Cloud-like Lemon Cupcakes

Recipe courtesy of Sifting Focus 


Ingredients 
For the cake:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1 tablespoon pieces 
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 
Zest of 2 lemons 
1/3 cup canola oil 
3 large egg yolks 
2 large eggs 
1 3/4 cups cake flour 
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/3 cup buttermilk 
1/2 cup heavy cream 


For the frosting:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 
4 oz. cream cheese, softened 
Juice and zest from 2 lemons 
Generous pinch of salt 
4 cups sifted confectioner's sugar 


1. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter to soften.  Beat on medium speed, until it is light in color, about 3 minutes.  Add the sugar and continue to beat until very light, scraping down the sides and across the bottom of the bowl at least once. Beat in the lemon juice and zest.  On medium speed, blend in the oil. 

2. On the lowest speed, blend in the yolks, one at a time, mixing just to blend.  Blend in the whole eggs, one at a time, mixing just to blend.

In a separate medium bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. On the lowest speed, blend over half of the flour mixture into the batter.  Continue on the lowest speed and blend in half of the buttermilk.  Continue adding the remainder of the flour until all is incorporated.  Blend in the remaining buttermilk.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form.  Beat just a little beyond this soft-peak stage.  Stir about one-quarter of the whipped cream into the batter to lighten.  Then fold the rest of the whipped cream into the batter.

4. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners using a small scoop or tablespoon.  Fill slightly more than one half full.  Gently tap the tins on the counter to release any air bubbles.  Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the middle of one of the center cupcakes comes out clean.  Switch the tins half way through to insure even baking.

5. Remove the cupcakes from the oven to a rack and cool in the tin for 10 minutes.  Remove from the tin and cool completely before frosting.

6. To make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, thoroughly mix together the butter and cream cheese. Add the lemon juice, zest, and salt and mix to combine. On low speed, add the confectioner's sugar, one cup at a time until you reach the desired spreading consistency. To finish, frost the cooled cupcakes and serve. 

          This lovely spring cupcake recipe comes from the newly-launched blog, Sifting Focus. I have had the pleasure of getting to know the creative force behind Sifting Focus, Mary. A talented baker, Mary has thoughtfully advised me on numerous questions and concerns I have had. I have confided in her in everything from demoralizing kitchen failures to challenges with photography. We have exchanged notes on our favorite cookbooks and bakeries from around the country. I vividly remember sending Mary an email after I successfully baked dessert for a Christmas party of more than 30 people. Jubilant language and exclamation points filled the message. I was thrilled to be communicating with someone who could resonate with my excitement at accomplishing such a task. It is incredible how blogging has connected us, two people from completely different backgrounds, bonding over a mutual love of food and baking. 

          For six months after we first met, I eagerly awaited the debut of her blog. When it finally launched in February, I was blown away. Mary's writing was eloquent and personable, her photographs were beautiful, and her recipes looked delectable. Every item appeared so delicious that I was left with the difficult choice of which to try first. After much deliberation, I decided upon these light lemon cupcakes. What makes these treats so airy is the freshly whipped cream that is folded into the batter before baking. The cake's texture resembles that of a cloud, irresistibly soft and puffy. The dough contains a subtle tanginess from the lemon juice and zest, complemented perfectly by the decadent cream cheese frosting. After this experience, I cannot wait to try more recipes from Mary's fabulous site. 

Best Gelato in LA: Bulgarini

          Bulgarini Gelato, a modest shop tucked inside the alley way of a strip mall in Altadena, CA, may be the reason I never eat store-bought ice cream again. The gelato from this hole-in-the-wall store blew me away. Husband-and-wife team Leo Bulgarini and Eliabeth Foldi select the finest ingredients from around the world for their products, starting with milk from Broguiere's Dairy in Montebello, CA. Unlike traditional ice cream, which contains 18-22% milk fat, Bulgarini's gelato hosts only 2-4% milk fat. The low fat concentration allows the high-quality nuts, fruits, and chocolates to take center stage. The acclaimed pistachio gelato tastes like an handful of aromatic pistachios, hand-picked and imported from Sicily, have been freshly ground into each bite. The rich dark chocolate gelato is sophisticated and sinful all at once. The goat's milk with cocoa nib gelato is earthy but not overbearing. 
          A small serving at Bulgarini starts at three golf-ball-sized scoops, forcing you to choose from a plethora of possible flavor groupings. If you become as overwhelmed as I was during my decision process, the patient and friendly staff will surely answer any questions you have. They are generous with samples and describe each flavor in detail to ensure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest. With its amiable employees and incredible gelato, Bulgarini is simply without parallel in L.A. 


