these cupcakes are the irish car bomb

I am always in the mood for a cupcake. The other week I was searching for a cupcake recipe with some new flavors and a chance for me to attempt creating a pastry more with slightly more complicated steps. After browsing a few food blogs, I turned to Smitten Kitchen, one of my new favorites, for some inspiration. Even though St. Patty's had passed, I decided to try my hand this delectable Irish Car Bomb cupcake. Obviously, several types alcohol (Guinness, Irish whiskey, and Bailey's Irish Cream) gave these little guys their kick-ass flavor! 

I had never baked with alcohol before. As I was simmering the cup of Guinness with a glorious amount of butter, the mixture was not combining. The oil from the butter and beer looked like a sad mess. No matter how many times I whisked the liquid it looked disgusting. I was about to throw up my flour clad hands, throw off my apron, and pout on the kitchen floor. I'm happy to report that I pulled myself together and decided to add in the flour mixture anyways and hope that all the ingredients combined in harmony. They did. All was right in the world. Your beer will not ruin the cakes. Attempt the recipe here!

Though aside from the near Guinness catastrophe, the problem with making cupcakes in my apartment is that Erin and I can only eat so many! Suddenly, after a day of gazing at their lovely piped buttercream and wistfully thinking of the ganache filled centers, I realized I still had 20 cupcakes sitting in my fridge. They needed to GTFO of the apartment before us two college students started using them as meal substitutes. Mmmmm, buttercream...

PS- And why haven't I posted on my bike?! I keep forgetting to take my camera with me when I unlock it from my basement below. I need a sunny day (Friday, I'm hoping!) and the little Fuji will get it's very own shoot! It's a beaut.

thurday night treats

By the time Thursday rolled around, I was ready for a little something special this week. School has begun to consume my life again, but the end of the semester is in sight. I've almost completely abandoned my tiny kitchen in the past couple weeks, in lieu of sandwiches and soups that can be practically inhaled so that I can get back to all the work that has been piling up.

Luckily, my friend Michael and I planned to cook a fantastic dinner last night, and eat all this excellent food we'd been discussing at work in the past week. I volunteered to bring the dessert, of course.

I have more baking ingredients in my pantry than actual edible items. Is that bad? I am my mother's daughter. Sadly, I sometimes forget that I am not in her kitchen with every gadget on Earth at my disposable. A zester, I do not have. I had to get rather creative with that lemon peel...

I don't even know... Molly insisted I post this haha.

These little guys were definitely a success at Micheal's. Here's a link to the recipe if you're feeling berry-ish... I found it on one of my new favorite food blogs, Can You Stay For Dinner?

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a beacon hill valentine

 

The weather today was a Valentine's Day gift to all of Boston. Almost 50 degrees and sunny with entirely clear skies. I was stuck in bed sick almost all of last week, so I was almost giddy to get out of class and outside into the delightful weather. It was the perfect day for a long stroll, so I head down Mass Ave and onto Beacon Street to make my way to Beacon Hill. As a student, I like to walk down the fancy streets to day dream when I pass the gorgeous brownstones and wonder what sort of well-to-do lives inside. Today, I walked to Charles Street, the main street for the Beacon Hill neighborhood. It is home to some of the most lovely boutiques and specialty food shops. On this Valentine's Day, I stopped into Beacon Hill Chocolates to take a look around and snap some shots of their festive decor. (And also to try a truffle or two!)

Charles Street is almost like leaving the city. It doesn't have the normal vibe of Back Bay/Fenway area that I'm used that is littered with college students. There are families here. It reminds me of a small town. Reminds me of home.

cakes in a cup

Boston has welcomed me back with hat stealing gusts of wind and temperatures that make a northern New England native shudder with a glance at the thermometer. Or, at least that's what I did this morning. None the less, I decided that this afternoon was a good time for a long walk around Kenmore Square. It was a really horrible idea. Even though I bundled up with my favorite tartan scarf and black leather gloves, I still froze. On my way back from that stupidly planned and downright frigid walk, I stopped in at a little Boston-based cupcake bakery (shop? store? parlor?) called "Sweet" to take a look around.

I have a pretty large sweet tooth. It is bigger than all the other teeth and always gets its way. Though, as a broke student only eye candy had to suffice. They were very photogenic!

Don't they look so adorable? No other pastry has as much style as these little ones. Yum!

Also, apparently there is going to be another blizzard tomorrow. The coffee shop is even going to be closed in anticipation of the suspected 12" of the white powdery stuff. Perhaps a good day to try out some of my own cupcake recipes?