Northstar Cafe

Nostalgia

Source: mywedding.com.
Do not be alarmed, this burger is supposed to be pink (it's the beets).

Hello friends!  As promised, a post!  But I didn't promise to write an awesome post :) (hey, it's hard to write award-winning material at this hour). 


Now you may be wondering why I titled this post "nostalgia".  Well, here's why - number one: today I went thrifting and sifted though tons of clothes from the 90s, shoulder pads and all. And since I am a product of the 80s, I remember the 90s (does that make any sense? I don't really remember the first five years of my life). Number two: On my way home, I heard a No Doubt song on the radio, and No Doubt makes me think of middle school days in typing class (where we'd listen to music and NOT type). And number three: I had a date with my long-lost cousin today!  


My sweet cousin just turned 18, graduated high school, and in a month she's leaving for college. Sad face. I'm so glad I had a chance to see her and catch up with her before she leaves.  It's been several years since we have seen each other (due to some parental issues), but I was delighted to see what a beautiful young woman she's grown into!  And the fact that she wants to be a doctor is pretty great too :)

Turkey Sandwich. Source: yelp.com. It was HUGE

We went to Northstar Cafe for dinner, and Jeni's for dessert but..... I forgot my camera!  So I am borrowing some images (and crediting the sources, of course).  I had the freakin' delicious Northstar burger, and my cuz had a Turkey sandwich with a wild rice salad.  

Source: fitsugar.com. I like mine sans the ketchup.

At this point, I would talk about the food, but it's quite late. All I'll tell you now is that the Northstar burger is not the kind of burger you think it is.  Mikey ordered it a while ago, expecting a nice juicy beef burger, and he was quite upset when he took a bite and didn't get beefy goodness (he obviously did not read the menu, typical man thing to do).  The Northstar burger is a veggie burger.. but it's not the kind of veggie burger you're used to either!  It's made of rice and beats, and maybe some sort of legume.  I'm not sure.  I think it has some sort of mystical ingredient mixed in, 'cause it is damn good. I ate it so fast that I hardly had time to analyze the flavors, so excuse me for this hasty "review".  Sorry..  But at least you know it tastes good!  And is good for you too.  And besides, I think that the Northstar Burger is something that you just have to experience. 


Here are some (borrowed) pictures from Jeni's.  Interesting fact: my cousin's friend works for Jeni's kitchen, and she labels the containers by hand.  And when they misspell something, the pint is deemed a reject and the employees are free to do with them as they please.  I'm sure glad I don't work at Jeni's, because I would be rather fluffy (read: fat).

Source (for both images): dishtip.com

Eeek, it's late!  I need to get up in 4 hours, so I will say goodnight for now. 


Goodnight.


xoxo<3
Nhu-Y

Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream

Random acts of kindness


Welcome to my blog!  I have been planning on making a food blog for years, but I just haven't had time during med school.  Now that I am a fourth year student, I finally have some time!  Whee!  Here's a little bit of information on me: My name is Nhu-Y and I am from Ohio.  I am first generation Vietnamese and I grew up eating Vietnamese food.  I grew up in a smallish suburb, so there wasn't much variety in food (pizza, Applebees, American Chinese, fast food, etc).  When I got to college, my love for food began.  I got to try many different foods from different countries and cultures.  And when I got my first apartment, I could finally cook!  I love to try new cuisines and I love to try cooking different foods.  I don't have much time though, being a med student, so I will write about anything I cook whether it is fast and simple or ornate and complicated!

My first entry is for chocolate cupcakes with a peanut butter buttercream.  Here's why I made them: The latch on my trunk broke, and of course, it broke right before a thunderstorm.  The next day, I was outside tinkering with the latch when a total stranger pulled up and said that my trunk was open during the thunderstorm and he tried to close it for me.  Then, he fixed my trunk for me!  It was so kind of him, and it turns out that he is my downstairs neighbor, so I decided to make him some cupcakes as a token of my appreciation.  

Chocolate cupcakes (courtesy of Martha Stewart - my fav! )
Makes 12 cupcakes

Print this recipe


Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  1/4 teaspoon salt
  3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  1 cup sugar
  3 large eggs
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1/2 cup sour cream
  6 peanut butter cups, halved
  
  
  Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners.
  
  
  2. Into a medium bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour.
  
  
  3. Pour batter into cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
  
  
  4. Cool in pan 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  Then pipe with frosting and top with half of a peanut butter cup.
  
  
  
  

  Peanut butter buttercream (courtesy of Food.com)
  Makes enough for 12 cupcakes
  Print this recipe
  
  
  
  Ingredients
  8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, don't use old-fashioned or natural brand
  3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  1 pinch table salt
  1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1 tablespoon heavy cream
  
  
  Directions:
  1. In standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat butter and peanut butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds.
  
  
  2. Add confectioners' sugar and salt; beat at medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 45 seconds.
  
  
  3. Scrape down bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully combined, about 15 seconds; scrape bowl, add vanilla and heavy cream, and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 10 seconds, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice.
  
  
  The final cupcake is moist and chocolatety, and the buttercream is not too sweet.  Make sure you beat it frosting for long enough so it is nice and fluffy.  Otherwise, it will deflate right after you pipe the frosting.  So yummy!!  
  
  
  That's it for today, but I will be back soon!