Yellow Daisy Food

DAISY CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 14 muffin cups with cupcake liners. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions. Fill the prepared muffin cups halfway full with batter. Scrape the remaining batter (about 2 1/2 cups) into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake the cupcakes and cake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes and cake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes for the cupcakes and 23 to 28 minutes for the cake. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth.
• Transfer 3 cups of the frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip (number 803).
• Transfer 1 cup of the frosting to a small bowl and tint with the golden yellow gel food coloring. Scrape the yellow frosting into a small pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch plain round tip (number 804).
• Cover the remaining frosting (about 2 cups) with plastic and reserve for frosting the cake.
• To assemble: Place the cake layer upside down on an extra-large cutting board or platter (at least 18-by-14-inches). Arrange the cupcakes in their liners around the cake to create a daisy shape. Pipe a border of the white frosting along the edges of the daisy. Using a small offset spatula, spread the reserved white frosting evenly inside the border to frost the top of the cake and bring the cupcakes and cake together into one cake.
• Gently invert a small bowl (with a diameter of about 3 1/2-inches) in the center of the cake to lightly indent a circle. Remove the bowl. Using the indented circle as a guideline, pipe small dollops of the yellow frosting with peaks to fill in the circle.
• Pipe a border of white frosting along the edge of each petal to define their shapes. To serve, remove the cupcakes and slice the cake.

YELLOW RICE WITH CORN

Steps:

• Heat the Achiote Oil in a Dutch oven or other heavy 4 to 5-quart pot with a tight fitting lid over medium-high heat. Stir in the Sofrito and alcaparrado and cook until the liquid is evaporated and the Sofrito is sizzling. Season with the salt, pepper, and cumin. Toss in the bay leaves.
• Raise the heat to high and add the rice and corn. Cook, stirring, until the rice is coated with the oil and the grains begin to turn "chalky," about 3 minutes. Pour in enough chicken broth to cover the rice by 1-inch. Bring to a boil and cook until the level of the broth meets the level of the rice. Lower the heat to very low, stir the rice thoroughly but only once, and cover. Cook until the rice is tender but with a little bite and all the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
• Heat the oil and achiote seeds over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle. Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil a nasty green. Once they're sizzling away, pull the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops. Strain as much of the oil as you are going to use right into the pan; store the remaining oil for up to 2 days at room temperature in a jar with a tight fitting lid.
• Place the onion and cubanelle or Italian peppers in the work bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, add the remaining ingredients, 1 at a time, and process until smooth. The sofrito will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It also freezes beautifully.

YELLOW DAISY COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Before shaking add a dash of Absinthe
• and then shake.
• Serve.
• Note:
• If you are European you can obtain Absinthe.
• If you aren't use a suitable sub.