citrus & cocoa

It is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

-Ecclesiastes 3:13

Here we are, at the beginning of Lent, and since Ash Wednesday (less than a week ago) I have baked two sinful desserts.  Joe is abstaining from sweets.  Me?  After reading an article a friend sent me about how women should eat chocolate in moderation every day during Lent, I decided to give myself a little break.

I made the following cupcakes for a co-worker, but couldn’t resist testing one before sharing.  Don’t be fooled by the lame photo.  They are delicious. 

Orange-Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

5 tbs. unsalted butter, softened

½ c. sugar

1 large egg

Finely grated zest of 1 orange

½ tsp. vanilla extract

½ c. whole milk

½ c. mini semisweet chocolate chips

Chocolate ganache (see below)

Chocolate ganache:

¾ c. mini semisweet chocolate chips

¼ c. heavy cream

To make cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350˚F.  Sift flour, baking powder, & salt into a bowl.  Beat the butter & sugar with an electric mixer on med-high speed until fluffy, 2-3 minutes.  Beat in zest, vanilla and egg until just combined.  On low speed, add dry ingredients and milk, one after the other, in three batches.  Mix until just incorporated.  Gently fold in chocolate chips.

Spoon about ¼ cup of batter into each of 12 paper-lined muffin cups.  Bake in center of oven 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack.

To make ganache:

Place chocolate chips in a bowl.  In a small saucepan, bring cream to the simmer.  Pour cream over chocolate.  Let stand for a minute or so, then stir the mixture until smooth.  Spread over cooled cupcakes.

Makes 1 dozen cupcakes.

Source: The Gourmet Cookbook, Ed. Ruth Reichl (2004)

neighbors

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

For if they fall, one will lift up the other...

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a

Yesterday was a beautiful day—sunny and breezy.  I went for a run in my neighborhood, enjoying the strange winter warmth.

As I neared my house I saw a woman working in her garden.  I met her once before, maybe a year ago, while talking to another neighbor, but didn’t know her name.   Normally I don’t go around introducing myself to people, but on this occasion I felt compelled to say hello.  We talked briefly and I learned that she is an artist from Spain.  When I told her I want to learn Spanish, she offered to help.  She said she is often home alone during the day, and would enjoy the company.  After more chatting we exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet.

I am excited about the possibility of a new friendship.  This past week I met three “new” neighbors—neighbors who have been there as long as I’ve lived here.  My encounters with them made me think about connection, how sometimes we are so close to people and yet don’t know them.  I have spent a lot of time in the past few months home alone and wanting company.  Little did I know there was a person just a few houses down feeling the same thing.

I talk to my next door neighbor all the time.  We sit on our respective porches (our houses are connected), and I pet her dogs while we chat.  Sometimes I’m later to work than I’d like because I can’t resist stopping and talking.  It’s worth it to take the time and build that connection.  My neighbor Gary always says you need to talk to your neighbors.  You never know when you might need them.  I would add that you never know when they might need you.

My next door neighbor was on her porch talking to Gary when I got home.  I had things to do, but couldn’t resist hanging out with them for a little while.  I’m glad I did.