ENTERTAINING MARTHA STEWART RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Heat oil in a small Dutch oven or other heavy 3-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add shallots and onions, tossing to coat, then bring to a simmer. Add tomatoes, oregano, rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt, and a pinch of red-pepper flakes. Cover, and transfer to oven.
• Bake until onions are very tender, about 2 1/4 hours. Uncover, and bake until onions are slightly golden around edges, about 15 minutes more. Stir in vinegar, and let shallots and onions cool slightly in oil. Before serving, discard herb sprigs. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 standard muffin cups with paper or foil liners. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat butter with sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with milk. Beat in melted chocolate.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake until a tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes, then remove cupcakes and let cool completely on rack. (Cupcakes can be made ahead up to this point and stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.)
• Make the pudding: In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt. Whisk in milk and egg yolk. Bring to a boil over medium-high, whisking constantly; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in vanilla and chopped chocolate until melted. Pour mixture into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap directly onto surface to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
• Make the ganache: In a small saucepan, bring cream and corn syrup to a boil. Pour over chocolate in a heatproof bowl and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Let stand until mixture has a thick, pourable consistency, about 5 minutes more. Use right away.
• Transfer pudding to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip. Insert tip in top of a cupcake and squeeze until cupcake begins to mound. Repeat with remaining cupcakes. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes and up to 1 day. Spoon about 2 teaspoons ganache over top of each cupcake; top with chocolate curls. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes before serving.