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RECIPES

RECIPES

Something Sweet: Mini Tiramisu Cupcakes

Mini Tiramisu Cupcakes

I recently made these for a friend’s birthday and earned rave reviews.  Though more time consuming than your average cupcake, the delicious flavor makes it worthwhile!  The recipe as written will generate approximately 40 mini cupcakes.

 

Ingredients:

1 package of french vanilla cake mix, plus ingredients needed to bake the cake (e.g. eggs, oil or butter)

Espresso

Confectioners’ sugar

Kahlua

2 (8oz.) Containers mascarpone cheese – I used coffee flavored

1 (8oz.) Container lite cool whip

2 Squares dark chocolate (60-70%)

Unsweetened cocoa powder

Ground cinnamon

Mascarpone Layer

Mascarpone Layer (can be made the night before): Mix cool whip, both containers of mascarpone cheese, 3 tbsp. kahlua, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon and 1 square of finely grated dark chocolate.  Stir until blended thoroughly.  Store in refrigerator until needed.

Cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Prepare cake mix as directed.  Stir in one tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon.  Pour cake batter into a pyrex measuring cup and fill mini foil muffin/cupcake wrappers 3/4 of the way up.  It’s important to use the foil ones because they will hold any excess liquid from the espresso/kahlua mix later.  Try to bake between 12-15 cupcakes at a time for 20 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean in the center.

Allow Cupcakes to Cool Completely

Allow cupcakes to cool completely.

Espresso: Prepare espresso – you’ll want around 1/2 a cup brewed.  Once finished, pour into a small bowl and add 2 tsp. confectioners’ sugar and 2 tsp. kahlua to taste.  Allow to cool completely.

Coring Out the Cupcakes: Once cupcakes are completely cooled, use a paring knife to cut a dime-sized hole in the center of the cupcake.  Do not cut all the way through to the bottom of the cupcake.

Coring Out the Cupcake

Soaking the Cupcakes: Pour 1/4 tsp. espresso mix into bottom of each hole.  Once through all of the cupcakes, add another two or three 1/4 tsps. to evenly coat the bottom and sides of the hole.  I found it easier to coat if you pick up and turn the cupcake.  Allow to sit for dry to 30 minutes.

Frosting: Using a pasty bag, or this easy decorating squeeze containers from Crate & Barrel (click here), first fill the cupcake hole and decorate the top of the cupcake.  Top with additional finely grated dark chocolate shavings.

Store in refrigerator until serving time.  Enjoy!

For more of my recipes, click here.

BOSTON, EVENTS, FASHION

May 15-16: SoWa Open Market Returns to the South End

SoWa Open Market by New England Open Markets From Flickr

It’s baaack!  The SoWa Open Market is kicking off its seventh annual “season” in  Boston’s South End on Saturday-Sunday, May 15 and 16.  This weekend, more than 140 vendors, including clothing and accessories designers, photographers, artists, local farmers and bakers will descend on 460 Harrison Street to sell their wares under bright white tents in an open air market setting.

In addition to the outdoor market, there’s also a specialty SoWa Vintage Market, located in the former brick warehouse behind the market.  After this weekend, both markets will be open every Sunday through October 30 – excluding Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day weekends.  The event is free to attend and there’s free parking available in the lot adjacent to the market.

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Spicy Turkey-Mango Wrap

Spicy Turkey-Mango Wrap

Simple, yet flavorful this wrap can be prepared in a flash.  Start by spreading a thin layer of hummus on an 8-inch whole wheat wrap.  Next, add two or three slices of oven roasted turkey (chicken also works well).  Top with a handful of spinach and 1/4 cup of sliced mango.  Add a few dashes of hot sauce and voilà – a quick meal or snack.  For a heartier meal, serve with a side salad, veggies and dip, or yogurt.

Grocery List: Hummus, Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (lunchmeat or shredded), Whole Wheat Wraps, Spinach, Mango, Hot Sauce

For more of my recipes, click here.

RECIPES

Friday Night Dinner Party: Rosemary-Mint Lamb, Cous Cous, Spiced Goat Cheese and Moroccan Squash Saute

While hosting a dinner party on a Friday night may seem daunting, it’s actually quite easy if you seek out simple, yet flavorful recipes. I often encounter hosts that try to do too much for a dinner party – overly complicated dishes, too much food, etc. Try to stick with a theme and you too can effortlessly transition from the work week to a cozy dinner party for ten.

