Lil Devils Food

LIL DEVILS DEVILED EGGS

Steps:

• Slice eggs in half, and remove yolks to a separate bowl.
• Combine mustard, mayonnaise, curry powder and salt with yolks, mashing with the flat end of a large spoon. You may have to adjust mustard and mayonnaise quantities to reflect your taste for moisture of the deviling, and the size of the yolks.
• Mix in the chopped dill pickle or the capers (if necessary, drain them first).
• Stuff the egg white "boats" using a spoon. You may stop here and chill in refrigerator until serving, OR you may go on to make the decorated eggs.
• To decorate the Lil Devils: the capers become eyes, the pine nuts and pimento become noses, more pimento for mouths and for devil horns. The dill serves as hair and as beards. Create some Devils as victims, too. Round mouths, the like. Roasted pepper works well as pimento (is really the same thing), just cut or slice it to the shapes you want.

LITTLE DEVIL'S FOOD CAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups with paper liners. Whisk the flour with the cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Beat the butter with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the sugar. Beat until light and smooth, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the whole eggs and yolk 1 at a time, incorporating each fully before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Bring water just to a boil in a small saucepan and remove from the heat. With the mixer at low speed, beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 4 additions. Drizzle in the hot water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, and mix briefly to make a smooth batter. Divide the batter among the muffin cups filling them 2/3 full. Bake until the centers of the cupcakes spring back when pressed gently, about 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the tin on a rack for 10 minutes then remove from the tin and cool completely before frosting.
• For the frosting: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Pour cream over chocolate and shake the bowl gently so cream settles around the chocolate. Set mixture aside until the chocolate is soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk gently until smooth, taking care not to incorporate too many air bubbles. Stir in 1 of the flavorings, if desired. Dip the tops of the cooled cupcakes into the frosting. (Frosting can also be chilled and whipped, then piped or spread onto the cupcakes.) Set them upright and let stand 1 or 2 minutes, until frosting is slightly set, then decorate with fresh berries, candies, or chopped pistachios, if desired. Let cakes stand on rack until frosting is completely set.

SPEEDY LITTLE DEVILS

Steps:

• Combine melted butter and dry cake mix.
• Reserve 1 1/2 cups of this topping for top crust.
• Put remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 9x13 cake pan.
• Top that layer with combined peanut butter and marshmallow cream and spread evenly.
• Crumble remaining mixture over that and gently press into filling.
• Bake 20 minutes at 350°F.
• Cool.