Cookies and cream cupcakes v. 2.0

I couldn't make it to my Bible study group last week, so I sent an email in apology and suggested the others devise a suitable penance. A reply came back from one of the guys: That's disappointing. Bring a cake. I haven't done much baking in the Housie oven yet, so I thought a cake might be ambitious until I work out whether the fan and temps are reliable. Cooking dinner is one thing, but cakes and pastries are more... delicate. I went for cupcakes instead. My reasoning was: they're smaller and baking time is less; therefore, less time in the oven means less chance for them not to work out fine.

I gave the cookies and cream cupcakes another try (Oreos were on sale -- yay!). The oven worked dandy and, since I made the cupcakes a little smaller this time, I got two dozen out of the batch. I forgot how hard the icing is to spread nicely, though. Heavy icing with big chunks of Oreos does not make for pretty cupcakes. I wrestled some icing onto the cakes for study last night, and shelved the rest until today when I had some other baking to do. I had the food processor out already, so I blended the remaining icing and the result was so much nicer. The colour is yummier and it spreads smoother and just looks less... weird. So my tip is, if you try this recipe, process the icing. So much better. Nom redux!

What's your favourite treat to cook lately?

PS. Sorry for the fluffy, sugary post which is basically a long-winded thought-out-loud about food. It's been a full-on week!

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Conversations:

Meaghan -- yes.

Carla -- it's one I want to remember, too.

Samantha R -- I agree :).

Laura Elizabeth -- I totally recommend The Valley of Vision if you're looking for some amazing prayers. It's beautiful.

Amanda -- wow is right.

Nom nom nom.

It's the holidays, and I baked cupcakes just for the sheer fun of it -- and also because my cupcake-a-day tear-off calendar was taunting me with its pictures of Cookies & Cream cupcakes. Cookies & Cream cupcakes? I know, right. Well I made them and they looked a little bit strange (granted, it could simply be my awkward stylistic skills) but they tasted good. Anything will taste good if it has twenty Oreos in it. That sounds like a joke, but I'm not kidding. This recipe calls for twenty Oreos. Nom.

225g butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 cups self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
10 crushed Oreos*

*(oh wow just had the most amazing idea. You could make these with crushed mint slice biscuits. *gulp*) Okay.

Preheat the oven to 175C and line muffin pans with foil patty cases (my mix made about eighteen cupcakes). Combine all the ingredients -- except the cookies -- in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer about two minutes. Stir in the cookies and then spoon the batter into the patty cases. Bake for about 20 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 mins and then on a wire rack.

3 cups icing sugar mixture
225g butter, softened
10 crushed Oreos (again)

For the icing, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and yummy. Then beat in the cookies. Spread on top of your oh so delicious cupcakes and then eat one, for goodness sake!

PS. The picture below makes me laugh. I accidentally took it when I was trying for the top picture. It looks so forlorn, those two wee cupcakes all alone in an ocean of table.

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Conversations:

Bohoharri -- I miss you, too -- A LOT! Stand by: I am coming to lurk your LJ. You better have posted! ;)

Rebecaa -- yes, definitely tough :(. Still praying.

Samantha R. -- and one of the best things about God is that He has promised to give us all we need. YES.

The First Rose -- that is precisely what I'm hoping about this season, too! Enjoying spending a bit more time with God :). Yes, it sounds like Sono's illness has been quite a sudden thing. :(

Mitanika -- oh, a prayer journal is a brilliant idea! I hope it provides lots of rich talk-time with God. You'll have to let me know how it goes.

Foodcrush!

Behold my latest food crush! I recently discovered BreadTop and it may be love or it might just be infatuation. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I promise you that this is the best bread I have ever tasted. And the Asian food influence just makes it even better. My family (whom I have converted) and I definitely recommend the crispy chicken donut, the taro bun, the chocolate caterpillar, and the onion naan bread. Soooo good.

New Zealand :: sustenance

New Zealand is good at many things, not the least of which is its food. Exhibit one: enormous double-scoop icecreams for UNDER TWO BUCKS.

Exhibit two: iced coffees which never fail to be served with a whopping long bar of New Zealand's own Whitaker's chocolate.

Exhibit three: an affogato, the sheer caffeinated strength of which almost burnt a whole in my mouth.

Exhibit four: amazingly delicious (oh, and guilt-free, for once) organic apple and blackcurrant juice. Mmm.

Cuisinspiration

Summer foods enjoyed today:

[feta and potato cakes]

This basis for this recipe came from Bill Granger's Sydney Food, which is delicious for the pictures alone, even if one never made anything from it. But today I tried these potato cakes, and they were awesome. Peel and grate half a kilo of potatoes, and finely dice an onion. Let excess liquid drain in a colander for ten minutes, then mix with salt and pepper, finely chopped mint leaves, two eggs, and a quarter of a cup of plain flour. Shallow-fry until both sides are nicely browned. I had mine with an egg and lemon lime and bitters. So good.

[I made this up; what shall I call it?]

For a snack, I made these healthy yogurt, er, parfaits for the munchkin brother and myself. Organic natural yogurt layered with sliced banana, pure maple syrup, and crushed peanuts. Very summery and very yummy -- and it would work for breakfast, too.

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conversations:

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Amanda -- Andrew Murray is great :). I hope you're having a lovely week, too!

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Meaghan -- I haven't forgotten! I'm currently re-working some pieces of the novel... but maybe I should send you some anyway and you could give me tips for improvement? I don't know; suddenly I'm shy! :)

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Beth -- good travel writing is pure deliciousness. That book sounds awesome!

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Catherine -- so lovely to "meet" you ;). Please drop by again! I've never read The Tenant of Wildfell Fall but I really must. Do you recommend it?