Wordless Wednesday

Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

It's birthday week at our house for Jeremy and we all know that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, or in my case, his sweet tooth. I saw this recipe on Joy the Baker's blog and I knew I had to try it. I have to say that they turned out quite well. Although I think I did something wrong when making the cupcake batter. Mine turned out a little dry. I halved the recipe because I in no way needed 24 of these things in my house, so I'm pretty sure I did something wrong when doing my math. Go figure. They were still a big hit. The frosting is ah-mazing.

Here is the recipe from Joy.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
For the Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup dulce de leche, plus more for drizzling
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
• Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans with paper or foil liners. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add butter and sugars. Beat on medium speed until fluffy and pale brown, about 3 minutes. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add one egg. Beat on medium for one minute. Add the remaining eggs, one at a time, beating for one minute between each addition. Stop the bowl and scrape down the sides as necessary. Beat in vanilla extract.
• Add half of the flour mixture to the egg and butter mixture. Beat on low speed and slowly drizzle in the buttermilk. Beat until just incorporated. Stop the mixer, scrape down the bowl and add the rest of the dry ingredients. Beat on low speed until just incorporated. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and finish incorporating with a spatula. Try not to over mix the mixture.
• Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake pans, filling each liner about two thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center of one of the cakes comes out clean. Let rest in the cupcake pans before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Cupcakes should be completely cooled before frosting.

To make the frosting:
Place cream cheese in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds, until very soft and pliable. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the butter and dulce de leche. Beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Stop the mixer and add the salt and powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until fluffy and lighter in color. Generously spoon frosting on top of cupcakes, or use a large frosting tip to pipe on frosting.

Fishing

We spent the weekend in the country at Poppa and Nonna's house. Leyton kept asking if we could go fishing. Now I know he had no idea what "fishing" entailed, but we decided to give it a whirl. They were only a few casts in before they got a bite. Leyton was pleased as punch when he was reeling it in, but he was terrified when he saw it. He thought it was a shark. Bless his heart. He stared at it for 5 seconds then just started bawling. I think we have watched too much Nemo. Anyhow, he gave it another go and caught one more fish before he decided he was done. Now he won't stop asking to go back.

Poppa showing him that fish are "nice"

A rare sighting...

Potty News

Leyton made tee-tee's in the potty (twice today so far)!!!! You would have thought he had found the cure to cancer by the way we were hollering and dancing around. Oh well. I am proud. His treat was a mini Almond Joy- it was the only treat-like thing I could find. He didn't complain. Yay, little man!

Edit- he ended up going five times today!!