Robin's Random Recipes

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

From Cook's Illustrated

Makes 12 cupcakes. Published January 1, 2003.

These cupcakes are best eaten the day they are made, but unfrosted extras will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To double the recipe, use 3 whole eggs and 2 yolks, and double the remaining ingredients.

Ingredients
For Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 unces)
1 cup granulated sugar (7 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large egg , room temperature
2 large egg yolks , room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For Frosting
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate , chopped

Instructions

1. For Cupcakes: Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin/cupcake tin with paper or foil liners.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add butter, sour cream, egg and egg yolks, and vanilla; beat at medium speed until smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix by hand until smooth and no flour pockets remain.

3. Divide batter evenly among cups of prepared tin using a #20 disher (3 Tbs.) Bake until cupcake tops are pale gold and toothpick or skewer inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 24 minutes. Use skewer or paring knife to lift cupcakes from tin and transfer to wire rack; cool cupcakes to room temperature, about 45 minutes.

4.For Frosting: Bring cream to boil in small saucepan or in microwave. Place chocolate in medium bowl and pour boiling cream over. Cover with foil and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool and slightly firm, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

5. Transfer cooled chocolate mixture to bowl of standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment; whip mixture at medium speed until fluffy and mousse-like and forms medium-stiff peaks, about 2 minutes.

6. Spread 2 to 3 generous tablespoons Chocolate Ganache Frosting on top of each cooled cupcake; serve.

1 pork butt or shoulder roast
recipe dry rub
1 bottle beer

In the evening, pat the rub into the roast and cover in plastic wrap.

The next morning put it in the crockpot, fat side up. Add a bottle of beer (I used a stout).

Cook on low for 9-10 hours. It's done when it pulls apart easily.

Shred with two forks, mix with BBQ sauce. I like the vinegar-based Lexington-style: Mix 1/2 c malt vinegar with a half teaspoon each salt & pepper, a quarter teaspoon red pepper flakes, a teaspoon of brown sugar, and a squirt of ketchup.

3 c heavy cream, divided
2.5 c sugar, divided
6 oz butter
4 eggs, room temp
10 oz cake flour (8 oz)
1.5 tsp baking powder
.25 tsp salt

Caramel:

Heat 2 cups of cream to a simmer, either in a saucepan or in the microwave.

Put one cup sugar in a heavy medium size saucepan over medium heat. Let the sugar melt, stirring the melted parts around so it doesn't burn. When it gets a deep amber, take it off the heat and add the cream slowly...it will foam up. Return to the heat, bring to a boil, and cook gently for about five minutes. Any clumps of sugar will dissolve as you cook it.

Keep one cup out for the cake, put the rest in the refrigerator.

Cake:

Heat oven to 325F and spray a 12c bundt pan with Pam w/ flour.

Cream the butter with 1.5 cups sugar; add the eggs one at a time. Sift or whisk together the dry ingredients and add alternately with the caramel, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.

Bake 35-40 minutes until a skewer comes out clean; let rest for ten minutes on a rack and then unmold and cool.

Whip the last cup of cream and swirl in some of the caramel sauce.

Serve cake with sauce and whipped cream.

NOTE: The original recipe called for all-purpose flour and my mom and I discovered that with cake flour the cake will fall. THIS IS A GOOD THING. The cake comes out dense and delicious. When it doesn't fall it doesn't taste nearly as good. Towards the end of the baking time if it hasn't fallen yet slam the oven door or pick up the pan and drop it a few inches to ensure it falls.

From Cook's Illustrated

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (12 1/2 ounces), plus more for work surface
1 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons sugar
12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup vegetable shortening , cold, cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup vodka , cold (see note)
1/4 cup cold water

1. For The Pie Dough: Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about two 1-second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until homogeneous dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds; dough will resemble cottage cheese curds and there should be no uncoated flour. Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.

2. Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Divide dough into 2 even balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk. Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days. (Can also be frozen)