Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

Even though it is way past New Year and resolutions,I think I am sticking to one even now.Well,not exactly a resolution,but one of my food-goals this year was to cook something which I never thought I'd cook/bake fearing it wouldn't come out well,either because of the ingredients used or the method of cooking.Baking Croissants from scratch was never-ever in the list even,but thanks to WKtB,that was successfully accomplished.

Using Egg yolks or making a custard with yolks was one in the list.I am a Vegetarian and eat eggs only in baked goods,so yes you can call me an Egg-etarian.But if the cake smells eggy I'd not eat one bite,same reason why I do not like Caramel Custard.But then,I thought if it smells eggy,I wouldn't eat it but I'll try making it anyway.

Crème pâtissière/Pastry cream from scratch to fill cupcakes sounded a great idea to me.Top it with chocolate and for sure it becomes an irresistible treat,right.That's Boston Cream pie Cupcakes for you.

A Boston Cream Pie is a cake filled with Custard and topped with melted chocolate.Although it is called a pie,it is actually cake and not pie.Created by Armenian-French chef M. Sanzian at Boston's Parker House Hotel in 1856,this pudding and cake combination comprises two layers of sponge cake filled with vanilla flavored custard or crème pâtissière. The cake is topped with a chocolate glaze (such as ganache) and sometimes powdered sugar or a cherry.[source]

I followed the pastry cream recipe from Joy of Baking,but went with my own trusted recipe for Vanilla Cupcakes[which btw are very similar]and used a Chocolate ganache glaze instead of melted chocolate.I'd be lying if I said the pastry cream did not smell eggy,of course a faint eggy smell is there but when sandwiched in between buttery cupcakes and topped with chocolate ganache,it masked its smell quite well.

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Recipe source - Joy of Baking

Ingredients

Vanilla Cupcakes - 12
Crème pâtissière/Pastry cream
Chocolate Ganache or Melted Chocolate

For the Cupcakes

Ingredients

Flour - 2 cups
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Salt – ½ tsp
Butter – ½ cup
Sugar – 1 ¼ cup
Milk - 1 cup
Vanilla Essence / extract - 1 tsp
Eggs - 2

Method

Preheat the oven to 190C. Line or grease the muffin pans.
 
Sift flour,baking powder and salt 3 times. Keep aside.
 
Cream butter and sugar well.Add vanilla and eggs and beat well.
 
On low speed, beat in flour mix and milk alternatively in 3 lots.
Fill each muffin pan to ¾ th depth, and bake for 20-25 minutes till done.
Remove from muffin pan immediately and cool on racks.
Makes 18 cupcakes.

For the Pastry Cream

Ingredients

Egg Yolks - 2 large(35 gms)
Sugar - 3 tbsp(40 gms)
Cornflour/Cornstarch - 2 tbsp(20 gms)
Salt - 1/8 tsp
Milk - 1 cup(240 ml)
Butter,softened - 1/2 tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp

Method

 
In a medium sized heat-proof bowl,whisk the egg yolks with the sugar.
 
Add the cornflour and salt and mix until you have a smooth paste.
 
Meanwhile, in a saucepan bring the milk just to boiling (the milk starts to foam up.) I added a Vanilla bean in the milk and removed it before pouring into the yolks,for added flavor.
 
Remove from heat and slowly pour the milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling (pour through strainer if necessary). 
 
Pour the egg mixture back into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling, whisking constantly. When it boils, keep whisking the mixture for another 30 - 60 seconds or until it becomes thick. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in the butter and vanilla extract.I strained the custard just to make it smooth.
 
Pour into a clean bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until firm. The pastry cream can be stored for up to 3 days. Whisk or stir before using to get rid of any lumps that may have formed.

Chocolate Ganache or Melted Chocolate

Assembling the Cupcakes

Remove the paper liner from the cooled cupcakes.
 
