everybody likes cupcakes

My cold is nearing the two week mark and I'm so not thrilled at its take on longevity. Ugh. I did manage to have a lovely birthday and thank you all for your well-wishes!! Cornelius did make me a cake -- a very yummy (and very edible) chocolate and coconut cake which we proceed to gobble up with a side of coffee ice cream. Yummers. The day was spent riding our bikes to Granville Island with a picnic that included some delicious organic strawberries, my favorite oka cheese, a sourdough bagette and some delicious nitrate-free farmer's sausage from Oyama. Cornelius even accompanied me to my bowling tournament, where my good friend Kristen made me some vegan chocolate and vanilla frosted cupcakes and the beer did not stop flowing. Despite my cold, I managed to bowl well above my pitiful average and score 180 in my 2nd game. Whoooo! I can't wait until next month when my friend Dan and I will co-chair the birthday activities with a bar & bike tour. I will definitely have a tupperware container filled with Guinness cupcakes for sure and continue the birthday vibes all summer long!

Although I didn't make the cupcakes Kristen brought to bowling, I did give her the recipe a few years ago and it's been her favorite ever since. A few years ago, i directed/shot/starred in a short student film featuring this very secret cupcake recipe. Yes, just me, some lights, some cheap set dec, my camera and me cooking -- all at the same time. I present the video here (note: you may be asked to download a codec in order to view the video) for your streaming pleasure or I'll just pass along the recipe below.

vegan chocolate cupcakes (aka 6 Minute Chocolate Cake aka Wacky Cake)
*from Moosewood Cooks at Home

1-1/2 c unbleached white flour
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 c sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 c brewed coffee
2 t pure vanilla extract
2 T vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 375-degrees.

2. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and sugar into a large bowl.

3. In a 2-cup measuring cup, measure and mix the oil, water (or coffee), and vanilla. Slowly and gently pour the liquid ingredients into the bowl and mix the batter with a fork or a small whisk.

4. When the batter is smooth, add the vinegar and stir quickly. There will be pale swirls (and some bubbling) in the batter where the baking soda and vinegar are reacting. Stir just until the vinegar is evenly distributed throughout the batter (the color becomes more consistent throughout).

5. Pour batter into a lined muffin tin and bake for 25 minutes--testing with a toothpick. Remove to a cooling rack and make a frosting of your choice.

bad planning

On Monday, it will be my birthday and I like to make a fuss about such things. Last year I had a lovely picnic in the park outside our apartment with all my friends and I made chocolate vegan cupcakes (pictured to the left) and a beautiful baked alaska. This year, all birthday planning fell apart because I simply forgot that it was my birthday (I know, the horror!) and I ran out of time to get some fabulous party or get-together organized. Also, on Monday, Cornelius will be busy launching a huge web project that he's spent the past couple of months working on and I have a bowling tournament in the evening. Another wrench in my plans is that many of my friends are out of town vacationing or having babies - obviously, they didn't take my birthday into consideration when planning out their lives! I do have plans for a bar and bike party (with the wonderful idea stolen from The Messy Cucina!) in June as a co-birthday party celebration with my friend, Dan....but that's in June. What's going to happen this month?

While I have no plans yet for some kind of birthday revelry or beer bash blow out (ha!), I do have a few ideas on what kind of cake I'd like. I've been doing a bit of blog-hopping and I've settled on a few contenders, tho the cake on the cover of the Martha Stewart Baking book, sure looks tempting too! So many ideas, so little time.

• The Strawberry Shortbread Tart found at From the Pantry looks so lovely!

• The alluring combination of brown butter & rhubarb at Orangette.

• How can one go wrong with my favorite chocolate/coconut combo at Chocolate & Zucchini.

• My love of beer and chocolate is combined into a delicious cake at Kitchen on Clarendon.

I usually end up making my own birthday cakes since Cornelius is pretty hapless in the kitchen. One year he did try making me a birthday cake but it ended up horribly and he doesn't like to talk about it. Maybe this year we can make a cake together. Or, I can sit and watch him (a fruity drink in my hand) and guide him through to birthday cake bliss!