Cream-Filled Cupcakes

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup baking cocoa

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add eggs, milk, oil, water and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Fill paper-lined muffin cups half full. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Filling

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/4 cup shortening

2 cups confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Chocolate frosting

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, shortening, confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla extract and salt; beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Insert a very small tip into a pastry or plastic bag; fill with cream filling. Push the tip through the bottom of paper liner to fill each cupcake. Frost tops with chocolate frosting.

Yields 3 dozen.

Bon Appétit!

Crazy Cupcakes

Crazy Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup warm water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and baking soda into a large mixing bowl and stir with a fork until well blended. Make three holes in the dry ingredients. Put oil in the first hole, vinegar in the second hole and vanilla extract in the third hole. Pour water over all ingredients and stir to blend.

Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper baking cups and fill 1/2 to 3/4 full with batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean.

Yields 12 small cupcakes.

Bon Appétit!

Queso Blanco

A white dipping sauce served in many restaurants with chips or hot flour tortillas for dipping. This is a basic recipe that uses 'Jack' for the TexMex version and Chihuahua and/or Asadero for the more traditional Mexican version.

1 cup cheese (Monterey jack, Asadero orChihuahua), shredded fine
4 ounces green chiles
1/4 cup half-and-half
2 tablespoons onion, chopped fine
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Serrano pepper, chopped fine (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped fine (optional)

Put all ingredients in a double boiler and heat on medium. Cook until melted and well blended, stirring occasionally.

Serve with fresh tostadas or hot flour tortillas.

Bon Appétit!