Gingerbread S'mores Cupcake Recipe

Sometimes we don’t want to let go of summer…and sometimes we don’t have to! We took a summer dessert staple and turned it into a perfect treat for those chilly winter nights. Check out our Gingerbread S’mores Cupcake recipe below:


Prep: 45 minutes
Cook: 16-18 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Crust
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
½ cup graham cracker crumbs

Gingerbread Cupcakes
½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
½ cup brown sugar 
1 egg, at room temperature
½ cup milk
½ cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice

Chocolate Ganache Filling
4 ounces chopped milk chocolate
2 tablespoons heavy cream

Marshmallow Fluff Frosting
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
¼ cup water
1/8 teaspoon fine salt
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin tin with liners.
2.     Combine the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs together, mixing well until combined. Spoon about ½ tablespoon into each cupcake liner, pressing with the back of a spoon to form a crust.
3.   Make the cupcakes: In a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar on a medium setting, with either a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until creamy. Beat in the egg until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Beat in milk, molasses, and vanilla on medium speed until just combined, still piecey. In a medium bowl, toss the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice together until combined. With the mixer on a low speed, slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Drop about ¼ cup of batter on top of each graham cracker crust, filling the liners ¾ of the way full.
4.     Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until cupcakes are set and spring back at the touch. Let cool completely.
5.     While cupcakes are baking, heat the heavy cream until warm. Pour over the chopped milk chocolate in a large bowl, then use a spoon or whisk to stir until melted and combined. Let sit until cupcakes are cool, then fill a pastry bag with the chocolate and insert the top straight down into the cupcakes, squeezing the ganache inside.

For Marshmallow Fluff Frosting:

1.     In a small pot combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Place candy thermometer in the pot and heat mixture to 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.     While syrup is heating, place egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla extract into a stand mixer and whip until medium-stiff peaks form.
3.     When syrup reaces its temperature, remove from heat and very slowly drizzle into egg whites. Turn stand mixer on and whip until very shiny, stiff, and sticky. Put fluff into pastry bag and refrigerate.

Frost the cupcakes, and torch until toasted if you’d like for an authentic S’mores finish.


Enjoy!


A Rockin' Bar Mitzvah


Serves You Right had the pleasure of acting as both the caterers and the event planners for a show-stopping Rock and Roll themed Bar Mitzvah in September.

All photos courtesy of Gold/Wong Photography

The party was located inside of the historic Los Angeles Village Recording Studio, which has been home to hundreds of amazing musicians like Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and Kelly Clarkson.



In this unique venue, guests were able to channel their inner rock star by recording versions of popular songs, from “Let it Go” from Disney’s Frozen to Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani. The recordings were placed onto small guitar-shaped flash drives and distributed to guests at the end of the party.


Passed Hors D’oeuvres ranged from sophisticated to kid-friendly, including some of our most popular hors d’oeuvres, as well as some more recognizable favorites.




For dinner, adults were served a plated three-course meal,while kids were served larger passed bites, so as not to interrupt the festivities. These larger plates allowed the kids to dance (Spotlight LA), use the photo booth (Mugshots), visit the t-shirt making station (Hit + Run), and get airbrush tattoos (FabArt FX), without having to stop and sit down to eat.


Both kids and adults enjoyed custom frozen creations courtesy of Ice Cream Lab






Adults were served a delicious dessert at their tables, but that didn't stop them from trying the assortment of pastries and small snacks that were passed around to the kids! 



Thanks to everyone who helped us make this Rock and Roll party an unforgettable show!

All photos courtesy of Gold/Wong Photography


Serves You Right! The Perfect Venue For Any Occasion

This past weekend we hosted a very special 6th birthday party at our venue.



The theme of the party, ‘Pink Lemonade', was incorporated through the food and decor. Charm City Cakes provided a beautiful bright pink cake with lemon décor. Sweet Pea Floral Design coordinated hot pink gerber daisies, which were accented with sliced lemons.Guests enjoyed airbrush tattoos courtesy of FabArtFX and a photobooth by E&H Photobooths.



