dark chocolate cupcakes

After making several chocolate cupcake recipes and reading conflicting information from some of my trusted sources, I decided to try making a recipe on my own. Some decisions I made while I was formulating the recipe include:

• no "strange" ingredients like mayonnaise, etc.
• use a modified creaming method to assemble (for improved texture)
• use cocoa powder instead of bar chocolate (more chocolatey and 1 less bowl to clean!)
• use dutch cocoa (for the most intense chocolate taste)
• cook only 12 cupcakes at a time (for even baking)
  

I'm confident that these cupcakes will be your new favorites (at least your favorite chocolate ones). If you want, the recipe will make one 9-inch round cake. Doubled, it will make two 9-inch rounds, three 8-inch rounds, or a 9 x 13-inch sheet cake.

6 TB butter, at room temperature (3 ounces by weight)
1 scant cup of granulated sugar (6 ounces)
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda (not powder!)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (4.25 ounces)
1/2 cup sifted dutch-process cocoa powder (sift then measure -- 1 ounce by weight)
2 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup plain lowfat yogurt (6 ounces)

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl, cream together the first 5 ingredients until it is fluffy and noticeably lighter in color than when you began. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder.

Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time, mixing for approximately 20 seconds after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add all of the flour mixture to the butter and mix on low until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides again, add the yogurt, and mix on medium for one minute.

Prepare the pan you will use to bake with (muffin liners for the cupcake pan or butter/flour for the others). Distribute the batter among your prepared pans. Bake according to the following chart (give or take a couple of minutes due to differences among ovens):

• cupcakes - 23 minutes
• 8-inch pans - 30 minutes
• 9-inch pans - 33 minutes
• 9 x 13-inch sheet pan - 35 minutes

Begin checking about 3 minutes before the time is up. Remove from the oven when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not over-bake, as this will destroy the taste and texture of the final product. Frost with a home-made buttercream or simply dust with powdered sugar.

alton brown's protein bars

These are easy to make and good for you. I will warn you that they do not "taste great" the way, say, a brownie tastes great. They are, however, much tastier than store-bought protein bars. That is reason enough to make them. There is another reason, too -- they work out to be much more cost-effective as well. Your initial investment may be high (purchasing some of these ingredients is pricey) but you'll be able to make several batches and each batch makes 24 bars. I eat 2 in the morning for breakfast and find that they tide me over until lunch quite nicely.

Also -- you can make some substitutions if you like. Swap out some of the dried fruits mentioned for ones that you prefer (apples, dates, golden raisins, etc.). Use almond butter instead of peanut butter. Use unsweetened apple sauce instead of juice. Add some spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom) or chopped nuts.

Any way you do it, these are sure to be "healthy eats" -- and for some of us, that makes them "good."

4 ounces soy protein powder (approximately 1 cup)
2 1/4 ounces oat bran (approximately 1/2 cup)
2 3/4 ounces whole-wheat flour (approximately 1/2 cup)
3/4-ounce wheat germ (approximately 1/4 cup)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 ounces raisins (approximately 1/2 cup)
2 1/2 ounces dried cherries (approximately 1/2 cup)
3 ounces dried blueberries (approximately 1/2 cup)
2 1/2 ounces dried apricots (approximately 1/2 cup)
1 (12.3-ounce) package soft silken tofu
1/2 cup unfiltered apple juice
4 ounces dark brown sugar (approximately 1/2 cup packed)
2 large whole eggs, beaten
2/3 cup natural peanut butter
Canola oil, for pan

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with parchment paper and lightly coat with canola oil. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the protein powder, oat bran, wheat flour, wheat germ, and salt. Set aside.

Coarsely chop the raisins, dried cherries, blueberries and apricots and place in a small bowl and set aside.

In a third mixing bowl, whisk the tofu until smooth. Add the apple juice, brown sugar, eggs, and peanut butter, 1 at a time, and whisk to combine after each addition. Add this to the protein powder mixture and stir well to combine. Fold in the dried fruit. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish and bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 205 degrees F. Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into squares. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze individually and allow to thaw before eating.

five things to eat before you die

Melissa at The Traveler's Lunchbox asked food bloggers to post a "top five" list of foods to eat before you die. Frankly, I always hate being asked "what's your favorite ______?" I can't pin down a favorite anything. It's highly dependant upon my mood, the weather, or what I had for breakfast. That being said, I attempted to construct a list that captured my gustatory values.

I have already eaten these things. If you haven't tried them, run to wherever you can so that you, too, can partake in these most wonderful foods.

Here the list:

1. ceviche (the real stuff -- from Ecuador or Peru)
2. freshly made sweetened fried dough (doughnuts, beignets, zeppole, etc.)
3. any fruit that you can pick yourself and eat on the spot
4. Edo-style sushi
5. homemade tagliatelle

greek brown rice salad

I've been eating a lot of brown rice lately. This came to me as a way to jazz it up a bit.

2 c. cooked short grain brown rice (follow the directions on the package)
1 cucumber, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 TB chopped fresh oregano
1 lemon, juiced
2 TB red wine vinegar
1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, chopped fine
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
salt and black pepper to taste

Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, and garlic.

Toss the brown rice with the cucumber and oregano. Add the vinaigrette from above. Fold to combine.

Add the feta and fold again. Season with salt (probably doesn't need a lot due to the feta) and pepper to taste.

Serves 4 as a side.

coconut date rolls

Okay folks, this is an easy one. Sometimes going for "zen" gets complicated, but I assure you that anyone can handle this recipe. Anyway, I ate one of these at Whole Foods in their bulk grains section and was hooked. Perfect amount of sweetness and lots of fiber. It's a healthy way to eat sweets. The almonds aren't in the Whole Foods version, but I loved what they did to the taste and texture.

1 lb. pitted dates
1 c. almonds, roasted (optional)
1/2 c. unsweetened dried coconut flakes


Whir the dates and almonds (if using) in a food processor until a paste is formed. Roll heaping tablespoonfuls of the paste in the dried coconut and form into logs. That's it!

Makes 16-20 rolls.