Slice it in half and smear 1/2 a tsp of pastry cream on the bottom half.Keep the top half of the cupcake on top.Arrange all the cupcakes prepared this way on a wire rack.
Pour melted chocolate or chocolate ganache on top and let it sit for 5 minutes.Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes so that the glaze sets on top.

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Eggs in Bread!!

I don’t know whether I have got as excited about a dish which I don’t eat as with this one.The moment I saw it on Deeba’s blog,I wanted to make it.Hubby usually prefers Egg white Omelet and I had to convince him that once in a while it is fine to have egg yolk,only because of my selfish reasons ie,I wanted to make this!!Whenever he asks for a snack,I offered this and finally he succumbed yesterday..glad that he did!!

I was as excited as a small kid while making this.All through the process(which is a very simple one) I was smiling to myself.When I served it to hubby,I had the usual naughty grin expecting him to say something.He said he felt like a kid eating this..;-)So folks..if you wanna feel kiddish..go ahead and make this Eggs in a hole,as DK says and delight yourselves!!

There is no recipe as such.Just make a small hole in the bread and make an omelet in that hole!!If that doesn’t sound simple,I don’t know what will!!

Method

Cut a hole in the bread using a round shaped mould(I used the cap of a pet jar)

Place the cut bread on a greased tawa.

Crack an egg in the hole in the bread.Add salt and pepper to taste.

Flip over and cook the other side too..and serve hot..with the round bread!!

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Spicy Egg roast~Mutta roast

There are vegetarians..there are non-vegetarians..and then there are those who choose the middle path.I do not claim myself to be a vegetarian even though I do not eat meat or meat products.I do not eat egg also but I do eat stuff in which egg is added,like cakes and brownies.I know so many people who eat egg and say they are pure vegetarians.Now,I am not going to find fault with either of the food group.My hubby is a pucca non-vegetarian and he enjoys his seafood among other stuff.He hates it when people vie for vegetarianism and say that non-vegetarians are harming animals and stuff like that.In fact,when we got married,the first thing he told me was that he would never force me to have non-veg and I shouldn't force him to be a veg,fair deal.I had some relatives asking me how I am gonna live with a "pure non-veg";-),they sure are not counted among endangered species,are they;-)?

I did my schooling in a convent school and being around with friends who ate non-veg,I was quite comfortable when we dined out with friends out of whom I was the lone vegetarian.Just like vegetarians who seem to find fault with non-vegetarians,it does happen vice versa too.I have had people asking me how I will get enough proteins and nutrients if I don't eat eggs and meat..!!Some friends have mocked me saying I am eating tasteless pizza and burger since its vegetarian..!!

Mutta roast was one of the dishes which tempted me very badly during one such dining outs.I just couldn't resist the aroma coming out of this dish and the way my hubby was eating it with puttu..oh boy!He suggested that I avoid the egg and eat the gravy.I was actually waiting for him to say that and dug into the curry.It was so tasty that I didn't touch my veggie gravy that day and finished up my share of puttu with the egg roast sans the egg!!It is truly amazing and to this date whenever I prepare it,I avoid making a veg gravy for me..!!Yummy!!


Spicy egg roast ~ mutta roast

Ingredients

Eggs - 4
Onions - 3 big,chopped lengthwise
Tomato - 1 big,chopped lengthwise
Coconut oil - 2-3 tbsp
Salt to taste

For the masala

Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp

Method

Hard boil the eggs,peel and keep aside.
In a thick bottomed kadai,add the oil and fry the onions.
Onions should turn light brown,simmer and let it caramelize.(this may take upto 10 minutes,at the end of which the onions would have become half the quantity)
Add the tomatoes and mix well.
Make a paste of the ingredients required for the masala adding a little water.
Add the masala to the onions-tomato,add salt to taste and mix well.
Add 1/4 cup of water and let it boil.
Cover and cook for a minute.
Make small slits on the eggs and add to the masala.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot with puttu or idiyappam!!

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