Read Online Confectionately Yours #2: Taking the Cake! by Lisa Papademetriou - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lisa Papademetriou
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doing your best,” I tell him.
He shrugs, taking the notebook. “I hope it’s enough.” He gives me another sad smile, then turns to walk away.
King Kong Cupcakes (Banana-Coconut-Macadamia-Nut Cupcakes)
(makes approximately 12 cupcakes)
I basically tweaked the Rain Forest Cupcakes and added Chocolate-Coconut Frosting. Bananas. Nuts. Perfect for Meghan.
INGREDIENTS:
1 medium very ripe banana, mashed well
2/3 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1-1/4 cups gluten-free, all-purpose flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped toasted macadamia nuts
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
In a small bowl, whisk together the banana, coconut milk, coconut extract, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and oil.
In a larger bowl, sift together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and mix.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones a little bit at a time, and combine using a whisk or handheld mixer, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times, until no lumps remain. Add the chopped macadamia nuts and combine completely.
Fill cupcake liners two-thirds of the way and bake for 18–22 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack, and let cool completely before frosting.
Chocolate-Coconut Frosting
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon coconut extract
2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons coconut milk
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a bowl, using a handheld mixer, cream the margarine. Sift in the cocoa powder and mix with the margarine until completely combined.
Add the coconut extract and then start beating in the confectioners’ sugar in 1/2-cup intervals, adding a little of the coconut milk in between batches. Continue to beat the frosting until it is light and fluffy, about 3–7 minutes.
M om is sitting at a table in the café, chatting with Police Officer Ramon.
Awk-ward.
I really want to talk to her about Marco and Meghan and Devon and Artie. But she’s busy … smiling. Smiling and smiling at Ramon, who is smiling and smiling at her. I just wish they’d stop smiling so much.
Which brings me to my next subject: I wish I had someone to talk to about my mother and Ramon.
But who am I going to call? Meghan? We weren’t friends when my parents got divorced, and she doesn’t really know the whole history. Besides, I don’t want advice . I just want someone to listen. And Meghan is really more of an advice girl. Three weeks ago, I would’ve called Artie. But that’s out. And Marco — forget it. He’s got too much going on to hearme. My sister is sitting nearby, but she’s with Rupert, and I don’t want more free psychoanalysis. Besides, Chloe probably thinks Officer Ramon is great. Just like Annie is great. Everyone’s great!
I wish I could feel that way.
I tap in the cocoa and mix it carefully into the rest of the batter. Then I add a generous amount of sea salt. It’s almost like I’m adding the tears that are hidden behind my eyes, the ones I can’t seem to shed for some reason.
I’ve been thinking about Marco all afternoon. Not just about the trouble he’s having in Mr. Carter’s class, but just about how hard things have been for him in general. I wish our friendship was like it used to be — easy. Automatic. Almost thoughtless.
I feel the same way about Artie. I wish I’d never realized she was awful. It was so much easier.
In books or movies, whenever a friendship ends, the friends just become enemies. And then the heroine makes perfect new friends who solve all of her problems. Instead, I’ve got a still-kind-of friend who needs my help, an ex-friend who isn’t quite an enemy, and a new friend who’s bossy and maybe halfway nuts. Fun, but nuts.
Nuts. A thought strikes me: Maybe nuts are what’s needed.
I
He shrugs, taking the notebook. “I hope it’s enough.” He gives me another sad smile, then turns to walk away.
King Kong Cupcakes (Banana-Coconut-Macadamia-Nut Cupcakes)
(makes approximately 12 cupcakes)
I basically tweaked the Rain Forest Cupcakes and added Chocolate-Coconut Frosting. Bananas. Nuts. Perfect for Meghan.
INGREDIENTS:
1 medium very ripe banana, mashed well
2/3 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1-1/4 cups gluten-free, all-purpose flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped toasted macadamia nuts
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
In a small bowl, whisk together the banana, coconut milk, coconut extract, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and oil.
In a larger bowl, sift together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and mix.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones a little bit at a time, and combine using a whisk or handheld mixer, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times, until no lumps remain. Add the chopped macadamia nuts and combine completely.
Fill cupcake liners two-thirds of the way and bake for 18–22 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack, and let cool completely before frosting.
Chocolate-Coconut Frosting
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon coconut extract
2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons coconut milk
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a bowl, using a handheld mixer, cream the margarine. Sift in the cocoa powder and mix with the margarine until completely combined.
Add the coconut extract and then start beating in the confectioners’ sugar in 1/2-cup intervals, adding a little of the coconut milk in between batches. Continue to beat the frosting until it is light and fluffy, about 3–7 minutes.
M om is sitting at a table in the café, chatting with Police Officer Ramon.
Awk-ward.
I really want to talk to her about Marco and Meghan and Devon and Artie. But she’s busy … smiling. Smiling and smiling at Ramon, who is smiling and smiling at her. I just wish they’d stop smiling so much.
Which brings me to my next subject: I wish I had someone to talk to about my mother and Ramon.
But who am I going to call? Meghan? We weren’t friends when my parents got divorced, and she doesn’t really know the whole history. Besides, I don’t want advice . I just want someone to listen. And Meghan is really more of an advice girl. Three weeks ago, I would’ve called Artie. But that’s out. And Marco — forget it. He’s got too much going on to hearme. My sister is sitting nearby, but she’s with Rupert, and I don’t want more free psychoanalysis. Besides, Chloe probably thinks Officer Ramon is great. Just like Annie is great. Everyone’s great!
I wish I could feel that way.
I tap in the cocoa and mix it carefully into the rest of the batter. Then I add a generous amount of sea salt. It’s almost like I’m adding the tears that are hidden behind my eyes, the ones I can’t seem to shed for some reason.
I’ve been thinking about Marco all afternoon. Not just about the trouble he’s having in Mr. Carter’s class, but just about how hard things have been for him in general. I wish our friendship was like it used to be — easy. Automatic. Almost thoughtless.
I feel the same way about Artie. I wish I’d never realized she was awful. It was so much easier.
In books or movies, whenever a friendship ends, the friends just become enemies. And then the heroine makes perfect new friends who solve all of her problems. Instead, I’ve got a still-kind-of friend who needs my help, an ex-friend who isn’t quite an enemy, and a new friend who’s bossy and maybe halfway nuts. Fun, but nuts.
Nuts. A thought strikes me: Maybe nuts are what’s needed.
I
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