Goodness. Since
when did a Friday behave like a Monday?
What that we could have all Fridays dawn bright and sunny, and unfold
like a circus parade with dancers twirling and flags waving and a big band
proclaiming TGIF to the whole world!
when did a Friday behave like a Monday?
What that we could have all Fridays dawn bright and sunny, and unfold
like a circus parade with dancers twirling and flags waving and a big band
proclaiming TGIF to the whole world!
If only that were true.
But, what can I say; real life has its hills and
valleys. Or, as we like to say in the
archipelago, its high tide and low tide.
So, sometimes Friday, despite its charming reputation, sneaks up on you
and throws you every curveball in the book.
Sometimes you come to the end of a Friday tired and spent, with barely
enough energy to crawl into bed, much less ring out a resounding “TGIF”.
valleys. Or, as we like to say in the
archipelago, its high tide and low tide.
So, sometimes Friday, despite its charming reputation, sneaks up on you
and throws you every curveball in the book.
Sometimes you come to the end of a Friday tired and spent, with barely
enough energy to crawl into bed, much less ring out a resounding “TGIF”.
Does this happened to you?
If so, you are in good company.
Let’s hug and be friends. If not,
lucky you…send some good juju my way when you’ve got a moment won’t you?
If so, you are in good company.
Let’s hug and be friends. If not,
lucky you…send some good juju my way when you’ve got a moment won’t you?
So here’s my plan:
A good sushi dinner with C, with or without a cocktail to go along with
it. Lots of snuggling and
feetie-pinching with my little one, no matter how squirmy she gets. A scalding hot shower. Crawling into a cave made out of pillows and
a squashy duvet. A brainless but
blissful session of Bejeweled.
A good sushi dinner with C, with or without a cocktail to go along with
it. Lots of snuggling and
feetie-pinching with my little one, no matter how squirmy she gets. A scalding hot shower. Crawling into a cave made out of pillows and
a squashy duvet. A brainless but
blissful session of Bejeweled.
And if all else fails, never fear, there is always
cupcakes. And Guinness. And peanut butter.
cupcakes. And Guinness. And peanut butter.
Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
(from Donna Hay magazine issue # 50)
- 1 cup (250 ml) stout beer (I used Guinness)
- 225 grams butter, chopped
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) cocoa, sifted
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup (160 grams) sour cream
- 2 cups (300 grams) all purpose flour, sifted
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, sifted
- 2 cups (440 grams) caster sugar
Peanut Butter Frosting (good for about 1 dozen cupcakes):
- 1 cup (160 grams) confectioner’s sugar
- 1 cup (280 grams) smooth peanut butter
- 80 grams butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) single cream
– Place the stout and butter in a saucepan over medium
heat and stir until the butter is melted.
Remove this from the heat and whisk in the cocoa. Transfer to a big bowl and set aside.
heat and stir until the butter is melted.
Remove this from the heat and whisk in the cocoa. Transfer to a big bowl and set aside.
– In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and sour
cream. Add this to the stout mixture
along with the flour, baking soda, and sugar, and whisk to combine.
cream. Add this to the stout mixture
along with the flour, baking soda, and sugar, and whisk to combine.
– Pour into paper lined cupcake tins until 3/4 full and
place in a pre-heated 160C (325F) oven.
Bake for approximately 22-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes
out clean.
place in a pre-heated 160C (325F) oven.
Bake for approximately 22-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes
out clean.
– Allow to cool in its tins for 10 minutes and then
remove to cool completely on a wire rack.
remove to cool completely on a wire rack.
– While your cupcakes are baking, or while they are
cooling, get on with your frosting.
Place the sugar, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric
mixer. Beat for 6 minutes or until light
and fluffy. Add the cream and beat for
an additional 2 minutes. Spread or pipe
the frosting onto the waiting and completely cooled cupcakes.
cooling, get on with your frosting.
Place the sugar, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric
mixer. Beat for 6 minutes or until light
and fluffy. Add the cream and beat for
an additional 2 minutes. Spread or pipe
the frosting onto the waiting and completely cooled cupcakes.
