Festive Times

 

It is, indeed, a festive weekend.  For those who celebrated Christmas, I hope Santa was good to you.  In a Seinfeld episode, Frank Costanza (actor Jerry Stiller) taught his cast of characters about Festivus.  In the above picture you can see Frank explaining how Festivus came to be.  Admittedly, it was not a peaceful event and was a time for telling others what you really think. There's nothing like airing grievances at a family function or work gathering to get things stirred up. This week, Rob didn't celebrate Festivus but he did get festive in the kitchen and stirred up a great dessert.

Festive Cupcakes with Swiss Meringue & Candied Bacon

Recipe from: Cupcake Jemma

CUPCAKE SPONGE
125g soft butter
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
100g self raising flour
25g cornmeal
¼ tsp baking soda
1 tsp finely chopped rosemary
1 tsp finely chopped thyme
2 tbsp milk

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTER CREAM
2 egg whites
150g caster sugar
225g soft butter
2 tsp pumpkin spice
¼ tsp salt

OAT & WALNUT GRANOLA
Preheat Oven to 375 F
10g vegetable oil
1 tbsp dark brown sugar
40g honey
100g porridge oats
60g walnuts
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 egg white

CANDIED BACON
Preheat Oven to 375F
12 bacon strips
50g dark brown sugar

Instructions

Line cupcake tin with paper liners
preheat oven to 375F

Cupcake Batter

Add Softened Butter, eggs, sugar, flour, corn meal, baking soda, salt, rosemary and thyme into stand mixer and mix all together at medium high speed with paddle attachment of stand mixer for 30 seconds
Add milk and mix for another 30 seconds

add batter to cupcake tin, filling each line about 2/3 full
Bake for approx 18 minutes


Pumpkin Spice Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Mix egg whites and sugar in stand mixer with whisk attachment, add pumpkin spice
Place bowl over simmering water and whisk by hand for about 10 min until smooth
Remove from heat and whisk with stand mixer for about 10 more minutes until cool
add butter on low speed and then add salt        

Granola

Melt brown sugar, oil and honey and place in large bowl
add rolled oats, salt and walnuts and mix all together
add egg whites and place on baking sheet
bake for 10 minutes at 375F

Candied Bacon

Rub bacon with dark brown sugar
place bacon on baking tray
Bake for 10 minutes at 375F
Flip bacon and bake for an additional 5 minutes
chop into smaller pieces

Assembly

Using a star tip, pipe dollops of butter cream on each cupcake
top with piece of bacon and cluster of granola

Rob's festive bake turned out grand.  We hope your holiday weekend has been filled with joy.