friday senses

real life.

Missing: nephew. niece.

Reading: What should I read right now? I want something gripping and hard to put down. I just finished Helen Keller's The Story of My Life, and while fascinating.......not really all that thrilling, 
you know?

Watching/Still thinking and dreaming about: The Hunger Games. Did you see it? SOOOOOOOO well done. I'm usually not the biggest lover of books-to-movies and this was just amazing. I can't believe they are making us wait a year and a half for the next movie. terrible.

Loving: fresh flowers in my house. from now until fall, they will be there.

Planting: Ok this better be the weekend I finally get something in the earth. I had all these big plans to get some early stuff in over the last few weeks and this weather has been lame. So so, so so windy. This weekend. It will happen.

Hating: The Wind. (see above)

Photographing: my tiny new niece.

Eating: beet chips! delicious! I don't know why it took me so long to make these crunchy little gems. They have been a huge hit around here (blogged next week)

Running: the snow is melting! the trails are full of the sloppiest mud--it is hilarious and awesome at the same time. Enjoying the heat and running in shorts.

Yoga-ing: This week I finally figured out eight-angle pose.  Although I'm sure I don't look as happy and pleasant as that lady does.

Anticipating: Spring Break! Hearing our church leaders speak! The boy's birthday! Easter! So much! aaaaahhhhh!!!

Asking: I am getting more and more people asking me if I would sell some of my photos. I asked on facebook and had a great response. Are you interested in this? What types of photos? Any specifics? Let me know, and maybe I will get on that.

Seeing/Smelling: Blossoms! Everywhere, every color.

Hearing: I love waking up to the birds singing in the morning.
(although ask me if I love it in the summer when they are singing at 5am)

Craving: camping.....stars, campfires, clean air, hot breakfast on a cool morning.

Tasting: cupcakes. Robby's birthday was last week.....

.....and he requested a coconut and almond combination.
This is what I came up with:

Almond Cupcakes with Chocolate Coconut Buttercream
Almond Cupcakes
makes 12
(a twist on Sunset Magazine's Butter Cake)

2 1/4 cups cake flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoon pure almond extract

1 cup coconut milk

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat sugar and butter until creamy. Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, scraping down the inside of the bowl as needed. Add vanilla, almond extract, and coconut milk. mix.  Slowly add in flour mixture, and mix until just combined--careful not to over mix.

2. Line cupcake pan.

3. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 13-15 minutes.

4. Let cool before frosting.

Chocolate Coconut Buttercream

this is my recipe from THIS cake last year, so is makes a little bit more than you need--I put it in the freezer for next time I need some frosting quickly....you know, like 10 o'clock on a rainy night.

3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2c-3/4 cup coconut milk,
1tsp pure coconut extract

Beat butter, cocoa, powdered sugar, and coconut extract, and add coconut milk a little at a time until you reach a consistency you like.

Toasted Coconut
Heat oven to 475°. Place a few handfuls of unsweetened coconut onto parchment lined baking pan. Place in oven and watch closely, turning coconut over as needed. In 10-15 minutes it should be toasty brown.

Frost cupcakes and top with toasted coconut.

enjoy.

feel free to play along with friday senses in the comments or over on your own blog!


Happy Weekend!