The original recipe is meant for a loaf cake but I just
couldn’t resist cupcakes. Because
really, who can? If you’d like to go in
the original direction just bake in a 21cm x 10cm x 7cm parchment-lined loaf
tin for 1 hour 20 minutes (or until done when tested with a skewer). This made enough for 2 dozen cupcakes (plus
a little leftover for a mini loaf pan or you can get a couple more cupcakes out
of it as well if you rather). The
frosting, originally meant for a loaf cake, will only be enough for about half
your cupcakes. You can double the
frosting recipe, but I had some vanilla frosting in the freezer and I used that
(and rainbow sprinkles!) for the remainder instead.
couldn’t resist cupcakes. Because
really, who can? If you’d like to go in
the original direction just bake in a 21cm x 10cm x 7cm parchment-lined loaf
tin for 1 hour 20 minutes (or until done when tested with a skewer). This made enough for 2 dozen cupcakes (plus
a little leftover for a mini loaf pan or you can get a couple more cupcakes out
of it as well if you rather). The
frosting, originally meant for a loaf cake, will only be enough for about half
your cupcakes. You can double the
frosting recipe, but I had some vanilla frosting in the freezer and I used that
(and rainbow sprinkles!) for the remainder instead.
These cupcakes got the seal of approval from practically everyone
who tried them. The sour cream makes for
a tender, light, and moist crumb, while the stout gives it a just discernible
depth. The peanut butter frosting, with
all its school kid nostalgia, is the perfect complement. Donna Hay…another reason for me to love you.
who tried them. The sour cream makes for
a tender, light, and moist crumb, while the stout gives it a just discernible
depth. The peanut butter frosting, with
all its school kid nostalgia, is the perfect complement. Donna Hay…another reason for me to love you.
Please pardon my griping.
Small beans really compared to everything else. The rains are gone, the sun actually is
shining, and it is the weekend. Let’s
make the most of it!
Small beans really compared to everything else. The rains are gone, the sun actually is
shining, and it is the weekend. Let’s
make the most of it!
You had me at Friday. And Guinness. And Peanut butter. And cupcakes. I think this is my favorite Friday post ever! ;)Thanks for sharing.
A terrific combination! Heavenly.
Cheers,
Rosa
Argh I had a crap week altogether, so I really feel your pain!! The cave of duvets and pillows is always a good strategy…
"Because really, who can? " he he :), I would say nobody can. Agree on Fridays, it's really special day. Peanut butter frosting? Count me in!
Looks tasty~ This is my next Friday's dessert menu.
Ohh but this recipe sounds yummy! Chocolate and peanut butter…some of my fav combos. Thanks for sharing this with us all. 🙂
Hi Bluenotebacker! Thanks! Love all of those things…so this recipe was perfect!
Hi Rosa! Thanks! 🙂
Hi Jewelsandstuff! I agree! 🙂 Bejeweled is my de-stresser! After a hard day at work sometimes you need something a little bit mindless 😉
Hi Ling! The duvet/pillow cave was definitely the ticket! Hope you are feeling better!
Hi Alan Patrick! I can never resist cupcakes 🙂
Hi Palpark! Hope you enjoy it!
Hi Itaya! Glad you like it! Love the chocolate peanut butter combination as well 🙂
Looks amazing! Can't wait to try!
yummm! This feels so autumn. Cannot wait to try.
ahhh fridays! When i was in college, Saturday was my 'friday' because we had a 6-day class schedule. The moment we're dismissed I always feel relieved that at least I get to have a golden Sunday, no matter how short it is. But yeah, because it's so short sometimes I don't want to leave my bed come Monday! A cupcake with Guinness is a good thing, a really really good thing. 🙂
Heard all about the terrible rain and flood there in Manila! I think everyone deserves a beautifully crafted cupcake after a long, hard day! This is a piece of heaven! Wish I could lay my lips on that sweet peanut butter frosting right now! Ooh-yeah!
Hi Jgaubeart! Hope you like it 🙂
Hi Spoon Fork Bacon! We don't have an autumn so we have to made do with cupcakes like these 🙂 Hope you enjoy them!
Hi Gio! Aaah, I still remember how the weekends felt during school days…even if it has been a million years for me already! 😉 Guinness in cupcakes are definitely getting a repeat 🙂
Hi Jen! Yes, everyone certainly does deserve a cupcake! 🙂
I know what you mean, in my work, assignments come pouring in on fridays so it is seldom I get to utter TGIF.
The cupcake looks delish by the way, if only I could bake.
Hi Marjorie! I can commiserate! Baking is easy…you just have to take it a step at a time 🙂 And you'll be able to satisfy any craving!
Guinness in a cupcake? AWESOME!!! Sounds so good with the peanut butter frosting.
Hi,
I have a quick question about your blog, do you think you could e-mail me?
Jillian
Hi Fork and Whisk! That's what I thought when I saw the recipe for the first time! 🙂
Hi Jillian! Emailed you 🙂
its my favorite cup cake :-p
Thank you Joey for sending us a few of these to try. They were so good that they made my day!
See you and C very soon!
Hi Sanju! So happy you enjoyed them! 🙂 Yes, let's please get together soon!