March must be the strangest month ever. Usually I don't like it, but I'm beginning to think that it isn't so much dreadful as unpredictable. As if the whole world has gone topsy turvy, and I've wandered into Alice in Wonderland (haven't seen it yet, but want to).
It's warm and golden for days, and the daffodils and tulips and crocuses all begin to sprout. Then it dumps wet snow over all of it, and I feel like Dorothy picked up from Oz and dropped back in gray Kansas.
One day there are crowds, multitudes of Canada geese blanketing the park - making a huge noise. The next day they are completely gone, the only traces being muddy waddle prints and grassy dung.
One morning this week I went running under an absolutely clear blue sky, cloudless, yet somehow it was snowing. Huge flakes from nowhere, sparkling unnaturally in the sunlight.
March. Topsy turvy. Maybe I can appreciate it.
This week I made honey cupcakes. I meant to make honey donuts too, but didn't star the recipe early enough. Something about honey is calling me this week though.
Here they are. Apparently cupcakes are my favorite lately because I cannot stop making them! Cupcakes = Anna's Lent special?
I had a TIME trying to figure out how to decorate these properly! What kind of toppings just scream "honey?"
Since I didn't have any marzipan or other fancy moldable with which to mold fancy bees (or even any real chocolate sprinkles) I decided to just make it up! This one had cacao nibs on top (mmm).
chocolate chips? chocolate and honey together is...interesting...good? I don't know.
Close-up on the nibs. Mm.
They look a bit overdone, I know. I like to think that the brownishness comes from the honey? Ok they might have been a BIT overdone. But I'm told it made them the perfect compliment for coffee. :)
Experiment with making a bee out of a marshmallow and two chocolate chips. Success rate? Minimal.
Experiment with making a bee out of two chocolate chips and some scrunched together icing. Success rate? Slightly better.
Honey Cupcakes (adapted from Pamela Clark's "Cupcakes")
6 T butter, softened
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c flour
2 t baking soda
2 T milk
1 T honey
Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tin with papers. Beat butter, vanilla, sugar, eggs, flour, milk, and honey on low speed until ingredients are just combined. Increase speed to medium, beat until mixture is a pale color. Divide mixture among baking cups, smooth surfaces. Bake about 20 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack to cool.
Honey Buttercream Frosting (also adapted from Pamela Clark)
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T milk
1 T honey
Yellow food coloring, if desired
Beat butter in a small bowl until light and fluffy; beat in sifted powdered sugar and milk, in two batches. Stir in food coloring until desired shade is reached.
Decorate cupcakes how you like! Maybe you can make a better bee than me.
4 comments:
Thanks for experiencing with food and sharing your experiences! And the recipes! I love it! Someday I'll stop being busy and spend more time in the kitchen. Until then I live vicariously through you!
I am definitely going to try this simple recipe. I even have all of the ingredients.
I love your new logo up there.
I wish you could have seen Alden as the Gryphon in Alice in Wonderland. He had such a funny face and demeanor. He really had a fun time doing that. (High School play in the fall)
I want to challenge you to make a vegan dessert. I dare you not to use butter, gelatin, milk, eggs, or honey. I dare you!
hmmm banana bread? too easy libby! try again though i like the idea of a food challenge...
thanks about the logo jeanne! i made it myself! took a photo of some violets growing in the yard. next week i plan on lopping all their heads off and making a syrup to sweeten some meringues with...
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