Race Day festivities

No ticket to the race this year, but I'm going to a cookout tonight, and I decided to try out some of my gourmet club recipes to see how they do...see what kind of modifications I may need to make for next time.

I really want to try this triple layer lemon pistachio cake, but the hosts this evening aren't fans of lemon cake, so I'll wait for another event. The picture in Epicurious is amazing.

So, I decided to try the Mango Banana Cake instead. My modifications: 1 9 inch square pan, 1 pan regular size cupcakes (6) and 2 mini muffin pans (total of 12). Also, I did not attempt the mango curd given some of the reviews. Plus I'm not sure if the cookout guests are curd fans. So instead, I made a mango glaze (1/3 cup mango purée with 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar) and a dark chocolate frosting. But I did follow the cake recipe exactly. Probably used every single mixing bowl, dish, utensil I own trying to keep dry separate from wet, and adding dry and mashed bananas in 3 waves.

I iced 6 of the mini cupcakes with the mango glaze and the remaining six with the dark chocolate glaze (before whipping into a frosting). Then I iced the regular cupcakes with the mango glaze, and I cut the square cake into 2 triangles, placed a layer of glaze between and on top, and made a double-layer, right-angle isosceles masterpiece. Then I whipped the chocolate frosting. It's currently chilling in the fridge right now. It's my plan to ice to cupcakes and the cake with the frosting before I take it to the party.

And I made a fantastic honey banana frozen yogurt and mango sorbet.


Mango Purée
2 ripe mangoes
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Juice of 1/2 lime
1-2 shots Triple Sec

Sorbet: Simmer sugar and water until dissolved and put to the side. Purée mangoes with lime juice and Triple Sec. Set aside 1/3 cup of the purée (for glaze). Add the simple syrup, then chill mixture. When ready, make according to ice cream maker instructions.

Glaze: Make glaze with mango purée and powdered sugar. Whisk until dissolved. Set aside.


Chocolate Frosting
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
4 ounces fine dark chocolate, chopped/broken into pieces ( used Ghirardelli semi-sweet)
1 Tbsp. honey

Bring cream to a boil. Pour over chocolate and honey. Let sit for 5 minutes. Gently whisk together. Set aside and allow icing to come to room temperature.

Drizzle for icing/glaze. Beat with electric mixture for fluffy frosting. I think it could use some more sweetness, so I suggest adding powdered sugar to taste during the mixing process. I chose to leave mine alone so it is in contrast to the sweetness of the mango glaze.


Honey Banana Frozen Yogurt
[Please note: This is my own creation...I will likely continue to modify slightly until I find the right flavor.]

3 very ripe bananas, peeled
Juice from 1/2 lime
1 1/4 cups Greek style yogurt, 2 %
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey

Purée all ingredients in a blender. May need to stir or work with a spatula to get all ingredients mixed. Freeze in the ice cream maker immediately to preserve the flavor and color of the bananas.

Amazing consistency, texture, and taste. Perhaps a tad too much honey, but I only had 3 bananas. Maybe add another banana to balance it out next time.

Little Man weighs in...

Ats & Crafts day with my main man, G. We're making a homemade jewelry box for his mommy's birthday next week, and I also told him we would make our own homemade ice cream. I gave him 4 flavors to choose from, and of course he wants two. Top of his list: blueberry frozen yogurt and orange popsicle ice cream. He chose these over other offerings, such as green pea ice cream...I thought he'd find the exotic amusing (especially since he likes all things green), but he said "Yuck!"


We'll likely half or drop the full quantities somewhat, as he doesn't need 2 quarts of full fat ice cream and neither do I. I'm also omitting the small amounts of liquor for his benefit. I certainly don't want to lose my Good Aunt privileges.

UPDATE: the jewelry box is precious. Bright jade green covered in sparkly beads. He did most of it, I only assisted with the glue and paint touch ups. So, so precious.

The blueberry yogurt turned out fantastic. I accidentally bought fat free plain yogurt, and you couldn't tell. Yumm-O! The orange popcicle...not so much. I think the oranges were too bland. Perhaps I should replace half with pure OJ concentrate instead next time? Not sure.

Little Man wants to try the green pea next time...so adventurous.