of buttercream & fairytales

1) first of all, happy new year!!!! this year is going to be wonderful. i haven't met one person who doesn't think 2008 is going to rock. we watched the countdown on BET and then barbara & ozja came over to welcome in the new year with us. i totally missed the lineup on mtv, except for the opening act of paramore, who kicks serious butt.

2) i need to get the recipe out of the way. it is from ina garten's first barefoot contessa cookbook.

coconut cupcakes

3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut (divided in half)

for the frosting:
1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted

preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about five minutes. with the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

in a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. in three parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. mix until just combined. fold in seven ounces of coconut.

line a muffin pan with paper liners. fill each liner to the top with batter. bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. remove to a baking rack and cool.

meanwhile, make the frosting. in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla & almond extracts. add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth. frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.
(makes about 30 cupcakes)

copyright, 1999, the barefoot contessa cookbook, all rights reserved.

3) this past week, i signed up to blog every day in 2008 at blog365. since doubledogdareyas really do work, i doubledog dare ya to sign up.

4) if you get a chance to see mark wahlberg in shooter, do it. i am already jonesing for another movie. with all of the britney this & britney thats, the real news of 2008 is that indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull is coming out in may. was i the last person on earth to find out about this?

5) yesterday, the kids and i went thrifting and we didn't find one thing all week. afterwards, we went to starbucks and made our resolutions. i am going back to bed and i will write mine down tomorrow.