Monday, February 04, 2013

HarBowl Feasting

Baltimore's big day has come and gone, with spectacular results.

THE RAVENS WON THE SUPER BOWL!

While watching the game, Mr Minx and I dined on mini cheeseburgers topped with either havarti or horseradish cheddar, with optional garnishes that included roasted poblano peppers, sautéed mushrooms, and purple onion relish.

How'd we get the relish so purple? With the help of McCormick's* neon food coloring. A few drops of blue and a few drops of purple in the already somewhat-purplish melange of onion, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar made for a festive condiment. Also festive was the lavender mayo, also colored with the McCormick dyes. I tried to make purple ketchup, but only succeeded in making a bluish-black mess. I took photos of a burger with purple onions and lavender mayo; trust me when I say it wasn't that pretty. But kids would have loved it.

For dessert, we had much prettier Black Velvet cupcakes topped with purple marshmallow buttercream and sprinkled with purple sanding sugar.

Black Velvet Cupcakes

1 cup AP flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 teaspoon (or more) McCormick Black food coloring

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Stir in the butter, eggs, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add half the water and beat for about half a minute. Repeat with the rest of the water. Stir in the food coloring, adding more if needed, until the batter is as black as you'd like.

Divide batter evenly among 12 paper-lined cupcake cups. Bake 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove cupcakes to a rack and cool completely before frosting.

Purple Frosting

1.5 sticks of room temperature butter
7 ounces marshmallow fluff
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 drops purple McCormick NEON! Food Colors and Egg Dye
6 drops blue McCormick NEON! Food Colors and Egg Dye

Combine the butter and marshmallow in a bowl, and with a hand or stand mixer, beat on medium until completely smooth. Reduce speed to low and add confectioners sugar, vanilla, salt, and food coloring. Continue to beat until smooth and fluffy. 

Frost cupcakes when completely cool.

* Any products in this post that are mentioned by name may have been provided to Minxeats by the manufacturer. However, all opinions belong to Minxeats.

Posted on Minxeats.com.