ENTERTAINING – June 2013

June Birthstone & Flower – Red velvet cupcakes – Cream cheese frosting –
Club sandwich – Copycat Double Chocolate Frappuccino –
Giant pompoms – Medallion decorations

By Mary Canovas

Mary’s Club Sandwich

A family favorite with a very distinctive taste. It is the mingling of flavors that combine to make this extraordinary club sandwich, different and very special. Do not fail to add all the ingredients in the order given. This sandwich must be eaten immediately and using a knife and fork. You can see the video tutorial in English and Spanish above.

Ingredients (one sandwich)
• 3 slices bread (Bimbo type) • lettuce, thinly sliced tomatoes, very thinly sliced onions • 3 strips of fried bacon • 2 slices ham (Virginia, York, etc)
• 2 slices cheese – your choice taste
• Fried egg • 4 pitted olives, halved
• mayonnaise, salt, mustard

Preparation
• Toast 3 slices of bread
• Spread one side of each with mayonnaise
• Place lettuce leaf on top of the first slice with mayonnaise
• Top with a few slices of tomato. Sprinkle with salt.
• Top with the onion slices first and then bacon
• Cover slices with mayonnaise side to the bacon
• Spread mayonnaise and mustard on the other side of this top slice that already has mayonnaise
• Top with 2 slices of ham and then the cheese
• Place olives cut in half on all 4 sides of the cheese
• Fry egg and place on top of the cheese slice. Sprinkle salt on egg.
• Cut a hole in slice with remaining mayonnaise leaving the egg yolk uncovered
• Place this last slice mayonnaise side down onto the egg. Place circle of toast to one side leaving the egg yolk visible. (See picture)
• Serve immediately. Eat with knife and fork.

Double Chocolate Chip Crème Frappuccino
Copycat Starbucks

A very refreshing and surprisingly light drink. Perfect for the coming summer. With no coffee, or ice cream — just milk, crushed ice, syrup and chocolate chips topped with whipped cream — it´s a great anytime pick-me-upper for the whole family. You´ll find it´s very easy to make and the price difference is truly amazing, so you can invite the entire family and all your friends. Click Video Tutorial in Spanish above.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup (60 g) chocolate chips dark or other not white
• 1 cup (240 ml) milk (for maximum flavor use whole )
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup.
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 & 1/2 cups crushed ice
• Can Whipped Cream or homemade
You will also need: Blender, a large glass to serve, a straw

Preparation
• Have all the ingredients measured and ready beforehand
• Put all ingredients in a blender and blend at top speed until the ice and chocolate chips are small enough to fit through a straw. If not, keep blending.
• When it´s smooth enough to fit through a straw, you´ve got it!
• Pour into a tall glass. Top with generous dollop of whipped cream and drizzle some chocolate syrup on top.
• Serve immediately

Giant Pompoms

These are oh-so-easy to make. The materials are cheap and the results are fantastic. Great for parties, weddings, 4th of July. You can make them in any color or combination, small, large or giant, fluffy or compact. It´s almost impossible to show how to here so please go to my tutorial video above.

Paper Medallions

Another standard for party decorations. Really great for patriotic celebrations — just combine your flag colors. Inexpensive and easy to make, go from the tiniest ones as gift decorations, drink and cake toppers to really giant ones to hang. Why not make a delightful fun wall mural with a whole bunch of different colors and materials. See How-To in video tutorial above.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I always thought it was a Southern invention because of the famous red velvet groom´s cake (a Southern tradition) shaped like an armadillo – as seen in the famous movie Steel Magnolias. Apparently this cake has been around since the 20´s. It is also known as the Waldorf-Astoria cake. In the future, I´ll give you that original Waldorf recipe for the cake with an interesting urban legend behind it.
Red velvet cupcakes are great for holidays or any day. They taste like a very light chocolate vanilla cake. The perfect frosting is cream cheese frosting. See below for recipe.

Ingredients (12 cupcakes)
• 140 gr. (1 cup and 1 tbsp) cake flour**
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp/ 8 gr. cocoa powder
• 60 gr. (1/4 cup) butter room temperature.
• 150 gr. (3/4 cup) sugar
• 1 large egg room temperature
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 125 ml (1/2 cup) buttermilk**
• 1 tbsp liquid red food color or 1 tbsp paste color
• 1/2 tbsp baking soda
• 1/2 tbsp white vinegar.

