Under My Nose
Edward Cullen sets a deadline of six months to find his true love before he turns thirty. Leaving his successful restaurant to drive a mule-drawn carriage in the French Quarter of New Orleans, he searches for the meaning of true love, because he has yet to understand it. Will he know when he finds her or will she be right under his nose? Can bubbly, buxom Bella tantalize his taste buds with beignets and an abundant
booty?
A/N: Thank you to the readers who review every chapter. There are a handful of you. I appreciate the love, and I find your input very helpful. When we get into further chapters, I will send you another surprise. Again, thank you for your constant support in bringing those review numbers up.
And thank you to the readers who follow and favorite that I am unable to send a thank you PM.
You will find pictures on my author's page of Sally's house, the tent, the wedding aisle, the cake, Bella's dress, shoes, bouquet and garter, Sally's dress, Esme's dress, Mama Jean's dress, and the tuxedos. A picture of Julia and a picture of her headdress. If there is something you want to see, please let me know.
At the end of the story before the recipes, you will find my story recs. Please, check them out. I know you will enjoy them.
This is our last, regular chapter, then the epi.
Chapter 43:
EPOV: April 1
The music comes to an abrupt halt. I watch as my brother fall to his knees, his chest heaving, holding the tears back, and BB rushing to his side. She leans down, falls to her knees in front of Emmett, and cups his jaw into her hands. Her mascara paints her cheeks in rivulets of black, as she cries, forehead to forehead. "I thought I'd lost you forever."
They break away and look at one another. No one moves, takes a breath, or utters a fucking word. All focus is on them.
Emmett traces her face with his fingertips, running his hands down her long hair, as they stare at one another in disbelief. "I can't believe you're in front of me." He breathes heavily. "I thought I'd never see you again. And I searched for you, but I never knew your full name."
BB cries, "I tried to find you, too. After a while, I thought you to be a dream, too. I couldn't … I didn't want anyone else. All I could see was your face…"
He whispers, "Emmett."
She smiles. "BB"
Rolls her eyes and huffs at herself. "Short for Big Blonde"
She clears her throat. " I mean … My real name is Rosalie."
His hands gently stroke her cheeks. "My Rose." He brings her close and kisses her.
Everyone cheers.
I wipe the tears from my eyes, and turn to look at Jasper who's crying hysterically. He leans forward, and I have to fucking hug him. He's a mess, while Alice is sitting on my father's lap crying into his chest.
Sally runs down the aisle to Emmett and Rose as Mom jumps out of her seat. They help them up and escort them to their places.
Emmett watches Sally hold Rosalie, whispering in her ear.
Mom looks with worry as her hands are soothing his back. "Emmett, you okay?"
With a slight smile, he squeezes Mom. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm going to be great."
He turns to me. "Edward, she's the girl…"
I interrupt, "I know, the Jeep."
Dad helps Alice off his lap, walks her next to Rose, and hands them both a candy. Sally gives him a look, and he hands her one.
Sally stands in the middle of the aisle, swishes the candy in her mouth, and announces, "Well, these certainly have been very informative news flashes." She straightens out her dress. "Now, we are going to continue the ceremony, unless anyone else has something to say." She glares out at the sea of guests, and you could hear a fucking pin drop.
Sally quickens her pace and disappears around the corner, and the quartette begins again with, 'Something in the Way She Moves'. Bella and I didn't want the wedding march.
Nervously, I stare at the tip of the aisle as Bella walks between Sally and Charlie. Her eyes are red, but her smile is compasionate and caring. She glances at Jasper as he leans close to Emmett and me, but Emmett's eyes are focused across the way. Bella follows them and steals a quiet look at Rose.
They walk to the first row and stop. Sally kisses her cheek and sits next to Richard, his mother and Mama Jean. I walk towards them, and Charlie takes Bella's hand and places it into mine. "You take care of her."
I nod. "I will."
Father Mulcahey asks, "Who gives this woman to this man?"