Inspired by a friend who wanted to prepare a cous cous dish, this Friday night dinner party included  a rosemary-mint lamb stir fry, spiced goat cheese with pita chips and a roasted squash saute with adzuki beans and raisins.

 

Friday Night Dinner Party by Jessica Gioglio

Rosemary and Mint Lamb Stir Fry

Flavorful with a spicy kick, this lamb entree brings together rosemary, mint and fresh veggies in a quick and easy dish. Marinate the lamb in the fridge all day and feel free to swap veggies as needed – my roommate used extra mushrooms and snap peas in lieu of spinach and green beans. She also added salt, pepper and fresh lemon juice into the mix. Visit WholeFoodsMarket.com for an incredible selection of recipes, including this one here.

Moroccan Spiced Goat Cheese

Dressing up goat cheese with a custom blend of spices was so simple and gained us bonus points with our guests for creativity. Too bad we can’t take full credit, as Whole Foods also provided the recipe for this dish. I purchased the largest goat cheese log that I could find (approx. $7) and our party of ten devoured it. Serve with Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips. Please click here to view the recipe.

Roasted Squash Satue with Adzuki Beans and Raisins

Packed with nutritious vegetables and beans, this recipe also couldn’t be easier. Roast bite-sized pieces of butternut squash with olive oil, sea salt, ground black pepper, garlic, ground ginger, cumin, paprika, cinnamon and ground coriander at 400 degrees for between 15-20 minutes. When the squash is nearly done, saute bite-sized pieces of zucchini and summer squash, olive oil and the spices listed above on the stovetop for a few minutes until tender. Serve in a bowl with one can of adzuki beans and raisins. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Cous Cous

Though cous cous by itself can be boring, adding simple ingredients like feta, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, chives and fresh parsley packs a lot of flavor. This is certainly a Greek version of cous cous, but it went wonderfully with the food we prepared. Serve with a lemon olive oil dressing. For a Moroccan version, try dates, apricots, almonds and chickpeas.

Dessert – Sorbet with Clementines and Pomegranate Seeds

For dessert, my roommate created a visually stunning, tasty combination of mango-tangerine sorbet, raspberry sorbet, clementine segments and pomegranate seeds. For the chocoholics – myself included – dark chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe’s were served. It was a light, refreshing way to end the meal.

For more of my recipes, click here.

BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE, RECIPES, RESTAURANTS

Weekend Events in Boston Worth Braving the Bad Weather For

Unless you live under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that it is going to rain all weekend long. Repeat that – all weekend long. Allow yourself a sigh and invest in a sturdy umbrella because true Bostonians know that when the going gets tough, the tough go out on the town. Whether you have to trudge around in wellies, or splurge on a door-to-door taxi, here are a few weekend events that are worth fighting mother nature for:

 

splash !!! #1 by joe.laut from flickr

Saturday, March 13

Chocolate Bar at The Langham Hotel – 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Who needs lunch when you can eat sweets? I ask myself this daily. Nothing like 85 chocolate desserts to lift your spirits on a rainy day. Dubbed a “chocolate bar,” this all-you-can-eat sweet fest features everything from tiramisu to a North End inspired chocolate pizza. Calorie counters need not apply. Ticket prices are $38 for adults, $25 if you think you can pass yourself off as a kid.  For more information, click here.

Grand Opening of Royale Boston – 10:00 p.m. – Close

Located at 279 Tremont Street in the Theatre District, Royale Boston replaces The Roxy. Dubbed a nightclub and a live music venue, Saturday’s event boasts live music from All-American Rejects cutie Tyson Ritter, plus music from DJ Sizzahands. In case you thought that wasn’t enough, two playboy playmates will also be in the house. For more information about Royale Boston, please click here.

Sunday, March 14

Green Street in Central Square Host’s Boston Bartenders on the Rise – 7:00 p.m.

Imbibe is a delightful word, especially when paired with four up-and-coming Boston-area bartenders. If you’re able to handle four cocktails, plus a special welcome punch on a Sunday night, then pony up $40 to allow Carrie Cole of Craigie on Main, Evan Harrison of Deep Ellum, Bob McCoy of Eastern Standard and Emily Stanley of Green Street to pour, shake and serve to their heart’s content. Fear not, passed appetizers will also be dished out. Reservations are strongly suggested. For more information, please visit this highly informative article from DrinkBoston.com.