When I cook or bake for someone I think long & hard of all the special attributes of a person. My girl Michelle & I met when we worked at the Garden of Eden & on Sunday nights she & my girl Rena were the Queens of Champagne.
She was having a brunch at Magnolia & I really couldn't afford to get her anything let alone have a meal & drinks. Her girl Kelly sent out a mass email about how much she loves Sweet Lady Jane's & in my attempt to save money & one up the Jane I offered to make her cupcakes.
Michelle is a health nut so I knew I had to make a flourless or use very little flour as possible cake, I used about 12 tablespoons of whole wheat flour. I have also been growing strawberries in front of my building & what goes better with champagne than strawberries? Also I wanted to avoid Dairy & sugar so I swapped for Reddi Egg, used the champagne instead of milk & Agave Nectar.
She loves chocolate, the color pink & is currently in love so I knew I had to put this romantic concoction together. I even cut the strawberries into little hearts & stars since Michelle loves acting & WILL be Soapstar one day!
I tried to make the frosting without dairy but I had to use powdered sugar so I thought screw it heavy cream it is & while I'm add it let's throw in MORE white chocolate... damn sexy, but when I added the champagne & pureed strawberries to it, it was nice & thick in my mixer I even let it chill in the fridge for an hour but it was still too runny.
The next day I went to the store, bought 2 tubs of Vanilla frosting & added it to my mix & it was perfect!
Yes I had to resort to a Sandra Lee tactic but screw it it was worth it! Thanks Aunt Sandy. The oozing white chocolate was phenomenal & you could REALLY taste the champagne in everything. Best cupcakes I have ever made.
I was overwhelmed by my Dames reactions & so humbled by Michelle's gratitude, it felt really good. I never want that feeling to end. Merci Maman, pour c'est cadeau. J'taime boucoups!
Yes Manouschka The Plant Killer Guerrier can't muck these up since my neighbor waters the landscaping everyday... HA
The Star Studded Cast: Michelle's Strawberry, Champagne, Chocolate & White Chocolate Lava Cupcakes
16 oz of Dark Chocolate
a glass for you
2 for me
Champagne, vanilla, salt & gluten free baking powder
adding the diced strawberries
Mashing the strawberries for the frosting
adding champagne to the frosting
Hulling the berries then....
getting them drunk in champagne for 2 hours, I drank it after... SWEET JEEZUS!
Hulling out the center of the cakes
adding drunken berries
adding white chocolate I melted in the microwave
MAN, I SUCK at piping!
yup she's a squirter!
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