Triple Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Filling

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I am not a big cupcake person.  Furthermore, I am certainly not a chocolate cake person.  Go ahead, hate me.  

In fact, I made these cupcakes kind of as an afterthought.  I was called upon to bake for a baby shower, and I was really excited about the lemon-raspberry cupcakes I was working on, it being spring and all.

But then the area of my brain responsible for overachieving started lighting up.  "Some people aren't fruit people," it said.  "You have to give them another option."  

"Ladies love chocolate."

Yes they do.

A Feast of Thrones

So...I really like Game of Thrones.

More than maybe is altogether healthy or advisable.  Or socially acceptable.

Tonight, as many of you may be aware is the premiere of season 4.  So I have prepared a Feast of Thrones (sort of).  Beef and Bacon Pie, and Iced Lemon Cakes.  I think they kind of fit the medieval vibe Thrones has going.

Both are from the official Game of Thrones cook book (yes I'm crazy).

Amanda's Baked Mac and Cheese

In case I haven't made my stance on carbs and cheese (and carby cheesy combinations for that matter) clear before, let me do so now.  There is nothing better.

 My friend Amanda, in her infinite wisdom regarding all things food-related, came up with this recipe.  It is the most perfect baked mac and cheese that I have ever tasted, or can ever imagine tasting.

I've made about a million different versions of this dish, some better than others.  Among the notably bad was one incarnation made in a slow cooker that called for an egg...yikes.  At any rate, I've had many great mac and cheeses, and I'll always argue that any pasta and cheese mixture is a good one...but this is something special.

Try it and you'll agree.  And thank you Amanda for giving me the recipe.  You are my own personal patron saint of cooking.

The World's Most Perfect Baked Mac and Cheese
(adapted from Amanda <3)

4 cups pasta (I prefer shells or gigli)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1.5 cups milk (whole is preferable)
1 cup sour cream
8 oz Velveeta, cubed
1/4 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino (optional)
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cups grated sharp cheddar
2-3 Tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs


Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease a 9x13 pan.

Cook pasta one minute less than the instructions call for al dente.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add flour, stir well, add milk, stir again.  Allow to simmer, stir for two minutes until thickened.  Reduce heat and mix in sour cream, Velveeta, half the parmesan and pecorino, garlic salt, ground mustard, pepper, and Italian seasoning.  Stir well.

Toss cheddar with the cooked pasta, mix the pasta with the cheese sauce.

Pour into the prepared pan, top with breadcrumbs remaining parmesan and pecorino cheese.  Add a couple extra grinds of black pepper & Italian seasoning along with the crumbs and cheese on top if you like, and bake for 35-40 minutes.

Key Lime Pie Bars

Sometimes for social functions you're called upon to bring dessert.  And yes, of course, there are any number of chocolatey, peanut buttery concoctions you could bring and they would be guaranteed crowd-pleasers.  That's a given.

But sometimes...especially in early Spring (lol that's February if you're in Georgia) after I've just barely recovered from all the rich chocolatey nonsense that was had over the holidays...sometimes I'm in the mood for something different.

Something slightly fruity and tart but with a hint of pie.  Oh man...pie.

Oreo Truffle Stuffed Red Velvet Cupcakes

Happy Valentine's Day!

Almost, at least.  Whatever.  And what could be better for Valentine's Day than red food?  Omg red!  

I have to admit that in the past I have not always been the biggest fan of red velvet anything really.  Or Valentine's Day for that matter.  I'm one of those people that will talk your ear off about how it's a made up holiday to sell greeting cards, how flowers die after a couple days, how it encourages consumerism, and it's too close to Christmas for me to be in the gift-buying mood again yet.

But...I do like an excuse to bake and eat sugary goods.

So, I guess it's sort of fitting that hidden in the center of these pretty red Valentine's cupcakes is a dark, black truffle center...my attitude about Valentine's day embodied in a food.

Or maybe I just wanted more chocolate.  That could totally also be it.

Apple Cheddar Dog Biscuits

I absolutely love baking, and I absolutely love my dog (obviously).  I'm on my stupid new year's diet, so it's not like I can be whipping up delicious cookies for myself, so I figured why not for Cricket?

Although when these apple-y cheesy little suckers are baking...they really smell like I should probably be the one eating them.  

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

I, quite predictably, am on a diet these days, just like the rest of the world.  New year new you right?  I have my Fitbit on, and I'm making an effort to count calories.

However, I keep getting invited to dinners and when I ask what I can bring...what do you think is requested?  I'll give you a hint...it's not salad.  But I have found a deliciously sneaky way to compromise.