Tuesday...

Hello!

So I think that I finally got this blog thing figured out. I have a concept which is awesome possum. It has taken me so long because so much has been going on, but now I am ready to make a go at this.
I have some fun things to share with you!

Scenes from my past two weekends. Andrew's cousin and his lovely new wife got married the Saturday before last, and unfortunately my sister in law has the photo of both Andrew and I, but here is one of my seester in law and myself.

Then last Saturday, I had a Bachelorette party for my dear friend Victoria who is getting married this Saturday! Here are some pics from that fun night. We did Hibachi, and I laughed so hard I cried!

Now Since its Tasty Tuesday, I have to share a recipe that I tried last week and it was delicious. I mean, what girl wouldn't love the perfect marriage of sparkling champagne and cupcakes!? The recipe was from Sprinklebakes.com. Below is the picture of my creation.. hers were much prettier! Next time, I think I will skip the filling though...

Cake: 

1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup champagne, prosecco or your choice of sparkling wine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.  in a medium sized bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup champagne and 1/2 cup sour cream (mixture will fizz and bubble a little).  Add flour and champagne mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour.  Batter will be thick.

Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup level measures of batter.  Bake for 17-22 minutes.  Set aside.




Champagne Pastry Creme Filling:

1/2 cup heavy cream, divided
1/2 cup champagne or prosecco
2 tbsp cornstarch 
5 tbsp granulated sugar
1 whole egg
2 egg yolks
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla

In a medium bowl, whisk cornstarch in 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar and 1/2 cup champagne in a saucepan; bring to a boil then remove from heat.

Beat the whole egg and egg yolks into the cornstarch/heavy cream mixture.  Pour 1/3 of boiling champagne mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not cook.  Return the remaining champagne/heavy cream mixture to a boil.  Pour in the hot egg mixture in a stream, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and beat in the butter and vanilla.  

Cut a divot into the top of each cupcake and fill with pastry cream.  Trim the cut-out cake pieces flat to make a "lid" and place on top of the filled divot.


Champagne Frosting:

1 cup plus 1 tbsp. champagne or prosecco
2 sticks of butter softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Place 1 cup of champagne in a small saucepan.  Simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons.  Transfer to a small bowl or condiment cup and allow to cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream softened butter and powdered sugar together.  Once the frosting is thick and fluffy, pour in the reduced 2 tbsp. champagne plus  1 tbsp. champagne from the bottle and mix well.

Frost the cream-filled cupcakes and decorate with pastel dragees.

HOT!

 I don't know where everyone else is.. but I swear its been 100 degrees for the past two weeks!!!  Makes me wish I was back here where there is that cool sea breeze and never ending cocktails! ahhh.. vacation anyone?!

Until next time loves! xoxo