Chocolate Cupcakes for my 8th Work Anniversary!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

8 years ago, I started my second career as a public librarian (before I worked in non-profit accounting). It's my 8 year work anniversary today. Can't believe how fast that time has gone.

I have a meeting today so I'm bringing in some Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting. Both super duper easy to make, and always enjoyed by my library friends.

It's also my friend's birthday, so Happy Birthday Susan!

And it's Talk like a Pirate Day. Ahoy mates! Make some cupcakes and learn Pirate via Mango Languages' free course.


Recipe:
Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Frosting (Adapted from Hershey's)
1 stick butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup natural cocoa (40 grams)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup milk (I used 1%)

Beat the butter until soft and fluffy.
Sift together the cocoa and powdered sugar.
Mix the milk and vanilla in a measuring cup.
Slowly add the dry ingredients and alternate with the milk mixture.
When combined, beat at high speed for 30 seconds until desired consistency. Also, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar, and if too thick, add a little more milk.

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The new crop Yukro is on the shelves

In our busy busy work week we've neglected to inform you all that we now have the fresh crop of Yukro on the shelves. We had hoped to receive the Yukro earlier, but it got delayed at the dry mill for quite some time. Partly because we had some special wishes for the separation and sorting. But we're happy to have the fresh lot available.



This would also be a good time to read up on our visit to Yukro at the beginning of the harvest. Check out our travel report here.

The fresh lot is really aromatic, reminding of citrus-infused teas, peach, apples and lavender. We've roasted it very light and really pushed those aromatics.



Besides 250 g whole beans to bring home Yukro is available per cup brewed on Aeropress at Jægersborggade and Godthåbsvej and Kalita Wave at Torvehallerne. You can also purchase it through our webshop.

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Hershey's Frosted Chocolate Brownies

Hershey's Frosted Chocolate Brownies

Sometimes I open my cupboard for inspiration. I knew we would need something special for a meeting and couldn't decide what to make. Then I looked on the shelf and saw my big tin of Hershey's cocoa and knew what I was going to use.

A quick scroll of the Hershey's website and I found their "Ultimate Chocolate Brownies."

Hershey's covers theirs with a few chocolate chips, but I have these great dark chocolate Belgium sprinkles. So delicious!

Honestly, I'm not a fan of frosting and usually not a fan of the frosted brownie. But I am growing fond of the Hershey's One Bowl Chocolate Frosting. It provided a nice balance to the brownie.

The brownie has natural cocoa and 1 cup of chocolate chips (I used Dark Chocolate chips). You can make it in one 9x13 pan, or two 8x8 pans (that's good for those who like brownie edges). When cooled, you top with chocolate frosting...and sprinkles or more chocolate chips. If I were to skip the sprinkles, I would garnish with mini chocolate chips because everything is better in mini form.

Can you see the chocolate chips in the brownie? Always a winner.

Hershey's Frosted Chocolate Brownies
Adapted from the Hershey's website

Brownies
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa (or a natural cocoa)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup butter, melted (This is such a weird amount of butter. Since it is really 10 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of butter, I just used 11 Tablespoons of butter or between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 sticks of butter)
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2  eggs (at room temperature)
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour (I used King Arthur All-Purpose)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (I used Hershey's Dark)

Frosting (see below)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan or two 8-inch square baking pans. (I used a 13 x 9 pan, and I lined the pan with parchment paper.)

2. In a large bowl, stir the cocoa and baking soda together with a whisk, and then stir in 1/3 cup butter (that's half the melted butter). Add boiling water and stir until mixture thickens. Stir in sugar, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup butter. Stir in the vanilla and salt. Fold in the flour, then fold in the chocolate chips. Don't overmix. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan, 30 to 35 minutes for square pans or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

4. When cool, frost cupcakes. Garnish with chocolate sprinkles, other fun sprinkles or chocolate chips. Cut and enjoy!

Hershey's One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup natural cocoa
1/3 cup milk (I used 1% milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa (Hershey's instructions don't have this, but I find it is very helpful to sift all powdered sugar and cocoa).

Beat butter in medium bowl until soft and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla.

Spread over cooled brownies. 

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Fresh Peach Muffins

Fresh Peach Muffins

(photo taken in my cubicle at work)

It's been really hot and muggy in Los Angeles. And houses where I live weren't built with air conditioning (350 days a year this isn't a problem because we get ocean breezes...but those few days of heat wave are killer). I sat in the backyard with Cidney the Girl Dog this weekend (thank you iPad) until 9 pm hoping the house would cool down (it didn't). So I haven't been baking much because it would be a crime against humanity to turn on the oven.

But last week I made some peach muffins for work early in the morning. I didn't have time to pull out the big camera and take photos. Also, as summer ends, I don't have any morning light anymore as I leave the house at 6 am for work. Sad times, yo. So, even though the photos aren't pretty, these muffins were good. They aren't sweet, and rely on the sweetness and tenderness of your summer fruit to carry the muffin. We only have a few weeks left of peaches, so make these soon.

