Moist Mini Chocolate Cup Cakes, an Easy Kids Dinner and a Cook Book Wrap

Hello Beach Dwellers

The cook book is in the can and the team was celebrating that until late last night, in a beautiful Walter Barda beach house.  We were all so happy it was over. And actually just so happy to have produced such a thing of beauty.  Believe me you are going to want this book. It is absolutely stunning.  I'll be posting links to how you can order online (Australia only) as soon as I have them.  I get a free copy, but I am going to order about 5 more as well.

So much of it ended up on the cutting room floor due to cost and size constraints, we are now thinking of doing an 'out takes' version.  We just ran out of of room and some gorgeous stuff didn't make it in.  We were all saying things at the wrap party like, "Where's that gorgeously delicious Chocolate Crunch recipe?" and asking the graphic designers to forward us a copy of it anyway.  There will be some disappointment in the community, but what has made it in, is absolutely gorgeous.  You really feel like licking every page and the lifestyle shots are going to send real estate prices down here through the roof.  I am thrilled to have some recipes in there and even more of my styling. 

So on the subject of food, today we are talking easy kiddo recipes, cause we all need more of those right?  You know the ones where the kids go 'yum' as you lay it before them on the table.  This one is about the simplest way to cook chicken for kids (or adults) ever.

Honey Soy Roasted Chicken Drumsticks

As many drumsticks as you need per person

Soy Sauce

Honey

Sweet Potato or a roasting vegetable of your choice

Oil spray and salt for vegetables

Basmati rice

Preheat your oven to 180C/350F

Line a baking tray with baking paper

Lay out drumsticks with space between them

Drizzle honey (about 1  tablespoon ) over each chicken drumstick

Drizzle soy sauce (about 1 tablespoon) over each chicken drumstick

Scatter sweet potato on the tray and spray with cooking oil and salt. If the tray becomes too crowded use another baking tray. If it's all too close it wont crisp up.

Roast for 40 minutes or until golden brown

Turn the drumsticks in the sauce at the end of cooking, so they are well coated and shiny.

Serve with Basmati Rice

And as we are talking easy kids food, I thought I'd add these mini chocolate cupcakes as well.  The big Beach House Brat has been involved in the Week of Tastes Program for 4th graders here in Australia, which encourages them to try new things in food.  They had a cake stall in honour of their studies and I made these little babies for him to contribute.  I think  kids get way too much sugar theses days, so the smaller the better. That's why I went mini.

Mini Chocolate Cupcakes

1.5 cups plain flour

1/2 cup cocoa 

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

A pinch of salt

3/4 cup low fat milk

1/2 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vinegar.  I used red wine vinegar as it's all I had , but apple cider vinegar or white vinegar would be better.

Preheat oven to 180C/350F

Line mini muffin tray with 48 patty pans.  You may need to cook this in batches if you don't have 4 mini muffin trays.  The batter can stand out a while, just don't over mix it, as the vinegar and baking powder combo makes these cakes light and fluffy, as it bubbles up a bit and you don't want to mess with that too much.

In a bowl sift in the dry ingredients, flour, cocoa,  baking powder and baking soda.

Add the sugar and salt and mix well.

In another bowl whisk, the milk, olive oil, vanilla extract, vinegar and eggs.

Combine with the dry ingredients and hand mix with a wooden spoon, until just combined.

Spoon into patty pans to about 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

You will need a knife to gently pop out each cake from the muffin pan, as they rise and form a little dome on top. 

Cool on a wire rack and ice with Betty Crocker's Frosting 

( I don't normally use this stuff, but I had some left over from the birthday party and it's actually very nice and of course, easy.)

If you want to make a frosting of your choice go ahead.

Decorate to taste.

The Beach House Brat told me that for the first 3 minutes of the cake stall his cakes didn't sell.  He said he thought it was because they were small.  Then some cute first grader bought one and shouted "These ones are delicious". So there was a big queue to buy these babies.  He sold out in minutes and made a cool $24 for the Childrens' Food Education Foundation, an Australian charity creating and delivering innovative food experiences for children at a disadvantage.

So there you go, another culinary hit.  Love it.

Have a great weekend guys!!

Today I am linked up here

Feathered Nest Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Weekend Wrap Up Party
Say G'day Saturday
Sunday Scoop
Metamorphosis Monday
Table Top Tuesday
Take a Look Tuesday
Chef in Training
Wow Us Wednesday
52 Mantels
Transformation Thursday
Crafty Soiree
Foodie Friday
Weekend Cook Book
Feathered Nest Friday
Craftomanaic