Charlie clears his throat, and shakily answers, "I do." He sits on the end next to Sally as I absorb the sight before me.
I lean to kiss her on the cheek. "God, you look beautiful." I smile.
She bites the inside of her cheek, and I grab it. "Thank you. You look incredible, Edward."
"Hey, I cleaned up pretty well, for our wedding, right ?" I run my hand down her arm.
She plays with my wild hair. "No touching the merchandise until you own it, Buster!"
Everyone laughs as we stand under the chuppah.
Rabbi Meyerson announces, "Welcome everyone to the marriage of Edward and Isabella. Father Mulcahey and I bless these two, wonderful young people as they stand on the verge of their marital union. We've also been told to make this brief."
Everyone laughs.
Father Mulcahey chuckles, "I have all the time in the world since I am retired."
Everyone laughs again.
"Seriously, we won't be conducting the usual ceremony," Father Mulcahey states.
"Actually, we won't be conducting any," Rabbi Meyerson threatens. "Right, Tommy Boy?" he says to Father Mulcahey.
"Right, Howie Boychick!"
Both men start to walk past the tent. I look at Bella as she shakes her head, and whispers, "What's going on?"
And both men laugh, "April Fools!"
Everyone mumbles.
Sally groans. "Comedians, even holy men are comedians." She stands. "You two get back here and marry these kids - enough already!"
Both men stand under the chuppah laughing and hanging off one another.
"Oy, did you see their faces?" The rabbi howls.
Father Mulcahey straightens up and clears his throat. "Okay, okay, settle down." He glares at Sally. "We were joking. No babies or rekindling lost loves … just a joke."
Rabbi Meyerson continues as he raises his arms to point at the chuppah, "The wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah, a canopy, to represent a home the new couple will build together. The sides are free from walls. As Sarah and Abraham, they welcomed others into their home through their generosity and unconditional hospitality. May this belief be given to this wondrous couple."
"You're getting cheesy, Howie," Father Mulcahey jokes.
"Oy, sorry. Now, Edward and Bella have chosen two blessings that Father Mulcahey and I will recite." He gestures for the priest to go first.
Father Mulcahey musically reads, "Let me recite the blessing of the Apaches…
"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth."
"Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives - remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight."
Rabbi Meyerson finishes the blessings, "The blessing of the Cherokees…
"God in heaven above please protect the ones we love. We honor all you created as we pledge our hearts and lives together. We honor Mother Earth and ask for our marriage to be abundant and grow stronger through the seasons. We honor fire and ask that our union be warm and glowing with love in our hearts. We honor wind and ask that we sail through life safe and calm as in our father's arms. We honor water to clean and soothe our relationship - that it may never thirst for love. With all the forces of the universe you created, we pray for harmony, as we grow forever young together. Amen."
"And let's get this one non-pleasantry out of the way." He coughs. "If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot be legally joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Mom mumbles, "Hold your peace, hold your peace."
My dad leans towards my mom. He whispers loudly, "You want to hold my piece?"
"Ssssh, Carlisle!" Mom hushes him.
Father Mulcahey begins, chuckling, "Edward, I do believe you and Isabella would like to express your individual vows."
Bella hands her bouquet to Rose, whose eyes are still on Emmett, and I hold both of her hands.
Jasper lets out a whimper as he cries, and I shake my head. Emmett still stares at Rose in a stupor.
It's a strange, fucking wedding.
And I look at my girl. "I didn't know what love was, and I thought I would find it by doing romantic, carriage rides in the Quarter." I laugh. "But I wasn't totally wrong. There you were right under my nose. The moment you touched my hand, you touched me, Bella. I fell fast, but I thought you didn't want me in that way. You didn't chase me. You didn't want anything from me. You didn't BS me. You called me on my shit. Oh, sorry Father, Rabbi."
"We're cool." Rabbi Meyerson waves his hand.