Recipe:
Adapted from the Easy Morning Muffins in the Art & Soul of Baking, page 148 (find it in your library via WorldCat)

2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour
2/3 cup (4 3/4 ounces) sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
3/4 stick (3 ounces) butter
Zest of one lemon or orange (I used an orange)
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs, room temp
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 medium peaches, peeled and chopped (about 1 1/2 cups of peaches)
Sanding sugar or Sugar in the raw

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prep a muffin tin with liners or butter the tin. I got 14 muffins from this recipe (I put liners in individual ramekins and place them next to the muffin tin in the oven)
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan or microwave, then pour into small bowl. Add the zest and buttermilk and let sit for a few minutes to cool off. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla.
4. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt).
5. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour the butter/egg mixture and the chopped peaches (reserve a few pieces) into the dry ingredients and quickly fold together. Don't overmix. Don't worry if you have a few small lumps.
6. Using an ice cream scoop, dish batter in the muffin tins. If you wish, place a few of the peach pieces on top of the batter in an attractive fashion. Sprinkle sanding sugar on top of batter.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
8. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then remove muffins to let cool on a wire rack...or eat warm!

Read the book for more yummy recipes and variations!

Here is something else you can do with the last of this summer's fresh peaches - grill them and serve with Greek yogurt and muesli for a quick and delicious breakfast.

I threw white peaches and red plums in my cast iron pan for a few minutes...until warm and grilled. It really brings out the sweetness in the fruit and is sooo delicious. Of course, this is lovely after you use a real grill and serve with ice cream...for. the. win!

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Torvehallerne Anniversary Sunday 1st September

This Sunday the marketplace Torvehallerne will celebrate 2 years.

We have prepared a special table for all of you who wants to learn more about how to brew your own coffee at home. We will have the most common brewing equipment at your disposal and will brew the coffee together with you.

You will do the work and we will help and answer any questions you might have.

The table will be placed outdoors just in front of our coffee bar in Torvehallerne between 11hs-16hs.

There will be many other things going on as well and we expect a lot of people to feast in these culinary temples.

See you on Sunday !

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Finger Limes - Citrus Caviar - Citrus Pop Rocks - Lime Boba

Finger Limes - Citrus Caviar - Citrus Pop Rocks - Lime Boba

Recently, Frieda's Produce sent me some Hatch New Mexico Chiles (see my post for Pork Chili with Hatch Chiles) and they threw in a carton of organic Finger Limes. They are described as citrus caviar. I had no idea what they were talking about...until I cut one open. As you can see, amazing little bubbles of lime emerge from this tiny lime.


See how the pulp comes out!!! My first short video (19 seconds) on YouTube.

One early morning, I was putting together my healthy afternoon snack in my new LunchBots divided tin and I grabbed a couple of these finger limes (I digress, but I love this little tin...I'll have to do a post on my many lunch containers). I cut them in half and threw them in the tin.

Fast forward several hours and I open the box. I immediately realize why these are called Citrus Caviar! The pulp comes out of the lime like little boba bits or pop rocks. It's so amazing. You squeeze them and it all comes out!

A quick Google search says that the LA Times talked about them back in 2009 (David Karp's article), but I must have missed it. KCRW's Good Food talked about them in 2010 (Nov 13, 2010 episode). Frieda's will be bringing them to grocery stores soon.

My snack photos above are from Instagram. I pulled out my macro lens tonight and shot a few photos. These limes are really small and so cute.

Originally from Australia and now grown in California, Finger Limes are described by Frieda's Produce as "tart, lemony-lime flavor with slight herbaceous notes." I describe them as "tiny lime bobas" and have a bit of rind flavor. They were little citrus bursts on my veggies, and I imagine they would be great in cocktails or atop a nice piece of fish.

Frieda's says the Finger Limes are coming to grocery stores soon. Be on the look out and ask your produce manager about them!

Disclosure: I received one free package of Finger Limes from Frieda's Produce. However, I was not compensated for this post and opinions are my own. I really am this enthralled with this citrus - and all citrus! I'm lucky to live in Southern California where we have so much citrus surrounding us (see California Citrus Tart)

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Ben Kaminsky Advanced Brewing Workshop

On September 2nd we're proud to host Ben Kaminsky's Advanced Brewing Techniques workshop at our roastery on Godthåbsvej. If you're a professional barista this is one to attend!

You can purchase tickets for the event here: http://coffeebrews.eventbrite.com/
Ben will be presenting some of his research and new insights on coffee and espresso brewing, grinding, and roasting, that are sure to answer some long standing questions and likely raise many more (e.g. Is espresso brewing inherently flawed? What actually constitutes an espresso roast?).

He will be focusing heavily on techniques surrounding the EK43 grinder, including how to produce a "coffee shot", a new way for brewing filter coffee that he thinks will likely replace the industry's best and fastest brewers to date. This course covers practical ways to improve quality while decreasing costs, as well as new possibilities for coffee and espresso service.

Half the course will be spent in practical tasting of the theory covered in the lecture.

Ben recommends you understand the basic elements of extraction, including practical use of an Extract Mojo if you want to get the most out of the class, though beginners are also welcomed.


September 2nd 2013. 15:00-18:00 (approx). Lecture and tasting.


Sign up on http://coffeebrews.eventbrite.com/

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Ben Kaminsky is the 2009, 2010, and 2011 United States Cup Tasters Champion, a founding member and partner in Barismo Coffee in the states, and former director of quality control, espresso and innovation at Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco. Since leaving Ritual eight months ago, he has been consulting full time on equipment design, training, roasting and sourcing.  He also coached Matt Perger using many of the techniques covered in this class to a second place finish at this year's World Barista Championships.

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