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Weelicious Cookbook

I first met Catherine McCord this passed April at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. I was holed up waiting to tape Jimmy Kimmel Live and trying not to be very social until it was all over. But for some reason I decided that Catherine McCord would be the right person to see during my self-imposed isolation. So she came on by and we had a little prosecco together and immediately fell into conversation as if we were very old friends. We had been set up on a blind date of sorts by our mutual literary agent who just felt like we should know each other. And she was so, so right.

Catherine has a new book out that focuses on incorporating healthy fruits and vegetables into every day eating in a way that is accessible. Her recipes are fun and inventive and especially good for the younger people in your life. She has a wonderful philosophy on how to involve children in what they are eating, starting from the farmers’ market where they pick out their food and get to carry it and interact with it on the journey to the plate. You can see why I like that philosophy : )

 

These beet velvet cupcakes are a perfect example. I always felt that I wanted beets in my cupcakes but didn’t know it until Catherine showed them to me. A recipe for them from this wonderful book is below. And I’m also giving away a copy to one lucky winner. Simply enter in any and all of the ways below. And if you just can’t wait for the book, you can purchase it wherever books are sold.

You will love this book and so will your children. As she says, it’s all about “one family, one meal.” I hope you win it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

“Chocolate Velvet Beet Cupcakes”

In Catherine's words: "Now and then, we love taking the kids by our favorite neighborhood cupcake store to enjoy a special treat. Of course their eyes are always drawn to the most colorful cupcakes in the display case. My kids may have no idea how they actually taste, but put something like a red velvet cupcake made with crimson food dye in front of them and their immediate response is, “That one.” These chocolate velvet cupcakes have a rich chocolate flavor, but they aren’t artificially red like cupcakes that use chemical food dyes. They and their icing get their bright reddish-pink color from a surprising, delicious, and 100% natural guest: roasted beets. You’d never know that though, since there’s no beet flavor in them. Just deep, rich chocolate! I offer two ingredient versions for the frosting here, one white and one a delightful beet-stained pink!"
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 14 Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 large beet roasted, cooled, peeled, and pureed (about ¾ cup)
  • see to Puree beets
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • ½ cups For White Frosting
  • one 8-ounce package cream cheese at room temperature
  • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • For Pink Frosting:
  • 1 8- ounce package cream cheese at room temperature
  • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 medium beet roasted, cooled, peeled, and pureed (about ½ cup)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Sift the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt into a large bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients.
  • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring to combine thoroughly as you go.
  • Pour about 1/3 cup batter into paper-lined muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool thoroughly, frost, and serve. The cupcakes will keep in a covered container on the counter for 1 day, or in the fridge for up to 3 days, or you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
  • To puree Beets: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Wrap the beets in foil and bake for 45 minutes, or until fork-tender. Remove the beets from the foil and set aside until cool to the touch. Put your hand in a zip-top bag (to avoid staining your hand) and rub the skins from the beets. Puree the beets until smooth.

34 Comments

  • LesleaM
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 3:54 am

    Yum! I just added beets to pancake batter last week! I definiately need to try these!! I love snickerdoodles!

  • Jessie D
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Favorite childhood food was lasagna home made by my momma 🙂

  • Brenda Schwerdt
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 9:31 am

    We made a pasta with a beet and ricotta sauce. I’m really excited about the cupcakes!

  • diana
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:14 am

    favorite childhood food had to be pancakes. I think i asked for them everyday!

  • Tracy @MomRedefined
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:51 am

    My favourite childhood food was grilled cheese sandwiches made with real cheddar cheese and whole wheat bread. Yum!

  • Amy N.
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Favorite childhood food was Mom’s spaghetti 🙂

  • Lisa
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:56 am

    I used to love breakfast for dinner as a kid.

  • Valerie R.
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:56 am

    My favorite childhood food was steamed broccoli or as I called them “dinosaur trees.”

  • Elizabeth
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:56 am

    My favorite childhood food was pancakes (still is my favorite) and chocolate chip cookies. Yum!

  • judy
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 10:58 am

    my favorite childhood food was homemade noodle soup!

  • Gary
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:02 am

    My favorite childhood food was a hot grilled sandwich.

  • GK
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:04 am

    cakes and cookies!

  • ashlea
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:13 am

    Probably the iconic Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. :-/ Or my mom’s chicken and dumplings!

  • Laura
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:15 am

    My favorite childhood food was french toast.

  • Liz
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:23 am

    Made weelicious salsa verde last night and chicken chili verde is in the crock pot now. Tried crock pot mexican lasagna last week…yum! Favorite childhood meal would either be french toast or pasta…carbs have always been my downfall.

  • Keren
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:52 am

    Chicken noodle soup!

  • Shuli
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:55 am

    My favorite childhood food was macaroni and cheese!

  • Katy
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 11:58 am

    My mom’s potato salad and it still is one of my very favorites!

  • Juli
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    My favorite childhood food was grilled cheese. Still love it!

  • Andy
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    My favorite childhood food was pork and sauerkraut. Love it!

  • Janice
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    My favorite childhood food was mashed potatoes. I still lovem!

  • Kendra
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Yum 🙂 They look so fun and tasty!

  • Taylor Smieya
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 1:42 pm

    super cute!

  • Taylor Smieya
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    my favorite childhood food was mac&cheese!

  • Kristy Bartlett
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    My favorite childhood food was grapes and cookies…but not together.

  • Molly
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    My favorite childhood food was barbecue chicken. Still is!

  • Gabrielle
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    Love the idea of crimson red icing from beets!! Fabulous!!

  • Lori Hada
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    My favorite childhood food was & still is spaghetti.

  • Larissa
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Loved my mom’s homemade mac and cheese

  • Elin
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    It would be safe to say that anything involving cheese and pasta would have ranked up there pretty high.

  • Julie S.
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    Probably my mom’s spagetti with meat sauce. But if I had a cold, my dad would always fix me a warm bowl of milk toast, which I loved! I loved it all the more because it made my 4 younger sisters & brothers gag 🙂

  • Jeanie
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    My favorite childhood food was roasted chestnuts.

  • Sabelle
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    Favorite childhood food was macaroni and cheese or anything with pasta:)

  • Angela
    Posted October 10, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    My favorite childhood food was French Toast.

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