No. 239: Carrot Cake Cupcakes, Five Chocolate Desserts, Taco & Rice Bar for the Bowl
Plus: Avocado Toasts, Sweet Potato Fries, Pomegranate Carrots, What's Happening
🥕🧁 Cupcake, Muffin, or Both?
All my Island friends love carrot cake, and I feel remiss that I’m not whipping up the occasional carrot cake and leaving it on back porches. Okay, not really, but I would love to be able to make a quick batch of carrot cake cupcakes when a craving or occasion calls. Wait, what, carrot cake cupcakes? That’s a great idea (quicker and cuter than a big cake!). Alas, I did not think of it. Abby Dodge proposed a Carrot Cake Cupcake recipe for this month’s Baking Together, and I of course was all in.
And because Abby is always thinking about versatility, this cupcake doubles as a muffin. As a cupcake, it gets that awesome Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting we had on that Pumpkin Spice Cake. (Remember that? So, so good.) As a muffin, Abby suggests warming, or splitting, toasting and buttering. All of that works for me.
The Carrot Cake Cupcakes are easy to make, you can use local carrots if you like, and best of all, they make a really sweet (as in cute) Valentine’s dessert. Or Super Bowl snack, of course. And did I mention, it is hard to eat just one?
🥕 🔪 Tip: If you have tiny heart-shaped cookie cutters (they come in a set of aspic or jelly cutters), you can cut carrot-shaped hearts out of thinly sliced pieces of (raw) carrot to use as garnishes for the cupcakes.
🥕 🍽️ Carrot-y
After you make the cupcakes, you’ll surely have extra carrots. What to do with them?
I’d eat Carrots, Peas & Pearl Couscous with Citrus Herb Butter Sauce all on its own, but you could call it a side for Glazed Market Meatloaf with Feta and Farm Veggies.
I’d also be pretty happy to eat the entire batch of these Pomegranate-Honey Carrots. That sauce has lime and ginger, as well as a little balsamic, too, and the bright combination is a great counterpoint to the earthy carrots.
For everyday carrot cooking, nothing beats the simplicity of Rustic Roasted Carrots or Butter-Roasted Carrots with Local Honey.
🏈 Go Bowl or Go Home
Last week I mentioned that we’re going to make pizza for the Super Bowl, but I wanted to give you a couple other ideas for that sort of all-in-one meal you can serve to a crowd. The list I came up with is kind of meaty, though, so before I get to those recipes, here are a few veggie ideas that you could serve if you have a vegetarian crowd or want some lighter options:
🍞 I’m thinking toasts. How about this bright Avocado Toast with Baby Kale, Blue Cheese, Pecans, Quick-Pickled Radishes, and Honey? You could cut into quarters for smaller appetizer servings. Or just make minis on crostinis.
I’m also crazy about these Warm Ciabatta Toasts with Lemony Chickpea Hummus and Sautéed Veggies. They make a good weeknight supper, too. And look - carrots!
You know I’m crazy about toast, so I’m going to have to detour to mention this Spanish after-school snack, probably the ultimate toast in my opinion: Chocolate Toast. With sea salt. I realize it is not a vegetable. But I’m just whetting your appetite for those chocolate desserts below.
Alrighty then, skip the toasts if you must and make Sweet Potato Fries with Limey Dipping Sauce. You can just serve those straight off the sheet pan. They go so fast anyway.
🌮 And now about those meatier ideas. First up: The Taco and Rice Bowl Bar. We’ve gathered our favorite ingredients and recipes together in this collection, so that you can mix and match and plan this mostly make-ahead kind of party.
You’ll find my favorite Green Rice recipe and a Homemade Spice Paste for taco fillings there, as well as plenty of condiment ideas.
If you want to put your slow-cooker to work, you could make this Slow-Cooker Spiced Pork for your tacos.
Maybe chili will suit your crowd best. If you’re short on time, our Stuck-at-Home Bean Chili, Your Way makes a lot of sense. We created this during the pandemic when we were leaning hard on our pantries, so it uses canned beans. Make a chicken and white bean version or a ground beef and black bean version.
🍫 Chocolate Desserts, As You Like Them 🍫
Everyone should have chocolate on Valentine’s Day, so I’m lobbing a few easy recipes your way to make sure you’ve got options. I added on two other personal (or should I say, household) favorites, but keep in mind that there are plenty more chocolate desserts in the Cook the Vineyard archive of chocolate recipes if you don’t see what you’re looking for here — including that fabulous Make-Ahead Chocolate Orange Soufflé. Good luck — you’ve got a whole week to plan!
Easy: Double Chocolate Brownie Pudding Cake
Easier: Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
No-Brainer: Pie Plate Chocolate Chippers
If you want to invest just a little more time, here are two more ideas.
Crowd Pleaser: Make a big batch of Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Fudge Brownies.
Impressive: If you want to make something truly romantic (and truly not very difficult to make), go with the Ultimate Flourless Chocolate Cake. I know I mention this cake around this time every year, but it’s such a winner, and someone in my house with a winter birthday (someone who also happens to be my Valentine) always asks for it.
❤️ I hope you stay cozy this week. Enjoy the weekend, Super Bowl or not.
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— Susie Middleton
P.S. Don’t forget to “like” this post by clicking on the little heart ❤️ at the bottom!
🥃 What’s Open, What’s Happening on the Vineyard
Restaurants are reopening after winter breaks - hurrah! Alchemy in Edgartown will be open starting tomorrow, Thursday, February 8. The Larder in Vineyard Haven has reopened after their winter break. And remember The Sweet Life in Oak Bluffs is open all year round. I’d say that would be a great spot to take your Valentine.
For a complete list of what’s open and what’s closed on the Vineyard, check our regularly updated directory: What’s Open.
Little House Café is having a Valentine’s Day special: Two-for-one entrees between 4 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
The FARM Institute is having two Valentine’s-themed classes this week. The first is Valentine's Cookies with Bryanna from Morning Glory Farm, tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The second is a Valentine's Day Pasta Class with Katie Leaird on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Ghost Island Farm is picking their own gorgeous spinach from their hoop houses right now. They’re open every day. Use some of that spinach in the Green Rice recipe.
Photo credits: Avocado and hummus toasts, Randi Baird; What’s Open, Ray Ewing. All others Susie Middleton.
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Thank you for this week’s work-from-home distraction! Ha!