As you’re reading this, I’m probably on a plane somewhere en route to NYC for the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Holiday Bakeoff. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway if you haven’t already!
I went to a General Mills blog event back in August and really learned a lot about myself on that trip. See, GM was awesome and put together a booklet with all of the bloggers’ pictures, blog URLs, and a blurb about each person. As I was on the plane, I was reading Twitter reports about how it said so-and-so was a homeschooling mom of 6 kids who loves housework and also runs a business out of her home while coaching little league and keeping up with her yoga practice. Okay, I might be exaggerating slightly but seriously, amazing things about these amazing women.
So I get to the hotel and flip open the book to see what it says about me. Any guesses?
Anyone?
“Amanda blogs about food and really likes the Real Housewives.”
Done.
I about fell on the floor.
And then I realized it’s my own fault. Because I talk about the Real Housewives. A lot. Way more than is probably considered “normal”. In fact, I bet that while you’re reading this I’m on the plane wondering if the hotel we’re staying at will have Bravo because tonight is the fight between Camille and Kyle.
I have a problem. I recognize it now and today I am here to tell you 7 things that you may not know about me so that next time someone needs to include me in a “Get to know your fellow bloggers” booklet, there’s something semi-interesting to say about me.
- My first car was a 1985 Z28 Camaro.
- Once, in a fit of blind rage, I bit a hole in my parent’s shower curtain.
- My best friend and I once ate an entire cheesecake while doing serious MySpace stalking.
- My favorite color is purple.
- My first job was at McDonald’s.
- I own every Anne Hathaway movie ever.
- I drink my wine on ice, in a plastic Starbucks cup.
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
For the cupcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick, room temperature)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 large egg yolks (room temperature)
- 1 vanilla bean (split and scraped to remove seeds)
For the frosting:
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
To make the cupcakes:
- Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin/cupcake tin with paper or foil liners.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add butter, sour cream, egg and egg yolks, and vanilla bean seeds; beat at medium speed until smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula and mix by hand until smooth and no flour pockets remain.
- Divide batter evenly among cups of prepared tin. Bake until cupcake tops are pale gold and toothpick or skewer inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from tin and transfer to wire rack; cool cupcakes to room temperature before frosting.
To make the frosting:
- In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick, thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix is. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. (If I’m in a hurry, I place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools.) It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla.
- While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don’t want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven’t beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream. Spread on cooled cupcakes and dip in sprinkles if you wish!
Breige says
These look yummy! And I totally laughed out loud at number two! (and I actually enjoyed Princess Diaries 2!)
.-= Breige´s last blog ..30 Day Music Meme- Day Ten =-.
JulieD says
I have tried this icing before but never got it quite right. Need to try it again. BTW, I love the Real Housewives…the hubs doesn’t understand it! LOL!
.-= JulieD´s last blog ..Kitchen-Play and wonderful Grilled Shrimp- Mango & Guacamole Bites =-.
amanda says
YES! You must try again! I didn’t understand the hype but then my husband and I sat over the bowl just eating it off a spoon after I got the cupcakes done. So good!
The Blue-Eyed Bakers says
How perfectly delicious these look! Love those sprinkles!!
.-= The Blue-Eyed Bakers´s last blog ..Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits & A Giveaway =-.
Rachel says
You should do a post just on the random things no one knows about you! That’d be awesome. So would dozens of cupcakes. :) They never get old.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls =-.
Pam says
Like I don’t already love you – the random facts are awesome! The whole shower curtain thing totally sounds like something I would have done, at probably the same age you were ; )
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Sweet Hawaiian Rolls =-.
briarrose says
Love the sprinkles. ;)
.-= briarrose´s last blog ..Nutella Caramel Stuffed Brownies =-.
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
Sprinkles make me happy
.-= Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday´s last blog ..farm =-.
Melissa says
I have been wanting to try PW’s frosting for a while now, but wasn’t sure if I would like it. I am so glad you blogged about it and will definitely try it soon!
Good luck in NY!
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Holiday Hash and Operation Baking Gals =-.
Crustabakes says
LOL. that was a funny description they have of you! i was laughing out loud on that one!
Your cupcakes are really pretty btw. I love the colours on them!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
These look yummy and really funny post! So great to meet you in NYC and hope to talk to you more today!
Sheena says
I love how bright and colourful the sprinkles make these cupcakes look! And the frosting sounds interesting, I’ll definitely be trying it out soon.
.-= Sheena´s last blog ..carrot cupcakes with ginger cream cheese frosting =-.
LimeCake says
Your cupcakes look awesome! I love that you crowned it with colourful sprinkles!
.-= LimeCake´s last blog ..Sole à la Meunière =-.
Heather says
I love your for telling the shower curtain story. I can identify.
PS. Your cupcake looks like pure happiness!!!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Southern Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy =-.
Jean -The ShoppinQueen says
LOL,You post seriously cracked me up on a day I really needed a laugh. My interest in cupcakes probably rivals your interest in the Real Housewives! Perhaps we’ll room together at a conference someday, I think our obsessions go together nicely!
Sonya says
My first car was also a camaro!! :) it was a 1992 supersport 25th anniversary. I loved it!!!
amanda says
*high five* You must’ve had cool parents like mine!
Angelika says
Loved the mention of Camaros (you and James are the ones who got me obsessed, at 17) and fun times with Katrina. The cupcake looks oddly spectacular. :)
.-= Angelika´s last blog ..the enchilada for the enchilada haters =-.