#177 The Case of Red Wine Butterycream Frosting

1/2 cup red wine plus 3 more tablespoons, divided
1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegan baking sticks, softened
1-1/2 cups icing sugar
sprinkles

In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the 1/2 cup red wine and sugar, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved.

Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is reduced to about 1-1/2 tablespoons.

Cool.

Beat the vegan baking sticks and start beating in the icing sugar gradually. Once almost all the icing sugar is incorporated and you've got a frosting consistency, gradually beat in the red wine reduction and the 3 tablespoons wine. Then beat in the remaining icing sugar until the frosting is light and smooth and creamy.

Frost your cupcakes.

Decorate with sprinkles.

This recipe makes enough Red Wine Butterycream Frosting for 12 cupcakes.

♥ Becki

#176 The Case of Ch-ch-ch-chia Cereal

Chia seed is hot, hot, hot right now. Hotter, I think, than when Chia Pets were all the rage. Do you remember Chia Pets? Clay figurines that, if spread with chia seeds and kept moist, sprouted "fur". Those little beasties rocketed to popularity in 1982 to the TV commercial ditty that many of us (tragically) can still repeat: "Ch-ch-ch-chia!".

The big difference between chia seed popularity then and now is, today we eat the darn things. The seeds I mean. Not the pets.

Check out my recipe for a tasty, quick-as-a-flash, healthy oatmeal alternative on Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers, a lovely mystery-related blog where I'm so pleased to have guested last month: http://anastasiapollack.blogspot.ca/2017/03/cooking-with-clorisguest-character.html.

♥ Becki

#175 The Case of Chocolate Cupcakes

My vegan cupcakes puff up in the oven due to the same chemical reaction as in kids' volcano science fair projects!

 

1-1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup cacao

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup coconut oil, measured in liquid form

1 tablespoon instant decaffeinated coffee granules

1/2 cup light coconut milk

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

vegan frosting

sprinkles

 

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

 

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with baking cups.

 

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cacao, baking soda, salt and sugar.

 

In another bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, instant coffee granules, coconut milk, water and vanilla.

 

Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined.

 

With a spatula, quickly stir in the vinegar until incorporated.

 

Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups (about 1/3 cup per cupcake).

 

Bake until the tops spring back when lightly touched, about 18 min.

 

Cool them for 5 min. in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

Pipe frosting onto the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles.

 

Serves 12.

 

♥ Becki

 

PS Baking soda and vinegar, baby!

#174 The Case of Saturday Morning Scramble

1 lb medium tofu, drained and squeezed
2-1/4 teaspoons Scramble Seasoning (see below)
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
2 small handfuls fresh spinach
1/4 cup vegan mozzarella, cubed
salt
pepper

Crumble the tofu into a bowl and combine well with the Scramble Seasoning.

Heat the olive oil in a large pan and sauté the mushrooms and the tofu.

Add the roasted red peppers and continue to sauté.

When the scramble is hot enough, toss in the spinach and the vegan mozzarella.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Plate when the spinach is mostly wilted and the cheese is soft. 

Serves 2 but multiplies and divides well.

Scramble Seasoning

1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon turmeric

Measure all the ingredients into a sieve over a bowl and stir, forcing the seasoning through into the bowl beneath.

Stir again then store in an airtight container in your cupboard.

Makes enough for 8 lbs of tofu or 16 servings.

♥ Becki

#173 The Case of Gina's Family Tree

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

A cheat sheet for A PURSE TO DIE FOR and A KILLER NECKLACE, the first two books in our Fashionation with Mystery series.

♥ Becki

#172 The Case of Sparkly Christmas Greetings and Gifts!

Want to send an e-greeting that's much more than a card? A PURSE TO DIE FOR and/or A KILLER NECKLACE in the form of gift e-books can include a personal message and they cost only 99¢ each (US) from December 1-15. Here's the Amazon link: http://ow.ly/zlpp306qii8.

Or be that superstar gifter, who gives A PURSE TO DIE FOR and A KILLER NECKLACE, on sale at Smashwords:
(Use coupon code YU36M for A PURSE TO DIE FOR) http://ow.ly/z3KkQ
(Use coupon code MJ65L for A KILLER NECKLACE) http://ow.ly/UxpLF.

What the heck, gift yourself at Kobo (http://ow.ly/Zy4G301BCeC) or Google Play (http://ow.ly/9tkW306GuIQ).

♥ Becki

#171 The Case of Chocolate Mint Smoothie

Mint is a cheerful, invigorating flavour, isn't it?

 

Chocolate, on the other hand, is an acquired taste. [Straight face.]

 

I get plenty of fresh mint sprigs from my friend Kathleen. I have to assume that it's the zucchini of fresh herbs because she's always saying, "Here, have some mint!"

 

Chocolate Mint Smoothie

 

1/2 banana

1 tablespoon fresh, slightly-compressed-between-your-fingers mint leaves

1/2 cup light coconut milk
2 tablespoons Sunwarrior raw vegan protein powder

1 tablespoon cacao

1 tablespoon raw agave syrup
8 ice cubes

Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender, in the order given, and blend.

Serves 1.

♥ Becki

PS This also works with 1/2 tablespoon dried mint in the place of fresh mint!