Our menu offered a variety of specialty brunch items including an Omelet Bar, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Kale & Quinoa Salad. We also had Longshot Coffee onsite to prepare their delicious specialty coffee, lattes, blended drinks, and smoothies for guests of all ages.


The party was a huge success and we look forward to hosting many more events at our unique venue. 

Annenberg Space for Photography 'Country: Portraits of an American Sound' Opening Celebration


As a preferred caterer of the Annenberg Foundation, Serves You Right! has once again had the incredible opportunity to work with the Annenberg Space for Photography and cater its opening celebration for ‘Country: Portraits of an American Sound.’


When guests arrived they were greeted with our own ‘taste of Country’ the “Lemon Ginger Bourbon Fizz.” The cocktail is a refreshing mix of bourbon, lemon and ginger beer, that was garnished with mint and served in mason jars. Wait staff were outfitted in western shirts to match the theme of the evening.





Serves You Right! designed a menu of country western inspired specialties for the event including miniature crab cake “hush puppies,” bite sized brisket sliders and fried chicken on mini waffles with peach maple syrup.





The amazing event producer, J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, created the perfect country western ambiance for the occasion.





The Annenberg Space for Photography offered the perfect location to set up a country western playground that all ages could enjoy. The event even included a mechanical bull that allowed professional bull riders and party attendees to test out their skills. And, to top off the evening, country artist Lyle Lovett performed!


As always, Serves You Right! was thrilled to help host another great event with the Annenberg Foundation.






LA Modernism Opening to Benefit P.S. ARTS

This past weekend Serves You Right! catered the Opening Night Party of the Los Angeles Modernism Show and Sale.  This is an incredible event in which all proceeds benefit P.S. Arts, a fantastic organization that provides arts education to underserved public schools and communities. 


The cocktail party was held at 3Labs in Culver City, which served as the perfect venue to highlight the many impressive art exhibits. 


A highlight of the night was our refreshing specialty cocktails: The Landrover Autobiography (Absolut Elyx Vodka, Gingersnap Clover Juice & Club Soda) and The Jaguar ALIVE Margarita (Tequila Avión & Quench Clover Juice).


The event was a huge success and we are so glad to have been apart of this incredible fundraiser that supports such a wonderful cause. 

c/o Elaine Lee Photography

Annenberg Community Beach House Celebrates 5th Anniversary!

Serves You Right! has been a preferred caterer at the Annenberg Community Beach House since its 2009 inception. Yesterday evening we were delighted to have the opportunity to cater their 5th anniversary celebration event.




The Sand and Sea Room is a beautiful event space that provides the perfect setting for a beach themed event, which we embraced throughout the decor. 


Happy 5th Anniversary Annenberg Community Beach House and thanks for letting us be a part of your incredible team! 


PhotoBooth Fun!

If you are looking to add some fun and excitement to your next party, a photo booth may be the perfect choice! Photo booths are a great form of entertainment, and they provide a fantastic party favor for your guests. Whether you are hosting an event for kids, adults or both, we find that all ages LOVE this form of interactive entertainment. Since the photos are printed instantly, sharing your photos with fellow party-goers can also be a great conversation starter. Photo booths are a surefire way guests will always remember your fabulous event!


SYR Catering's preferred photo booth vendor is E&H Photobooth. They provide a talented and experienced photographer, along with unique props and costumes for guests to choose from and show-off. Elaine Lee Photography can also create a custom footer with your event logo or a special message. If you would like to book a photo booth for your next event, please contact us today!

Ladies Luncheon with The Blue Ribbon Board of Directors

SYR has had a wonderful start to our week with a lovely luncheon for the Board of Directors of The Blue RibbonThe premier women's support organization gathered for what hopes to be an annual elegant lunch to celebrate the arts. 


