Lemon Cupcakes

The Beats!

So I'm not really sure how to start this post. It feels a little awkward and uncomfortable. You know, like when you see a friend before Thanksgiving and say "Oh, I won't wish you Happy Holidays now because I'm sure to see you plenty before then!" and then the next time you see them is mid-February. Anyway, I'm great at creating awkward situations so I'll just dive right into this one with the usual "Ohhhh, it's SO good to see you! How have you been?!" How was that? Only a little awkward? Ok, I'll tell you about awkward...
 
A few years ago I decided that every year I'd get out of my comfort zone to try a new activity. So far this has meant I've learned to row - skulling down the canal in Fremont, backwards, blindly steering towards massive barges. I officially became a culinary school drop out. I subjected my body to weekly abuse by joining a dodge ball team. I completed a climbing course which taught me crevasse rescue, how to spend the most comically miserable night of my life in a snow cave (in a non-emergency situation), and ways to explore some of the most incredible outdoors I have ever seen. I've discovered I might go pro as a kickball player. And most recently, that I am not made for meditation. Yep, "New Thing 2012" was meditation. 
 
I walked into class a few weeks ago a little skeptical because, for the most part, I'd rather be lazily relaxing (i.e. sleeping) than intellectually relaxing. But I was trying to keep an open mind. Twenty strangers took off their shoes and awkwardly sat in a circle for a couple of hours trying to get their zen on. With twenty minutes until freedom, the instructor left the room and seconds later the really loud beat of drum circle music started buzzing in the room. Whaaaaat, NO! I totally know where this is going and I'm trapped! What do you know, he walks back in and commands that we "DANCE!" His next command is to repeat his motions which appear to be straight out of the Hokey Pokey. Ummmm ok, dude, I realize you're a hippie, but "you put your right hand in, you put your right hand out" ... really?! And then it just gets worse ... He tells the person to his right to make up a "move" which we will then all imitate. And around the circle we go. All I could think of was HOW BADLY I WANTED TO BUST OUT THE BERNIE. But after the ninth person did yet another "Slight Variation of the Hokey Pokey" I realized the crowd wasn't worthy of the Bernie, or the Stanky Leg, or Jerkin', so I did something equally lame. I have since decided I will be a meditation flunkie for other reasons, but this blog post is to avenge my shameful hokey pokey meditation dance move. 
 


Oh, and by the way, I hope you had a wonderful holiday, happy new year ... and how have you been?!  

The Treats!

I'll be brief here since I just overwhelmed you with a boring story. 
These. Cupcakes. Are. Good.

Lemon Cupcakes
From Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
Makes 12

What you'll need ...

Cupcakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons grated lemon zest, plus extra to decorate
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
 
Filling (optional)
Lemon curd
 
Lemon Frosting

2 cups powdered sugar
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 Tablespoons grated lemon zest
a few drops of yellow food coloring (optional)
2 Tablespoons whole milk



Preheat the over to 325 degrees. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, and butter in a mixer and beat on slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined. Gradually pour in the milk and beat until just incorporated.

Add the egg to the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the batter is smooth. Do not overmix.

Spoon the batter into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cake bounces back when touched. A skewer inserted in the center should come out clean. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cupcakes have cooled, I would recommend you use a sharp knife to cut out a conical bit of the top of the cupcake top and fill with about a tablespoon of lemon curd. Clearly, adding this step will make you appear much more badass, although it's not required. Also, clearly, the cookbook does not claim you will be more badass. I'm claiming that you will be.



For the frosting: Beat together the confectioners' sugar, butter, lemon zest, and food coloring, if using, in a mixer on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Turn the mixer down to a slower speed. Slowly pour in the milk, then when it is all incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. 


Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes. When the cupcakes are cold, spoon the lemon frosting on top and decorate with a little lemon zest.