HAWMC Day 10 - Don't Be Jealous, Make a Cupcake!

Yet the children of your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' But it is their way that is not fair. Ezekiel 33:17

Recently I sent an email to a friend and after reviewing it, I realized that I had fallen prey to the envy monster.  I was jealous that everyone around me seemed to have more money, to have less anxiety, and less struggles.  Anytime someone mentioned what they were doing, it reminded me of what I was NOT doing.  I wanted to have just as much as everyone else and everything seemed incredibly unfair.
But then I thought - these things that other people have are not even things that I want!  Why bemoan about how everyone has more when I already have all that I need.  Yes, it is true that I am not the same.  I get my food from food stamps, I get money from the government and my parents, but why does it matter where I get my money and my food if all my needs are fulfilled?  It is our system that is unfair - we see post after post about obtaining new things and making more money and none of that truly gives us lasting happiness.

I need to review what I do have in abundance:

• caring friends
• supportive family
• books
• food
• music
• cuddly animals
• my faith
• recovery
• love 
• hope

I also have a recipe for death by chocolate cupcakes!  Super chocolate-y cupcakes were requested for some celebrations, so I found the perfect recipe from the blog, Sally's Baking Addiction.  The batter is the best batter ever! It tastes and has the consistency of pudding, so I could eat the whole bowl very easily, forgoing baking them into cupcakes.  But then I would miss out topping them with the chocolate cream cheese frosting from Cupcake Project.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoonn baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature*
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the cupcake pan with liners. Set aside.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in low heat on the stovetop.Stir until smooth and then set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, toss the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.  Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.  
• Add the cooled chocolate/butter and whisk until smooth.
• Add half of the flour mixture, then half of the buttermilk.  Repeat until everything is added.  Stir until "just" combined; do not overmix.  The batter will be very thick, like pudding.
• Divide the batter into 12 cupcake liners.  Bake for 18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool completely before frosting.

* Room temperature eggs are required for this recipe. To bring eggs to room temperature quickly, put them in a glass of warm water for 5-10 minutes.

 

Frosting Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder

Frosing Directions

• Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
• Mix in powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
• Mix in cocoa powder.