Bulgarini Gelato 
749 E. Altadena Dr. 
Altadena, CA 91001
(626) 791-6174
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Monday-Thursday, 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sundays, 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Homemade Éclairs

Recipe courtesy of Tartine 


Ingredients 
For the choux paste:
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon sugar 
1/2 cup unsalted butter 
1 cup all-purpose flour 
5 large eggs 


For the pastry cream:
1 cup milk
1/4 vanilla bean, seeds scraped 
1/8 teaspoon salt 
2-3 tablespoons corn starch 
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 
1 large egg 
2 tablespoons unsalted butter 


For the chocolate glaze:
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 
1 tablespoon light corn syrup 
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 


Makes 12-16 éclairs


1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Butter a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
2. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, milk, water, salt and butter until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a full boil. Add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring until the mixture has formed a smooth mass and pulls away from the sides of the pan and some of the moisture has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of a standard mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the eggs one at a time and mix at medium-high speed, incorporating each egg before adding the next. Once all the eggs have been added, transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a half-inch tip. Pipe out fingers about 5 inches long and 1 inch wide, spacing them about 2 inches apart. If you end up with a bulge or tail at the end of the piping, smooth it over with a damp fingertip. 
3. Bake the fingers until puffed and starting to show some color, about 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue to bake until the shells feel light for their size and are hollow inside, an additional 12 minutes. They should be nicely browned all over. Remove from the oven and, using a metal skewer, poke a small hole in the end of each shell to allow steam to escape. Let the shells cool on wire racks. 
4. To make the pastry cream, pour the milk into a heavy saucepan. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and use the tip of a sharp knife to scrape the seeds from the pod halves into the milk. Add the salt to the mixture, place the pan over medium-high heat, and bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally and making sure that the milk solids are not sticking to the bottom of the pan. 
5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and sugar. Add the eggs and whisk until smooth. When the milk is ready, slowly ladle about one-third of the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the egg-milk mixture back into the hot milk and continue whisking over medium heat until the custard is as thick as lightly whipped cream. Remove the cream from the heat and immediately pour it through a sieve into the bowl. Let cool for 10 minutes, sitting occasionally to release the heat and prevent a skim from forming on top. 
6. Cut the butter into 1-tablespoon pieces. When the pastry cream is ready, whisk the butter into the cream 1 tablespoon at a time, always whisking until smooth before adding the next tablespoon. To cool the cream, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the top of the cream, and place in the refrigerator. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
7. To make the chocolate glaze, combine the chocolate and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream to just under a boil in a small saucepan. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Let the mixture sit for about 2 minutes without stirring until the chocolate melts, and then stir gently with a rubber spatula until smooth and shiny. 
8. To complete the eclairs, stir the cooled pastry cream until smooth and then spoon it into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch opening. Fill the shells by splitting them in half lengthwise with a serrated knife. Dip the top half of the shell in the glaze and then place upright on a wire rack and allow the glaze to set. Pipe the cream into the bottoms of shells and replace the glazed tops. Serve the pastries at once, or refrigerate for up to 6 hours before serving. Ideally, they should be eaten the same day they are filled. 


          With so many wonderful recipes available online, old-fashioned cookbooks can often be neglected. The beautiful photos, relatable descriptions, and daily updates of food blogs make it easy to forget about the dusty stack of books scrunched in a corner of the kitchen. So how was it that I woke up yesterday morning, picked Tartine off the shelf, and decided to make a pastry tucked away in the back of the book without a single accompanying photo? Well, I had the feeling, the emotion that only a baker can describe when a recipe just feels right. When an item speaks to you immediately: no second-guessing or unsureness, no mental processing if you have all the ingredients on-hand, just eagerness to get to work and eventually enjoy the fruits of your labor. 
          With that mindset, I embarked upon making this quintessential Parisian dessert. I performed each step slowly and carefully to ensure that I created the perfect éclair. My diligence paid off in the end; these delicate puff pastries were fabulous. The dough is barely crisp on the outside and turns soft as you sink your teeth into the decadent vanilla bean pastry cream on the inside. And of course, everything is better when dipped in chocolate. As a result of this experience, my cookbook collection has earned a more prominent spot in my kitchen. 

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Cake recipe courtesy of Cocina Marie via Foodiecrush, frosting adapted from Annie's Eats


Ingredients 
For the cake:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
2 drops red food coloring 
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar (or other mild vinegar)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1 cup low-fat buttermilk 
6 large eggs 


For the frosting:
10 oz. cream cheese, chilled 
6 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted 
4 teaspoons vanilla extract 


Makes two dozen cupcakes. 


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper or foil liners. In the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract, food coloring, and vinegar. 
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Sift the cocoa powder into the bowl (this step is very important because you do not want to end up with a clumpy batter). Mix these dry ingredients together and gradually add them to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Once combined, beat in the eggs. 
3. Fill lined muffin tins 3/4 full with the batter. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Once finished baking, remove the cupcakes from the tins and place on wire racks to cool completely. 
4. For the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until fluffy. On low speed, gradually add the sifted sugar to the mixture and beat until fully combined. Frost the cupcakes and top with sprinkles, if desired. 