Guests were greeted with our signature "Cucumber-Basil Lemonade" and "Jasmine Iced Tea." The guests were impressed with how good these simple drinks could be, explaining that they were absolutely refreshing and perfectly sweetened.The afternoon was filled with good conversation, beautiful flowers, healthy food and decadent dessert. 



In collaborating with Rrivre Works and Sweet Peas Custom Floral, we were able to seamlessly intertwine a modern and elegant look for the decor. The simple color scheme embraced a sophisticated ambiance that we hoped to create for these brilliant women. 



For a creative and healthy twist, rather than serving a basket of bread on each table, we began the lunch with seasonal vegetable crudité complimented by a fresh herb dip. This starter was placed on wooden paddles on each table for the guests to enjoy with their drinks. 



The three course lunch began with a vegan carrot ginger soup, followed by a pan seared salmon with two mustard creme fraîché and the meal concluded with our irresistible chocolate pot de créme with black lava salt. 

One of the highlights of this meal were the warm popovers served with the entrées. Our heart-healthy popovers are a delicious and healthy alternative to what is usually a buttery and high-caloric pastry. The guests loved this light, yet satisfying side dish and per request, we want to share with you our easy and guilt-free recipe. 




Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 popover)

Ingredients:
4 Large Egg Whites
1 Cup Fat-Free Milk
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Teaspoons Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
Butter-Flavored Cooking Spray

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
  2. Combine egg whites and milk, stirring with a whisk until foamy. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, and salt, stirring well with a whisk.
  3. Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray, and place in a 450 degree oven for 3 minutes.
  4. Gradually stir flour mixture into egg mixture, stirring with a whisk just until blended. Remove muffin pan from oven. Divide batter evenly among hot cups. 
  5. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. (Do not remove popover cups from oven) Bake an additional 20 minutes or until golden. 

Valentine’s Day Recipe: SYR’s Signature Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

Serves You Right has had a busy week catering events that have celebrated one of our favorite holidays: Valentine’s Day! We believe that cooking is a true act of love, so we’re sharing an easy and sweet recipe for you to enjoy with that special someone.


Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Yield: 24 brownies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, melted
3 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups unsweetened chocolate (we use 64% cacao cocoa extra bitter Guayaquil)
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

2. In a double boiler, melt chocolate (1 cup) with butter. Pull the butter and chocolate off of the heat once melted.

3. Combine the melted chocolate and butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Fold in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended (be careful not to cook the eggs). 

4. Sift the flour and salt in a bowl. Gradually stir flour mixture into the egg mixture until blended. Stir in the remaining chocolate (1 cup). Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.

5.  Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting.

Happy Valentine's Day!




Super Bowl Sunday Celebrations

Super Bowl Sunday is a time for football, fun and most importantly, FOOD! We love a good Super Bowl party, and this past weekend Serves You Right! had the privilege of catering two parties for Super Bowl XLVIII.

Inspired by the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos, we incorporated the teams’ colors into the décor at both events.  The food provided at both events featured a selection of tailgate favorites. 


Let the games begin!


The first event was held at the Annenberg Space for Photography. The incredible space allowed guests to watch the game on 14’ Screens in their Digital Gallery. The room was divided into two themed sections: Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. The sections were decorated with balloons from Balloon Emporium, cheering gear and football shaped containers filled with popcorn and pretzels. 


We featured buffet style service, with buffets decorated with flowers by Sweet Pea’s Custom Floral. 


The Hors D’oeuvres buffet consisted of poached shrimp, fried calamari, glazed hot wings and a loaded nacho bar. 


For dinner, we served grilled skirt steak, assorted gourmet sausages, Italian sub sandwiches, chili, potato skins and a selection of salads.


Our other party was an annual Super Bowl party, which we look forward to catering each year. Some of the highlights from our menu included seared scallops, fried mac & cheese, slow roasted chicken tacos & crab claws. 

C/o PEOPLE Magazine
Another highlight from this Super Bowl event was the incredible dessert buffet, which included a chocolate fountain, warm apple crisp and assorted football themed cookies from the Cake Divas. We also served a specialty cocktail called the “Super ‘Berry’ Bowl,” which was made up of vodka, fresh muddled berries, lime juice and a splash of sparkling lime soda. 

