Let the Games Begin- Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

I'm sure that Martha knows better than to bake while in a rush. I, on the other hand, feel I work best under a time crunch. It's like I'm on Iron Chef. You've seen the show, chefs battling their creativity all around a secret ingredient. Food is flying, knives are chopping and Alton Brown is in an hour-long frenzy. In order to prep my Kitchen Stadium I had to make a quick run to the grocery store. Glancing at the ingredient list on page 22 (there are a lot of intro pages in Martha's book-- of course) I quickly jotted down everything I needed to bake her Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. Ok ready to go. I had exactly 2 hours to bake before meeting my boyfriend for dinner. (I do like cupcakes, but I have a life...) Oh funny thing about the ingredients! guess what the star of the frosting is, yup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder. Day 1, and already outside my "normal ingredient" boundaries. I couldn't find the Dutch kind, so regular CP had to do. I also got generic brand chocolate chips instead of the "best-quality" kinda Martha recommends. Anyways, all is well with the recipe, even catching Martha's tricky late addition of 1 extra tbsp of cake flower at the end. I'm practically Martha until it's time to add the sugar and my sugar jar has bottomed out. Secret ingredient #1, is missing. I need 1 3/4 cups, and have barely 3/4. (Oh also this happened with the vanilla extract... I was a little short but just let it slide) Ok, so WWMD? Martha would send someone out to her sugar mill that she built out of toothpicks and fetch her the last cup. I on the other hand resorted to my colored sugar sprinkles... purple to be specific. Topped off the 3/4 cup and mixed it in. That is when I realized I needed to Martha-up and ask my neighbors for the freaking cup of sugar. Thank God they were home, awkward either way. Sugar is done and I see what's next on Martha's list. 5 egg whites, ok I always have eggs, nbd. Well, apparently the day I decide I want to be Martha Stewart, I don't have eggs. Secret ingredient #2, not there. Run (literally) to the quick-e-mart and after I've convinced the guy I want uncooked eggs and not hard-boiled... I'm home. Finish the batter, which is overflowing out of my bowl. Load up my Transformer paper liners (Martha would approve of the nice personal touch) and pop all 3 trays! in the oven which has pre-heated for so long I feel my precious (slightly purple-- damn sprinkles) are entering the gates of Hell. Shower for my date. Did I mention it's August and I don't have air conditioning? Timer dings, they're done. I decide that the frosting can wait until tomorrow so it's fresh for my Transformer loving friend's bbq. Plus, maybe they'll be less purple in the morning. I guess I need to re-evaluate my successes in a time crunch.

Kitchen Stadium is calm again...judgement pending.

Cupcake Stats:
Martha says this recipe makes 30. It made me : 36
Weight Watcher points (if you're into that): 6

Martha's Version

Mindy's Version

So here's how this whole idea started....

My mom, aware of my obsession of cupcakes, gave me the Martha Stewart cupcake book for Christmas in 2009. Initially intimidated by Martha's perfect chocolate cupcake on the front, I have been slow to dive right in and start baking. I admit that I've made a few of the recipes in this book. Two of them, recipes where I didn't have to go out of my way to find some strange (to me at least) ingredient, like say "unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder". Her recipes, to me, are slightly ridiculous. Why use a double boiler method, when the chocolate can melt even faster in the micro? And why dirty up excess dishes when you could use one bowl to make the box cupcake? Honestly, the box cupcake tastes just as good as any other detailed recipe; the box mix is cheaper, easier, more reliable and in an apartment without air conditioning, much more tolerable to bake. However, inspired by watching the movie Julie&Julia..today actually, I am determined to conquer Martha. I have challenged myself to make all of Martha's recipes, including the frostings and decorating techniques within the next 175 weeks. 175 "inspirational ideas" equals 175 weeks of cupcakes. Though the Martha recipes seem particular and complex, there is something about biting into that cupcake, sharing them with my friends and family and feeling I have accomplished a recipe greater than my grandma's. 


For my fellow cupcake enthusiasts, I hope you enjoy my blog, and appreciate my amateur attempts at being Martha Stewart. Feel free to leave comments or tips as I'm sure I'll need them along the way. Also, if anyone is interested in helping with my dishes, please don't hesitate to comment.