Saturday, January 24, 2009

Thoughts for a Blustery Day


"Be brave, little Piglet!

It's awfully hard to be brave when you're such a small animal.

Then to divert your small mind from your unfortunate predicament,
I should tell you an amusing antidote."

It is quite unfortunate that Holly is going through another bout of stomach virus. The original virus was in December, it took two weeks to recover from. This time though, I am hopeful she won't be suffering so long. To divert my small mind from our unfortunate predicament, I have found my IRON CUPCAKE recipe. The special ingredient for January was WINE.

That is of course, if I had the time. Or the ingredients. Or the camera to photograph the whole thing! Nonetheless, don't you want to try Chiffon Cakes with Port Wine Melba Sauce and Peach Ice Cream?

First make the cupcakes described in this months Woman's Day magazine. Except change the 2 tsp vanilla to 1tsp almond extract & 1 tsp vanilla.

Then make this Port Wine Melba Sauce:
  • 1 cup port wine
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick, ground, or ground cinnamon, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 orange, zested
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1/3 cup raspberry filling
Combine all ingredients, except the raspberry filling, in a non-reactive saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Add water and simmer 15 to 20 mins until thickened.

Add raspberry filling to port syrup and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to the consistency of a glaze. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Assemble your cupcake as follows: Remove cupcake from paper liners. Cut (and discard) the tops off the cupcake, pour Port Wine Melba Sauce over cupcake, add a small scoop of softened Peach Ice Cream, drizzle with sauce and maybe a fresh raspberry and some rosemary on top.

This would look similar to the Woman's Day picture without the peaches or Cool Whip and Peach Ice Cream & Raspberries instead.

Haven't tried this recipe, but doesn't it sound delicious? And clearly, I have found a diversion on the blustery day INSIDE our house.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be a lot of fun to have an Iron Cupcake challenge here in western NC. Not for competition -- because we all know who would win, but just for fun. Once the bluster and the viruses have gone away, like maybe April or something, it would be nice to have a mom party. And we can bring the special ingredient for January. :)

Good Remedy said...

Anymore days like these past few...and I certainly will be needing a night out. With the secret ingredient!

.ps Holly is doing better today (Sunday)