Friday, December 18, 2015

Holiday dessert...Pumpkin Spiced winter squash vegan cupcakes with a lemon coconut frosting! (Completely Vegan)

I do not bake as much as I used to. Any baking I do now are casseroles. However, when my cousin is back from college, we get together and we bake. Sometimes, we make other things, but mostly we bake. We make myriads of cookies, pies, and, of course, cakes. Everything except muffins. I do not like muffins. Well, there is one muffin I do make, but it does not taste like your regular muffin. 

As we grow older, my cousins and I, thankfully still keep many of our traditions when it comes to family gathering. Although many of us have gone our separate ways, there are times when it do feel like we haven't grown at all. Holidays are one of those times.

I am not vegan. I love meat too much, but I do appreciate why people do the vegan thing, at least here in the US. However, I do love vegetables; thus I love vegan food. A friend of mine, Jill, is an animal activist and a proud vegan. On several occasions, I had gone vegan for a day, a week, and even a whole 40 days. The 40 days was hard. I scoured the internet for vegan recipes. Back then, it was hard to find vegan recipes. Nowadays, because of food trends, it is a lot easier. 

As I try to post my silly thoughts and ravings on the internet, I thought I'd try to scatter the internet with more delicious vegan recipes. Because, there can never be enough. So, as the holidays are approaching, here's a lovely cupcake recipe with all the holiday spices to keep you warm and toasty on a cold winter day with a lemon coconut frosting to brighten things up. Enjoy.

Happy Holidays! Happy cooking!


Spiced winter squash cupcake with a lemon coconut frosting


Ingredients

1 favorite winter squash halved ( I used butternut)

1/3 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup almond milk 
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 tsp of clove
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/2 tsp of ground ginger
1/4 tsp of allspice
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1/4 tsp of cayenne

Roasting the Squash

1. Preheat oven 400 degrees.
2. Score the two halves of the squash. Drizzle with maple syrup. Sprinkle with cayenne.
3. Roast in the oven for 30 mins or until squash is tender.
4. Scrape the squash out and then puree. Set aside.


Making the cupcake

5. Turn oven down to 350 degrees F. 
6. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.
7. Whisk together oil, sugar, almond milk.
8. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt. 
9. Gently whisk flour mixture until well combined. 
10. Fold in pumpkin, but do not overstir or the batter will become gummy.

11. Fill liners two-thirds full. Bake for 24-26 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely.



Lemon Coconut Frosting

1/2 cup coconut oil
4-6 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp of lemon zest
1 tsp of lemon juice
salt



1. Cream the coconut oil with 2 cups of sugar until it has become smooth and lump-free.

2. Add salt and 2 cups of the confectioners’ sugar and resume mixing.
3. Fold in lemon zest and lemon juice. 

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Comfort meets portability...Mac 'n' Cheese Bites (a recipe!)

Mac 'n' Cheese

a childhood favorite of just about most everyone

even someone from an Asian household like me.


I'm not a regular lover of cheese, especially as a younger child. Although I would eat Mac 'n Cheese as a child, it was never something I ever requested or went nuts for. Now, even though I have come to appreciate cheese and will eat certain cheeses, I mainly eat Mac 'n' Cheese for nostalgia purposes. However, Mac 'n' Cheese is something I make quite often. My brother loves it, and my SO can definitely live on just Mac 'n' Cheese.

The Mac 'n' Cheese I make like any good Mac 'n' Cheese requires a blend of cheeses. Mine, however, also starts with a base of a Bechamel sauce

I love this sauce and use it frequently in a lot of my dishes, especially when creaminess and pasta are involved. I think it is the perfect vehicle for a lot of things. Supposedly, it's a favorite of the French. They drench their grilled cheese sandwiches in it.

Also, I think this certain recipe needs the Bechamel sauce because we're going to bake it a second time and it'll hold shape but won't loose the cheesy-gooey-ness.

I won't write out a recipe for Mac 'n' Cheese since I think anyone who cooks know the basic recipe for a Mac 'n' Cheese. If you don't, well,

Mac 'n' Cheese Bites



- Preheat oven
- Follow the Bechamel "recipe"
- Over medium heat, add your favorite blend of cheeses
   - I like using Gouda, a sharp white cheddar, and either Parmesan for the saltiness or Mozzarella for the gooeyness
- Add cooked macaroni and stir until all cheeses melt and the right consistency is achieved
- Grease muffin or cupcake tins
- Spoon the Mac 'n' Cheese mixture into the tin
- Optional, topped with breadcrumb mixture or more cheese, like Mozzarella or American Cheddar.
- Baked at 375 degree for about 15 minutes.
- When done, let cool before fishing them out.


Bechamel Sauce


- butter melted over medium-low heat
- add flour STIR
- add milk and STIR
until a soft velvet consistency is achieved

Simple. I've been making this since I was 13. I actually didn't perfect it until much later on when I understand more about cooking.