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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Holiday Hangover

I am having a serious holiday hangover.  Not an alcohol hangover, or a food hangover, but just general malaise related to the holidays.  It felt like the holiday season was longer than ever this year--I don't know whether it is that Hanukkah was early or the party rounds started even earlier.  All I know is that I have an absolute inability to make small talk anymore.  I need a vacation.

It probably doesn't help that I am directing a show these holidays and we open in ten days.  It's a very intellectual play called Freud's Last Session, which imagines a conversation that Freud would have had with C.S. Lewis (a/k/a the theologian who wrote the Narnia books).  I'm not sure I have the requisite brain cells for this show some days.

I did manage, though, to make this month's Cake Slice pick--Mississippi Mud cupcakes with marshmallow frosting.  The cupcakes made the rounds of two parties on Saturday, plus went to a rehearsal. 

The frosting took a little work, but the cupcakes were a snap--use your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe and add about a cup of chopped pecans. 

As for the frosting?  Let's just say I ate spoonfuls of it out of the bowl.  I adapted the original recipe slightly to decrease the amount of sugar and increase the vanilla.

Marshmallow Frosting
Adapted from Vintage Cakes by Julie Richardson

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 cup water
4 large egg whites
1/8 tsp. fine salt
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Stir together the sugar, cream of tartar and water in a small pot over medium heat.  Bring this to a boil, then cover with a lid and boil for an additional two minutes.

Uncover the pot and let it cook until a candy thermometer registers around 240 degrees, which is the soft ball stage for candy.

While the syrup is cooking, add the eggs whites and salt to the bowl of a stand mixture and whip them into firm peaks.  When the whites are at the firm peak stage, transfer the syrup to a measuring cup with a lip and then pour it gradually down the side of the mixing bowl. 

Keep whipping the egg white mixture until the peaks are very firm, then add the vanilla and whip the mixture again briefly.

Makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes and some eating out of the bowl.

36 comments:

  1. Good job! I love how you piped the frosting on top of your cupcakes! It all looks yummy! :)

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  2. They were delicious! Thanks Krista!

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  3. Cool cupcakes! Here's wishing you and your family the best this holiday season!

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  4. The play sounds really interesting... I can imagine that you are spent from the holidays. I hope the play does well, the cupcakes look tasty and the frosting is pretty. I am ready to start the new year. I keep telling myself 6 more weeks and I leave for vacation..... :)

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  5. We are still celebrating here. We are always late. Lol. Love the looks of this frosting. Hope you recover soon!!!!!! :)

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  6. I felt it too. It was such a rush-race-blur for me. I hope you're revitalized soon...citrus fruit always makes me happier, lol =)

    Happy Holidays, my friend!!!

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  7. Oh yummy yummy cupcakes and love the frosting. Hang in there the social effort is almost done. I am on holiday for a week in 30min, so happy!

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  8. The frosting looks perfect! For me holidays are quite tiring so I can't wait for them to be over! Have a beautiful full of love and joy New Year!

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  9. Wonderful cupcakes! I am actually looking forward to New Years celebrations because the kids, hubby and I were all sick for Christmas and we totally missed out on festivity and fun. I felt so bad for my kids.... so we promised them that Santa would come down one more time for all the families that were sick on New Years Eve.

    Hope you get the vacation you crave and just get to relax. Soon it will be January and 2013... I can't believe how time flies. :) Have a fabulous New Year!

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  10. I may have used up your portion of holiday laziness. My son is here and all we've really done is lie around and watch tv. Sad but true.

    Great cupcakes. I love the way you did the frosting.

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  11. Yes, I'm feeling a bit lagging after the holidays myself. I'm sure your show will be wonderful though! And speaking of wonderful, look at those cupcakes! That frosting is gorgeous.

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  12. Love your piping style for this cupcake! Ok ok promise to try out the recipe for the frosting one day!

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  13. I am definitely suffering from a holiday hangover. You made a good point, the holiday season was longer, which made for more gluttony and stress.

    Good luck with the new play-sounds interesting.

    Happy New Year. Looking forward to enjoying your posts in 2013.

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  14. As much as I adore the holidays, I am always glad to see the frantic rush go. I am so glad there are 11 months to recoup so we can all put on our happy faces and do it all again next December. Best of luck on your show. It's a shame Alaska is so far away as I am sure there are many of us who'd love to see some of the shows you talk about.

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  15. I agree, lots of frosting left over! Im also glad this Holiday season is almost over, time to get back to normal routines!

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  16. The cupcakes look gorgeous and I really must try that marshmallow frosting - sounds delicious. I know how you feel when it comes to being too tired and drained to make small-talk. We're away for a week to try and relax at a sunny beach but we have so many friends and family here we haven't had a minutes peace. Yesterday I entertained two lots of family members, a third lot dropped in as the first two groups were leaving, we had to see friends for NYE then go to a NYE party and while we were there other friends rang and asked what day they could catch up with us for lunch. I don't think I'll ever holiday here again - there's no rest. Good luck with the play - that does sound very intense and not at all like a comedy xx

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  17. Good luck with the play! You are a case study in time management - how do you manage to fit in working, directing and blogging? The marshmallow frosting looks gorgeous and will certainly give you an instant kick of energy. Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2013!

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  18. Happy New Year!!
    Love your cupcakes and the frosting looks beautiful! Inspite of being so busy you still manage to make such wonderful stuff :)

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  19. Your frosting sounds incredible! And I love the bubble look...so cute! I just know the play will be wonderful! Happy New Year!!!

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  20. these look amazing, i'm in love with that frosting! hope you have a happy new year! i totally feel like i need a vacation as well after surviving the holidays! good luck with the play!

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  21. Your little cakes are darling. I love how you have the icing on top of them, very creative. Nice blog!

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  22. Happy New Year !!! the marshmallow frosting looks good on the cupcakes.

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  23. I'm done with holidays myself. I love seeing family and friends, but it can be exhausting. What a nice job you did with the cupcakes. You took the time to pipe the frosting. Very impressive! Have a wonderful 2013!

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  24. Love the beautiful white marshmallow frosting, looking like beautiful little flowers. Do take a break if you have to to feel better.

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  25. Happy New Year! That marshmallow frosting sounds so good!

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  26. Oh, you did such a beautiful job on the frosting!! When you wrote, "Makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes and some eating out of the bowl", I laughed out loud! :)
    ~Joy from Yesterfood

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  27. I'm sorry you're feeling so stressed, but hopefully the opening of the show was great!

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  28. I just had a 2.5 month break from blogging and now I am back, refreshed. Sometimes we do need a break, so don't worry. This frosting recipe is great (and simple too!)!

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  29. Oh...I'm sorry I had to sit out last months Cake Slice! These cupcakes look scrumptious and I love your marshmallow frosting! Happy New Year and I hope the show was a smashing success and you now get to take a break! : )

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  30. Happy New Year! Your marshmallow frosting is too cute! :) Hope you had some break from blogging and get to rest a bit during the holidays. :)

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  31. Happy New Year my friend - with the year catching up to you, just relax with your delish creation :D

    Cheers
    CCU

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  32. Love the way you piped your frosting on - so cute!!
    H
    :)

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  33. I am loving these cupcakes!! The frosting sounds so yummy, can't wait to try it. Hope is all is going well!

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  34. Haven't seen anything new from you lately! I hope all is well with you!

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