"Your house smells like chocolate! Again!" said 6 year old Elle when she knocked on my door. I'd been caught skiving off (that's wagging for you Americans) and instead of doing all the things I was supposed to on Sunday. But there I was, in the kitchen, making cupcakes. Of all things.
I'm often caught cooking when I am supposed to be doing something else. I feel like if I have a spare 15 minutes that means theoretically I can bake something. Elle decided on the spot that our apartment was "the most fun" and wondered out loud whether she could come round more often for playdates. "We don't have to make food, we could make other things too..."
So it seems I have a partner in my sugar-driven procrastination. I tried out Chockylit's basic chocolate recipe, which I found to be perfect for most people, and nicely moist, but I do prefer a more dense cake, in the Cupcake Café style. I also used her basic chocolate buttercream recipe, which I thought was excellent although I might try using some real dark chocolate in both cases as well as the cocoa. I used my whole tin of excellent Valrhona cocoa from a trip to Montreal at Les Chocolats de Chloe. I have now eaten 6 cupcakes and am rather ashamed at my lack of restraint. Going to go and give Elle the rest, as promised.
Actually, I've never heard the term "wagging off" and I am American. I wonder if it's regional? Anyway, I get the gist and think most of us call that "loafing" or "slacking" and what a nice way to do it! Those cupcakes look excellent!
Posted by: Kate | January 30, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Michael has just informed me that "wagging" is also English. You would have thought I had assimilated by now...I don't even have English blood!
Posted by: natasha | January 30, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Where did you get that cocoa from? I love the packaging.
Posted by: Joe Randazzo | January 30, 2008 at 07:40 PM
wish i can be your little neighbor Elle go over for playdates ;) your chocolate cupcakes looks so good...BTY, i hope you enjoy the Chinese tea that i send you + Michael... Chinese New Year is coming up next week, i wish you all the best for the year of the Mouse
Posted by: Charlotte | January 30, 2008 at 09:41 PM
I got the cocoa and a similarly-packaged vanilla sugar from Les Chocolats de Chloe in Montreal, http://leschocolatsdechloe.com/
Posted by: natasha | January 31, 2008 at 09:54 AM
if you assimilated we wouldn't like you nearly as much.
Posted by: Melissa | January 31, 2008 at 02:28 PM