Tutorial Tuesday: Apple Spice Cupcakes

There is nothing I like better in the kitchen than baking with fresh ingredients. When A's parents brought over a ton of fresh apples from a local farm, I knew I had to whip up something sweet with them, but didn't want to go with the same old recipes, so I came up with this recipe for apple cupcakes with spiced brown cugar buttercream frosting. We had these at our Halloween party this year (along with vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate and peanut buttercream frostings) and they were the most talked about item that day!

Apple Spice Cupcakes
(makes 2 dozen)

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 whole eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 fresh apples (I used Spencer apples), peeled and chopped into chunks
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but they really make these cupcakes!)
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (to taste)
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Disolve baking soda in buttermilk.

Alternately add flour and buttermilk, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and spices. I use my kitchen aid for this and let the batter whip for a minute or two to make it light and fluffy. Add apples and walnuts and mix to incorporate.

Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until toothpick comes out clean.


Spiced Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting

Cream 1 stick of butter with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Add 2 1/2T cinnamon and 2 cups powdered sugar. Mix until the consistency of frosting (you may need to add 1-2 T milk to reach a good consistency). This frosting will be slightly grainy due to the brown sugar. Pipe onto cupcakes using a large star tip or spread over tops with a knife. This keeps very well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Just let stand at room temperature and re-whip before frosting.

from Bonnie, Holden's Landing

Friday Funny

Thursday Things... Organized Chaos

Here's a peek into the Alfabette Zoope workspace right now... i.e. no cleaning or setting things up to look pretty. It's organized chaos and suits me very well!

submitted by Alfabette Zoope

Wordless Wednesday

submitted by alfabette zoope

Southwest Eggrolls

Southwest Eggrolls
I served these with homemade guacamole, salsa and sour cream.

Southwest Egg Rolls

1 Can Black Beans

1 Can Corn

1 Pkg. Frozen Spinach about 10 ounces (thawed and squeezed out in a clean kitchen cloth.)

1 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast- I used 2

½ Bag Cheddar Cheese about two cups

1 tsp. each of Chili Powder, Cumin and Onion Powder- I used my homemade taco seasoning and added coarse sea salt.

1 Pkg. Tortillas

1. Dice chicken into bite size pieces. Cook in pan until no longer pink in center. Add chili powder, cumin, and onion powder. (I put the chicken breast and taco seasonings in a crock pot and put it on high for a couple of hours then shredded it up.)

2. In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients except tortillas. I drained the corn also.










Black beans... well drained. I rinsed mine too.









Add cheese...












Mix it all up.












3. Microwave tortillas in a damp kitchen towel to make pliable. Spoon filling into middle of each tortilla. Fold in 2 sides and roll from one end to the other, like you would an egg roll or burrito.





4. Line them seam side down on a baking sheet and spray with olive oil or cooking spray.












5. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until crisp and slightly brown. I turned them over the last 5 minutes and sprayed the other side to brown it also.

Recipe first posted HERE.

Halloween Funnies

submitted by Alfabette Zoope

Not a trick but a treat Thursday

 Zombie Fingers