Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

If you’re looking for the moistest, most wonderful caramel and chocolate nugget, you are in the right place. Every time I make these cupcakes, they get rave reviews. They include a couple of baking shortcuts, which is an even bigger bonus. Yes, you have got to try them!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
  • 1 box (3 oz.) Jello chocolate instant pudding mix
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup sour cream

Salted Caramel Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter use Irish butter, if possible
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 cups confectioner's sugar
  • garnishes (pretzels, caramel or chocolate caramel candy)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°. Line cupcake pans with liners.
  • Using a stand mixer on medium speed, beat together the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, milk and sour cream. Beat until well combined, about 2 minutes.
  • Scoop the batter evenly into cupcake liners. I prefer to use a retractable ice cream scoop or large baking scoop.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the tin and let cool.
  • Meanwhile, make the frosting. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add brown sugar and cream. Stir constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
  • Add salt. Allow to bubble for exactly 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
  • Beat in confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Frost the cupcakes using a pastry bag and tip or with an icing spatula. Top with a pretzel and drizzled caramel, or consider adding a chocolate caramel candy.

Notes

Recipe slightly adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction

See? I told you, you would not be disappointed — but do try to share a few!

Blessings,
Tina

Copyright © 2021 Montana Mountain Maven / Tina R. Cusker. All rights reserved.


French Cheese Soufflé

While soufflés have a reputation for being challenging to make, following a few simple techniques can deliver you a beautiful soufflé each time. This is one of those recipes that encourages the exact right kitchen tools for an accurate result. In case you were thinking about getting rid of that old wooden spoon, think again!

1. Start with a spotlessly clean bowl and balloon whisk (an electric mixer with a whisk will work too)
2. If you don’t have a copper bowl, a pinch of cream of tartar is the secret ingredient to stabilize the egg white foam
3. Use a rubber spatula to fold (sweeping over & under motion) the egg whites into the soufflé base. Your goal is to keep the egg whites as puffy as possible

cheese souffle
French Cheese Soufflé
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Easy Zucchini Ribbon Alfredo

Zucchini Ribbon Alfredo

Easy Zucchini Ribbon Alfredo

Course: Main Course
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 6-8 medium zucchini squash
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp pressed garlic
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • chopped basil, tomato & fresh grated cheese to garnish

Instructions

  • Cut the Zucchini in half lengthwise and use a teaspoon to scoop out the seedy center. Then using a vegetable peeler, carefully peel zucchini into long ribbons. Place in large bowl and set aside.  
  • In medium saucepan, heat olive oil on medium low, then add garlic. Cook garlic until it is golden brown, then add in the whipping cream. Bring to a simmer on medium heat—about 4-5 minutes—then add Parmesan, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to simmer once again and stir frequently until cheese is melted—about 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to lowest and keep warm. 
  • In large saucepan, heat olive oil on medium heat, then add zucchini ribbons. Sauté ribbons until they just start to soften about 3-5 then salt and pepper to taste. If there is excess moisture at the bottom of the pan, drain before adding the Alfredo sauce. 
  • Mix sauce into noodles completely. Serve with fresh diced tomato, torn fresh basil, and shaved Parmesan. 

Notes

Reduce the carbs and calories and use zucchini ribbons instead of pasta!

Copyright © 2021 Montana Mountain Maven / Tina R. Cusker. All rights reserved.


Let’s Party…. Olé!!

It’s Graduation season and we are ready to host again! You don’t have to live along the southern border to make it a Mexican themed dinner. We might be the Montana State Bobcats, but who doesn’t like a little tequila and tortillas?

We are fortunate to have a Mexican market in town, so I plan to hit them up (the morning of) to pick up thier fresh made salsa, queso and guacamole, but the rest I was able to purchase at the neighborhood grocery store. Don’t forget an assortment of tortillas for your gluten free or vegetarian guests.

This was a super easy menu to compile because it started with a mainstay in our house… I have been making this burrito recipe for 30 years. Burritos Bellingham was a favorite of my husband’s from college. His mom would make large pans of the burritos and send them with the boys to college because they freeze beautifully. You can make two extra large pans at a time, serve one for dinner and freeze the second for a day when you don’t feel like cooking or have unexpected company. They are from a family favorite cookbook, Best of Friends, Etc. by Darlene Glantz Skees, which I’ve shared with you many times before, but of course, I am known to tweak for my own personal preferences.

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La Cuisine is Open for Business

We even have French market baskets…
PC: Lord & Co.

I haven’t been writing in the blog lately because my days have been filled with the most exciting adventure for us, to date…. We have opened a kitchen retail store, La Cuisine! Yesterday, April 1st began the online launch and we plan to open the French inspired storefront in July. Let’s just say opening a new business is pretty all-consuming but so energizing at the same time.

Cooking classes too… COVID-19 has separated us in more ways than one and it’s time to focus on rebuilding and maintaining relationships with those we love most – our friends and family. La Cuisine strives to provide families and homes with distinct culinary tools and skills to create delicious meals while cultivating memories in the kitchen and around the table, the heart of every home.

We are in the middle of some fabulous Grand Opening giveaways this weekend. Celebrate Easter while you win gorgeous pieces for your home. You’ll definitely want to check them out — just be careful to follow the giveaway rules for each day as we like to change things up a bit from day to day.

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So Many Thoughts…

Do you ever have those days when there are so many things to do, so many things to think about, your mind is literally swimming from one thought or idea to the next? I know this is typically a food or entertaining blog, but today I’m going to share all (ok, maybe not ALL) that is on my mind; and together we are going to make the connections and move forward from all these individual thoughts. I promise you – stay with me – we will unpack this in a way that will make sense and will hopefully bring you some personal clarity for those thousands of thoughts in your own mind, those same thoughts that may also be preventing you from moving forward. At least I am hoping the process does so for me!

  1. Why does all this matter? Because there is a reason these thoughts are on your mind, but what are you going to do about it?
  2. What is your word for 2021? Mine is DREAM.
  3. They said ‘build it and they will come,’ but what if no one shows up?
  4. What if no one likes me, or likes what I have to offer?
  5. Am I good enough? Do I know enough? What if I make mistakes? (yes, that is three questions rolled into one)
  6. When and how will I meet the RIGHT people who can help me move forward with my goals?
  7. When I fail, who will be there to help me up?
  8. What if I CAN’T do all I WANT to do?

Ok, let’s stop the list there because honestly I could go on for a really long time and I have my suspicions you may be able to, as well.

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