Cooking Thread

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tyen
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Cooking Thread

Unread post by tyen » Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:19 pm

Alright... I like to cook actually, and I am not bad at it.
I don't do it enough (being a single guy its hard to justify sometimes because if I made something it needs to store well).

Anyway, I wanted a thread where we care share some recipes.
My first one below will not be indicative of it, but I'd especially be interested in healthy, easy to make recipes. But post whatever you like :)

So I was talking with a friend, and we found a local bakery that make Bacon Cupcakes on Saturdays. I'd never heard of these before, they're pretty darn good and so I looked up a recipe for them... (I also have this theory that bacon can make almost anything taste better):
Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Makes 6 / 350F oven

What You'll Need...
4 1/2 tablespoons of butter, room temperature
1/2 tablespoon of bacon drippings (left in the fridge to become solid)
1 egg
5 tablespoons of brown sugar
4 tablespoons maple syrup
1 1/4 cup of self rising flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
tiny tiny pinch of kosher salt
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of minced bacon, cooked and drained

What You'll Do...
1) Cook some bacon in a fry pan (about 6 thick strips). Reserve the drippings and place in the fridge to solidify. Mince 1/4 a cup of the bacon. The chef should eat whatever is left to assure that the bacon is tasty.

2) Beat the crud out of the butter and solidified bacon fat 'till light and creamy. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and beat well until combined.

3) Add the egg and beat until incorporated.

4) Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and powder together.

5) Add some of the flour and mix, then some of the milk, then continue to alternate the dry and wet ingredients, ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in the bacon. Taste and add more maple syrup, flour, or milk if needed for desired taste. Keep in mind the maple frosting is very sweet, and to add in very small increments for alterations as maple syrup in large amounts can break a cake batter.

6) Scoop into cupcake papers and bake at 350 F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Be sure to rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes for even baking.

Maple Syrup Frosting
What You'll Need...
4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 cup of powdered sugar
turbinado sugar (optional, but recommended)
coarse grain sea salt (optional, but recommended)

What You'll Do...
Combine the syrup and butter until combined. Add the sugar, a bit at a time, and whip at high speeds until combined. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes. Sprinkle on sea salt and turbinado sugar for decoration and a lot of added flavor.

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Tre
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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by Tre » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:20 pm

I make some badass beef curry. Maybe I will try to make it next time with bacon.
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pooka-Mishipeshu
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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by pooka-Mishipeshu » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:16 am

I wonder why they use brown sugar in that recipe -why not just use regular sugar? I don't cook so maybe the answer is obvious to someone who does.
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tyen
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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by tyen » Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:03 pm

pooka-Mishipeshu wrote:I wonder why they use brown sugar in that recipe -why not just use regular sugar? I don't cook so maybe the answer is obvious to someone who does.
Well Brown Sugar has less calories than regular white sugar (not a huge difference though), but the main reason is that Brown Sugar makes baked goods (like these cupcakes) more moist. Brown sugar inherently has more moisture in it than regular sugar (which is why you have to keep it in a sealed plastic bag or tupperware or something). Plus, I think brown sugar in baked stuff tastes better, it sort of has a carmel-ish taste compared to normal sugar... goes good with the bread.

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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by pooka-Mishipeshu » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:23 pm

Aha! That makes a lot of sense (the moisture thing). Thanks :)
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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by Schnookums » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:21 pm

Speaking of bacon, a good way to make it is in the oven, and then brush maple syrup on each strip. It is so good. My parents make it this way, I'm not really sure what temperature they set the oven at.

They use a rack similar to a cookie-cooling rack placed on a cookie sheet. Most of the fat drips off, so I suppose it's a bit healthier than fried. The syrup taste is great.
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tyen
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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by tyen » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:26 pm

Schnookums wrote:Speaking of bacon, a good way to make it is in the oven, and then brush maple syrup on each strip. It is so good. My parents make it this way, I'm not really sure what temperature they set the oven at.

They use a rack similar to a cookie-cooling rack placed on a cookie sheet. Most of the fat drips off, so I suppose it's a bit healthier than fried. The syrup taste is great.
Sounds good :D

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Re: Cooking Thread

Unread post by Hodd » Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:38 am

eww ahh ill be comming back to this post later tommrow, and ask for some goodies and share some ideas
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