coconut cupcakes

July 15, 2011

2011 07 15 21 coconut cupcakes

i tried a new recipe today and it was a hit with everyone, so you might like to try it too!

you can find the original coconut cupcake recipe at simply recipes (http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/coconut_cupcakes_with_coconut_cream_cheese_frosting/)

my slightly modified version is below. the original recipe had a cream cheese frosting, but i didn’t have any cream cheese, so i used white chocolate instead & my kids loved the icing!

Ingredients

Cupcake Ingredients

  • 170g unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cup of castor sugar
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup of canned coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups SR flour
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 cup of sweetened desiccated coconut

White Chocolate Icing Ingredients

  • 150g white chocolate
  • 60g copha
  • 1/4 cup of shredded coconut

Method

Cupcake Method

1 Preheat the oven to 150 C. Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar and cream till light and fluffy again, scraping down the sides halfway through to ensure even mixing.

2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds each to ensure mixing. Be sure to scrape down the sides after each egg to ensure even mixing.

3 Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in one bowl. In another add 1 cup of a well shaken can of coconut milk and a teaspoon of vanilla. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix, then add 1/2 of the wet ingredients. Continue alternating with the wet and dry mixtures, ending with the dry. Stop mixing once just as the ingredients become incorporated; do not overbeat. (i like to use 1 bowl, so i added all the wet & dry ingredients at the same time & was careful not to overbeat)

4 Fold in the coconut. Scoop into cupcake papers about one half to three-quarters of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, rotating the pan after the first 15 to ensure even baking. Be sure to check with a toothpick to see if the cupcakes are done. If the toothpick comes out of the cupcake clean, then they’re ready. Allow the cupcakes to cool for a minute or two in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Icing Method

1 Place copha and chocolate into a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted. 

2 Dip cool cupcakes into chocolate mixture & finish with shredded coconut.

Makes 20 cupcakes.

 

happy easter!

April 24, 2011

DSC 5338 676x970 happy easter!

pinterest & project 52

February 26, 2011

pinterest has become of my favourite places online

its a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love

if you enjoy pulling pages out of magazines & creating scrapbooks & inspiration boards – you’ll love pinterest!

mandy lynne is one of the talented photographers i’ve discovered there

her etsy store is filled with beautiful vintage inspired images – this is one of my favourites!

Target (USA) has even licensed some of her images & made wall art collections

last year she did a polaroid project 52 … a year of saturdays

52 photos seems more doable than 365 – so i’ve decided to give it a try!

here the 1st week in the series: a family of emus who wandered up the road to our house

2011 02 27 pinterest & project 52

my boy

February 20, 2011

i rediscovered this photo today when i was organising my files
it was captured back in January & its so him
i love …
his sweet smile
the tiny scar on his bottom lip
his sparkly blue/green eyes
he’s even wearing his favourite hat – a Honda one his cousins gave him for xmas
DSC 3973 my boy
so many portraits are shot in portrait (vertical) format
but i love framing them horizontally like this
with the subject off-center or using the rule of thirds
what about you – how do you like to frame your portraits?

my sweet girl

December 21, 2010

DSC 3480b my sweet girl

my sweet girl is growing up so fast

as she approaches the tween years, emotions often run high

i think that’s why i love this photo so much

she looks like a little girl again

so happy and relaxed and carefree

& she’s smiling – not a cheesy camera smile, but one of pure joy

home again l 365 grateful

December 19, 2010

365 grateful 17 home again  l  365 grateful 365 grateful 16 home again  l  365 grateful 365 grateful 15 home again  l  365 grateful 365 grateful 14 home again  l  365 grateful 365 grateful 13 home again  l  365 grateful 365 grateful 12 home again  l  365 grateful

we’re home after a lovely holiday at the not so sunny sunshine coast

M & B had their 1st surfing lesson & we all went 10 pin bowling

keeping up with my 365 grateful project wasn’t easy & i missed several days … c’est la vie!

there are times when a compact camera (or an iphone) would have been very handy

on the home front, all the grass is seeding & everything looks so green & lush – but the days are SO humid & HOT

its beginning to look a lot like xmas … M & B have decorated the tree, made gingerbread houses & melted snowman cookies, watched Santa Claus is coming to Town, there are lots of gifts under the tree & more fun in store when Bernard (Santa’s elf) hides his next letter!

i’d love to hear about the fun things you’ve been doing this holiday season!

45 days l 365 grateful

November 9, 2010

random thoughts about the project:

committing to take a photo a day isn’t easy – there are still some days when i don’t feel like it – but the golden hour usually lifts my mood

we’re madly working on M & B’s last units for school of the air + doing stockwork – so life has been pretty hectic!

the golden hour has become my favourite time of day – once dinner is organised, i slip outside, savour the cool air & explore

i love outback sunsets – almost every day, i’m inspired to photograph them & they’ve been spectacular!

i discovered this ebook at craft & vision & can’t wait to read it & a several more from craft & vision – when we finish school it’s my reward!

if you’ve been doing this or another 365 project, feel free to let me know how its going & put a link in the comments. i’d love to hear your thoughts

365 grateful 09 45 days l 365 grateful365 grateful 10 45 days l 365 grateful365 grateful 11 45 days l 365 grateful

30 days 365 grateful

October 28, 2010

& still enjoying the challenge!

365 grateful 5 30 days 365 grateful 365 grateful 6 30 days 365 grateful 365 grateful 7 30 days 365 grateful 365 grateful 8 30 days 365 grateful

earth ranger

October 5, 2010

my kids love the social aspects of homeschooling – like on air lessons, clusters & minischools

but they’re not that keen on the day to day paperwork that has to be completed – which makes life challenging!

to be fair, Madi is reasonably independent & keen to get her work done

my boy on the other hand, would much rather be making a new cubby house or riding his motorbike than in the schoolroom!

so, when a project captures his interest & he surprises me with something like this … it makes my day!!

2010 10 05 earth ranger

10 days l 365 grateful

October 5, 2010

10 days in & a third of the way to developing this habit

some days have been easier than others

some days have been so bone jarringly ordinary, i’ve struggled to find something to photograph

its hard for me to let go of the need to capture a perfect photo & many of the things on my grateful list are intangible & hard to photograph KWIM?

i’m grateful that this project has encouraged me to pick up my camera every day

its helping me to slow down & be more aware & appreciative of the little things

& i’m still loving the polaroid action!

post a comment or a link if you’re playing along – i’d love to hear what’s making you feel grateful today!

365 grateful 3 10 days l 365 grateful

365 grateful 4 10 days l 365 grateful

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