Tuesday, April 6, 2010

the weekend, part three: Easter


Dinner:
roasted chicken with lemon and rosemary
garlicky mashed potatoes with parmesan
this salad
mom's fruit salad
mom's rolls.

Dessert

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream and Coconut Nests

Cupcakes:

3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c butter
1 c sugar
3 eggs
1/2 c (or a couple good globs:) of mayonnaise. yup. get over it.
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Mix together: 1 cup boiling water and cocoa. Set aside.
Mix flour, soda, and salt together, set aside.
Cream together in large bowl: butter, sugar. Add eggs one at a time and mix well. mix in mayo.
Add vanilla.
Add the cocoa/hot water mixture and beat for 2 minutes.
Add the dry ingredients, and stir just until mixed.

Pour into cupcake liners. Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes

Frosting:
1 stick (1/2 c) butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4-5 TBS milk
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
seeds of 1/2 a vanilla bean

cream together.

Nests: (adapted from Martha's macaroon recipe)

2 1/2 c sweetened shredded coconut
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine coconut, egg whites, vanilla, and salt. Using your hands, mix well, completely combining ingredients.
Dampen hands with cold water. Form small spoonfuls into nest shapes. Place on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart.
Bake until golden brown, 16 to 17 minutes, rotating halfway through. Let cool on a wire rack.

Frost cupcakes once cooled, and top with nests and cadbury eggs.

enjoy!

Hope you had a Happy Easter!

7 comments:

banananutmeg said...

do you have like, a bazillion cake stands?
mmmm mini eggs.

frabala.com said...

I thing that mini eggs couldn't be enough in my kitchen..

Very nice pictures!

summer said...

and a bazillion cute vintage dishes?

i love your table!

and your meal planning. wow. a birthday party, and this? and these ridiculously cute cupcakes? you are so good!

Nicole said...

incredibly huge weekend, especially when you throw conference into the mix. well done.

Stephanie said...

Hello! I just found your blog. I am many pages into reading it and loving every minute. Your blog is creative and fun. Thanks!

gram said...

... loved the pictures!..almost as good as being there!

The Design Boards said...

I love the photos, your Easter looks like it was beautiful!!