Getting to be Valentine’s Day so I thought that I would start putting up some ideas, in case you wanted to make something for your sweetheart. First up this year are these lovely gems. Overload on the chocolate with dipping and pecans as well. These are small (used a 3 inch cookie cutter) but pack great flavor. Easy to make too!
Champagne and Roses Cupcakes
(Champagne Hibiscus Cupcakes with Rosewater Meringue Buttercream)
These are celebratory cupcakes. Why, you ask? Well, today is the 5th Birthday (anniversary?) of this here Cup of Sugar :: Pinch of Salt website. Yup, it was 5 years ago on a snowy weekend that I started this adventure and who knew I would still be going strong 1152 recipes later. So happy birthday, CSPS. Have a cupcake on me!
And now for something completely different: Mexican Food. Not something that I am particularly good at making, but I suspect that is more because I don’t *practice* making it enough, because these tortilla with shredded beef and spicy slaw turned out pretty amazing. Experiments on a Sunday afternoon.
The very first thing that you will notice about these cookies is the smell. Open the container or parcel that they are in and the glorious smell of coconut is almost overwhelming, in an amazingly delicious kind of way. Coconut overload. They are crunchy, with the soft bits of coconut sort of weaved though. The chocolate is just a bonus, but makes them pretty over-the-top, if you ask me.
Need to get some comfort food on the table in under 45 minutes? This might be the thing to try. I was really in the mood for Mac & Cheese, but had all the ingredients for Chili in the house, so ended up combining the two recipes. Turns out, it was much faster to make than one would think, and it’s a decadent (in a low-brow kind of way) and rich “sure to fill you up” kind of meal. It’s fairly mild, in terms of spice, but feel free to amp up the chili powder or add a dash of cayenne. Recipes serves 4 people, more if you make a nice salad to accompany it.