Gosling’s Black Seal Rum Cupcakes

Dark and Stormy CupcakeslinkA Piece of Cake
by Robyn Dickinson-Baras


Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter salted
  • 1 cup butter unsalted
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup molasses
  • 1 1/3 all purpose flour
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • 2 oz semi-sweet chocolate
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 5 oz Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
  • 4 tbsp Gosling’s Ginger Beer
  • 2 limes

Preparation
Set your oven to 350°
Grease or prepare 12 cupcake tins

Recipe Cupcakes
Cream 1/2 a cup of room temperature butter and 1/2 a cup of packed down brown sugar. Mix in one egg and then add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 a cup of molasses. In a separate bowl combine 1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour, 3/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp of baking powder.

Continue to add 1/2 tsp of ginger, 1/2 a tsp of nutmeg and 1/4 tsp of allspice. Combine wet ingredients with dry and beat until creamy. Put in cupcake tins greased or using muffin cups. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Rum Chocolate Ganache
Crush 2oz of semi-sweet chocolate until fine. Add 1/4 cup of heavy cream and microwave for 30 – 45 seconds. Take out and stir in 2 – 3 tablespoons of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. Set in fridge and return to stir every 10 mins.

Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a saucepan and then add 2 tbsp cold water and half a cup of sugar. Stir until boiling then remove and put into a dipping tray and
then let cool.

Take the cooled cupcakes and let them sit in the dipping trays for 5 – 10mins. Set upside down on wax paper and let the glaze soak into the cupcakes. Using
something hollow like a bottle cap remove the center of the cupcakes, approx 1/2 way down. Take the Rum Chocolate Ganache and pour inside then replace plugs.

Buttercream Icing
Blend a cup of unsalted butter until creamy. Add 5 – 6 tbsp of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum and 4 tbsp of Gosling’s Ginger Beer. Add 6 cups of powdered sugar or enough to create the right consistency.You don’t want it runny. Using a piping bag and tip apply the icing on the cupcakes and garnish with a fresh lime wedge.

Adobo Crusted Lamb Loin Chops

Adobo Crusted Lamb Loin Chops
Lamb’s rich flavor and buttery tenderness make it a star choice for everything from grilling to braising. Lamb is an excellent source of high-quality protein and an average three-ounce serving of lamb has only 175 calories.

Chef Allen Susser believes American lamb, in its own right, adds a full-flavor component to the plate. “It can be combined with any number of forward aromatic seasonings such as garlic, fennel or rosemary. The unique flavor is so delicious and lamb is versatile enough to be presented casually or elegantly,” he says.

 

Adobo Crusted Lamb Loin Chops

Recipe Type: Entree
Author: Chef Allen Susser, Chef Allen’s (Aventura, Florida)
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Complement the rich, sweet flavor of American lamb with a savory spice rub. It creates a full flavor without adding calories.
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seed
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seed
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seed
  • 2 teaspoons cracked pepper
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 2 teaspoons lime zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon each fresh thyme and rosemary leaves
  • 8 American Lamb loin chops, 1-inch thick
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
  1. In a dry skillet, toast fennel, cumin, coriander and pepper for a few minutes until aromatic; let cool and grind coarsely in a spice grinder or blender. Stir in salt, garlic,oregano and lime zest. Add the thyme and rosemary to the spice mixture. Rub both sides of each lamb chop with about a tablespoon of the spice mixture; cover and marinate for at least 1 hour.
  2. Heat oven-proof large skillet over medium-high heat; add 2 tablespoons of oil, heating until it shimmers.
  3. Place lamb chops in the hot pan and sear for 3 minutes; turn lamb to sear the second side for an additional 3 minutes.
  4. Place the pans into the 400ºF oven; bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until lamb is cooked to your liking.

For those that do not have a lot of experience cooking with lamb, determining when it is done is the biggest challenge. Avoid guessing and use a good meat thermometer. Visit the American Lamb website for Lamb 101 and cooking times.

WINE SUGGESTION: Zonnebloem Pinotage.
By April Gosling Naude. Available at Gosling’s Stores
This ever popular, robust Pinotage has a brilliant red colour with intense cherry and vanilla aromas and nuances of wood on the palate. Savour this full-bodied wine on its own or try it with poultry, game or red meat dishes. Serve slightly chilled; put in the fridge for 25 minutes prior to opening.

Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie with Honey and Orange

Spring berry season is here. This berry creation has a rich, satisfying taste thanks to delicious fat-free evaporated milk which complements the berries while not weighing you down.


Serves 4

What You Need
1 can (12 fluid ounces) Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Fat Free or Lowfat 2% Milk
2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries
1 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
2 tablespoons honey or more to taste
1/2 cup ice cubes

How to make It
1. PLACE evaporated milk, blueberries, juice, concentrate, honey and ice in blender; cover.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately.

COOKING TIP: Substitute cranberry juice for pomegranate juice, if desired.

Source: Nestlé USA, Inc.

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Easter Eggs

Peanut-Butter-Eggs-link

 

A fun dessert the kids will love to help make and the adults will love to eat.

  • Ingredients
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 3 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
  • 1 1/2 packages (18 ounces) dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 bag (6 ounces) white chocolate chips (optional)
  • Food coloring of your choice (optional)
  • Coconut (optional) (more…)

Sunrise Breakfast Casserole

Sunrise-Casserole-link

 

A great breakfast casserole with eggs, peppers, onions and Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage that is sure to be a family favorite. This crowd-pleasing favorite is great for your Easter Brunch buffet table and can be made ahead of time to make entertaining easy! (more…)

Lindo’s Filet of Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington linkBeef Wellington is a traditional English dish of beef tenderloin coated with pâté de foie gras, packaged in pastry, and baked until the crust is golden brown and the filet is a tempting shade of rare to medium-rare pink. Usually reserved for special occasions, Beef Wellington has rich, complex flavours and makes an elegant presentation – perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. (more…)