Crowd Pleasers

We hosted a BBQ with two other couples on Sunday, and in typical fashion, we made way too much food. I, of course, was in charge of dessert. I wanted to make something light and "healthy." I decided on a white chocolate mouse parfaits. I remember having this 'to die for' white chocolate mousse from a restaurant in my home town and called them up to see if they'd give the me the recipe, and to my surprise the chef got on the phone and walked me through it. So nice of them. I won't betray their trust and give out the details but it was a combination of white chocolate, egg whites, sugar and heavy cream. So easy!

I layered the mousse with marble pound cake, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries in pretty Stella glasses. Voila!

White Chocolate Curls of Bliss!

At a recent wedding, I noticed the absense of a cake, because well....I'm obsessed with wedding cakes. However, shortly after the meal they plopped this gorgeous massive cupcake in front of me. It fit the brides style and was oh so chic. It tasted amazing too. It was a vanilla cupcake with a vanilla buttercream with white chocolate shavings on top.

As usual I had no problem devouring it either! The adorable couple took turns feeding each other cupcakes but they were gentle and sweet. My personal preference, I'm not a cake smashing kind of gal.

No trees were harmed in the forming of this blog post…

What is one of the greatest perks of blogging? Trying amazing samples! I received a generous sample of Palm Plates from Marx Foods and need to share how great they are. The plates are made from freshly fallen (never picked!) leaves that fall from Adaka palm trees. They are then washed, dried and heated into their chic shapes. Then they are used by stylish entertainers like you and me. I’d like to focus on three aspects of these plate: style, durability and price.

Style – What’s more stylish than a homemade blueberry cupcake with gooey white chocolate cream cheese frosting sitting pretty atop rectangular palm plate? I dare you to think of something! These plates inspired me to bake from scratch (if you read my blog you know I’m more semi-homemade) and here are the results and recipies:

Portobello ~ Can I please eat my cupcake, Oh please let me eat my cupcake...
BLUEBERRY CUPCAKES ~ from cooks.com

1/3 c. butter
2/3 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. milk
1 c. blueberries

Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk. Gently fold in berries.
Can be frozen. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Yield: 10 cupcakes.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE ICING ~ from fabulousfoods.com

3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature
6 ounces good quality white chocolate (Lindt is Cheri's favorite brand)
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Stir white chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water until just melted. Cool to lukewarm. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. beat in cooled, melted white chocolate and vanilla, gradually beat in sugar and continue beating until smooth. Frosting should be light and spreadable. It is helpful to chill a bit before piping.

Yield: Makes about 3 1/2 Cups (I cut this recipe into three to icing the 10 cupcakes from the recipe above.)
Durability: What sets this plate above and beyond a paper plate? Besides the obvious environmental benefits, this plate can hang homey! Now, I’m a baker – plain and simple, but you can’t test the durability of the plates with cupcakes alone! There is only recipe I make that my husband actually enjoys. It’s a hearty pasta dish from Rachael Ray that I modified to put a lighter (healthier) summer twist. I piled the plate high and went to town. Clearing my plate, I felt like I could have washed it and reused it, it held up so well. Kudos palm plate…kudos.

CREAMY PASTA WITH SPINACH AND FRIED CAPERS ~ Rachael’s original recipe here
Salt
1 pound gemelli
3 tbsp cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/4 cup capers, drained
1 large clove garlic, smashed
2 packed cups spinach, stemmed and chopped
1 ear fresh yellow corn, boiled and kernels cut off the cob
1 cup low fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup skim milk
3 tablespoons fresh basil leaves
Pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving the pot.

While the pasta is working, in a medium skillet, heat the EVOO, 8 turns of the pan, over medium heat. Add the capers and fry until they open, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, 1 minute.

In the pasta pot, whisk the ricotta and milk over low heat until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with the basil, and a dash of pepper. Add the pasta and toss to coat.

Discard some of the garlic and stir the spinach, capers and corn into the pasta.

Price: I wish wish wish these plates were more affordable. Generic paper plates are about $7 for a pack of 20 at a party supply store, the palm plates average about $33 for a pack of 25. I'm not sure I would order and use these for your run of the mill backyard BBQ but if I was throwing an annual family get together and shelling out $600 for a pig and knew I'd have tons of heavy slaws and salads, then what is and additional $50 for some Aunt Sally pleasing, earth friendly, durable, discussion starter palm plates? Who knows, maybe their like flat screen tv's - they're new and jet setting, so they're expensive. When they catch on and everyone wants one on their wall to impress the neighbors, supply and demand will win over and the price will drop.

All in all, I think these plates have a definite place in society amongst the green crowd, the chic and stylish crowd and the eh whats another $50 crowd. I would definitely recommend these palm plates to give a high style flair to your next cocktail, garden, or anything else party.