Father Mulcahey chuckles, "I've heard you say worse, Edward."
I continue, "There's so much I want to say to you. I want to cook with you, Bella. I want to sing to Julia with you. I want to grow old and stupid with you."
She laughs and interrupts, "I don't agree with the stupid part."
Everyone laughs.
"I want to have our football team." I turn to all of the guests. "She promised we could have eleven kids."
Bella shouts, "Baseball. Baseball."
Charlie yells, "That's still nine, Bella."
She shouts, "Basketball. Basketball."
Richard croons, "That's five starters."
Ms. Evie screams, "Just do the practicing." She stares at me and does a pinching motion with her fingers. I cringe.
The guests roar in laughter.
I whisper in Bella's ear, "This is one fucked up crowd."
"Okay, okay, let's allow Edward to finish," Rabbi Meyerson pleads.
I slide my hands over her shoulders, down her arms, and whisper, "I love you."
Father Mulcahey asks for the ring as Jasper pulls it out of his pocket and hands it to him. "Edward, place this ring on Bella's finger." I do. "And repeat, 'With this ring, I thee wed."
I slide the ring on Bella's finger, smiling. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Rabbi Meyerson interjects, "And do you have something you want to say … Bella?"
"I had something prepared, but I want to wing this in answer to what you have said, Edward."
"And Ms. Evie," She turns to her. "We plan on practicing a lot since Jasper and Alice are pregnant."
More laughter.
Bella looks back at me. "And I want children with you, a slew of them, whatever you want." Tears fill her eyes. "You touched me, too, but I was afraid. I liked your scraggly look, then I went and shaved you and found the most beautiful man."
I choke, "I can grow the beard back if you want."
She smiles. "It doesn't matter, Edward, because I love you, and your mother says I own your penis."
'What', falls out of my mouth, and I turn to my mother in surprise.
Dad shouts, "It's okay son, your mother owns mine!"
Mom smacks his shoulder.
Richard chimes in, "Sally owns mine."
Each man in the crowd shouts that their wife or girlfriend owns theirs.
Alice giggles, "You bet I own yours, Jasper."
He collects himself. "And I wouldn't have it any other way." He sings to Alice, "You're having my baby. What a love…"
Sally and Mom shout, "Can it, Jazz!"
Father Mulcahey moves along, "All right now, back to the business of this union. May I have Edward's ring? Alice hands it to him.
"Bella, repeat after me, 'With this ring, I thee wed."
And Bella beams, "With this ring, I thee wed you and your … mule."
She bats her eyelashes.
"Edward, repeat after me. I, Edward, take you, Bella, to be my lawful wife…"
I repeat, "I, Edward, take you, Bella, to be my lawful wife…"
Father Mulcahey continues, and I repeat, "to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
Yada, yada, yada, I repeat everything and say, "I do."
Rabbi Meyerson addresses Bella. "And Bella?"
"I do it all and then some. I do. I do. I do." And she sings…
"You make me wanna say
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do doo
Yeah, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do doo
Cause every time before it's been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I can't live without it, I can't let it go
Ooh what did I get myself into?
You make me wanna say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do"
(song by Colbie Caillat, I Do)
The crowd is up out of their chairs, dancing to Bella's singing. She grabs me, and I twirl her. Alice jumps Jasper, and they spin, too. Emmett and Rose hold one another and kiss. Julia bays as Hanks keeps her in tow.
Father Mulcahey shouts over the mayhem, "One more thing, one more thing. Please, everyone return to your seats."
The fucking lunacy calms, people sit, and we resume our places.
Rabbi Meyerson holds something wrapped in a linen napkin.
"In every traditional Jewish wedding, there is a breaking of the glass.
It represents through the breakage that unifying a couple is healing the world. We bless this couple and may this shattered glass be their forever."
The Rabbi places the rolled up napkin on the ground, and I stomp it to pieces.
Congratulations, Mazel Tov, cheers of joy and crying commence.
