Chocolate, Nora, Spice Girls, and Vampires (A fun post with a surprise!)

Just because I write a lot doesn't mean I don't do other things.  One of those things is 'experiment in the kitchen' as the boys call it. It's cooking, don't let them fool you. They're just jealous of my super fly skills with a spatula. So last night I had an extremely girly evening to myself, which is rare in my house.


So, after paying homage to Norah Ephron with a viewing of Sleepless in Seattle, I danced around the kitchen to...get ready for it...Spice Girls...and...Ace of Base. Found a box in the basement...long story.  Hahahaha. While dancing though, I made cupcakes. Tiny, yummy, amazing bites of scrumptious heaven.  Orrr just cupcakes. Lol.


The recipe had been in my favorite recipes tab on my computer for a long time, and I figured it was time to bust out a dozen of these bad boys while the guys were gone.  (They eat EVERYTHING.) So after a little prep and lot of unnecessary hip shaking,  I successfully made a pretty batch of Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes. This recipe comes from one of my favorite little foodie blogs 52 Kitchen Adventures, it's one of her older posts, but it's great . So pop on over and say hello to Stephanie, her site is awesome! 


If you guys like this kind of post, let me know, and I'll make it a regular thing. I have tons of recipes. :D


After the recipe, I've included a few things (one serious and the others...not so much. :) ), and a surprise for all my vampire lovers. :)  Have a good day! 


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I assure you mine were not this fancy. So, don't freak.  I'm no pro. Lol.

Recipe:

Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes
Yields: 18-19 cupcakes
Adapted from Epicurious.com
1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 + 1/8 cups freshly brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature
1/2 + 1/8 cups buttermilk
1/4 + 1/8 cup vegetable oil
1 large eggs
1 large egg yolks
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients from flour through baking soda.
In a separate large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla, and beat until blended. Turn mixer speed to low and slowly pour in dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Pour batter into prepared pan until each cup is 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes, until the center springs back a bit when lightly touched. Remove from oven and cool on a rack.


Nutella Buttercream
You may need to double this if you like a lot of frosting on your cupcakes.

• 1/2 C butter, room temperature
• 1 C Nutella
• 1 C powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 T milk

Beat butter until smooth. Add Nutella and beat together until thoroughly combined. Slowly add powdered sugar, mixing until combined. Add vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add additional milk or powdered sugar as needed to reach desired consistency. Pipe or spread onto completely cooled cupcakes.

In Memory of Nora Ephron:

Movie magic ensued and audiences fell in love when she introduced Harry to Sally, paired Tom Hanks with Meg Ryan and introduced Meryl Streep to the joys of cooking.

She was also responsible for one of the most quoted lines of film dialogue ever, inspired by Ryan's expert faking of sexual ecstasy in a crowded New York deli in 1989's When Harry Met Sally|-|… : When a nearby customer, played by director Rob Reiner's mother, Estelle, overhears Sally's shrieks of joy and tells a waitress, "I'll have what she's having."

For more information about the life of the fabulous Mrs. Ephron, click here.  Source:UsaToday.com

Night's Hip-Shaking Flash Back (aka music that will make you groan):

Spice Girls: Wannabe (Oh yes, I did ROFL)

Ace of Base - I Saw The Sign (Best part is the very beginning where they come out of the dark. So thug life.)

No Doubt - I'm Just A Girl (That was in the box too. ROFL. Love Gwen!!)

 ~Your Special Surprise~

An excerpt from Dan and Rowe Chapter 6

Knox stopped dead in his tracks. A cold feeling spread through him, his good old friend switch being turned off.  “The fuck you say?”

“I said…wait.  Knox, shit…” Rowe grabbed his hair and took a deep breath, before letting it go as a scream through his teeth. “Fuck, I can’t control it.  I’m just so angry.  I feel like I have control of nothing right now. I never lose control.”

“Doesn’t mean you didn’t mean what you just said,” Knox replied coolly. “Call Hill yourself, you have a phone. Then you can listen to him freak out for four hours because his new mate is having twins.”

“What?” Rowe whispered, his hands dropping limply to his sides.

“Yeah, then when you’re done with that, you can go and remind everyone else who doesn’t have a mate how worthless they are. How they’re pathetic because they’ve tried everyone out in the city in hopes that one of them might be ‘the one’.  But you know what I’m realizing, and if I’m truthful with myself I’ve known all along, Rowe? I don’t want a fucking mate. I don’t want to watch them go through this shit.” Knox pointed to the bedroom.

“I don’t want to watch them pass out because they get pregnant, I don’t want them to be some kind of lamb to slaughter for the enemy. I don’t want any of it. So yeah, I think I’ll take my chances being a lonely slut. Deal with your own shit for once, you spoiled brat. I’m out.” Knox was so tired and the only person that he really let go with had just hurt him in a way that he wasn’t ready to admit out loud. He had feelings after all.  He was person too, damn it.

“Knox, I am so so…”

“Fuck off, your majesty,” Knox muttered with a sarcastic bow and stormed out.   

XOXO NIGHT TEMPEST