Foodie Goodie | Carrot Cupcakes.

Who's in the mood for carrot cupcakes? I am! I even dreamt of them last night, haha!

And so for this week's edition of Foodie Goodie, I'll be featuring - yep, you guessed it right - this carrot cupcake recipe which is a fusion (or should I say my tweaking) of the recipes I learned from both Martha Stewart and the Food Network. Enjoy! :)

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
a pinch of ground nutmeg
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups finely shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots, peeled)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/4 cup shredded coconut, for garnishing

Procedure:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper cupcake liners.
2. Sift together the flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. In a large stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the brown sugar, oil and eggs until well combined.
4. Add the carrots and vanilla.
5. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
6. Stir in 1/4 cup of the chopped walnuts.
7. Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. With an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and orange juice until smooth and creamy.
9. Frost the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the shredded coconut.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Spaghetti Aglio Olio.

Weekends are for watching old Korean dramas. At least that's what they are, for me. And the past weekend saw me finishing 'Pasta' - all twenty episodes of it. This hit romantic comedy series, which aired in 2010, revolves around the life of Seo Yoo Kyung (portrayed by Gong Hyo Jin) and her dreams and struggles to become an elite chef.

Lee Sun Kyun and Gong Hyo Jin in Pasta.

After watching this drama, I was prompted inspired to do two things - have my ears pierced near the cartilage - in the style of Gong Hyo Jin,  and cook Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic ala Choi Hyun Wook (the male lead, portrayed by Lee Sun Kyun).

Now I have three piercings on my left ear. :)

I've never cooked Spaghetti Aglio Olio before, so I did a bit of research and came across this recipe from the Food Network. The ingredients are pretty basic, and this dish takes very little time and effort to cook. It's perfect for days when I'm in the mood for pasta but don't want to go through the whole process of chopping and slicing and prepping ingredients, lol.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Ingredients:
500 grams spaghetti
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsps flat-leaf parsley, chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes
kosher salt to taste (plus 1 teaspoon)
zest of 1/2 lemon
parmesan cheese, grated

Procedure:
1. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously.
2. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente, tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
3. While the pasta cooks, combine the garlic, olive oil, the 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes in a large skillet and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally until the garlic softens and turns golden.
4. Drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink, reserving about a 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
5. Add the pasta and the reserved water to the garlic mixture. Mix well.
6. Add the parsley and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
7. Transfer to a large serving bowl or divide amongst 4 to 6 dishes. Serve topped with grated cheese, if desired.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.