"Okay, okay, one more thing. I almost forgot; you all had me so excited." He takes a goblet, fills it with white wine and speaks in Hebrew. "The sharing of the wine. Oy, my mother is rolling in her grave." He hands the goblet to me. "Edward, you take a sip and share with your Bella this blessed wine. It sanctifies this union of marriage."
I hand the goblet to Bella, and she guzzles the entire goblet. "I was thirsty?"
Rabbi Meyerson kiddingly scolds Bella, "You weren't supposed to drink it all!"
She mumbles a 'sorry'.
Father Mulcahey bellows, "In the retired, powers vested in me, Edward and Bella, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Rabbi Meyerson hands us the goblet. "And one more sip for the both of you to thank God for this wonderful 'mitzvah'." He smiles. "A commandment to be observed. And bring it home, Tommy Boy."
Father Mulcahey chuckles, "Edward, you may kiss your bride."
As in slow motion, I reach for Bella, wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her with all the fuck I got.
All sounds dissipate to mumbles as I close my eyes and get lost in her mouth.
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Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww… Did you like the wedding?
Epi next week.
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A/N: Thank you to my Beta, Fran. I appreciate her time, her proper grammar and quick pen. Another great find by PAD!
To Robseve and Postapocalypticdepository (PAD), my pre-readers that give their unselfish time and creative input. Both of these ladies are inspirations and true friends.
Now, let me rec Postapocalypticdepository stories, since she so graciously rec'd mine.
Skater Boy and Boarder Girl: 10137826
Never Judge by the Cover: 9056924
Boys Will Be: 8868006
Rude Awakenings: 8876785
It's a New Dawn, It's a New Year: 8862243 (complete)
And to: Midnight-Confessions 9182601 by ohgeefantasy
Careless Hearts 9881551 by ohgeefantasy
Pudding Cup: 10189248 (Entry in The Bad Boys of Twilight Contest. Awards: First Place Public Vote & Two Judges) And you get to read more, Gee extended the story… go read.
And to: Edward Cullen FBI Special Agent and Psychic 9626040 by Dinia Steel (complete)
Sequel: Edward Cullen & Friends - Down on the Bayou 10204063
And a shout out rec to: BURN 8999279 by compass54
Also, found this story: Finally in Phoenix 9987411 by laughablelamb
AND: A Crack in the Door 8874295 by jane-with-a-y
AND: New Beginning 10175667 by LadyBeck
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And thank you to all the readers, whether you review or not. I enjoy every comment and suggestion. Yes, NOLA (New Orleans, LA) is an exciting place to live. And to combine the old world with the new is a challenge, but the humor is quite a serious business. My objective is for all of you to smile, after each chapter.
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Recipes:
Thanksgiving Meal for the Wedding
Traditional Challah
2 tablespoons dry yeast
2 ¼ cups lukewarm water
½ cup sugar
4 eggs, beaten, plus 2 yolks or 1 whole egg for glazing
1 tablespoon salt
9 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
Poppy or sesame seeds (optional)
½ cup vegetable oil
Dissolve the yeast in the water with 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Beat well and leave 10 minutes, until it froths.
In a very large bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Then add the salt, sugar, and oil and beat again. Add the frothy yeast mixture and beat well. Now add the flour gradually, and just enough to make a soft dough that holds together, mixing well, first with a large spoon, then working it in with your hands. Knead vigorously for about 15 minutes, until it is very smooth and elastic, adding flour if the dough is too sticky. Pour a little oil in the bowl and turn the dough, so that it is greased all over. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place to rise for 2‑3 hours, or until it has doubled in bulk. Punch the dough down and knead again, then divide into four pieces to make 4 loaves.
Place the 4 loaves on well‑oiled baking sheets, leaving plenty of room for them to expand, then leave to rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk. Now brush gently with the beaten egg yolks or if you want to sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds, brush first with the whole beaten egg (the seeds stick better if the white is there too). Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 30‑40 minutes or until the loaves are beautifully golden-brown.
