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

April 11, 2015

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.

 
(Don't you want to lick the bowl?)

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.

I've improved my frosting skills!
Having as much and wanting as much as my neighbor will not make me happy, but chocolate in abundance will.  Of course, we should work to level the playing field and make things more equal, but we should always remember that our value lies not in how much we make, how much we have, or where the source of our goods comes from, but from being human.  I can be happy if I let myself not be distracted by what society deems is important, but instead focus on what I think is important.
And I think chocolate-y cupcakes are very important.
Link Love:

 in my experience, there is naught that casts aside every last remnant of inhibition like profound trust.

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