Icing with Sammi

So I spent the weekend in U.C.C. in Cork at the Student Psychology Conference which was FANTASTIC! We got a chance to present our research and meet other psychology undergrads and postgrads and people genuinely seemed interested in my research which was a huge boost to my confidence.

When I got back on Sunday I was wrecked so I went for a bit of a snooze and had a very lethargic afternoon. I didn't even train too hard in dance (which is highly unlike me). Anyway, I wandered up to visit a friend of mine who lives near the college and she had been baking wholewheat vanilla cupcakes and the smell hit you right from the time you stepped in the house. She had also made this wonderfully pale pink frosting which was sitting in a white bowl when I walked into the kitchen (the picture of girlie :P)

Wholewheat Vanilla cupcakes

(Makes 12)

• 110g unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 225g caster sugar
• 2 large eggs 
• 150g self raising flour, sifted
• 125g  wholemeal flour
• 120ml milk, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 160 C

In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar until the mixture is pale and smooth, 

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing for a few minutes after each

Combine the flours in a separate bowl and add 1/3 to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat well

Add the vanilla to the milk

Pour 1/3 into the other ingredients in the mixing bowl and beat again

Repeat until all of the flour and milk have been added

Transfer the mixture into the muffin cases

Bake for approximately 25-35 minutes, until golden

Cool in the tin for 10 mins then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely

* You can substitute the wholewheat flour for 125g of plain white flour

The texture of these muffins is a bit denser that regular muffins thanks to the wholewheat flour but they have a lot more bite as a result.

When her cupcakes (which smelled amazing) had cooled we set to work, her icing with a spatula, me with a trusty piping bag. Then armed with sprinkles we went to town (and a little bit overboard in some cases) and decorated them...and the floor...

T'was a lovely evening, just what I needed after the long drive and busy weekend :)


Incidentally, Sammi is a writer and has a blog of her own all about writing and general artistic stuff (it's very good) Wisdom Words and Whimsy

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