Sweet Pear Bread with Pecan Crumble Topping

Pears have not been the go to fruit throughout my life, I’ve always preferred a crunchy crisp apple over the soft and often times gritty texture of a pear. It wasn’t until I tested positive as allergic to Apples, that I started to appreciate the pear, at first because I really had no choice, now because they are so diverse in species and amazing to cook with. [Read more...]

Gin and Juice Cupcakes

Today is Sunday October 20th, and I do feel a bit guilty for posting this oh so delicious but naughty recipe on a Sunday!

I remember being a youngin’, singing….”rolling down the street smokin’ indo ( which I thought was some sort of cigarette) sippin’ on Gin and Juice!” Oh what a classic that is…..and I knew exactly what Gin and Juice was, Gin and juice is like the original Mimosa! A sort of “hood’ Mimosa.

For those who may not know…….Gin and Juice is simply Orange Juice and Gin, it’s an easy peasy cocktail that  can be enjoyed at any time of the day if you’d like.

I wanted to stay true to the original flavor and makeup of this classic cocktail, and keep it simple. I used fresh orange juice and Gin, with a simple cake batter, in the middle a sweet and zesty orange and Gin curd, topped with an Orange and Gin flavored frosting! Sound delicious right?

Well here’s what you need!

Cup Cakes

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Zest of one Orange

1 ½ cups sugar

½ stick butter

½ cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

¼ cup gin

3 eggs

Orange and Gin Filling

1 egg

1 cup sugar

½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice

¼ cup gin

Frosting

2 Tablespoons Butter (room temperature)

2 cups powdered sugar

Zest ½ Orange

2 Tablespoons Gin

2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed Orange juice

For the cupcakes

Pre-heat oven to 350 Sift Flour, baking powder, orange zest and salt together. Cream Butter, vegetable oil, and sugar. Add eggs in one at a time using blender mix well before adding the next egg. Measure out Gin and Orange Juice. Add half of the dry ingredients, than gin and juice, and end with flour. Pour in muffin pans.

For the filling

In a small saucepan heat orange juice and sugar together, bring to boil meanwhile in a small non-reactive bowl whisk egg up! Now turn sugar and orange juice off let sit for about 1 minute. Pour into the non-reactive bowl with egg yolk while whisking vigorously. Continue whisking, and pour back into small sauce pan on medium high heat. Let heat and thicken whisking in between. Add gin and continue to whisk. When it reaches a smooth but thick sticky texture put in fridge for at least 10 minutes. When cupcakes have cooled, take center out add some orange and gin curd and put top back on the cupcake.

For the frosting

Cream butter add confectioner sugar and orange zest, beat and add orange juice, and gin. Beat until smooth put in piping bag and let cool in refrigerator for 10 minutes. When ready to ice the cakes. Pipe the frosting on top and decorate any way you like, although as good as they taste I’m sure you won’t care how they look!   And there you have it the Gin and Juice Cupcake! Paying homage to a cultural and hip hop  icon on his b-day!

Enjoy and let me know how it worked out for you. Follow me here on Twitter I love cooking and sharing.

All rights and ownership of this recipe belong to Christina for asoulfultwist.com and I would love  if you linked and give credit to me and my blog if any recipe or image is used thanks in advance. Christina

Sweet Potato Pancakes with Ginger-Pear Topping

These are AH-MAY-ZING! Pears+ginger+maple syrup+bacon! SAY WHAT?!

Please understand my enthusiasm is not for nothing.

These pancakes are simply thee best if I can say so myself *pats myself on the back* and without wasting any more of your precious time here’s all you need.

 

Pancakes

2 Cups Buttermilk (Add Water Only) Pancake Mix

1 cooked sweet potato mashed

1 cup water

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Maple Topping

2 pears

3 – 4 slices of thick Apple wood Bacon

2/3 cup maple syrup

1 Teaspoon Ground ginger

1 Tablespoon butter

For Pancakes

With the electric mixer beat together the pancake mix, sweet potato, water, cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Beat until smooth and well incorporated.

This mix is a bit thick but this is perfect, you want your pancakes nice and fluffy.

Cook pancakes on skillet as you normally would.

For Topping

Take core out of pear and chop them up into small cubes.

