Friday, February 27, 2009

Let them eat cake!

(You know that Marie Antoinette didn't actually say that, right?)

It's 11:18 PM and my first batch of cupcakes has 9 minutes left on the oven timer. I had to wait until now so they would be fresh enough for the party tomorrow but cool enough to frost tomorrow.

I'm making vanilla cupcakes from "Gluten Free Desserts" which I made last month to bring for Amara at Clementine's birthday. They are pretty tasty and I hope that everyone enjoys them. I'm using some of my vanilla paste in the frosting.

Until a few weeks ago I didn't know of vanilla paste. Jacob illuminated the subject for me.

I ordered some vanilla beans for a killer price and was talking with Jacob about them. He asked what I would do with them and I told him that I was thinking of making vanilla sugar (you put the beans in granulated sugar to flavor it). He tells me in his serious voice (if you know him you know the one), "Now, here is what you do. First you soak them in alcohol, like vodka, for a week or more. Then you cut off the ends and squeeze out the vanilla paste. And then you put the empty pods in the sugar."

Genius.

There are just some people you listen to when they have opinions on certain subjects. When B tells you the best way to grow a tomato you know it's the honest truth, if Chey tells you how to use a mop then you know it's the best and most efficient way, if Gab says that a piece of art is gorgeous you know that it must be, if Darbie tells you where to get a tattoo then you know it's the best place, and so on...some people know their stuff (whilst I know just a little about a lot of things but stand ready to be corrected).

So my bean pods have been soaking for 3 or so weeks now. I finally decided that I would use the bean paste for the frosting on these cupcakes. I made quite a mess of it but my extract is in 2 baby food jars, my paste in the frosting waiting for its cake, and my pods are in the sugar adding some flavor. I made quite a mess and wish I had Jacob's huge man hands to help me do it the right way but I think it's all worked out well. That frosting sure does look delicious with those beautiful tiny flecks of vanilla swirled throughout!

Time for the next batch to go into the oven.

6 Comments:

Blogger chanceofbooks said...

Totally need vanilla paste! Can't wait to hear how they tasted!

Happy Birthday to Clemmie!

10:22 AM  
Blogger Megan said...

The one that broke as it was coming out of the pan was tasty.

6:38 PM  
Blogger BK said...

i didn't taste the cupcakes, but they were gorgeous! and my fave pic from the party was of them on the stand :)

12:33 PM  
Blogger Megan said...

I wanted to do something more elaborate but it didn't happen. The kids seemed to enjoy the suckers more than than the cupcakes though. Next time I'll save time and money and just bring a bowl of suckers.

12:36 PM  
Blogger Hennifer said...

I'm kind of sorry now that I didn't try a cupcake! Yummy vanilla frosting!

Love the reference to all our dear friends and their areas of expertise. I should think about getting myself one of those someday :)

4:20 PM  
Blogger Heart Salve said...

that party looked amazing! real vanilla flavor...yummy! there's nothing like it :)

12:13 PM  

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