It's been time...

I am a useless bloggerer. Not enough hours in the day, the dog ate my camera, etc...
And, actually, I don't feel bad about cheating my way through this post either. So there!

Make all of these things right now.


 


Seven Sweet Links:

1. Peanut Butter Cup Smores. For real.
2. Take this survey from my favourite pizza blog. Cos I know you love pizza too.* 
3. Bake it in a cake?
4. Slightly strange
5. Make these. Yum.
6. And this. OMG
7. But this is the best one. I think.

*Having a favourite pizza blog is totally not lame.

xxx

Bananana nananana....cupcakes!

Banana Cupcakes

with vanilla bean buttercream

Cupcakes

2 Large Eggs

4oz Self raising flour

4oz Caster sugar

1oz Soft brown sugar

4oz Butter/margarine

2tbsp Sunflower Oil

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 mashed bananas 

• Weigh out all your ingredients so they are ready to go
• Mash up your bananas. I do it while they're still in the skin, that way you only have to cut one end off and squeeze the mush out. Plus no dirty extras... I'm on about washing up
• Cream butter and sugar together until light in colour, creamy and kinda fluffy
• add your little eggies
• Whisk like your life depends on it
• Sift in the flour and baking powder 
• Fold together until just combined
• Add your mushed up bananas
• Spoon into paper cases.
• Bake in a pre-heated oven at gas mark 7, 220 degrees Celsius for about 22 mins. Sorry I didn't tell you to pre-heat earlier... awkward.
• They will go fairly golden because of all the sugar. I made them in two sizes and the smaller ones seemed to dome slighty as you can see in the picture. Ah well. Boverrrrd.
• Allow to cool then buttercream those puppies up!

For the vanilla bean buttercream...

I use this recipe from browneyedbaker replacing the cream with milk..as I had no cream.

This frosting can be used for preeeetty much every cake ever, its a good staple and you can colour it with gel or liquid colouring too. Bingo. 

"Coffee?"

Sorry about the rubbish picture...I'm not getting on with charging batteries lately and this was the best of my three quick snaps before I had to go to work! Boo you batteries and work!

Coffee Bun Cake Muffin Thingies

Use the easy peasy egg measuring method I went on about in this recipe for Lemon Cupcakes.

(Weigh the eggs, then measure butter sugar and flour out at the same weight.)

Eggs

Self raising flour

Caster sugar
Soft light brown sugar (1/2 cup for every egg)

Butter/margarine
2 tbsp oil (per egg)

1/2 tsp baking powder (per egg used)

1 cup Strong coffee (plus half cup for afterwards)

1. Cream the butter and sugar, the usual. 
2. Add oil and eggs and whissssk.
3. Fold in flour and baking powder
4. Stirrrr in the coffee. Yum... smells nice!
5. Spoon into paper muffin or cupcake cases.
6. Bake for 25 mins, or until a skewer is left clean after insertion.
7. While cakes are still hot poke a skewer or cocktail stick through the top of the cake a few times to create tiny holes.
8. Pour/drizzle about 1/2-1 tbsp coffee on to each cake. (Don't worry it won't make them soggy if you do it while they are still hot)
9. Leave to cool before decorating

You can drizzle a bit of coffee flavoured glace icing (sifted icing sugar mixed with very strong instant coffee dissolved in a little water) over the top, as I have or pipe/spead with a coffee buttercream.
Chocolate or vanilla buttercream will work really well too.
Top with chocolatey type sprinkle thingies or walnuts..

XXX

When life gives you lemons...

When life gives you lemons (or Mum over-buys lemons at Christmas for her G&T)

....make lemon cupcakes.

 Why wouldn't you?!

Melanie's Lemony Cupcakes

You will need:

Scales (these are crucial to this method..)

And EGGS.

Eggs are in charge in this recipe.