Roasted Turkey
24-30 lb turkey
¼ cup paprika
1 ½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ cup butter, softened
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Drain juices from the turkey and pat dry.
Rub butter all over turkey, inside and out. Follow with paprika, salt and pepper. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack, in a shallow, roasting pan. Place oven-safe thermometer into leg. Do not touch bone.
4- 5 ½ hours bake.
Thermometer should be: 180 degree thigh meat, 165 breast meat.
Let stand for 15 minutes before carving.
Baked Ham
16 lb ham (pre-cooked, spiral)
1 jar apricot jam
Preheat oven 325 degrees. Place ham cut side down, wrap in aluminum foil. Bake 10-14 minutes per pound. When done, meat thermometer should read 140 degree.
To glaze ham, raise heat to 400 degrees. Spread jam over ham. Bake 10 - 15 minutes, until browned and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes then, serve.
Grammie's Stuffing
1 box Ritz crackers
1 box saltines
1 green pepper
3 stalks celery
3 large carrots
2 cups chicken broth
½ cup butter, softened
salt and pepper to taste
In a food processor, crush crackers and place into a large bowl.
Take pepper, celery and carrot and process to a thick, but liquid consistency. Add to crackers. Mix in ¼ cup butter and 1 cup broth. Repeat with remaining butter and broth. Mixture should form a solid ball.
Place in greased baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.
Grammie's Red Potatoes in Onion Gravy
1 5 lb bag red potatoes
1 box Lipton onion soup mix
3 tablespoons flour
⅓ cup cold water
Wash, cut potatoes in quarters and boil in a large pot of salted water.
Drain. Place to the side.
In large pot, place onion soup mix and prepare to box instructions. Mix flour with cold water in a small bowl and add to soup. Makes a thick gravy. Add potatoes and heat.
Grammie's Jam Kugel (noodle pudding)
Dough:
6 cups all-purpose flour
roughly 2 cups water, might need more or less
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
Filling:
1 cup butter
2 jars raspberry jam
14 apples, washed, peeled and cubed
1 package thin noodles
¼ cup cinnamon
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons paprika
Mix all ingredients for the dough until it forms a solid, large ball.
Flour a huge surface (eg. table or kitchen island) and place the dough in the middle. Sprinkle flour on top of dough and on rolling pin. Roll out dough to a flat, thin circle. It will be huge.
Spread butter over the dough, evenly. Do the same with the raspberry jam. Places apple cubes all over the jam, sprinkle the sugar, cinnamon, paprika, and noodles over the top.
Roll the dough into a cylinder. Then, roll up as a wheel. Place in a huge, greased baking tin. Bake in a slow over of 250 degrees overnight.
Kugel with be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Cranberry Jello Mold
2 packages raspberry jello
3 cups boiled water
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 can crushed pineapple
½ cup celery, finely chopped
½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in cranberry sauce, pineapple, celery and walnuts. Pour into a mold ring (coat with cooking spray). Refrigerate until solid.
Green Bean Casserole
4 cups cooked green beans
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk
2 cans mushrooms, drained
1 package of fried onions
Cook green beans, aldente. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix soup and milk together until blended. Add green beans and mushrooms. Place in greased casserole dish. Sprinkle fried onions over the top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.
Sweet Yams
1 (29 oz) can sweet potatoes
¼ cup butter, cut into pieces
½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place sweet potatoes in a medium baking dish. Distribute butter pieces evenly over the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Layer with miniature marshmallows. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender and marshmallows have melted.
Sweet Cole Slaw
½ head of cabbage, shredded
½ head red cabbage, shredded
2 large carrots, shredded
1 green pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
slaw dressing:
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
3-4 tablespoons sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all vegetables together, in a large bowl.
In a medium bowl, mix slaw dressing ingredients together and add to veggies. Refrigerate.
