Drunk Chocolate Cupcakes

See folks, I have myself a lucky charm.

A red bearded, beer drinking, rowdy little powerhouse of an Irish man who has a mind that works faster than the speed of light and enough wit to make the average person a little squemish.

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My red beard cracks jokes as he rolls out of bed in the morning, loves our dog with complete abandon, has been at my side during some dark times and takes amazing care of me.

I love him with all my heart. He makes me smile.

And blush a bright shade of red in public....

So it makes perfect sence to talk about an Irish holiday, my husband and drunk chocolate cupcakes right? Yeah that is what I thought.

 How about drunk chocolate cupcakes...

 Now I have your attention... booze, chocolate, butter, sugar..... ga ga.....

A while back I made the 25 pound chocolate cake. 25 pounds = 1 cake. It was good, there were lots of calories, chocolate and porter beer in the batter. This cake could win a wrestling match and then feed the entire audience.

I decided beer in good in cake.

Life lesson.

These are bite size Black and Tans. I tried to make a Black and Tan beer in order to impress you while showing off my superb bartending skills. I decided to drink the evidence that revealed I am not a bartender and don't have mad layered drink making skills. If you are wondering what a Black and Tan beer should look like:

VIA

There you have it, I have better baking skills than beer layering technique so this is what my black and tan looks like, which is way cooler....

Drunken Chocolate Cupcakes

Adapted from Dinner With Julie
Makes 2 dozen cupcakes (using 12 tin muffin tin)

Cupcakes:

1/2 cup brown butter
1 cup Guinness or other dark stout
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup sour cream
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat the oven to 350 and line cupcake tins.

In a large mixing bowl whisk the sugar and cocoa.

In a small saucepan, brown the butter; remove from heat, pour into a bowl containing sugar and cocoa, add the Guinness. Whisk until combined.

Whisk in the sour cream, eggs and vanilla.

Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt just until blended.

Divide the batter between paper-lined cupcake tins and bake for 20-25 minutes, until tops are springy to the touch.

Cool completely on a wire rack.


 Guinness frosting:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4-1/3 cup Guinness, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla


Combine the butter, cream cheese, Guinness and the vanilla in a medium sized bowl, beat them together until they are light and fluffy.

Add the sugar gradually, beating until smooth.

Pipe onto cooled cupcakes 

The beer drinkers guide to Bellingham

I miss a few things about Bellingham.

Well actually the list is pretty long, good thing the bustling little town is a stone's throw away. A throw that maybe only a professional stone thrower could make. Never mind.  I love going back to see my friends and get a dose funky patchouli drenched, fern worshiping, dirty tree thumping culture.

I miss the men with facial hair. The women with armpit hair - yep - sad but true. Sandals with socks. The sea of Subarus, dreads, guys in tight jeans and ladies in lots of linen. The coffee, the beer, the bakeries, how sweet is their nectar.

How else does one survive insurmountable rain all year long?

Caffeine, booze, baked goods.

I miss our hang outs. J and I could post up at numerous locations, they seem like extensions of our house. Bellingham is comfortable like that. I think it is all the rain, people tend to congregate around libations and caffeinated bevies wearing house shoes.

Fresh beer is to be revered. On tap, poured into a sturdy pint glasses.  Proper fresh beer worth indulging in. J teaches me important things like this and that beer and peanuts are a complete meal on some occasions. He is smart like that. Smarty pants!

Where in Bellingham do you get good beer you might ask?

OH I have been hoping that you would ask!

Here is my beer drinking guide to Bellingham:

Chuckanut Brewery
In a town obsessed with mind numbingly over hopped beers, people clutch to their frosty IPAs with a passion.  The Chuckanut Brewery sets the bar high with their lagers. They are good. They win awards. They are not the typical Pacific Northwest crafts - I would wager that you will enjoy unique and quality driven brews they offer.

Boundary Bay Brewery
Boundary is an institution in Bellingham. You are going to have to wait in line to get a table most days of the week. You should do it though. It is what the locals are doing. Go squeeze your belly up to the bar. The community that is created at this brewery is astounding, the art is always rotating, there are always musicians close at hand, they have well worn old wood floors, mismatched tables and there is something on the menu for anyone, including YOU. Their beer brings home a some awards as well. You will get hooked. Most people have.

Northfork Brewery
Pizzeria, beer shrine, wedding chapel.
If we had got married state side it would have been here. Yep, at a brew pub. My eyes are welling up, I adore this place. The small batch, British style ales will win your heart. The pizza will have you begging for more. You will stay for more because the rustic atmosphere is for real and will have you grabbing games off the shelves, playing for tab or simply listening to the locals can provide hours of entertainment. It is a short and scenic drive east from Bellingham, but what draws the crowds seems to be the universal necessity of a pint and a slice on the way home from Mt. Baker. It is a sacred place.

Green Frog Acoustic Tavern
If you are strolling around downtown Bellingham, this is a bar not to miss. They bring in great music most nights of the week, which attracts a humble following. The taps are ever rotating, 23 beers to be exact and they feature predominantly Northwest breweries. There is no crap on tap. It will make a beer drinker out of anyone. You can eat peanuts and toss the shells on the ground, play numerous instruments that adorn the walls and the neighboring pizza joint will deliver you a pizza. The Green Frog is a keeper.

