Charger Cupcakes and Strike 2, Bon Appétit...

Remember the cookie cutters ECA and I made the other day?  Well check out the fruits of our hard labor!

This order included three types of cupcakes:

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Filling and Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

 Lemonade Dream Cupcakes 

(Vanilla Cake with Lemon Filling and Lemon Buttercream Frosting)

 Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Of course, ECA was quick to point out that the "50" on the 50-yard-line cupcakes was incorrect because it's actually supposed to look like this but I felt the need to take some artistic license for aesthetic purposes.  Being the adult that I am, I took his constructive criticism in stride. 

~♥~

I also took some time to try a new recipe tonight: Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts.  Verdict: Meh :-/  I wasn't impressed.  To begin with, after much discussion with my kid sister, we decided to omit the walnuts and just keep the chocolate chips.  That, I think, was our first mistake.  I thought the bread was way too sweet and dessert-like.  In retrospect, if we were to have omitted something, I would have omitted the chocolate chips.  A nice toasted nutty taste would have complemented the bananas perfectly.  Also, though I layered the batter and the chocolate chips as the directions indicated, the chocolate chips failed to stay afloat and opted instead to sink to the very bottom making a thick chocolate chip layer that caused the loaves to stick to the pans (despite my very best pan-greasing.)  Finally, the loaves didn't rise as my usual banana bread recipe does.  Instead of nice, golden-brown domes I was treated to flat, deep brown tops even though I set the timer for 15 minutes less than the suggested baking time.  Boo! Hiss!  Just as a side note, this is another Bon Appétit recipe failure (see the first here).  Strike two, Bon Appétit!

Here's the recipe in case you want to try it yourself:

♥Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts♥

Makes one 9-inch loaf

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1/4 t. salt
• 3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 c. walnuts, toasted, chopped
• 1/2 (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 c. mashed ripe bananas
• 2 T. fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 t. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. HEAT oven to 350°F and butter and flour 9x5x2.5" metal loaf pan.
2. WHISK first 4 ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
3. COMBINE chocolate chips and walnuts in small bowl; add 1 T. flour mixture and toss to coat.
4. BEAT butter in large bowl until fluffy.
5. ADD sugar gradually, beating until well blended.
6. BEAT in eggs one at a time.
7. BEAT in mashed bananas, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
8. ADD flour mixture.
9. SPOON 1/3 of batter into prepared pan.  SPRINKLE with half of nut/chocolate chip mixture.  SPOON 1/3 of batter over.  SPRINKLE with remaining nut/chocolate chip mixture.  COVER with remaining batter.  Run knife through batter in zigzag pattern.
10. BAKE until tester inserted into center comes out clean (about 1 hour 5 minutes).  Turn out onto rack and cool.
11. Try to suppress your utter disappointment at the dismal failure before you.  Or else have amazing success and come tell me all about it.  I'd love to hear how you made it better!