New Recipe: Boston Cream Cupcakes

My friend, Melissa, celebrated her birthday this week.  We work together and I like to take something for my good friends' birthdays to share with our coworkers.  I asked Melissa what she wanted and her response was "cupcakes".  To be honest, this stressed me out a little since I can make tasty cupcakes, but, as my piping skills leave much to be desired, my cupcakes are never pretty.  I did some Pinterest searching and came up with these yummy cupcakes. (You may have to create a free account to view the recipe online.)

 

 

I think I've only had Boston Cream Pie once in my life--when my family went to Boston right before Christmas during my Senior year of High School.  However, I felt this was pretty safe since what's there not to like about cake, pastry cream and chocolate glaze?

 

This recipe is a little time consuming.  I made the pastry cream the night before.  My big problem was that I only had one muffin tin available.  Apparently my regular-sized muffin tins have grown legs and walked away.  I had to make one batch at a time and since I doubled the recipe, this took quite some time.

 

I hope you'll try these cupcakes.  They were a big hit in my office and I will definitely make them again.  When I have at least two muffin tins of the same size.

 

 

Makes 12 cupcakes

It’s important to bake these cupcakes in a greased and floured muffin tin rather than paper cupcake liners, so the chocolate glaze can run down the sides of the cupcakes.

PASTRY CREAM
1⅓ cups heavy cream
3 large egg yolks
⅓ cup (2⅓ ounces) sugar
Pinch salt
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

CUPCAKES
1¾ cups (8¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
1 cup (7 ounces) sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces and softened
3 large eggs, room temperature
¾ cup whole milk, room temperature
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

GLAZE
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
⅔ cup heavy cream
¼ cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1. FOR THE PASTRY CREAM: Bring the cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl, then whisk in the cornstarch until pale yellow and thick, about 30 seconds.

2. Slowly whisk the hot cream into the egg mixture to temper, then return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick and glossy, about 1½ minutes. Off the heat, whisk in the butter and vanilla. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, press plastic wrap directly on the surface, and refrigerate until chilled and set, about 2 hours.

3. FOR THE CUPCAKES: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-cup muffin tin.

4. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat the butter into the flour mixture, one piece at a time, about 30 seconds. Continue to beat the mixture until it resembles moist crumbs, 1 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined, about 30 seconds. Beat in the milk and vanilla, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the batter until smooth, light, and fluffy, 1 to 3 minutes.

5. Using a greased ⅓-cup measure, portion the batter into each muffin cup (about three-quarters full; do not overfill). Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the tin halfway through baking. Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. FOR THE GLAZE: Microwave all of the ingredients together, whisking often, until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Let the glaze cool, uncovered, until it is thickened but pourable, about 20 minutes.

7. Cut around the inside edge of the top of each cupcake, removing a cone-shaped piece from each cupcake, and fill with 2 tablespoons of pastry cream. Trim and replace the cupcake top and set each cupcake on a wire rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet (for easy cleanup). Pour the glaze over the cupcakes, letting it run down the sides. Refrigerate the cupcakes until the glaze has set, about 10 minutes, before serving.

Wants Versus Needs

After living in my house for almost two years, I'm finally starting to make a few cosmetic changes. I added additional insulation to my attic shortly after moving in, but I haven't really done anything cosmetic until now.

I had storm doors installed on my front and back doors this week. I've wanted them since the beginning for added security and insulation, but also to allow additional light into the house. I have two huge Bradford pear trees in my backyard that block a good bit of the afternoon light, so I'll take any extra light that I can get. I also think that Emma, my little diva, is going to enjoy looking out the doors at the world going by.

My problem now is that there are more things to do and to buy than are practical at the moment. I thing marking one project off the list has created a monster. Now, for the short list of house projects I'd like to complete:

1. Replace my garbage disposal (This is going to happen. I can't the barely-functioning one I have for much longer.)

2. Replace my kitchen sink. I hate white porcelain. Period.

3. Replace my kitchen faucet. A white faucet will not work with #2 above.

4. Buy a rug for my dining room. I'm hoping to check this off the list at the Pottery Barn outlet in a few weeks.

5. Buy a freezer for the garage. I like to make things in bulk. Stocks, sauces, etc. I simply do not have enough room right now.

