A Surprise Gift

On a Friday a few days back, as I am about to leave, the manager walks up to me with a bottle and says, "Here you go." This is something I am very use to...second hand fruit, odd flavored liquor, and "the rest" of what was once on the savory menu...I look down to see what it was I was handed and just about jumped for joy. It was a bottle of Salted Caramel Vodka! A legitimate flavor that I actually would like to use! Of course, I was on my way out, so any experiements had to wait until Sunday. But, of course, we cracked it open right then to see what exactly it tasted like!

 

As Sunday rolled around I already know what I wanted to make: Caramel Apple Pear Bread Pudding (above) with none other than the Salted Caramel Ice Cream. Immediatly I get to work figuring out the best ratios for the flavors I want. I added a splash (ok, lets be honest, I went a little George Jones and it was way more then a splash) of the Salted Caramel Vodka into the liquid part of the bread pudding and threw some brown sugar down on the bottom of the pan to get a caramelized feel. The finished product was a hit! I couldn't make it fast enough. This was with out a doubt, one of the best desserts I have made, and it is all thanks to an unwanted bottle of Salted Caramel Vodka.

 

 

On a more festive note, I am excited to debut my Black Velvet Cupcake. A recipe inspired by the traditional Red Velvet Cake with a wicked twist. I increased the cocoa powder to give it a stronger chocolate taste and of course dumped the red food coloring for black. It is topped with a Cream Cheese Icing this week, but I have plans to top it with Pumpkin Buttercream the week of Halloween to keep it in the fall flavors. I worry the black cake may put off hoity toity customers, but then again, they can brag all about how they have had Black Velvet Cake! We'll see how it goes!

 

Keeping It Sweet,

 

Amber