Wedding Cake:
White cake
2 ¾ cups sifted cake flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1 ½ cups white sugar
¾ cup butter
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Measure sifted cake flour, baking powder, and salt; sift together three times.
In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add ½ cup sugar gradually, and continue beating only until meringue will hold up in soft peaks.
Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add remaining 1 cup sugar, and cream together until light and fluffy. Add sifted ingredients alternately with milk a small amount at a time, beating after each addition until smooth. Mix in flavorings. Add meringue, and mix thoroughly into batter. Spread batter in a 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan which has been lined on the bottom with parchment paper.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes, then remove from pan and transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. This cake may also be baked in two 9 inch round pans for 30 to 35 minutes, or in three 8 inch round pans for 25 to 30 minutes.
Raspberry filling
12 oz fresh raspberries
1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¼ cup water
Take 10 oz of the raspberries, 1 tablespoon of water and sugar into the food processor. Pulse several times and then, for 30 seconds until pureed.
Place cornstarch into a small bowl with 5-6 drop of water to make a paste. Add more water, mix, more water, mix until you have used all the water. Pour into raspberry mixture in food processor until very smooth.
Push mixture through a sieve to remove all seeds.
Place mixture into a saucepan on low heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Cool filling.
Lemon Curd
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer, about 2 min. Slowly add the eggs and yolks. Beat for 1 min. Mix in the lemon juice. The mixture will look curdled, but it will smooth out as it cooks.
In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. (The curdled appearance disappears as the butter in the mixture melts.) Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. It should leave a path on the back of a spoon and will read 170°F on a thermometer. Don't let the mixture boil.
Remove the curd from the heat; stir in the lemon zest. Transfer the curd to a bowl. Press plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to keep a skin from forming and chill the curd in the refrigerator. The curd will thicken further as it cools. Covered tightly, it will keep in the refrigerator for a week and in the freezer for 2 months.
Chocolate Ganache
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon dark rum
Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few
seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum.
Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.
Caramel filling
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Add the butter, brown sugar and milk to a small saucepan. Heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, about 3-5 minutes over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow to cool slightly and it will start to thicken. Spoon it into the cupcake holes.
Apricot filling
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup lemon juice
2 full cups apricots (dried)
⅓ cup sugar, more if needed
1 cup golden raisins
Place the orange juice or water, lemon juice, apricots, sugar and raisins in a medium saucepan. Toss and stir the fruit over low heat for about 8 to 12 minutes to soften. Add water or orange juice if the mixture seems dry or if the liquid is evaporating more quickly than the fruit seems to be cooking down.
Remove the saucepan from the stove and let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a food processor. Process to achieve a thick, paste like puree, adding water or orange juice if the mixture requires thinning. Taste and add sugar, if needed.
Hazelnut Cream Filling
1 egg
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1/8 cup finely-chopped hazelnuts (also known as filberts)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon hot water
2 tablespoons heavy cream whipped
In a large bowl, beat egg with flour, sugar, instant coffee, hazelnuts, and cornstarch until well blended.
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add milk and bring almost to a boil. Remove from heat and slowly whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Return all the ingredients to the saucepan, cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened and comes to a boil. Remove from the heat.
Add vanilla extract and hot water to the thickened mixture, stirring to combine. Set aside to cool until firm.
Fold in the whipped cream. Refrigerate until thick.
Chocolate Mousse Filling
4 eggs, separated
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Chambord liqueur
1 cup heavy cream whipped
In medium saucepan, combine egg yolks and milk. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is almost boiling and is thickened enough to coat spoon. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips, vanilla and liqueur; continue stirring until chocolate is melted. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Beat egg whites until stiff; fold gently into the chocolate mixture. Fold in whipped cream. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Butter cream frosting.
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, sifted
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons milk or cream
Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn't blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time.
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Grammie was my grandmother...
And please, review … it makes me happy.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Next up: BPOV