Back Country Essentials
They have gear and beer. They have like 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Life is simple. That is all there is to it folks. This shop, staffed by fantastic outdoor enthusiasts and is located in the heart of downtown Bellingham. A must stop anytime you are in the area. You can grab a six pack of mix and match beers from across the world as you squeeze puffy jackets, flex skies, click cams and talk shop with friends. Keeping it real, go playing outside.

Now there is some beer high quality beer for a quaint little town. Are you ready to make a trip? Drop me a line if you want to know more. I love to talk.

We lack a sufficient hangout here in the desert. It is unfortunate.  A reliable hang out is a must, especially when you live in a dinky apartment or a rainy college town.

We give props BCE over here in the desert

Beer brought home in a mason jar is cool too.

We are adjusting to a different life style. Change is good.

The pour technique from a small mouth mason is a wee bit challenging. J can master anything.

J stopped in at Laht Neppur in Waitsburg to have a pint and peanuts on his way home from skiing at Bluewood. Lucky me, he brought home a mason jar of the Waitsburg Winter Warmer. He was incredibly stoked to share it with me, he knew I would love it. He had a great day skiing

Me like. I did drink. I drank two pints.

Everything is good.

End of story.

Stout Chocolate Cake

I am complete after I eat chocolate cake. I actually think - wait - I know that it is my favorite dessert. I prefer flour less chocolate cake but can be wowed by a good frosted chocolate cake. Really, it is not that hard. J introduced me into the total indulgence of chocolate cake and a glass of port. Need I say more? How could one not be totally smitten.....

 Some of our good Bellingham friends ventured down to Bend for a long weekend. We filled up a condo, the guys had epic days of skiing (J swears it was one of his best and he has had more than the average), we saw some of our old pals, Jess had a birthday, J and I had our second anniversary, and we toured the Deschutes Brewery (Bryan might be the biggest fan...). We drank lots of beer. It was great. We learn about brewing beer. We bought tee shirts and more beer.

 I love strong pungent flavors and smells. I really enjoy dark, flavorful beer.  I got to sample many of their premium beers, which often come close to a wine and that is the intention. Try the traditional seasonal Jubelale (there is a pack in our fridge right now if have to know) then once that opens the doors dive into these intense beers - which will blow your socks off - it is their Reserve Series.

 

I walked away with a bottle of the Black Butte Porter. One of my favorite dark beers. When I bought it I had intended to cook with it. It sat in the fridge for a long time. Today it had to go. I need some new things in the fridge to look at - ya know how it goes....

I thought.... beer bread - not today too dense. Stew, beef stew - nope. Cake, chocolate cake - how could I say no!

I just happen to find the most intense, chocolate, porter brew recipe I could find and dove in.

I apologize in advance....
















This is not going to help with the post Halloween sugar fest or the pre Thanksgiving fast. This isn't going to make those tight little pair of jeans look any better or motivate you to go for a run. This cake is for pure indulgence purposes. It is good while sitting on the couch reading a good book (I happen to be reading Lamb), drinking coffee (I picked up a pound and a half back in the 'ham), and basking with the creatures that feel no guilt.

Stout Chocolate Cake

yield: Makes 12 servings

Bon Appétit

Make Sure to use UNSALTED butter. I learned my lesson, finally I am going to always buy unsalted from now on. This is a HUGE recipe - cut it in half unless you have a small army to feed sweets to. I Made mine in two 9 inch spring form pans, perfect. Jam would be an ideal layer between the cake to cut the density a bit. Did I say unsalted butter... double check!

Ingredients

Cake

• 2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/3 cups sour cream

Icing

• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Preparation

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.

For icing:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake.

Tightwad Tuesday in the ‘Ham

Oh Bellingham how I love you. Last night reaffirmed my affection to the ‘City of Subdued Excitement.’

J and I know for scoping out happy hours and I can ramble off about a dozen locations around town and what libations they offer as well as the hours. Last night, with reason to toast J and his new challenge, we (he) assembled my new toy and we decided that the best way to spend the evening was over a pint at the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern.

The Green Frog (for those “not from these parts”) is a little hole in that wall touts, “no crap on tap” including my FAVORITE beer on tap (of the maybe six or so that I have ever ordered in my life, but I am learning...) but what I love even more are the posters on the wall and the music that they bring in. The walls are littered with framed memorabilia that makes my heart skip a beat. Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and about a dozen different stringed instruments line the walls for anyone to play, peanut shells cover the ground making the floor slide under foot and the air smell sweet, need we forget that dogs roam about. It is as close as Bellingham will ever get to southern culture. I will take it and I think it makes J a little soft on the inside (as far as we could tell he was more Texan than anything in the bar last night).

On Tuesdays they offer $3 pints and some live music later on in the evening. The pizza joint that is next door will deliver any pizza to your stoop at the bar (7 bones on Tuesday gets you any 10” pie) making this the best Tuesday night outing in Bellingham.

See you next Tuesday, pint and pizza in hand!