Mellow Yellow

Peace, love and cupcakes. That is the mantra that Steve Butters, chef/owner of Butter Café & Bakery, in Walpole, MA, incorporates into his everyday life. So why not infuse a little peace and love into his already scrumptious cupcakes? The always innovative Chef Butters is now introducing the all natural Mellow Yellow ($4.20) a vanilla cupcake infused with both melatonin and valerian.

Hand painted with groovy shades of yellow, this cupcake packs a psychedelic punch both visually and physically.

Used as a minor sleep aid, valerian root is derived from a perennial flowering plant with sweet-smelling pink or white flowers and can be used to treat sleeping disorders, headaches and anxiety. Also a naturally occurring sleep aid, melatonin has the same physical effect when ingested. Guests must be 18+ and show valid ID upon purchasing the cupcake.

“The song Mellow Yellow takes me back to a day where I was worry free and traveling across the country following Phish and the Dead. Back then they had what they called ganja goo-balls, which were marijuana infused rice crispie treats, but they tasted horrible! People eat oysters because they taste great and it gives them a little kick, why not have mood-altering cupcakes?” said Butters.

Baked with Butters’ tender loving care, this magnificently irie cupcake is packed with flavor and is sure to take the edge off a rough day.


RECIPE:
Cupcake
1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 gram Valerian Root finely ground
1 cup granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup sour cream

1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
60mg melatonin (12 5mg caplets ground)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard cupcake tin with liners.
2. Measure out 1gram of finely ground Valerian Root and add it to a saucepan with the butter and melt on low. When completely melted, let cool. We have now infused the butter with the active chemicals in the root. Strain the butter in a fine cheesecloth or colander. Reserve.
3. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, melatonin and salt in medium bowl. Add butter, sour cream, egg, egg yolks, vanilla and lemon juice; beat at medium speed until smooth, for approximately one minute. Scrape down sides of bowl with spatula and mix again.
4. Divide batter evenly among prepared baking cups. Bake until cupcake tops are pale yellow (hence the mellow) or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, around 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tin and transfer to a wire rack. Cool cupcakes to room temperature before frosting.

Frosting
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2½ cups confectionary sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Yellow food coloring

1. Using the wire whip attachment of your mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 6-7 minutes; scrape the bowl once or twice.
2. Turn mixer to low and slowly add the confectionary sugar. Once all of the confectionary sugar is incorporated, increase the speed to medium-high and add the vanilla and food coloring, mixing until incorporated. Whip at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed.

Frost cupcakes, sit back, take a bite and mellow out!

Visit Butter Café and Bakery or call 508-668-2123 to order your own batch of Mellow Yellow cupcakes or stop by the Café for a piece of irie.

COST:
$4.20 per cupcake

WHERE:
Butter Café and Bakery, 935 East St. Walpole MA, 02081

ADDITIONAL:
Must be 18+ to purchase a Mellow Yellow cupcake, valid ID must be shown at time of purchase.

DISCLAIMER:

Valerian is derived from dried roots and plant materials from the valerian plant. It is used to treat sleeping disorders, nervousness, headaches, anxiety and panic attacks. Valerian’s side effects include dizziness, mild depression, agitation, stomach aches, allergic reactions, anxiety and recently liver failure. It also is sometimes used by pregnant women though research is inconclusive on the side effects it could have on the unborn child.

People taking allergy, cholesterol, cancer and antifungal medications should not take valerian.

Melatonin on the other hand is one of the gentlest supplements that can be used as a sleeping aid. It is used to supplement the natural melatonin hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, in cases of sleep deprivation and insomnia. Melatonin benefits a lot of people and is being used in the treatment of jet lag, migraines (due to its anti-inflammatory effect), sleep disorders and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies are beginning to show that it can also be used in the treatment of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.

For a list of drugs that have serious drug interactions. For more information on melatonin supplements side effects, dosage, side effects, FDA regulations visit FDA website.

Even though Valerian and Melatonin are both sleeping aids and sold as supplements at health stores, they should not be taken together. The resulting effect of taking the two includes heavy drowsiness, nausea, confusion and headaches.