HOP Muffins

Ari and I love to go to the movies when I visit and we both couldn't wait to see HOP, the newest movie by the creators of Despicable Me (also one of our favorites).  Today, I had an email from King Arthur Flour and this recipe for Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Muffins made us both think of EB leaving carrots all over the house :-D!  These are easy to make and good for you.

We baked on Tuesday--the Mint Stracciatella Pound Cake , but mostly we've been playing baseball and going to the park.

These muffins were the perfect morning meal, full of good ingredients and a surprise cream cheese filling (instead of frosting) in the middle.  Muffin and Milk gave Ari the must needed energy to play in the back yard.  It turned out to be such a beautiful Spring day in Kentucky, that we even planned a picnic outside with peanut butter & Vanilla Pear jam sandwiches, grapes & strawberries, and some juice.

Ari is so aware of his environment...listening to the birds, watching the squirrels play in the trees, and noticing every bug.  Listening to the birds today, he said, "Mimi, they want my lunch."  Which they might have, had Ari not eaten it quickly.

He's really getting into the Spring break concept and I'm loving being here to enjoy it with him. We  mixed up sugar cookie dough to bake tomorrow after seeing Easter cookies in a magazine and it's Pizza Night, so he'll have a chance to make up yeast dough.

The week is going by fast, but full of memories.  Take time to notice this beautiful Spring unfolding. Enjoy!

 

Hope SPRINGS Eternal Cupcakes

Today, my post turns towards honoring a very dear friend who sent me an incredible gift at Christmas of these darling Beatrix Potter characters that she hand-knitted to share with our grandchildren. I have read Peter Cottontail to Ari, via Skype, and he thoroughly enjoyed it, although I can't wait until I'm reading to him and Maddie in person so they can see these characters up close and feel the love they were made with.  What is so amazing about Suzanne's work is that she did not have a pattern--letting her hands control the needles to create the characters!

I'm also inspired by the signs and sounds of Spring happening here in the Pacific Northwest.  I took a walk around my yard yesterday, noticing the budding of the daffodils, peonies sprouting, and the heather in bloom, but moreover, the sounds like the geese honking on the lake and chirping birds gathering materials for their nests.

Hal Borland, who wrote "outside editorials" for the Sunday New York Post, said, "No Winter Lasts Forever, No Spring Misses It's Turn."  I have this framed in my studio and keep it in mind when the rain, snow, or cold, gray days seem endless.  Spring is one of my most favorite seasons with it's promise of renewal and I decided I'd bake a cupcake to pay tribute to this season and my dear friend, Suzanne, who honors Beatrix Potter with her needlework.

My mother didn't much care for cooked carrots, but loved carrot cake.  Our daughter, Erin follows in her footsteps, often requesting carrot cake for her birthday and special occasions.  I added a few more flavors, incorporating orange zest, crushed pineapple, and coconut in the batter, then, topped them off with a White Chocolate/Cream Cheese Buttercream icing.  A little toasted coconut and a couple of Cadbury Mini Eggs give these cupcakes the look and taste of spring.

Extraordinary Carrot Cupcakes 
with White Chocolate/Cream Cheese Buttercream

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 T honey or agave syrup
1 cup finely grated carrots (about 3 medium)
1-8oz can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
1 cup sweetened coconut
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cardamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 T orange zest
1/4 cup hot water


Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Line muffin pan with cupcake papers.


In the KitchenAid, using the paddle attachment.  Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Gradually add the oil while the mixer is running.  Add the eggs, one at a time, incorporating completely after each addition.  Add the orange zest.

Finely grate the carrots, either using the food processor or a box grater.  Since you only bake cupcakes 18 to 20 minutes, grating the carrots finely will ensure you won't have any "crunchy" pieces of carrot in the finished cupcake. Alternatively, you could also par-boil them a bit, if you don't have a fine grater, to softened them.

Add the carrots, drained pineapple, and coconut and mix to combine.  Sift the dry ingredients, including the spices, then, add to the batter with the hot water.  Mix on low speed just until combined.  

Scoop batter into the papers, filling about 3/4 full.  Bake in preheated oven 18-20 minutes.  Check cupcakes after 18 minutes.

 Let cool for about 10 minutes in the pans (makes 18 cupcakes) then, remove to a rack to cool completely.

White Chocolate/Cream Cheese Buttercream: 
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 -8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
4 oz. white chocolate, melted
6 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Melt the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler.  Set aside while you beat the butter and cream cheese together until fluffy.  Add the white chocolate and mix to combine.  Add the confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, and beat thoroughly.  Finally add the vanilla extract and beat until fluffy.

Pineapple/Mango/Strawberry Jam (PMS) or your favorite

To assemble:
Remove a "plug" of cake, using an apple corer and fill with the jam. (I used a #7 tip and piping bag).

 Fill a large pastry bag, with a #808 tip, and pipe the buttercream on top in a swirl, starting from the center and moving outward and up.

Sprinkle tops with toasted coconut.

Finally, add 2 to 3 mini eggs on top of the "nest" for that Spring-time look!

Warmer temperatures seem to be prevailing throughout the United States today and surely, Spring can't be far away...if you believe the groundhog :D!  Take time to look and listen to this beautiful season and be HAPPY!  Enjoy!