Cooking with Mumu: [Update] There are 3 new posts in "Simply Recipes"

Here is the Simply Recipes update for cookingwithmumu@gmail.com

Double Vanilla Cupcakes
Eggplant and Red Pepper Terrine
Bread Pudding

There are 3 new posts in "Simply Recipes"

Double Vanilla Cupcakes

Please welcome guest author Garrett McCord of the vanilla-flavored blog, Vanilla Garlic as he shares a favorite cupcake. ~Elise

It raises my hackles when someone calls something "plain vanilla." Plain? Plain?! Are they insane?! There's nothing plain about vanilla!

Given, I'm a little more passionate about the spice than most (if it wasn't apparent enough). Heck, I named my blog after the stuff. I have no less than 9 varieties of vanilla beans in my pantry. Not to mention 6 kinds of vanilla extract - three of them homemade. Vanilla oil, vanilla sugar, chopped up vanilla beans. I even keep a dried bean in the filter of my vacuum so the place smells like vanilla when I clean.

Even when we discuss the flavor of vanilla, there's nothing plain about it. Mexican vanilla has a velvety, sweet and creamy scent that begs to be made into puddings. Tahitian vanilla has a heady aroma of figs, that reminds me of summers eating the sticky fruits stuffed with cheese and honey. The dark and rummy smell of Madagascar beans that hint at a slight, musky nose of tobacco. My favorite, the Tonga vanilla bean which, after deep inhale, will bombard you with images of black cherries.

Continue reading "Double Vanilla Cupcakes" »

Eggplant and Red Pepper Terrine

Another one from the recipe archives, first posted in 2004. Even though my father doesn't like eggplant in general, he loves this terrine from Jacques Pepin and we've made it several times. Once he even insisted in making it during winter, so instead of serving it cold, we baked it and served the whole thing hot, worked great. This eggplant terrine is a perfect dish for summer entertainment - layers of roasted eggplant, Mozzarella cheese, red pepper and parsley, chilled in a terrine form, and covered with a gazpacho-like sauce.

Continue reading "Eggplant and Red Pepper Terrine" »

Bread Pudding

Best bread pudding ever. From the recipe archive, updated photos. No substitute for alcohol in the bourbon sauce, definitely NOT kid-friendly. This one is for the grown-ups. Originally posted 2005. ~Elise

This bread pudding recipe is based on one from the famed Bon Ton Cafe in New Orleans. My friend Becca has been making this bread pudding in her family for years and made us a batch for the holidays. The sauce is loaded with bourbon (Becca says the Bon Ton's sauce has even more bourbon in it), so you might want to use somewhat less. My father still gets a dazed and happy look in his eyes when this bread pudding is mentioned.

Continue reading "Bread Pudding" »