Off-Beat Fruit

OK. We all know that tomato is a fruit even though grocery stores group it with vegetables. Well, I was browsing in my local Chinese food market, and may I say it was a wondrous experience, and I picked up a bunch of off-beat ingredients. I cut into them and found glorious insides, colors, and textures, but most of all seeds -- which means they are a fruit. Not a big surprise for Dragon Fruit, and of course the Kobacha Squash has seeds, but the Thai Eggplant -- seeds as well. Therefore, eggplant is a fruit, along with peppers, cucumbers, and other edible vessels containing seeds -- the definition of a fruit. Kind of psyched about these photos and will follow soon with recipes! Think I'm finally off my cupcake jones!

Dragon Fruit

Thai Eggplant

Kobacha Squash

Photo Credit: Jeanne Benedict

St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

Getting the jump on St. Patrick's Day with these gorgeous green cupcakes for little kids with the Leprechaun Hat and big kids as well via the Beer Cupcake. Enjoy!

St. Patrick's Day Lucky Green Velvet and Gold Coin Cupcake

Beer Cupcake

St. Patrick's Day Mint Chococlate Chip Cupcake

St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Hat Cupcake



St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Cupcake

Visit my party shop for St. Patrick's Day stuff!

Photo Credit: John Sparano

Bridal Shower Cupcakes

I just wrote an aricle for Celebrations.com about Bridal Shower Cupcakes. Obviously, I'm on a total cupcake kick based on recent blog posts, similar to how I was on a gingerbread house-making bender years ago, which launched my lifestyle expert / chef / party girl career. No substitute for passion, doing what you love, loving what you do! Enjoy!

Tiffany’s Box Engagement Ring Bridal Shower Cupcake

For the bride that loves “the little blue box” and all its sweet shiny possibilities. Be prepared for the many ohhhs and ahhhs that you’ll get from these cupcakes presented in their Tiffany’s-inspired box (instructions on Celebrations.com).

Elegant Rose Bridal Shower Cupcake

For the bride that loves the simply elegant fabulousness of roses! What I love most about these cupcakes is that you can mix and match all colors of roses with the many patterns of scrapbook paper available for a variety of looks that suit the style of your bridal shower (instructions on Celebrations.com.)

Art Deco Bride & Groom Cupcake Bridal Shower Cupcake

For the bride that has a passion for Art Deco. I created the cool bride and groom shape using a Cricut machine. A Cricut is a home-use tabletop electronic die-cut machine, available at many Michaels Arts and Crafts stores, where you insert cartridges with different images, choose the image size and quantity, load paper into the machine, push a button, and then a tiny blade cuts the image out. It’s really incredible! There was something about the bride and groom image that felt very “Deco,” so I went with a silver-patterned paper for the cupcake wrap and the classic black and white for the couple (instructions on Celebrations.com.

Modern Wedding Rings Bridal Shower Cupcake

For the bride that goes for a modern touch mixed with iconic symbols. Many bridal showers are contemporary in style and this cupcake design is ideal for such occasions. I used a Cricut machine. to create the rings on the front of this cupcake wrap (instructions on Celebrations.com).

Photo Credit: John Sparano

Sauteed Blood Oranges on Roast Duck

Blood oranges are such a gorgeous color! My neighbor dropped a bag of these gems on my doorstep the other day and I just had to make something. So, I picked up a duck from Whole Foods and created a belated Valentine's Day dinner for my husband. The oranges are sauteed in brown sugar and butter with a nice bit of salt to really make all the flavors pop. I served it with black sticky rice and it was superbly completed with a Trefethen Chardonnay.

Sauteed Blood Oranges on Roast Duck

1 (5lb.) whole duck
1 blood orange, cut in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 blood oranges, peeled, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

Thaw duck overnight in refrigerator or in cold water. Allow duck to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before prep and roasting for best results of evenly cooked meat.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Remove plastic wrapping on duck. Remove neck, liver, and gizzards from body cavity. Cut duck along the breast bone to open it up but don't cut through the backbone. Rinse duck, thoroughly cleaning skin and underside, and pat dry. Place duck flat, skin side up, in a roasting pan and prick skin with a fork trying not to pierce the meat underneath.

Squeeze the juice of the 1 orange that is cut in half over the duck. Sprinkle the olive oil and then 1/2 teaspoon of salt over duck.

Cook duck for about 1 hour, removing fat from pan as it accumulates every 15 minutes using a baster. Duck is done when skin is golden brown and a fork inserted into breast yields juice that is light rosy pink for medium rare or clear for more well done meat.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt until combined. Add sliced orange rounds and cook, gently swirling the oranges, for about 5 minutes. Oranges should caramelize a little and their juice will make a nice light sauce in the pan; remove from heat.

Carve duck into 2 servings and for each one: Cut off leg and thigh as one piece, cut off wing, remove breast meat as a whole from bone and then slice on the diagonal. Arrange pieces on individual plates and place sauteed blood orange slices on top. Spoon blood orange juice over the duck and serve warm.

Makes 2 servings

Photo credit: Jeanne Benedict

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

I designed these chic cupcakes for those who want to whip up a little something lucious, sweet, and sparkly to give to their loved ones on Valentine's Day. Most of the cupcake wraps are made out of scrapbook paper or plush fabric backed by cardstock with rhinestone stickers or brads decorating them.

Victorian Red Velvet Valentine's Day Cupcake

Plush Pink with Rhinestone Buckle Valentine's Day Cupcake

Disco Valentine's Day Cupcake

Red and Pink Layered Valentine's Day Cupcake

Rhinestone Heart on Black Valentine's Day Cupcake

Photo Credit: Jeanne Benedict

Roses with Rhinestone Love Vase on Valentine's Day

I designed this sexy glam arrangement for those who want to create some DIY flowers on Valentine's Day. Here's how to make them:

1. Prep a large glass cylinder by making a Scotch tape "net" at the top opening to hold floral foam. Attach a piece of tape, sticky side down so the tape ends adhere to the rim, and extend it across the opening to the other side; adhere end to that side of the rim. Repeat the process in a grid pattern making sure that the tape strips are long enough that they sag a bit so they can hold a piece of floral foam.

2. Soak a floral foam disk sized to @1-inch thick by the diameter of your vase opening to fit inside the top. Set the floral foam into the tape net.

3. Put a few pieces of double-sided tape on the outside of the vase at the top and bottom to hold the ribbon in place. Wrap black grosgrain ribbon around the top and bottom of the vase.

4. Attach rhinestone letter stickers on the middle of the vase to spell "LOVE" or whatever you like. (I purchased the stickers at Michael's Arts and Crafts Store.)

5. Use a pitcher or spouted vessel to pour water into the vase.

6. Cut red rose stems to 1-inch lengths and insert them into the floral foam. Voila!

Photo Credit: John Sparano

Golf Girl Cupcakes

I have more female friends that golf than male friends. This cupcake idea is for them! Actually, I think it would make a darling place card. I made the cupcakes and frosting from scratch and for the cupcakes, I concocted a brown sugar almond recipe, but wasn't completely thrilled with the outcome. (I'll work on it and post later because the batter was one of those that you eat like soup it was soooo good. The ingredient chemistry was off for the baking process and they were too spongy.) The frosting was amazing, so here's the recipe!

Coconut, Lemon, Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

1/4 cup cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Add ingredients into a bowl and beat until blended. Tint green to make the frosting look like grass and ice baked cupcakes.

Photo Credit: John Sparano