6. Hang artwork in my bedroom. Phase 1 will be completed this weekend. Phase 2 requires Mom's help and Dad's engineering skills to properly hang the heirloom hand-painted china.

7. Buy wicker baskets with lids for under the console table in my bedroom. Something else to look out for at the Pottery Barn outlet.

8. Select and install hardware on my kitchen cabinets. I don't understand why the drawers and cabinets do not have hardware in the first place. Will someone please pick out something for me? I must be the most indecisive person when it comes to cabinet hardware. Knobs or pulls? Pulls or knobs? I just can't decide!!

I have more things on the list in my head, but many are just not going to happen. It's making me a little stressed just thinking about it, to tell the truth.

Right now, I'm going to enjoy my doors and save my pennies for more fun projects and purchases!

Layout

I just looked at my new layout on my phone--what a disaster!! I promise it looked okay on my computer screen!

If anyone has any tips (or wants to take mercy on me and fix this mess), please let me know! I've tried to fix it and I think it's beyond my comprehension.

Post-Busy Season

The first few weeks after busy season are always amazing. First, I take some time to rest and recoup and then I only have to work an 8 hour day! It's amazing how much I can get done after work and how good a home-cooked meal tastes!

Monday evening, I walked Emma, cooked dinner, cleaned my kitchen and trimmed back a shrub in front of my house. Of course, there was some TV watching, too. My DVR is not in danger of filling up any time soon!

Tuesday, I had some errands to run, so I didn't cook dinner, but Emma and I still managed some play time and also swept all the dead blossoms from my Bradford Pear trees off my deck. Trust me, this was a bigger job than it sounds like!!

Tonight, I was freezing from the rain and the temperature change, so soup sounded like a good idea. It may or may not have been 8PM before I could eat, but it was still tasty! Like I said, I was cold and just didn't feel so hot (possible caffeine withdrawal!), so I laid on the sofa, threw one of Em's many toys over and over and rested. Not a productive evening, but at least I feel a little better!

Post-Busy Season life is just grand! It takes three months of torture and boring sandwiches to realize how good the other nine months of the year are.

I have a few pictures from last week at the condo. Apparently no one in my family was feeling very photogenic since there were far more outtakes than I will share with you! In any case, at least I have photographic evidence that we were there!!

Tax Season: Check!!

I made it! I'm so glad it's over and things won't be so hectic again for several months.

Monday, I helped others with extensions and electronic filing forms until about 4:30. I went outside to the firm party, but I'd missed most of the fun. Instead of hanging around with mostly the audit department, I headed home before traffic picked up. It was strange to be home during daylight hours, but I'll get used to it! All I did was eat dinner and get my DVR under 50% full, but I enjoyed not worrying about work.

Tuesday, I started my four days of vacation. I ran a few errands and met my friend Melissa for a pedicure. Then I had mountains of laundry to tackle and a dirty car to wash before Mom and Dad picked me up for our trip to the condo.

This morning, we have an electrician installing ceiling fans at the condo, so I'm camped out in Mom's best friend's condo so I can sleep without interruption. I'm making homemade pizza tonight per Dad's request, but that's my only real plan for today.

I'm sleepy again, so I'm not going to fight it. I've been fighting sleep for weeks and that's coming to a stop today!! :)

Day Zero

Tomorrow is the day tax accountants look forward to all year--the end of tax season. It's been a long, hard three months, but we made it!

I was super stressed until yesterday, really. It just didn't seem possible to get everything done. Thursday night (or Friday-the days all blur together) I really felt like I was drowning, but I made it though. I made it through a whole tax season without a single tear and with a minimum of harsh words. That's an achievement in itself!

I'm so grateful for my two work BFFs that have become true friends and not just work friends. Without them, there's no way I would have stayed sane. We may be a clique in the eyes of some, but we definitely have each other's backs. That's what's most important!!

I'm in my pajamas in bed with my iPad and a glass of wine before 9PM. I think I'll celebrate and go to bed early!

Happy April 15th Eve--hope you filed your return so Uncle Sam doesn't come to get you! :)

7 Days!!

Seven more days until busy season is over!  I can't express in words just how excited I am!

Mom sent this as my inspirational quote of the day.  I hope it helps the other Type-A, cronic worriers like me!