starts to progress "He stopped doing anything but drinking and sleeping." Now I would make a cake full of ZzzQuil but I couldn't find any recipes like that so here we are!!! Anyway this cupcake will recipe will include the actual batter and frosting. The cupcakes is called Whiskey Sour Cupcakes. Perfect for any teachers who have to try and read my tragedy of a so called "essay"(i'm looking at you Mrs.Smit), anyways lets get started with ou recipe.

For this recipe you will need:

Cupcake:

• 1½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ cup butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ cup whiskey
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp grated lemon rind

Frosting:

• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, room temperature
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• Lemon wedges and cherries (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Cupcake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
2. Combine flour and baking soda in a bowl, stir, and set aside.
3. In a medium sized bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until completely incorporated.
4. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and mix well.
5. Add whiskey and flour mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined.
6. Add lemon juice and mix until completely incorporated.
7. Spoon cupcake batter into the prepared pan, filling paper liners about ⅔ full.
8. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
9. Let cupcakes cool in the pan for five minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. (Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.)

Frosting:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter on medium high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute.
2. Add lemon juice and lemon extract.
3. Then add half of the powdered sugar. Mix on low speed until just combined. Then mix on medium speed until powdered sugar is completely incorporated.
4. Repeat with the rest of the powdered sugar. (If the frosting is too thin, add another ½ cup powdered sugar and mix well.)

This recipe was taken from, http://bethcakes.com/whiskey-sour-cupcakes/ 

Of Mice And Men(Ending) Mirror Glaze Recipe

     For this recipe we are going to be basing our mirror glaze on the ending of "Of Mice And Men" by John Steinbeck. (Spoiler Alert) In the ending of the book George shoots Lennie, so we are going to make a red mirror glaze representing death and the love that was between them.. Even though George did shoot Lennie, you can clearly tell through out the back that George really did love and care for Lennie. And clearly, the death part is signified by the death of Lennie. This recipe will mostly focus on the glaze, so for the actual cake, I will link to recipes that I find tasty.

For this recipe you will need:

Glaze:

• White Chocolate Couverture 8 ounces
• Sweetened Condensed Milk ½ cup
• Granulated Sugar 1 cup
• Corn Syrup ¾ cup
• Water 7 tablespoons
• Water (yes 2 measures) ¼ cup
• Powdered Unflavored Gelatin 4 teaspoons

Cake Recipe Links

 

• http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/southern-red-velvet-cake-recipe.html
• http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chocolate-cake-recipe.html
• http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/classic-vanilla-cake.html

Directions:

 

     Bloom gelatin in first measure (100ml) of cold water.Combine the corn syrup, second measure of water and sugar in a heavy bottom sauce pot and bring to a boil.Add the bloomed gelatin and the condensed milk and whisk smooth.Pour the entire hot mixture over the chocolate and whisk smooth.Pour through a strainer into a clean container and color as you like. Pour over cake once it has cooled to 80 or 90°F.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This recipe was taken from Gretchen's Bakery @http://www.gretchensbakery.com/mirror-glaze-recipe-vegetarian-version/ 

Of Mice And Men(chapter 1-2) Bunny Carrot Cake

     For this recipe, we are taking inspiration from Chapter 1-2 of the book "Of Mice And Men" by John Steinbeck. In chapters one to two there is a reoccurring topic of bunnies and rabbits. This is derived by the wishes and dreams that George and Lennie have for their future. They describe a home that they live on, where there are "a couple of acres" and they are gonna have a garden and pigs and cows. George talks about how they will have "a garden patch and a rabbit hutch"(Steinbeck 14). Then Lennie exclaims about the rabbits and how he'd wished he had one now. So for this Recipe, we are going to be making a Carrot Cake Bunny Recipe! This Recipe will be fun and also tasty, and take only one hour!

For this Recipe, you will need:

Frosting:

• 6 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
• Pinch fine salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 2-3 tablespoons milk

Bunny/Cake:

• Any kind of carrot cake recipe

Directions:

For the frosting: Combine the sugar, butter and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth. Add enough milk until the frosting is easy to spread.

For the Bunny/Cake: 

Spread a thin layer of frosting (about 2/3 cup) on the flat side of one cake layer and top with the flat side of the second cake layer. Measure 5 inches across the top of the cake and cut down through the layers, creating 2 layered pieces that are slightly different sizes.

Place the larger piece of cake cut-side down on a large platter or cake board. If using a rectangular cake board, place the larger piece so that the long edges match th sides of the board. This is the body of the bunny. Cut the smaller piece of cake in half across, so you have 2 layered pieces. Place one piece in front of the body, with one flat side on the board and the other flat side against the body. The curved side will be on top. Take a 

knife and round off the sharp edges on top of the head. Cut the tip off at a graduated slope. Reserve all scraps in a bowl.

Separate the layers of the remaining piece of cake. These will be the back legs. Round the sharp edges of the cake pieces with your knife and add to the scrap bowl. Place one piece on each side of the bunny, with one flat side down and the other flat side facing forward, about 1 inch from the end of the bunny's body.

Mix the cake scraps in the bowl with a fork until mashed and then make into a ball with your hands. Place the ball behind the bunny's body and stick on with a dab of frosting. This is the bunny's tail.

Frost the entire bunny, tail and all, using 2 to 3 cups of the frosting,frosting more generously around any sharp edges to give a rounded look to the bunny parts. Sprinkle the bunny with the coconut to fully cover. Gently pat to stick on

Put the biscotti between the head and body, pressing into the cake to secure them. These are the ears. Place the base of the ears close together at the center of the head and angle them out. Frost the front of each biscotti with some frosting. Then, using the pink decorating icing, frost a smaller strip in the center of each biscotti, going down to where the ears meet the head but not going all the way to the top.

To make the face, put a black jelly bean into each side of the head for the eyes. Cut one of the marshmallows into 3 circles, discard the middle piece and press the 2 end circles, cut-sides in, into the front of the face for the bunny cheeks. Push the white jelly bean halves into the face below the cheeks, round-sides out, for the teeth. Place the pink jelly bean above for the nose.

Unroll the licorice wheel and cut 2 pieces, each about 1 1/2 inches long. For each piece, peel the strips apart halfway down and then cut each separated strip in half lengthwise so you end up with a piece looking a bit like a broom. Repeat with the second piece of licorice. Tuck each piece, with a dab of frosting, behind a marshmallow cheek, with the cut ends facing out for the whiskers.

Cut the second marshmallow in half lengthwise. Make 3 slits in each half, going about halfway through (these are the toes), and place in front of the legs for the bunny's feet. Stick on the bottom of the feet with frosting if necessary.





                         












This recipe was taken from Food Networks easter bunny cake @http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/easter-bunny-cake-recipe.html but enriched with the fun of ME..... and the strory "Of Mice And Men."