Hostest of the Most'est

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes
adapted from Food Network Magazine, as seen on Bake at 350

Cupcakes
1 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 

Filling
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla exrtact
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup marshmallow creme 

Ganache
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Icing
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons milk 
2 cups powdered sugar 
1/4 tsp vanilla

Place oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350. Place paper liners in muffin tin for about 20 cupcakes.

Cupcakes
Place sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Pour into a large bowl. Add the chocolate and butter and let sit, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture has cooled slightly. Stir in the vanilla.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. 

Beat the eggs into the chocolate with a mixer, then stir in the dry ingredients.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans (~1/4 cup batter per cupcake) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. The cupcakes will sink in the middle slightly. Cool in the pans for 25 minutes, then transfer to a rack and cool completely.

Filling
While cupcakes are cooling, make the filling. Using a mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon heavy cream and beat until smooth. Alternating between batches, beat in the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Beat in the marshmallow creme. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Ganache
Place the chocolate in a stainless-steel bowl. Heat the cream and 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan until just boiling, then pour over the chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla; let stand until cool but still glossy and liquid.

To Assemble
Spoon the filling into a pastry bag with a medium star tip. Insert the tip into the center of each cupcake top; fill until the cupcake is heavier (do not overfill). It's OK if some of the filling peeks out, it will be covered by the ganache. (I thought this part would be complicated and I was worried, but it was fine. I had Mike test one of the cupcakes to make sure I had the right amount of filling in it.)

Spoon a little ganache on each cupcake and lightly spread with an offset spatula or a knife. Chill for at least 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the icing: Using a mixer, beat the remaining 1 stick butter, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, milk and confectioners’ sugar until smooth, adding more milk if needed. Spoon into a pastry bag with a small tip. Pipe onto the cupcakes to decorate.

Store cupcakes in the refrigerator.

"Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood"

Home Is...

Home is a place I always wanted to leave growing up but long for once I left. 

I made it home safely yesterday!

It only took 4 hours in the Charlotte airport, 

Compliments to US Airways

Needless to say I landed at 5 pm 

& 

Started the day at 5 am

It was a long day but I traveled over 1,000 miles

Momma picked me up at BWI and we began our treck home

The boys welcomed me back openly 

snuggling with me instantly!

(I do miss my Isla... and Matt tho) 

It's good to be back, although I am starting to get a little bored. 

Got to find something to do, I expect my stumbleupon account will get a work out! 

I have soo much photo art it was time to dedicate an entire post to it. 

Thanks Stumbleupon & Tumblr 

For A Great Cause!

My 9 year old cousin has leukemia & it is legit her dream to meet Taylor Swift

luxuryglamour:

She is going to her concert on Sunday & I really want Taylor to know because I know Taylor is a sweetheart and would do something. Whether it’s just making a shoutout to her on stage, it would make her life. She’s gone through so much and I KNOW she deserves this. Please if you could reblog or let anyone you know that can help. 

Also if we can get #taylormeetmycousin as a twitter trending topic or something I NEED Taylor to know about this!!

everyone should reblog this.

Fresh and Clean

I absolutely love facials. With a college budget and crazy schedule is was nearly impossible to fit in an appointment. So with a little bit of research I found some homemade facials that work just as well. My personal favorite is Cinnamon and honey or Salt Water. The Cinnamon Honey is sweet and sticky while the Salt Water brings me back to the weeks spent at the beach. 

• Lemons – Cut a lemon and rub it over your face. It works as an astringent. Be careful around the eyes! 
• Oatmeal – Make a paste of oatmeal and water. Apply it on your face for 20 minutes. This is the best for oily skin. Instead of water, you can also mix juices of orange or lemon. Use this mixture twice a day for 15 days for achieving max results.
• Fruits – Strawberry juice, pulp of watermelon, or papaya are wonderful facial washes.
• Honey and apple – Grate an apple and mix a few drops of honey. Apply it on the face for 10 minutes for a supple feel.
• Cinnamon and honey – Mix honey and cinnamon and apply the mixture on your face overnight. Honey traps the dirt and removes it when you wash off the mask in the morning, leaving you feeling fresh and beautiful. Make sure all hair is pulled back and away from mixture, honey is a pain to get out of the small hairs. 
• Milk and nutmeg – Mix milk and ground nutmeg. Apply it on your face every night and leave it for 60 minutes. This homemade face cleanser opens pores and deep cleanses the face and smells really good!
• Salt and water – Dissolve some salt in warm water. Dip a washcloth into it. Dab it over your face. DO NOT rinse. Leave it overnight and wash your face in the morning. Salt has drying properties, so use this treatment at night.
• Alcohol – Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol. Drain excess alcohol from the cotton ball and dab it on your face in problem areas. Alcohol extracts oil from the surface of the skin and kills bacteria.  Use sparingly as this can lead to drying, if need be dilute in water. 
• Ice – Rub an ice cube over your face. It also helps in subsiding pimples and leaves skin feeling fresh.