Cupcake Test 2 "S'more"

This week, we've had a request from the groom to make the S'Mores Cupcakes.  

Process Notes:  Even though I went from a 1/3c scoop to a 1/4c scoop for my cupcakes, I only managed to get 21 cupcakes.  I'm still looking for an ice cream scoop with a sweep to see if that will help.  Also, the book called for baking them at 375, while the box called for 350.  I baked at 375, but just for 18 minutes.  And, due to the higher temperature, the ones in the cheaper (lighter) muffin tin, were extra brown.  I'd recommend doing them at the lower temperature.  The frosting is oh-so-sticky, but what do you expect with marshmallow fluff?  Also, I was only able to frost 18 cupcakes with the one batch of frosting.  That's a half-dozen short which will add up in quantity, quickly.  I used my mini-chopper on the candy bar shrapnel, but if I were making these in bulk, I would definitely use the food processor.

Tasting Notes:  Me - I'm not a big fan of the S'mores.  I like them in theory, but in practice, not so much.  I liked the chocolate mixed into the batter - that was tasty.  I didn't really get any graham taste from the crumbs that were added.  Instead, I felt like they made the cupcake a little rubbery.  The frosting didn't have much of a marshmallow taste to it - maybe if it got toasted with a flame thrower?  The teddy graham couples were cute for decoration.  I think StY probably had a good idea to dip the cupcakes in the graham crumbs as decor & for more flavor.

Mark -  Likes these very much and would put them on the list to make.  His suggestion for improvement is to put a puddle of chocolate syrup in the top of the cupcake before frosting them to add a bit more chocolate flavor.  He thought that the teddy couples were appropriate for a wedding - & fun too. 

Mark's Office - I'll add these notes some time this weekend.  Mark did say he had received positive feedback.

They all equal "Ouch!"

So, we've had some pretty nice weather around these parts for the past week or two, and it looks like it will be staying that way for the next week or two.  I decided that I'd get out and sweep the deck off so I could "get my glow on".  It's showing the dead fall from the earlier storms and it's a pain to walk on.  The deck is much older than we've been living in the house, and we've known for some time that we need to get it fixed - just as soon as we both have a perm position.  I think you can see where this story is going. 

I'm just getting started when my foot, no leg, goes straight down through one of the boards.  I'm home alone.  And my leg is stuck between the boards.  Yikes.  And the only neighbor I know is home won't hear me - as he's riding his super loud Harley too and from the house.  Okay, pull it together.  Pull my leg out of the hole - is it broken? No, I can still walk on it.  Well, that's good.  I get back in the house and IM Mark - but he's idle (working in the lab on some super big issue).  I'm feeling woozy, so I decide that laying down and elevating my leg might be a good idea.  Then my ears start to buzz.  I call Mark - but he's in the lab and he doesn't have his phone.  The buzzing goes away.  Now, what did I learn in my days as Princess-Schlepp-alot when Mark's leg was broken?   Oh yeah, put some ice on the bruises to contract the blood vessels and maybe it won't bleed as much.  Up again to get some frozen veggies to put on the leg.  Keep it elevated.  Take some ibuprofin.  Eventually (20 min or so) Mark does call me back, but everything is under control by then!

I have three, count them three, beautiful purple places on my leg today.  One on the inside crease of my knee, and two on either side of the thigh where it was girdled by the sturdier boards.  Basically, I have a "frog" on both sides of my leg.  Ugh.   So, call it a bruise, a hematoma, or a contusion, they all equal "Ouch!"

Final result:  We're going to get some lumber this week, and start repairing the deck.  One board at a time.

Cupcake Test 1a & 1b "Just Because"

My youngest sister is getting married this year!  She's asked my other sister to work her magic in producing some sort of (cup)cake for the reception.  Sister the older has sent both of us the book Better Crocker Just Cupcakes so that we can all test recipes and take notes. 

Our first test is of the "Just Because" cupcakes.  In the book, they look like a version of ho-ho's or ding dongs, rich chocolate cupcake with a cream filling.  I used a chocolate cake mix for the cupcake and then made two filling/frosting options.  The first is the "Creamy White Frosting" - I tinted mine pink because I don't have any clear vanilla (yet!) in my pantry.  The second is the "Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting".

Process Notes:  I only got 21 cupcakes (vs. the 24 advertised) - I need to get a scoop that will let me put the same amount of batter in each liner.  I baked them at 350 (preheated and everything!) on the convection bake setting in the gas oven.  Chocolate cake doesn't look good in fancy liners.  You might as well use the foil ones or plain-jane and a wrapper.  It took 3/4 of a recipe of the Creamy White Frosting to do 10 cupcakes.  1/2 a recipe of the Creamy PB Frosting was more than enough to do 11 cupcakes.  I think I put a smidge too much milk in the PB frosting - I've got a cupcake in the fridge to see if it sets up better. 

The Ugly Ducklings

Tasting Notes:  Me - The cupcakes were moist, but not exceptionally so.  I liked the PB better with the cupcake than alone.  The Creamy White was also quite tasty.  I can see this with a chocolate ganache or some jelly inside.  It does not however, taste like a ding dong or ho-ho - that would need a bit more cream I do believe.

Hubster -  The Creamy White is his favorite.  It tastes like the frosting they used to make at the Harvey's in Valdosta.

His Office - we'll see if we can get an update tomorrow.   eta:  The un-official verdict is this:  The pink frosting looks more appetizing than the peanut butter - all 8 cupcakes devoured vs. a couple of the peanut butter remaining at the end of the day.  The peanut butter frosting looks a little like poo if you don't put sprinkles on it.

You can see StY notes here.