chocolate passion cupcake

uffff it's been a while since my last visit. That's what happens when you get into housework and making projects as well as meeting with friends and taking care of a baby. :)
Well in addition to all the above we got really sick.
Anyway I hope I will keep on posting my thoughts, recipes and other stuff more regularly and often from now on.
I had some friends over yesterday for a surprise party and really wanted to make something really yummy for a dessert both for us adults and kids.

I came across the recipe for this chocolate goodness a couple of weeks ago and since then have been looking for a good excuse to make these delicious cupcakes. And finally I got one!!!
I guess it is true that if you make your food with love, passion and enjoyment it will come out million times better and yummier.
To start with the batter smelled so good that I could at it without even baking. The cupcakes came out so perfect and smooth. That was my second temptation to eat them all. Plus this scrumptious chocolate ganache which is not too much and not too little. Just the right amount to enjoy.

You dig into this little chocolate dream and here is yet another surprise with totally different flavor. Salted caramel filling oozing out.

mmmmmmm
I think I need to go make some more right now.
They look so classy, people will ask which place you got them from.
I came across this recipe in one of the magazines I get every week and usually they lack instructions, call for crazy, hard to find ingredients or just not to my taste. But this pretty sweet dish turned out to be amazingly good.

My friends and their husbands loved these cupcakes as well.
When I first saw the picture I thought it might be time and effort consuming to make those but once I started I realized it is not that difficult after all. Besides all this chocolate and caramel aromas filling the air make you overwhelmed with positive emotions and good mood. I might sound a bit crazy but I do love and enjoy cooking.
So if you'd like some really good petite desserts to please your close ones as well as your own taste buds this one is a keeper.
Try and see for yourself.

Chocolate passion cupcakes

Ingredients:

batter:
50g cocoa powder
100ml hot water
100g butter, softened
200g fine sugar
2 eggs
170g flour
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

caramel filling:
half a tin dulce de leche
1tsp sea salt (fine or flakes), use to taste

chocolate ganache:
100ml cream
200g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

Preparation:

1. Combine cocoa powder and water and mix until smooth and without lumps. Let it cool.
2. Beat together butter and sugar until well mixed and pale. Gradually add eggs. Sift dry ingredients (flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder). Using a metal spoon or a rubber spatula carefully fold the cocoa mixture until well combined.
3. Preheat oven to 180C. Line 23-24 cupcake cases. Place about a tbsp of the mixture in each case. (I fill them half way. This way after the batter is baked into a perfect size cupcake - not too big and not too little). Bake your cupcakes for 20 minutes. Remove and leave to cool on a wire rack.
4. In the meantime combine dulce de leche and salt. Start with small amount of salt and gradually add more until you reach the desired taste and flavor.
5. You can either remove the center of the cupcake and fill it with salted caramel, then use the removed tops as lids or using a long thin piping nozzle insert it in the center of each cupcake and pipe some of the caramel filling inside. I use the second way as it is easier and faster for me. As well as less messy.
6. To make ganache heat the cream until almost boils. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate. Stir until it forms smooth mass without lumps. If it seems very runny in the beginning don't worry it will thicken as the chocolate melts into the cream. Allow the cool slightly and using the back of a metal spoon frost each cupcake. Arrange this yummy goodness and leave to set before serving.

Enjoy with a cup of your favorite tea or just like that.

I couldn't stop only on one dessert so I decided to try making cake pops for the kids. Don't judge very strictly it was my first attempt.

That's all for now...

take care there.

roast chicken roll

Hi everyone,

you know sometimes I get cravings for some quick and easy sandwich, but the problem is I don't usually buy any processed meat like mortadella or other rolls from shops.

So, I did make roast whole chicken, but it is more suitable for dinner or some occasion.

So i asked myself, there is roast turkey (chicken) in shops, why not making it at home.

I was surfing  through internet, trying to find any recipes that even slightly resembles what I wanted to cook. Couldn't find any, well I saw turducken which actually looked a bit odd, but seemed tasty. Anyway I wanted to use only chicken so I had to improvise.

I bought fresh whole chicken. I wanted boneless chicken meat wrapped in chicken skin to shape.

So I washed the chicken and started skinning it. Make sure that the knife you use is really sharp, it will help you a lot.

So I started by cutting the skin across the breast. Then the skinning itself comes. If I can anyhow compare it with anything, I would say it is like taking off a sleep suit or a shirt. First you start from the breast and slowly and steadily pull the skin towards wings.  Help yourself with a knife but try not to cut the skin, remember we want it intact, one piece. When it comes to wings or legs (later) it can be a bit tricky. What I did I skinned the place where wings (legs) attach to the body and then cut them off and pulled them removing the skin. Don't worry much if the skin tears on upper part of wings you already have enough skin from the lower part to cover this hole. After wings skin the back, use the knife around the tail, I cut the tail itself leaving it attached tot he skin. The last will be legs. I left fat on the skin as you know chicken breast is quite dry when cooked and I wanted my roll to come out moist and soft.

When you are done with skin and after admiring your own abilities to do so, you can start deboning the chicken. Remove breast meat, meat from legs and thighs and wings if possible. If you have too little meat on wings, leave it, don't bother removing it.

** I don't throw bones, you can make really simple and yummy chicken noodle soup. So you can keep the bones aside for now or go to this recipe to start making soup alongside this roll. **

So now you have the chicken skin and meat separate and it is time to assemble the roll.

I covered the working surface with cling film (it is easier to roll later and your table stays clean). I spread the skin on the film, seasoned with salt and pepper. It's meat time now. let's start with chicken breast, you know how it can be easily divided into halves, then I cut a thicker part into halves again. I laid them on the skin. I didn't use a lot of various spices, just crushed sea salt, freshly crushed black pepper and some garlic (I cut each garlic clove into 3 slices lengthwise).

Sorry I was so busy with the process that didn't take any single picture till this point.

So season the chicken breast with salt and pepper, put some garlic slices here and there,

 and cover with thigh and leg meat. Again salt pepper and some garlic. 

You can use any spices you'd like, such as red chili powder to make it spicy or maybe a sprinkle of rosemary or thyme which beautifully complement the taste of chicken. I wanted to make it simple.

Now it is time to roll all this yumminess. Roll it the same way as sushi roll, using cling film to shape, Try to keep the skin on top of the roll. when done wrap like candy in cling film and let it sit, marinating for some time (I think I left it for about 30 minutes.)

After some time remove the film and you will see it hold its shape well.

I still secured the skin with some toothpicks.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Put some wax paper on the oven tray, spray with oil and place the chicken roll

and spread a bit of oil on top as well.
I put the roll in the preheated oven for about 10 mins till it gets the shape and begins to brown. The I lowered the temperature to 165C and let it cook through. I honestly have no idea how long it was in the oven, but I checked the temperature inside and it was 77C and when pricked with a toothpick the juices ran clear. Turn off the oven and leave it for some time to rest.
Take out and slice. The chicken turned out to be very moist and tender.

I reserved the juice to make some gravy for mashed potatoes or rice.
Uffff I think that's all.
Let me know I you cooked it, whether you liked it or not and if anything is not clear.
See ya!