**If you do not have cake flour, you can substitute by removing 2 tablespoons flour and substituting 2 tablespoons cornstarch – Maicena.

Make your own buttermilk: 1 cup milk, add 4 tbsps lemon juice, stir and let rest 10 minutes.

Preparation
• Preheat oven to 175 ° C- 347 ª F
• Butter and flour cupcake pans or use paper cupcake liners
• Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa and sift.
• Beat butter with sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes.
• Add egg, then vanilla
• Add red coloring into buttermilk and mix well
• Add flour in three parts, alternating with buttermilk. Always start and end with flour
• Pour vinegar over the baking soda and stir quickly. Add to the mixture while bubbling
• Fill cupcake liners to half full
• Bake 20 minutes

Cream Cheese Frosting

If you´ve ever tried to make Cream cheese frosting but it didn´t come out exactly right, try this recipe and follow the tutorial with tips for a perfect frosting that you can actually decorate with because it will hold its shape. Add food coloring if desired. Should be refrigerated for later use and can be frozen.

Ingredients
• 225 gr – 1 cup cream cheese Philadelphia
• 75 gr – 3/8 cup unsalted butter – room temperature
• 100 gr – 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
• Vanilla extract

Preparation
• Cream butter and sugar
• Add cream cheese and continue beating until peaks form. Frosting must be cold to hold its shape so if you´re not using it immediately, refrigerate.
• Frost cupcakes only when they have completely cooled.

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 Pearl
June Birthstone

Actually June has three recognized birthstones, pearl, moonst

one or alexandrite. However the most popular and most commonly given as a gift to those with June birthdays is the pearl.

History: The word pearl is derived from the Latin word “pirum” which means “pear” which reflects the shape of the gem. They are unique among gemstones since they don´t need to be cut or polished to display their full beauty. This is why it is believed that the popularity of pearls in jewelry or as adornment for clothes probably significantly pre-dates that of gemstones.  Historically they are identified with weddings (just like the month of June).  Hindu texts say that Krishna discovered the first pearl and gave it to his daughter as a gift on her wedding day. Greek and Roman brides and wedding guests were expected to be adorned with pearls. The Greeks believed pearls were tears of joy that Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, shed when she was born from sea foam.   The pearl symbolizes absolute perfection in Islamic tradition. In some early Arabian legends pearls are hardened moon drops, and the oysters that give birth to the pearls were lured to the sea by the moon itself.

They can be real or so called oriental made without human intervention and command very high prices or they can be cultured by inserting an irritant in the mollusks which will cause a pearl to form around it. Pearls come in many different colors which symbolize different things according to colors. Black or gold pearls are connected to wealth, pink with success, and blue with love.

Metaphysical Properties:  Pearls are emblematic of modesty, chastity and purity conferring love, success and happiness.  They express loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The pearl is said to help people see themselves as they are and help improve self-worth.

Healing Ability: Pearls are supposed to eliminate emotional imbalances. They also aid with stomach, spleen, intestinal and ulcer problems and are useful in mastering the heart chakra.

Rose
June Birth Flower 

Roses originated in China.  The oldest fossils of rose – over 35 million years old – have been found in Colorado. The rose is the national flower of the United States and the United Kingdom. Along with love it is also a symbol of achievement, completion and perfection.

The rose is associated with femininity. The red rose belongs to Aphrodite, while the white rose symbolizes the pure, innocent and unselfish love of Mother Mary. There are numerous legends about the rose.  The legend of St. George and the dragon says that a rose grew from the drops of blood of the dragon he slayed and of course our beloved Christmas rose.

Considered the queen of flowers, roses have many meanings for those who give or receive them.  When it comes to love and relationships, the rose deserves a special place as it always speaks of love and affection.

Different colors, different meanings.
Here are a few to be your guide when giving or receiving this magnificent flower.

Red roses: love and passion
White roses: purity, innocence, unconditional love
Rose roses: friendship, gentleness, softness, thankfulness
Yellow roses: joy and friendship
Orange roses: enthusiasm and fascination
Green roses: calm
Blue roses:  mystery

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Photos
Featured image (Montage): Creme Frappuccino/akihito nakanishi, CC BY-SA2.0. Rose/Stux, pixabay
Amber rose by OKKI, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike
Tea rose released into public domain by author Laitche
Pearl by Andree Guittcis, Creative Common Attribution-Share Alike