Goddesses in Training, I'm enlisting your help. Here at FINS, we've started a quarterly cook-off. I won the first cookie competition (thank you red velvet whoopie pies-- these things are ridiculously delicious if you're looking to bring a little Valentines Day cheer to your loved ones.) Since the first cookie competition things have gotten a little more competitive. The last competition in the Fall was Iron-Chef style with a secret ingredient. I made these puppies, Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, which were so fun to make and tasted delicious, but I came up short with the win (for the record some girl made some ridiculous thing called "Butter Cake" that was filled with sugar, butter, and a dash of pumpkin. No wonder she won--Butter Cake-- come on.)
Anyway, on Monday, I'm trying to regain my the crown and I need your help! Here are the details of this cook-off:
Monday, 2/14, is the day when fellow FINS colleagues come together in a competition of wits, creativity and strategy:
The FINS Winter Cookoff, 2011: Cooking With Spirit!
FINS and friends will bring in specially made dishes to be judged by a specially selected panel of in-house foodies; a secret ingredient has been selected for use in all dishes:
ALCOHOL
This includes spirits, wine and beer.
The dishes may not be intoxicating. Cocktails are not allowed. Alcohol is only meant to be used as an ingredient.
The Rules:
1. Alcohol must be used as an ingredient in every dish.
2. Judging criteria:
-- Taste
-- Presentation
-- Use of alcohol (Iron Chef style)
3. Every competitor must bring in enough of the dish to be tasted by all three judges.
4. Only a certain amount of sweet and savory dishes will be allowed into competition. There is a signup sheet in the FINS Area.
5. Each competitor can only enter one dish into the competition.
6. No cheating. (AKA, the Louise Rule) (*I may or may not have entered 2 cookies into the first competition which BOTH came in #1 and #2 respectively. It wasn't a written rule then so they have made it one now)
7. There are only 8 signup spots for each category (savory and sweet). Extra food brought in will be welcome but only 16 total dishes will be judged.
Winners will get the respect and admiration of their colleagues and earn their place in the pantheon of FINS Iron Chefs.
So girls, I've signed up for a "sweet dish" (any excuse to bake and eat sweet things I'll take)-- I need your help in finding a winning recipe. Do you have anything that will win?! It must contain a spirit of sorts...
XOXO,
Cooking Girl
This looks good--
ReplyDeleteSangria cupcakes
Sangria Cupcakes
Simple Vanilla Cupcakes
Makes 24 cupcakes
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk (preferably whole)
Simple Buttercream Frosting
Makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes
1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk (preferably whole)
THE ALCOHOLIC PART...
When preparing the cupcakes, add 1 teaspoon cinnamon with the flour and 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest with the eggs. When preparing the frosting, reduce the milk to 1/4 cup and add 2 tablespoons of brandy, 2 tablespoons of fruity red wine, and a dash of red food coloring. Garnish with half a wheel of thinly sliced orange.
Mojito Pound Cake
ReplyDeletehttp://erincooks.com/cakelove-mojito-pound-cake/
Cordua girls-- can't there be a modified Tres Leches to include alcohol?? TRES LECHES = THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!