Now cut up bacon into small bits and add to cold skillet, in one even layer.

Turn bacon on medium high heat.

Cook bacon until brown and crisp and add pears into the pan with all of the rendered bacon fat and crispy bacon bits.

Make sure you get a nice brown sear on the pears and mix everything up well.

Add ground ginger and maple syrup, and mix in butter.

Turn heat all the way down to low and put top on pan.

Let simmer for about 5 minutes.

Turn off heat and pour all of this sweet and savory goodness onto you sweet potato pancakes.

Let me know how it goes and comment below!

Follow on Twitter I stay cooking and I love to share!

Sweet Potato Pancakes with Ginger Pear Topping
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Ingredients
  1. Pancakes
  2. 2 Cups Buttermilk (Add Water Only) Pancake Mix
  3. 1 cooked sweet potato mashed
  4. 1 cup water
  5. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  6. 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  7. 1 teaspoon vanilla
  8. Maple Topping
  9. 2 pears
  10. 3 – 4 slices of thick Apple wood Bacon
  11. 2/3 cup maple syrup
  12. 1 Teaspoon Ground ginger
  13. 1 Tablespoon butter
Instructions
  1. For Pancakes
  2. With the electric mixer beat together the pancake mix, sweet potato, water, cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla.
  3. Beat until smooth and well incorporated.
  4. This mix is a bit thick but this is perfect, you want your pancakes nice and fluffy.
  5. Cook pancakes on skillet as you normally would.
  6. For Topping
  7. Take core out of pear and chop them up into small cubes.
  8. Now cut up bacon into small bits and add to cold skillet, in one even layer.
  9. Turn bacon on medium high heat.
  10. Cook bacon until brown and crisp and add pears into the pan with all of the rendered bacon fat and crispy bacon bits.
  11. Make sure you get a nice brown sear on the pears and mix everything up well.
  12. Add ground ginger and maple syrup, and mix in butter.
  13. Turn heat all the way down to low and put top on pan.
  14. Let simmer for about 5 minutes.
A Soulful Twist http://asoulfultwist.com/
 

Pumpkin Patch Fun

 

We have been full on embracing the new season this year and I have fell in love with a plethora of pumpkin recipes. The recipes I’ve made using canned pumpkin have been delightful, but I wanted to see if using fresh pumpkin would taste different or make things more difficult. I took the opportunity to take Elle to the pumpkin patch. So on our way home from a soccer game Saturday I spotted a sign for a pumpkin patch, and decided I would take her first thing Monday Morning . It was at a church cute and quaint just the right size for my little pumpkin to run around and play. She found some pumpkins she liked, I found some I liked and I was ready for some fresh pumpkin desserts and savory meals.

She was very serious about getting the right pumpkin!

Pumpkin Spice Waffles

Pumpkin Spice Waffles

Fall for my Pumpkin Spice Waffle just in time for a new season.

I wanted to give you a season introduction that was easy and sweet, perfect for those cool autumn weekends, and easy enough to enjoy with little time and effort.

Swap the White flour with whole wheat for a nuttier taste and healthier alternative. Add some nuts whatever you like be creative and make it your own but this recipe is good and simple without any variations, all you need is……..

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat)

3 teaspoons baking powder

1-15oz can of Pumpkin

1 ¾ cup milk

1 egg

4 Tbs melted butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon All Spice

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

No special mixing just make sure your egg and milk are room temperature and mix all of your dry ingredients together first. Once everything is mixed add vanilla, and cook waffles in waffle iron. These take a little longer than the basic waffle mix so let it set a little past the ready light. Enjoy with butter and maple syrup. Good Luck and Happy Fall.

Random Mommy Rant + Cocoa Espresso Fried Dough Bites

So this is not exactly what it likes like, don’t kill me for it but I wanted to share a little back to school and kid updates. The family and I are getting adjusted to the new school year, I like both of the twins teachers and although we’ve already hit some bumpy spots with my twin lady, it’s been an overall smooth transition to 1st grade.

As for on the home front the little ones’ and I have been trying some new Montessori techniques with math and science, and Elle (our baby girl) is READING!

My three year old is reading words and short sentences. [Read more...]