Crystallized Ginger Olive Oil Cupcakes With Lime Buttercream Opal Basil Mint And Lime Zest Recipes

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Beat in water and molasses. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg and allspice; add to the creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat on medium for 2 minutes., Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, brown sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in maple syrup and vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Frost cupcakes. Store in the refrigerator.

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER

Steps:

• Place ginger in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Partially cover saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil until ginger is almost cooked through but still slightly al dente, about 1 hour. Drain.
• Weigh cooked ginger and return it to saucepan with an equal amount of sugar. Add 2 tablespoons water; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, until ginger becomes translucent, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat and continue cooking, stirring, until ginger is crystallized and begins to clump in the middle of the pan.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle a large rimmed baking sheet with sugar. Pour crystallized ginger onto prepared baking sheet and roll in sugar, separating pieces. Transfer to a sterilized jar and store in a cool place for 3 to 6 months.

BASIL AND MINT OIL

Steps:

• In a pot bring 3 quarts salted water to a rolling boil. Place herb leaves in a strainer and lay in water for about 20 to 30 seconds. Remove from water and lay in large bowl of ice water to stop cooking and retain brilliant color. Remove any stray leaves from boiling water with a slotted spoon and add to leaves in ice water.
• Drain herbs and place on paper towels. Wring gently to dry. Place in blender. Add salt, oil and sugar and puree until mixture is very smooth.
• Pour oil though a sieve and press on solids. Discard remaining solids.
• Chill oil to store up to three days. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.

KEY LIME GINGER MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 24 cup minimuffin pan with spray or butter lightly. Open the bag of crystallized ginger and pop a few in your mouth for "cooking inspiration".
• Combine the first seven ingredients in a large bowl. Next cream the butter and sugar, next adding eggs one at a time. Eat some more crystallized ginger (mmnnnn). Add the lime juice, peel and vanilla extract and blend. The mix will appear curdled. Better eat just a few more pieces of the ginger to fuel your energy stores for the last steps. Then add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk in alternating batches, starting with the flour mix.
• Spoon batter to the top of the cups of the pan and bake 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Restrain yourself from "taste testing" half the batch (try to limit to just 4 or 5:), and place them to cool on a rack.
• In the meantime, cream the cream cheese, butter, lime juice and peel, and vanilla until smooth and whisk in the powdered sugar, beating until the frosting is smooth. Lick the whisk clean and use a clean spatula to spread frosting across the tops of the remaining cooled cupcakes. Take the time to dip a clean finger in the frosting every once in awhile, just to make sure it hasn't changed for some unlikely reason. When done frosting, sprinkle what's left of the crystallized ginger on what's left of the cupcakes that actually have frosting and hide until time to serve.
• Makes 72, unless recipe is followed exactly including tasting notes.