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Minggu, 13 April 2014

TwoFaced Cranberries

"TwoFaced Tuesdays" is a joint venture between CupcakesOMG! and Jenna from The Paleo Project. Each week, we select one secret ingredient and put our own paleo spin on it. You can catch up on the entire series here. Also, if you have any special ingredient requests, you can always tweet us (@CupcakesOhMG and @ThePaleoProject) using the hashtag #TwoFacedTuesday.

Let me tell you a fun story.

Jenna and I decided real early last week what this weeks TwoFaced ingredient would be cranberry. I was intimidated from the start. I mean, who in the hell cooks with cranberries outside of Thanksgiving?? At first I was like, maybe I could make a paleo spritzer? And then Jenna was like "....ummmm...yeah. No, yeah, Im sure thatd be great." And then Kyle was like "thats a terrible idea." And then I stopped thinking about it and went on with my week. Until I texted Jenna on Sunday and said "yo, whats our ingredient this week?"

The ingredient cranberry was literally so intimidating to me, that I actually pushed it out of my mind. Like, entirely forgot that we had previously chosen it. And when I remembered, I just texted her one word: "shit." But like the immaculate conception, my mind was inexplicably impregnated by the recipe I conjured up for this week--CranApple Crumble.

Like many of my recipes, I found this to be laughably easy to put together. Some apple (I used MacIntosh), frozen cranberry, spices, and honey, topped with a lick-the-bowl-good mixture of almonds, cashews, and maple syrup make for a dreamy crumble.

Baked in the oven until the top is golden and the fruits reduce and its ready to be devoured.

Personally, I ate it for breakfast at one point. And then dessert. And then dessert again.

And then I topped it with some coconut whipped cream and it was overrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Please make this. Dear God, you OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND FORGOTTEN CRANBERRIES EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!

I know Jenna prepared far better for her cranberry-inspired recipe, so make sure to check it out!!

Paleo CranApple Crumble
Makes about 6 small tarts worth

For the filling

4 medium apples, sliced then with a mandolin or cut into bite size chunks
1 cup frozen cranberries
1/2 cup raw honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger

For the topping

2/3 cup raw almonds
2/3 cup raw cashews
1 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, toss all the filling ingredients together.
In a food processor, pulse topping ingredients until the nuts are chopped small, but not finely ground.
In small tart pans, divide the filling mixture evenly. They will be very full (overflowing, even), but they will bake down quite a bit.
Top each crumble with the nut mixture and press down.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the fruits are soft.

Minggu, 09 Maret 2014

TwoFaced Mocktails

Before I moved to D.C., I bought a bartending book full of recipes for adult beverages. Ya know, because 22-year-olds are known for throwing swanky cocktail parties. Yeah, I was delusional. To any recent college grad thinking about buying one of those mixology books with the good intentions of having all your friends over for a glamorous and dignified affair, think again! A fancy party at this point in your life will be defined as anything that doesnt serve PBR in a can.

These days though (now that Im in my late 20s), having friends over for a cocktail party doesnt seem so far-fetched. Although sadly, I have no clue how to make a mixed drink. So, when Jenna suggested we use alcohol for TwoFaced this week, and then I countered that alcohol isnt paleo, so making a paleo recipe with it was counterproductive to our TwoFaced feature, and then we agreed on mocktails, I figured this would be great practice for all the summer cocktail parties I will be forcing upon all my friends.

I love watermelon, and because it has so much natural sweetness, you dont need any added sugar, which lends itself incredibly well to a fun Paleo beverage.

Combined with fresh lime and mint, this mocktail is the perfect refreshment for all of your upcoming festivities.

Of course, you might feel more "festive" if you add some booze (Id suggest rum), but thats neither here nor there.

Head over to The Paleo Project to see an adorable picture of Jenna sharing her mocktail with her bf!

Paleo Watermelon Coolers

1 small watermelon, cubed
1 lime
bunch of mint
unsweetened lime club soda

Toss watermelon, juice of half a lime, and a bunch of mint in a blender. Pulse until liquified. Stir in about half the club soda. Serve over ice with a wedge of lime and sprig of mint.

Jumat, 07 Maret 2014

TwoFaced Eggplant

When I started reading The Hunger Games last Friday, I surmised that it was a book about a girl on a diet. In a nutshell, thats not what its about. That said, plenty of the characters do actually go hungry, which is ironic, considering I DEVOURED the whole book in about 6 hours. I mean, I hate to say it, but the 14-year-old girl inside of you is dyinggggggg to read this book, even if you are a 52-year-old man (Dad).

For those of you have read it, youll appreciate todays TwoFaced recipe: Eggplant chips. Not because eggplant is featured in the book, but like, because its a disgusting food that, if it were all you had available to you, youd have to figure out some way to make it edible in order to survive the bleakness of your District 12 life and imminent reality TV debut, in which you will literally fight to the death against other children. Im dead serious, this book will stick with you for days...days, I tell you!!!

Im just gonna put it out there--I think eggplant is gross. So I did what any self-respecting Panem citizen would do. I went outside the fence, bartered some squirrel meat for a loaf of day old bread, and got creative in the kitchen.*

*Disclaimer: I did none of these things, btw.

So yeah, I made chips again...sue me!! But Im telling you, chippin it up in the kitchen is the way to go when were talking making inedible things edible.

Paired with a flavorful cilantro pesto, and youll almost feel like youre dining with Effie Trinket and President Snow in the Capitol.

Id apologize for using so many HG references, but the real tragedy here is that you havent read the book. That is what Im truly sorry for.

For more eggplant ideas, check out Jennas take at The Paleo Project!!

Eggplant Chips with Cilantro Pesto
Adapted from Whats Gaby Cooking

1 large eggplant
1 large bunch cilantro
1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
Slice the eggplant into thin chips using a mandolin. Or a sharp knife if youre a boss like that.
Place chips on cookie sheet. Lightly brush olive or coconut oil on each round, making sure not to soak them too much. Sprinkle with salt. Place in the oven for about 10 minutes. Flip each chip over, then bake for another 10 minutes, or until theyre golden brown, not burnt. Or until your smoke alarm goes off.
Move the chips from the baking sheet to a cooling rack. Enjoy with cilantro pesto (recipe: put all the other ingredients in a food processor and pulse until it reaches a pesto-like consistency).