Norman Brothers: Honeybell Tangelos and Purple Potatoes

Honeybells are grown in Florida, and are available for only one month a year- January. They are the sweetest, juciest type of citrus imaginable. We simply cut these up and had them for dessert. But not until after tasting these technicolor tubers:




Purple potatoes! Okay, I was a bit leery about trying these after the red corn incident, but who could resist purple potatoes? I recently discovered Norman Bros. Market in South Miami, and picked up this interesting produce there. I baked them like I would any potato, and they were just fine. Tasted just like any Idaho baked potato.

I'm a sucker for strangely colored food. I went through a cake baking phase for the sole purpose of experimenting with coloring the batter. I ate a lot of gray cake, but also learned to keep it simple, which is excellent advice for any type of cooking. Most everything is best not tinkered with too much. Enjoy your weekend, try something new- or something old in a different color...and the eggs.

Aunt Ruthie's Black-Bottom Cupcakes

My grandmother's sisters had biblical names- Esther, Miriam, Ruth, Naomi -- you get the idea. Did you ever have one older relative who was the most fun of them all? My Aunt Ruthie was my favorite. In the late 1970's, she got me hooked on General Hospital. She took me to the swimming pool games on July 4th when none of the other grown-ups would. She could bake like nobody's business.



Aunt Ruthie's Black-Bottom Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt (scant 1/2 t)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon vinegar

Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and baking soda.



Add oil, water, vanilla and vinegar. Fill small muffin cups (you can use small paper cup liners) 1/3 full with chocolate mixture.





Mix the following topping:

1 Eight ounce cream cheese
1 unbeaten egg
1/3 cup sugar
1 Six ounce portion chocolate chips (regular or mini)





Doubling the cream cheese topping mixture is a good idea. I doubled it on the advice of my mother, and it was necessary to have enough. Cream the cream cheese, egg and sugar together. Fold in the chocolate chips. Spoon over chocolate mixture by heaping teaspoons. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (just very slightly brown on top).

If you're in the mood for something rich and chocolatey, this is the perfect sweet. They're like mini cheesecakes. They freeze well and defrost in minutes, so you can make them ahead of time.

If there are recipes in your family that haven't been written down, take a few minutes to talk to the old folks. Ask them what their parents and grandparents cooked. You might be surprised at how much they remember, and learn some new old family favorites...and the eggs.

Wassail- Festive, Fragrant and Flavorful!

1/2 gallon fresh apple cider
4 cinnamon sticks
2 oranges, studded with cloves
1 cup dark rum
1/2 cup brandy

Place oranges studded with cloves in 350 degree oven for 10 or 15 minutes, until fragrant. Empty cider into large soup pot. You can also add some sliced oranges- we wanted orange slices in each glass.



Add cinnamon sticks and heat over medium heat until almost at a boil. Add rum, brandy and warmed oranges, and it's ready to serve.



This drink is verrry easy to sip, and it warms you up on a cold night. It even warms you up on a warm night. After you serve it, set the heat as low as you can without turning it off, and the wassail will stay warm. We doubled the recipe and it was enough for 5 people to have several glasses apiece. It is not too sweet and not too tart-- just perfect. Watch out, the rum creeps up on you.



Cheers, time to go a-wassaling...and the eggs.