Saturday 17 January 2015

Super Easy Creamy Tuna Pasta


Ingredients


500g fettuccine or spaghetti
2 300ml White Sauce (Jarred Sauce of your choice)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup (250ml) thin cream
425g can tuna in oil, drained
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley

Method
1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and toss with half the oil.

2. Heat remaining oil in a large frypan over medium heat, add onion and cook 2-3 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in cream, white Sauce and paste, add tuna. Heat gently for 1-2 minutes. Stir in half the parsley add pasta and season. Stir until just heated through. Serve sprinkled with remaining parsley. 

Very decadent walnut fudgy brownies

Ingredients

6 ounces semi or bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant espresso granules
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
8 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease an 8-inch square glass baking pan; set aside. Measure out 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, espresso powder and salt; set aside.
Add remaining chocolate chips to a medium bowl with the butter. Cook on high power in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds until chocolate and butter are melted. (You can also mel the chocalate chips and butter under doibler water). Add the vanilla extract to the bowl and stir to combine; set aside.
Add the eggs and sugar into a clean, large bowl. Whisk until thick and pale yellow. Whisk in the melted chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture and remaining chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle chopped nuts over top, if using, and press very gently into the batter. Bake for 40 minutes until center is set and edges gently pull away from the sides of the pan. Let cool completely before cutting.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp vegetable or canola oil
  • 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

  • Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1/2 cup salted butter, firm but not cold
  • 6 oz cream cheese, cold
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 3 1/3 cups powdered sugar
Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large heat proof mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and baking soda. Carefully pour in boiling water and whisk until bubbling subsides and mixture is well blended, allow to cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on low speed, blend together melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, vanilla and salt until well combined, about 30 seconds. Stir in egg and egg yolk, mixing just until combined after each addition. Blend in lukewarm cocoa mixture then blend in heavy cream. Slowly mix in flour and blend until combined, while scraping down sides and bottom of bowl.
  • Divide batter among 12 paper lined muffin cups and bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 19 - 21 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in muffin tin several minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool. Cool completely then frost with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.
  • Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
  • In a large mixing bowl, with an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip together butter and cream cheese until fluffy, about 1 minute. Stir in vanilla. Sift cocoa powder into mixture then blend until combine (you'll want to sift it to break up any lumps). Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth and fluffy.