Kids are like little chocolate factories. They have the capacity to consume impressive amounts of chocolate rather enthusiastically. Chocolate molded into delicious cupcakes is all they would crave for. Here are two east cupcake recipes to satiate your little munchkins’ chocolate cravings.
Red velvet cupcakes
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons red food coloring
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoons distilled white vinegar
For the cream cheese frosting:
4 ounces’ butter, at room temperature
4 ounces’ cream cheese, at room temperature
2½ cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Method
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the cupcake pan with liners.
Beat the butter and sugar for three minutes on a medium speed. Increase the speed and add eggs.
Mix the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and red food coloring into a paste. Combine the paste into the mixture and blend until smooth.
As you blend, add half the buttermilk and half the flour. Beat and repeat until mixed well.
Next add salt, baking soda, and vinegar.
Pour the batter into the liners and bake for 20 minutes. Then allow them to cool.Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
To make the frosting – Whisk some butter and cream cheese on high speed for about 5 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Whip the mixture until the frosting fluffs up.
Peanut Butter cups and chocolate cupcakes with toasted peanut butter meringue frosting
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup boiling water
14 miniature peanut butter cup candies
For the frosting:
4 egg whites
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon peanut butter
Method
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set the cupcake pan with liners.
Mix the flour, white sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Add milk, vegetable oil, one egg, and vanilla extract.
Pour boiling water into flour mixture, beat until smooth.
Pour only half the batter into the liner, and place a peanut butter cup in the center of each.
Bake for 20 minutes. And then allow them to cool.
For the frosting, blend the egg whites and sugar in a bowl. Heat the mixture in a pan until sugar is dissolved.
Heat the peanut butter at 15-second intervals until it is thin and creamy. Mix the peanut butter into egg whites. Pipe the frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.