Neapolitan Nebula

Chocolate Strawberry and Vanilla cake topped with the trio of frosting, marshmallows, and melted fudge

This image, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, is of the Key Hole Nebula which is part of the Great Nebula of Carina. Nebulae are interstellar clouds of dust and gas formed as a result of a gravitational collapse in the interstellar medium or from the demise of a star. There seems to be a beautiful harmony within all of the chaos in this particular nebula.

Am I in the mood for chocolate? Perhaps strawberry? Vanilla is always a classic. This is quite the conundrum... or is it?
Neapolitan, you say? Its only the most harmonious combination of all three of your favorite flavors made all the better by the addition of mini marshmallows and fudge melted atop.

I've also never been the type of person who enjoys foods straight from the refrigerator that are typically served warm. Pizza, wings (although I don't eat meat), soup, etc. These cupcakes however break that personal law of mine. In my opinion they are even better when served chilled its reminiscent of ice cream cake. Thats not to say that they didn't fly like hotcakes once I was done sprinkling them with marshmallows.

Marbled Buttercake:
(Makes 12, Recipe adapted from Cupcakes by Pamela Clark)
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon fresh strawberry puree
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons milk, extra

Butter Cream Frosting:
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon fresh strawberry puree
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons milk, extra
mini marshmallows

The final product sans the fudge. I was in a hurry when I was putting the final touches on them and the bag of hot fudge exploded all over my arm and one unfortunate cupcake. Those things always seem to happen when your running late for something. If only I had a dollar each time fudge exploded on my arm...

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 hole cupcake pan with baking cups.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer; add eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Stir in sifted flour and milk, in two batches.
4. Divide mixture evenly among three bowls. Add strawberry puree to one mixture. Blend sifted cocoa powder with extra milk in a cup; stir into another mixture. Leave third mixture plain.
5. Drop alternate spoonfuls of the three mixtures into baking cups. Pull a skewer backwards and forwards through mixture for a marbled effect; smooth surface.
6. Bake cakes for about 20 minutes. Turn cakes onto a wire rack to cool.
7. Make butter cream.
8. Swirl cakes with the three flavors of frosting and top with mini marshmallows.
9. Drizzle melted fudge on top for an additional treat.

Frosting:
Beat butter in the bowl 0f an electric mixer until as white as possible; beat in sifted powdered sugar and milk in two batches. Divide mixture evenly among three bowls. Add strawberry puree to one. Blend sifted cocoa with extra milk in a cup; stir into another mixture. Leave the third mixture plain.

This is a poor picture taken from my camera phone of a previous batch that included fudge

Strawberry Supernova

Strawberry cake with crushed Oreo cookies baked inside topped with a trio of frosting and an element of surprise

This is the remnant of a supernova that was the brightest supernova in recorded human history which was seen on the Earth beginning in the year 1006 AD. The supernova was about 7,200 light years away from Earth.

Strawberry Oreo Cake:
(makes about 18)
2/3 c fresh strawberries, pureed
1 1/2 c sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c milk, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick butter, room temperature
1 c sugar
1 egg, room temperature
2 egg whites, room temperature
about 24 Oreo cookies

Butter Cream Frosting:
2 sticks butter, slightly cold
3 c powdered sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp strawberries, purred
2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line about 18 cupcake cups with paper liners.
2. Place an Oreo halve on the bottom of each liner for a sweet surprise.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
4. In a small bowl mix together milk, vanilla, and strawberry puree; set aside.
5. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until it is light and fluffy. Slowly add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Slowly beat in the egg and egg whites until blended.
6. Add half of the flour mixture beating on low speed. Add the milk mixture and mix until just blended. Slowly add the remaining flour mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
7. Crush up about 12 Oreo cookies and fold into the batter.

8. Divide the batter evenly amongst the prepared cups.
9. Bake for about 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely prior to frosting.

10. Make the frosting and frost cupcakes. To create an explosive stellar look, use a star attachment fitted to a frosting bag and hold the bag at a 45 degree angle to the surface and as you squeeze the frosting, pull the tip up and away from the cake. Work your way from the outer edge in.

I listened to DJ Tiesto's album, Elements of Life, for some good baking energy

Frosting:
Beat butter and salt together in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed and slowly add powdered sugar beating until well combined. Divide the mixture among 3 small bowls; mix melted chocolate into one, pureed strawberries into another, and leave the remaining one plain.

She loves cupcakes :o)