Life in Our World - Good Thing We Have Cupcakes

Marie and Me

Early Thursday morning I received an e-mail from Marie saying that she and her husband Dirk were driving through our area later in the day and wondered about meeting.  Of couuuurse!  Marie is a long time blog friend who lives in Canada, I was so glad to finally talk in real time.  She is just as enthusiastic and genuine as she is on her blog.  It was such a privilege to meet her and her husband Dirk.  (Her blog is private or I'd link to it.)

Truly.  Marie is exuberant and a joy to be around.  I was so impressed Dirk would humor her and bring her to visit and then sit and listen and even contribute to the conversation.  I shouldn't have been surprised, Dirk helps Marie pull off a lot of her incredibly creative ideas -- he delivered their kids' presents in a very realistic Santa suit Christmas Eve so it could be caught on video while the kids slept, and he dressed up as King Pig without even being asked [green face, green wig, and all] for their son's Angry Birds birthday party.

Someone once asked me if it's awkward meeting blog friends for the first time and I said, "Heavens no!  It's so nice because you know them and can ask all those questions the blog doesn't tell."

Dirk and Marie, thank you for taking the time to stop.

A little later friend Melanie came by and I got to take care of Owen for a couple of hours.  Melanie is one of those people that finds the funny no matter what the situation is.  I wish everyone had a Melanie.  I'm glad I have one.

A little later friend Casey stopped by with 50#'s of popcorn.  Several years ago Mitch, one of my seminary students gave me 50#'s of popcorn -- just because.  I saw him at the movies the other night and thanked him again, especially because I had just used the last of it a month or so ago.  Casey helps Mitch out at the popcorn plant and so he delivered another bag a couple of nights later.

I'm telling you we have the nicest friends.

Good thing we had cupcakes so there was something to share with all those who gave so much to us.  I've been wanting to try this recipe for a long time and it did not disappoint . . . not even a little.  If you like chocolate, and coconut, and cream cheese, and almonds, and truffles I don't think you'll be disappointed either.

Good Thing We Have Cupcakes

Cupcakes

1 box devils food cake mix
1 box instant vanilla pudding (small box)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
Milk chocolate Lindor truffles by Lindt ~ approximately 30

Coconut Frosting

1/4 cup softened butter

1 8 oz package of cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

1 1/2 cups coconut

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup chopped almonds

Topping

2 cups milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1. Unwrap milk chocolate Lindt truffles and place in a bowl for use later.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 30 muffins tins.
3. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, oil, and water.
4. Sift in cake mix and pudding and mix well.
5. Stir in sour cream.
6. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
7. Bake at 350 for five minutes. After five minutes, lightly press a Lindt truffle into each partially baked cupcake.
8. Bake the cupcakes an additional 13 minutes (total of 18 minutes).
9. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and place hot cupcakes directly into airtight containers so as to seal in the moisture.
10. While cupcakes are baking or sweating, mix frosting.
11. Cream butter, cream cheese, salt, and vanilla in mixing bowl.  
12. Add powdered sugar and mix well.
13. Add chopped almonds and coconut and mix.
14. Frost cupcakes with heavy layer of coconut frosting.
15. Melt 2 cups milk chocolate chips in microwave (don't over cook)
16. Dip tips of coconut frosted cupcakes into first melted chocolate and then chopped almonds.
17. Let the chocolate set up.
18. These cupcakes are even better on day two and three.

Tonight some friends are coming over for supper.  Calvin has perfected a new way of cooking steaks.  

Good thing we still have some cupcakes.