Posts for October 16th 2011

community

Savory Sight: Natty Boh Beer Cupcakes

Beer isn't just for drinking.

Beer isn't just for drinking. It's also good for making cupcakes, like these cute mustachioed cupcakes that Eatswimshop posted in our Kitchen Goddess group.

It's Baltimore Beer Week, and while I don't really like beer, I do like cupcakes. I decided to celebrate by making cupcakes with the beer most associated with Baltimore: National Bohemian (or Natty Boh).

Natty Boh tastes similar to Corona to me, so I added some lime along with the beer in the cake batter and frosting. I topped them with Mr. Boh's mustache (made with Baltimorean Duff's black fondant). The cupcakes turned out really well — very light and fluffy, with a faint taste (and smell) of beer. See the recipe and more photos at Eat. Swim. Shop.

Share your own sweet treats and food photos in our Kitchen Goddess and Savory Sights groups.

recipes

Knockout Recipes From Our Favorite Star Chefs!

OK, so we've already established that celebrity chefs really aren't just like us.

OK, so we've already established that celebrity chefs really aren't just like us. Not only do they lead fabulously glitzy lives, but they also generate some of the most reliable recipes that we've found to date. Here, we've curated some of our all-time favorites, from Wolfgang Puck's four-cheese pizza to Scott Conant's dulce de leche cake.


Tyler Florence's Meatball Soup

Jamie Oliver's Pesto Salmon

Thomas Keller's Grilled Cheese

Wolfgang Puck's Cheese Pizza

Cat Cora's BBQ Beans

Scott Conant's Dulce de Leche Cake
Tea

5 Tips For Making Oolong Your Pot of Tea

After learning the fundamentals of coffee brewing and the right way to taste coffee, I figured it was high time I took the same care into understanding that other hot caffeinated beverage, tea.

After learning the fundamentals of coffee brewing and the right way to taste coffee, I figured it was high time I took the same care into understanding that other hot caffeinated beverage, tea.

Like coffee, the all-encompassing category of tea includes everything from the most basic and low-quality to the really expensive, high-end stuff. One of my personal favorites is oolong ("black dragon") tea, a partially oxidized, semi-fermented tea that has a storied history in Chinese and Taiwanese tea culture. Truly fine oolong is made from unique plant cultivars that are picked, left out to wither in the sun, partially fermented, roasted, then rolled or twisted and dried. Depending on their variety and level of fermentation, oolongs can range in flavor and aroma from warm and nutty to sweet, fruity, and floral.

To further enhance my appreciation for oolong, I spoke to tea expert Lawrence Lai, who founded Naivetea, currently the only company in the country to focus on Taiwanese oolong teas. Keep reading for his suggestions on how to embrace America's latest tea trend.