Ganache-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting

From Andie Evans
Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Makes 24-26 cupcakes

Ingredients

cupcakes
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot water
1 1/4 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (about 7 1/2 ounces; do not exceed 61% cacao)

filling and frosting
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (do not exceed 61% cacao)
1 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup standard muffin pans with paper liners. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well incorporated after each addition. Beat in vanilla, half of flour mixture, then 1 cup hot water. Add remaining flour mixture; beat just until blended. Let batter stand until cooled and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter among muffin papers (about ¼ cup batter each).

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out with some crumbs attached, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool cupcakes completely in pans.

filling and frosting

Bring cream just to boil in heavy small saucepan. Place chocolate chips in medium bowl; pour hot cream over. Let stand 1 minute, then whisk until melted and smooth. Let stand at room temperature until cool and firm, about 2 hours. (Alternatively, chill ganache until cool and firm, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.)
Whisk 1/3 cup water, sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, and coarse salt to blend in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from over water and continue beating until frosting is cool to touch, stiff, and billowy, about 2 minutes. Beat vanilla into frosting.

Using thumb, press down center of each cupcake from top to bottom, forming deep pocket. Spoon or pipe ganache into pocket of each cupcake.

Frost cupcakes, forming tall peaks.
Nutritional Information
One cupcake contains:
Calories (kcal) 310.5
%Calories from Fat 45.8
Fat (g) 15.8
Saturated Fat (g) 9.6
Cholesterol (mg) 46.4
Carbohydrates (g) 43.8
Dietary Fiber (g) 2.2
Total Sugars (g) 34.0
Net Carbs (g) 41.6
Protein (g) 3.2
Sodium (mg) 136.5

Pan-Seared Salmon with Fresh Blackberries

From Andie Evans
Makes 1 serving

1 (5 to 7 oz.) filet of salmon -- also works with white fish like halibut, cod or snapper

6-8 fresh blackberries -- can also add or substitute raspberries, blueberries, etc.

1/4 c. white wine

1/2 Tbsp. butter

juice of 1/2 lemon

flour to coat

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Coat salmon filet in flour, remove excess. Add oil to pan and heat. Add salmon filet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes on one side, flip filet over. Add berries to pan. Deglaze pan with white wine and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce liquid by half. Remove pan from heat and remove fish from pan. Add butter to pan, and slowly swirl pan until butter is melted to form sauce. Pour sauce with berries over fish. Serve and enjoy!

Note: The sauce doesn't thicken much, so don't freak out if it's thin.

Roasted Cauliflower Risotto

From Andie Evans
Makes 4 servings
Time: 40 minutes

1 head cauliflower, florets cut into 1/2-inch pieces, stems chopped
3 Tbsp. EV olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 c. sliced almonds
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 c. arborio rice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. dry white wine
3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
4 oz. fontina cheese, grated
1/2 c. roughly chopped fresh parsley

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees. Toss the cauliflower with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a baking sheet. Spread in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Roast on the upper oven rack, 5 minutes. Add the almonds and roast until the cauliflower is tender, about 15 more minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add the onion and cauliflower stems and cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and garlic and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth, 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt; cover and bring to a boil. Transfer the pot to the lower oven rack and bake until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.

Remove the rice from the oven and add the butter, fontina and parsley, stirring vigorously until the risotto is creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide among bowls and top with the roasted cauliflower and almonds.

Per serving: 506 calories, 29 fat, 38 carbs, 18 protein

Skillet Fries

From Andie Evans

Yukon Gold potatoes (or whatever kind you like)
olive oil
kosher salt
black pepper
garlic powder (or any seasoning you have on hand--experiment)

Halve the potatoes and slice them 1/8 to 1/4 inch thin. In a bowl, toss potatoes with olive oil and seasonings. Fry in a skillet over medium heat until they are golden brown and delicious.

Three Cheese Cavatappi

From Andie Evans
Makes 4 servings

Cavatappi resembles an elongated elbow macaroni. If you can't find it, you can use rotini or something similar. The addition of mint and lemon keeps the dish from getting too rich under all the cheese.

kosher salt
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. chopped shallot
9 oz. package frozen chopped brocolli
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
coarsely ground black pepper
1/3 c. thinly sliced chives
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh mint leaves
12 oz. cavatappi pasta
1/2 c. mascarpone (4 oz.)
1/2 c. mild goat cheese (3 oz.)
1/2 c. finely grated Pecorino Romano
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Heat the butter and oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until the butter has melted. Add the shallot and cook until just softened, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to high and add the frozen brocolli, red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Cook 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 3 Tbsp. of the chives and the mint.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the water. Return the pasta to the pot and stir in the mascarpone, goat cheese, pecorino, lemon juice and 1/4 cup of the cooking water until smooth. Gently stir in the brocolli mixture and add more water if necessary to moisten the pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with the remaining chives and additional cheese.

Per serving: 650 calories