Although our guests would have enjoyed a better game, we considered both parties to be real winners! 

Top Ten Event Highlights of 2013

With the excitement of a new year ahead of us, we wanted to take a look back at some of the moments that made 2013 such a special year for Serves You Right! Catering. The following are a few of our favorite events from the past year.  



Helmut Newton Exhibition Opening at the Annenberg Space for Photography


Serves You Right! Catering was honored to produce and cater the opening of the Helmut Newton Exhibition at the Annenberg Space for Photography. Inspired by Newton’s iconic fashion photographs, we created an ambiance of beauty, elegance and sophistication with the help of chandeliers, champagne cocktails and model wait staff.

Beachside Wedding Reception at the Annenberg Community Beach House

Photos Courtesy of Karen Ard Photography
Serves You Right! Catering is proud to be a preferred vendor at the Annenberg Community Beach House. This summer we catered a beautiful beachside wedding reception at the Marion Davies Guest House. Serves You Right tapped Sweet Pea's Custom Floral to design beautiful coastal inspired arrangements for the ceremony and reception. In lieu of traditional cake cutting, the newlyweds torched a large version of their favorite dessert, crème brûlée.

Rustic-Elegant Outdoor Wedding

We were delighted to collaborate with Jowy Productions on several events in 2013. One of our favorite events was a wedding we catered for a very special client's daughter. The bride and groom envisioned an evening of rustic elegance, and we enjoyed executing their vision throughout our menu. From ‘herbaltini’ cocktails to an abundant cheese station, we were able to creatively incorporate the theme. 

Marshall School of Business Fundraising Event

We were thrilled to cater a fundraiser for the Marshall School of Business this year. The event was a great success with a special performance from Grammy Award Winning Performance Artist, LeAnn Rimes. The outdoor celebration was filled with warmth, laughter and of course, the Trojan colors: cardinal and gold.

                                 First Republic Bank Cocktail Reception                                 
at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

In October we catered a beautiful cocktail reception for First Republic Bank, which celebrated a 'Night of Fashion and Wonder'. This was an inaugural event at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, in its beautiful 1933 historic Beverly Hills Post Office building and courtyard. We created French themed food stations, which matched the tone of the evening.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Breakfast 

Photos Courtesy of US News

When POTUS calls, Serves You Right! Answers. We had the pleasure of catering an intimate breakfast with special guest, President Barack Obama. We prepared a brunch buffet with highlights that included an eggs Benedict bar, lemon ricotta pancakes, chicken apple sausage and bacon. 

USC Distinguished Lecture Dinner 
Photos Courtesy of USC News
Within one week we had the privilege of serving not one president, but TWO! We catered an elegant dinner in honor of 43rd President George W. Bush and former First Lady, Laura Bush. He is the third US President to receive our SYR signature food and service.

70th Birthday Celebration 

We have so much fun coordinating events for our long time clients and friends - especially birthday celebrations! This birthday girl has a wonderfully vibrant personality and that’s exactly what we wanted to shine through at her party. We served her guests a family style meal and finished the night with a dessert buffet, specialty birthday cake and plenty of dancing!

USC Office of the President Holiday Parties 


      Every holiday season we look forward to catering a series of dinner events for the Office of the President at USC. This year we had an exciting challenge to cater 8 holiday parties in the span of 13 days, serving over 2,300 guests. This big endeavor was an incredible success and we look forward to taking on this challenge again next year!

Corporate Holiday Party in Marina Del Rey  


Last, but not least, we closed 2013 by producing and catering a company holiday party in Marina Del Rey. We transformed the raw office space into a sleek and sophisticated lounge with the help of Rrivre Works Custom Luxury Rentals. To get into the holiday spirit, we made ‘White Christmas Cosmos,’ consisting of vodka, white cranberry juice & Cointreau w/ fresh raspberry and rosemary garnish.