Organic White Chocolate Rosewater Cupcakes
Written by Laura Klein, Publisher
Organic White Chocolate Rosewater Cupcakes




Makes 12

Cupcake ingredients:

12 cupcake paper liners
8 oz of organic white chocolate chips (If can't find chips buy the bars and chop it)

1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup (1 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned unsweetened organic coconut milk
3 large egg whites

Meringue Buttercream ingredients:

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
5 large egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons of rose water*

Edible flowers for garnish - like scented geraniums, violas, Johnny-Jump-Ups, lavender etc.. Caution! Confirm that the flowers you are using are edible, organic and have definitively not been treated with pesticides or sprays!

Method for Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 325°

Line two 6 - cup or 12 - cup muffin pan with paper liners. Place white chocolate in double boiler or metal bowl and set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir with a wooden spoon until melted and silky smooth.

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until blended. Stir in warm white chocolate mixture. Alternate adding the flour mixture in three additions with the unsweetened coconut milk in two additions, mixing until combined between additions.

In a separate medium bowl, beat egg whites with perfectly clean whisks (to get whisks and a bowl perfectly clean, squeeze fresh lemon juice around bowl and run lemon along side of whisks and wipe down with a paper towel). In the clean dry bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold egg whites into cupcake batter until completely combined.

Using an ice cream scooper with a spring action lever, evenly divide batter amongst muffin cups (about 1/3 cup each).

Bake about 25-30 minutes, until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely. Cupcakes can be made 1 day ahead up to this point. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Method for Meringue Buttercream:

Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush down the sides of the saucepan to prevent crystallization. When the syrup reaches 210° begin beating the egg whites as follows.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and beat on medium high until stiff but not dry peaks form.

Simultaneously while the egg whites are being whipped, check the thermometer in the boiling syrup. Once the temperature reaches 240° or soft-ball stage, and the egg whites have reached stiff peaks, with the mixer running, pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the egg whites (to prevent splattering) in a steady stream.

Continue to beat mixture on high speed until the bowl of the mixer reaches room temperature about 5-10 minutes. Add pieces of butter one by one, with mixture running. Add vanilla and rose water. Beat mixture until smooth and has a nice sheen about 3-5 minutes. If at anytime the mixture looks curdled, continue beating until mixture is smooth.

* You can find rosewater at specialty markets or you can make your own. See our recipe for organic rose water.




Fresh Organic Lemon Verbena and Lavender Ice Cream
Written by Laura Klein, Publisher
Organic Lemon Verbena and Lavender Ice Cream

Yield: 1 quart

Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated organic sugar
1/2 cup of fresh organic lemon verbena leaves packed (if you can't find fresh lemon verbena, use the zest of 2 lemons)
1/4 cup fresh organic lavender
2 cups whole organic milk
2 cups heavy organic cream
8 egg organic yolks

sprigs of fresh organic lavender and lemon verbena for garnish

Method:

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, lemon verbena leaves, lavender, milk and cream. Bring to a boil and steep for 20 minutes covered. Strain. In another bowl whisk together egg yolks and sugar.

Whisk one cup of hot cream into egg mixture. Slowly whisk in new mixture to sauce pan with remaining milk. Stir constantly over low heat until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

Immediately remove from heat and cool in an ice water bath or refrigerator until completely cool. Strain. Add the mixture to the electric ice cream maker. Process according to the manufacturers' directions.

Note: Because you follow an organic lifestyle, OrganicAuthority.com recommends using certified organic ingredients, when available, in all recipes to maximize flavors and nutrition while minimizing your risk of exposure to pesticides, chemicals and preservatives.


Organic Rose Water

Makes 32 oz

Ingredients:

1 large handful of organically grown scented rose petals
32 oz of filtered water
1 32 oz mason jar

Method:

Bring water to a boil.

Place rose petals in mason jar. Pour hot water over rose petals and tightly close mason jar.

Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Use as desired.

For more Amazing Organic Recipes, go to: http://www.organicauthority.com/