Red Velvet Ruins

Red Velvet Ruins

Well, these are called Red Velvet Ruins, because it was supposed to be Red Velvet Cupcakes, but the cupcakes got ruined by my very old muffin pans, so we turned them into Ruins… Turned out decadently sweet and moist and yummy!! My biggest hang-up with cupcakes is that the cake is normally dry and the icing too much and too sweet. Well, this is the best of both. In one.

Cupcakes

Ingredients

½ cup butter, soft

1 ½ cup sugar

2 eggs

2tbs cocoa

4tbs liquid red food colouring

1t salt

1t vanilla essence

1cup buttermilk

2 ½ cup flour

1 ½ t baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)(koeksoda)

1tbs white vinegar

Method

Preheat the oven to 175degrees C. Cream the butter and sugar together.

Add the eggs one by one. 

 Mix the cocoa and the food colouring to form a paste...

 ...and mix that in with the egg mixture. 

Whisk together the salt, vanilla essence and buttermilk until well combined. Sift the flour. 

Taking turns, add the buttermilk and flour to the egg mixture. 

Mix well. 

Until smooth and shiny...

Combined the baking soda and vinegar. Add to the dough and gently fold through, avoiding too much mixing. 

Spray cookie/muffin trays with non-stick spray. Scoop in to fill it just to the half way mark. 

Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, and test with your tester needle to confirm. Remove from the oven.

(Credit: Allrecipes.com)

Icing

Ingredients

500g icing sugar

125g cream cheese  (I used cottage cheese….)

125g butter

1t lemon juice

Method

Whisk the icing sugar using a hand blender. 

Add the cottage cheese and mix until thoroughly combined. 

Add the butter and mix until creamy. 

Add the lemon juice and mix until creamy and smooth and glossy.

(Credit: Nigella.com)

NOW…

Take the cupcakes and crumb them into the icing, mixing with the hand blender at first. 

When it gets too thick, use a wooden spoon and blend well.

Place in freezer to cool. Once cooled or frozen (your preference) scoop with ice cream scoop, add some sprinkles and enjoy!!

Yours in oil and veggies

Risch

Chocolate Rocks

I just wanted to bake some cookies…. This is my own recipe, and it is something different. However, when I make this again, it will have a little more liquid in. Perhaps more butter…??

Ingredients

2cups flour

½ t salt

2t baking powder

1t baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)(koeksoda)

1/4cup cocoa

1t ginger

Pinch cloves

1/4cup desiccated coconut

100g butter

1cup sugar

2 eggs

1t Vanilla essence

1t Rum essence

Method

Preheat the oven to 180degrees C. Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cocoa together. 

  Add the coconut and mix through. Cream the butter and sugar together. 

Add the eggs and essences and mix well. Combine the flour and egg mixture thoroughly to form a dough. 

Roll into balls and shape. 

Spray a baking tray with non-stick spray. Place the balls onto the tray, not too close together. Bake in the oven for 20minutes.

Let it cool down and enjoy!!!

Yours in oil and veggies

Risch

Coco-Choc Souffle

Like I said, the Sunday Dessert is also a big feature on Sundays... I wasn't really in the mood for making something, but my daughter kept asking what is for dessert? And so the bug bit me and the brain started working... what can I make? Making a dessert with flour is easy - through a couple of things together and voila!!... but I was also in the mood for a dessert, and my diet has been coming along so well, I didn't want to spoil it with another carb-loaded dish. So, what can I make that is delicious, that will appeal to the rest of my family members who is NOT on a diet, AND that is something I can eat, too? 

I screened Google... Ah! Cheesecake!! Nope, don't have enough cream cheese... (add that to the grocery list)... My heart started to sink, as all the ingredients required in these recipes was NOT in my house... What can I eat? Cream, eggs.. and that's when the idea struck!!

Preparation time: 20min
Cooking time: 40min
Difficulty level: Easy
Serves: 5 small portions

Ingredients

4 eggs, separated
250ml cream
1t vanilla essence
1/4cup desiccated coconut
1/4cup sugar
2tbs chocolate chips

Method

Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray, or line well with butter. Cool in fridge. Beat the egg whites to form stiff peaks. Beat the cream, essence and egg yolks together. Add the coconut and sugar and mix until most of the sugar has dissolved. Add the chocolate chips. Fold in the egg whites. Do not over-fold. Pour into baking dish. The egg whites will float to the top and the chocolate chips will settle at the bottom. Try to lightly distribute the chocolate chips evenly. Bake in the oven at 140degrees C for about 40min until golden brown on top.

See the melted chocolate, custard and meringue layers...??

I had to very quickly take a photo, before it was all gone!! This was such a tasty dessert... 

Yes, there is chocolate and sugar in, which probably means it isn't really carb-friendly. However, I did have my slice. A little sugar is better than a little flour, I reckon... 

Yours in oil and veggies... and chocolate!

Risch

No-Bake Butter Chocolate Brownies

My son hounded me to make his cookies... It's nice cookies, but he has made them a couple of times now, and I was in the mood for something different. 

So I thought of this no-bake chocolate brownie. My mom actually has the perfect recipe, and I will still get that recipe and post it here as well. But I wanted to see if I couldn't find something else...

 Alas, all the recipes on the web, is complicated. With nuts, and dates, and oats, and some other weird ingredients I either don't have in my cupboard, or I feel is to expensive to use. Oh, and I wanted something WITHOUT oats. 

I want an easy recipe, quick and cheap. One you can even make at the end of the month... 

So, I decided to make my own...

Ingredients

250g margarine

1cup sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1tbs vanilla

1 packet tennis biscuits

pinch of salt

Breadcrumbs

choc chips (optional)

Method

Melt the margarine over low heat. Add the sugar, salt and the cocoa. Constantly stirring. The sugar must melt. It makes a syrup consistency. Remove from heat, continue stirring. Add the crushed cookies, mix well. Add the vanilla, mix well. Spray a dish with non-stick spray, or brush with margarine and sieve icing sugar over. Sprinkle the choc chips on the bottom, if you want to use it. Scoop the mixture into the dish. Level out. Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top. Put into the fridge to cool down and set. Once cooled, cut and enjoy!!

Perfect with a cup of coffee when you feel indulgent... 

It is not so sweet as some of the others, and the breadcrumbs adds a little dimension to the already wonderful chocolatey flavours. It is so easy and quick to make, and it sets quickly too. Chocolate is always a sure winner to serve, and if unexpected guests arrive, this is a perfect solution!!

Have a sweet day!

Yours in oil and veggies... and chocolate!

Risch