Amanda’s Golden *Surpise* Cupcakes

Have a craving for all things Moroccan, from food to clothing to jewellery?  Then Moroc Mama is the place you want to visit.  There you will meet Amanda, her two children and her husband.  Living in Wisconsin may seem far placed from the kasbah of Marrakech where she first *bumped* into her soul mate but through entertaining and educational posts, Amanda transports her readers and quickly immerses them in Moroccan culture.  Learn how to make Sfinge (Moroccan Donuts) or find some recipes for Ramadan and Eid.  Rather do something relaxing for yourself instead of cooking?  Read about the magnificent art of Henna and what some of the symbols mean.  Like a busy kasbah, there is definitely something for everyone at Moroc Mama’s place.  She has just started a weekly review and giveaway feature that she hopes to do every Sunday.  Amanda is a Mom Spark Media Member and a member of French Fridays with Dorie where she is no doubt looks for opportunities to add some of her own home-made spices into the weekly challenge recipes.  I’m very happy that she is here today sharing her recipe and her story.  You can follow Amanda on Twitter @marocmama

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I decided to sign up to do this in honor of my grandmother who is going through a battle with breast cancer. I have never been one to let my emotions show very much. It’s always been hard for me to cry in front of other people, to let on to my weaknesses. So when my mom called me one day to tell me that my grandma had been to the doctor and was diagnosed with breast cancer I think I was kind of dumb-founded. I’m sure I wasn’t very sensitive to my mom. I didn’t know what to say. Growing up, my sister and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, I would often go for a week at a time, even though my mom and dad were only 5 minutes away. I also always have felt like I have a special connection with this Grandma. She had battled alcoholism throughout adulthood. When my mom found out she was pregnant with me she told grandma that unless she went to rehab and stopped drinking she wouldn’t be allowed to be part of my life. Grandma went into treatment. I was born almost 3 weeks late, just in time for Grandma to be out of the hospital and at my birth. She hasn’t had a drink since. (almost 27 years) So when we heard that the next battle was cancer, I know that I wasn’t sure what that meant.

My undergraduate graduation party

After having a mastectomy there were several complications that landed Grandma into the hospital and then the nursing home. This was a tough pill to swallow for someone who was normally more than capable of taking care of herself. But she did it, and ended up back at home doing well. What the future holds is up in the air, but I know we’re all praying that things stay in remission.

The one desert/salad I always remember my Grandma making is called Deadman’s Delight and ironically enough it was the standard “funeral” lunch dish. Maybe this is a Midwest phenomenon but here after a funeral friends of the family bring dishes to have a lunch following the funeral service usually in a church basement. Grandma always brought this dish made from jello, cottage cheese, pineapple, cherries, mandarin oranges and whipped cream. I tried to make a cupcake using these…they flopped – big time. I’m not much of a baker! Instead I opted for a cupcake recipe I could handle.

I have a cookbook called Crazy About Cupcakes, and from it I decided to make Golden Cupcakes with a little twist.

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2c granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs separated
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3c AP flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1c organic skim milk
• Maraschino cherries cut in half

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until fluffy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla and beat well to combine. In a separate large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients alternating the flour mixture with the cup of milk. Mix until smooth.

Using clean beaters and another bowl beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. With a spatula, fold in the egg whites with the batter.

Line a cupcake pan with liners and fill each 3/4 full. Place 1-2 maraschino cherries into the top of each cupcake. Bake for approx. 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes.

Frosting:

I made a really simple frosting to go with this. I simply used 1 tub of Cool Whip and mixed in 1/4 sachet of orange jello. I then piped it onto the top of the cupcakes. It keeps the recipe light and adds a little bit of tartness to the cupcakes.

Part of participating in Frosting for the Cause is that each baker donates $25 to either the American or Canadian Cancer Society. Also the sweets are then donated to a local cancer hospice or hospital. Sadly my local hospitals do not allow home baked goods to be brought in. Instead I’ll be giving part of them to my Grandmas this weekend, and the others I brought to work to share with others who have been touched by cancer. If you’d like to know more about Frosting for the Cause or read other guest posts come visit. If you’re so moved you can make a donation to fight cancer with the American Cancer Society too.