          You know what I love more than baking? Sharing my baked goods with others. I relish the moment I arrive at school or at a party with a fresh batch of homemade treats. I love seeing the smiles on peoples' faces as I unveil my creation and watching as they enjoy the special goodie. Some ravenously gobble sweets down and some carefully savor each bite. Either way, I feel satisfied having brightened someone's day with a delicious item that came from my kitchen. 
          So you can imagine my excitement when I walked into school on Friday holding a tray lined with these dainty red velvet cupcakes. Super airy, cloud-like, and topped with a rich vanilla cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes are superb. The six eggs beaten into the batter create the ever-so-light texture and perfect moistness that distinguishes them from several others red velvet cupcakes I have tried. To finish, a spoonful of vanilla cream cheese icing smeared on top complements the fluffiness of the cake perfectly. In short, get to the kitchen, make these cupcakes, love them, and sit back and relax when others love them just as much as you do.

One of the Best Cakeries In LA: Sweet Lady Jane

A slice of Sweet Lady Jane's signature triple berry shortcake. Three layers of airy, moist yellow butter cake separated by fluffy whipped cream and fresh berries.

          If you have not visited Los Angeles's acclaimed Sweet Lady Jane, you are missing out on an incredible experience. This sunny city hosts a number of wonderful dessert shops, all so different and delicious in their own way that I cannot select one as my absolute favorite. What I can conclude, though, is that Sweet Lady Jane ranks in the top three on my list of best patisseries. 

          This cozy bakery offers a wide array of items from hearty loaves of homemade bread to rustic seasonal fruit pies, but its specialty is by far the cakes. With a variety of decadent flavors such as four-layer German chocolate, coconut with vanilla buttercream, and buttermilk red velvet with cream cheese frosting, choosing which cake to sample presents a considerable feat. It is virtually impossible to go wrong with any option however, as each recipe has been perfected over the 24 year period the bakery has been open. 

          Over the years, as new businesses moved in and out of the desirable retail spaces on Melrose Avenue, Sweet Lady Jane stood its ground. This homey, English cottage-style shop has become an LA staple, a go-to destination both for its magnificent baked goods and its irresistible charm.

Best of the Bay, Part II: A Day in Berkeley

Café Fanny's perfect almond croissant.

          In 1971, Alice Waters first made her mark on the culinary map with her acclaimed French bistro, Chez Panisse. She advocates the idea "that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally." Alice's hole-in-the-wall café, affectionately named after her daughter Fanny, Café Fanny is no exception to her trademark philosophy. 
          Alice allows the food to shine, showcasing the ingredients' natural goodness with simple dishes such as poached farm eggs with vinegar and oregano on thinly-sliced toast. Other favorites include the light buckwheat crepes with homemade preserves and fresh, vibrant pink salmon with crusty rye bread, cream cheese, and pickled onions. The café's ambience is quintessentially Berkeley: small, rustic, the fragrant aroma of coffee permeating the space. Both for its casual atmosphere and superb food, Café Fanny cannot be missed.

Ici's cherry vanilla rum and chocolate cocoa nib ice cream served atop their organic, hand-rolled  cone.

          Ici Ice Cream shop makes me want to move to Berkeley. Their delicious, seasonal flavors and homemade cones with chocolate-filled tips are the finest I have ever tasted. Like several other Bay area institutions, Ici bases their products on the highest quality, sustainably raised ingredients. From the perfectly round scoops to the elegantly adorn ice cream bombes, every offering on the menu is crafted with extreme attention to detail. The store's chic decor makes me reminisce of summer afternoons in Paris spent strolling by the Seine with a refreshing ice cream cone in hand. With the clean marble counter, shiny trash cans with gold piping, and the dainty, individually-packaged candies and cookies, Ici brings French sophistication and style to Berkeley. If you have never visited Berkeley, Café Fanny and Ici Ice Cream are two wonderful reasons to plan a trip.

Best of the Bay, Part I: The Slanted Door

Wild California uni (sea urchin) with black tobiko, avocado, and strings of cucumber.

Moist daikon rice cakes with shitake mushrooms and scallions.

Cellophane noodles tossed with soft dungeness crab meat, scallions, and cilantro.

          I have visited San Francisco an handful of times and cannot begin to explain what makes this place so special. What I can say, however, is that one experience three years ago marked the start of my love affair with the vibrant city. That was the moment I sat down for lunch at The Slanted Door. 

          Since my first trip, I have returned on a number of occasions. With each new visit, I come to The Slanted Door to remember where it all began. Serving modern Vietnamese cuisine, this Michelin recommended restaurant blows me away every time. You cannot go wrong with any option on the menu as every dish contains bold flavors that come to life in your mouth. Some of my favorite items include the daikon rice cakes, the shaking beef, and the clay pot catfish. Juicy, tossed with fragrant cilantro, ginger, and Thai chilies, and caramelized to perfection, the catfish is a must. In addition, the polished wood tables, floor length windows looking out into the bay, and clean, minimalistic decor create a comfortable ambience. If you are an adventurous traveler with a passion for food, The Slanted Door is just the place to start your memorable journey in San Francisco.