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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Iron Cupcake Earth: Herbs

I have to begin by saying...I am on Tyler Florence's Blog!!! Check me out HERE. You too could end up there...just whip up a recipe by Tyler and join us at Tyler Florence Fridays! Tyler. Tyler Florence. Chef Tyler Florence. Tyler Florence Food Network Chef. Shuttin' up. (photo by Scott Jones Southern Living Magazine Jan 2009 issue) ---------------------------------------------------------------- You know, for someone who is not really the biggest cake fan, I have sure been making a whole lotta cupcakes lately!! It's not that I don't like cake, I just like it every once in a while. I've just been experimenting and preparing for the day I need to send cupcakes along with somebody for one reason or another. (Yes, I always answer the question cake or pie? Pie!) When Reeni suggested I enter Iron Cupcake after my last cupcakes, I figured...why not?? You know me, I like a challenge. I am a bit of a challenged baker (again, you know this, right?)...but practice makes perfect, so I'm willing to keep trying. I took inspiration from those oh-so-addicting cookie dough cupcakes this time. Everybody loves surprises, so I like to oblige. Oh, did I mention that this month's challenge is herbs? Why, yes girli, you just did. Good. I immediately knew I was going to use thyme...not just because it's my favorite herb, but because I have a whole stinkin' bunch of it right now. Okay, more than one stinkin' bunch...many stinkin' bunches! My brain then tells me I must pair it with lemon. And my belly grumbles ricotta. This is what we...my brain, my belly and I (we're quite a team) came up with...

Thyme-Infused, Lemon Ricotta Cupcakes by girlichef yield: 24 cupcakes For Filling: 1 c. ricotta cheese 1/4 c. powdered sugar zest of 1 lemon 1 tsp. thyme leaves big pinch sea salt For Cupcakes: 1 (18.5 oz) box white cake mix so what? 1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice (~6 lemons) 2/3 c. ricotta cheese 1/3 c. lemon curd 1/3 c. vegetable oil 3 Tbs. poppy seeds 2 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves, chopped 4 large eggs 2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest Start by making the filling, because it needs to chill in the freezer for a while. Mix all of the filling ingredients in medium bowl. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto wax or parchment paper lined sheet pan. Put in freezer for ~1 hour to firm up. Once filling is in the freezer, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat all of cake ingredients until thick and fluffy. Fill prepared cupcake tins (either sprayed or with liners) ~2/3 of the way full. Place one frozen ball of filling on top of each. Yes, these balls are big, your eyes are not deceiving you. I decided it was too much filling, therefore halved it for the final recipe.Bake 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in side (not center, because the filling is there and will be creamy) comes out clean.Frost with your choice of frosting...I actually used cream cheese frosting because I wanted to go into overload. You could go with a buttercream or whipped cream frosting successfully, too. I kid you not, these are super, SUPER rich cuppies!Decorate with some extra lemon zest and a small section of a thyme sprig. Just check out the creamy insides...rich, creamy insides that is. Click on the Iron Cupcake Badge below to check out Iron Cupcake Earth.

Iron Cupcake Earth has prize packs every month for the winner. This month's prize pack consists of:
-A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH
-A delicious treat from CIRCLEMONKEY
-A sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery
-And CAKESPY who will be doing something for the winners each month until further notice.
Corporate Prize providers are:
-HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS
-HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson
-a tshirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM

Would you like to comment?

  1. And here I thought cupcakes were only really vanilla or chocolate. These are by far the most creative and yummy sounding cupcakes ever! And big congrats on being on Tyler Florence's blog. How cool is that? (and how darn cute is he...and mega talented)

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  2. I am not quite sure why you say you are "not be much of a baker" because these are beautiful!!

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  3. ...amanda- I know, right!!!! :D

    ...coleen- I'm workin' on my skillz, but... LOL, thanks :D

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  4. First of all, congrats on the feature on TF's blog - that's amazing!

    Second, your cupcakes are beautiful! You did a great job with the decoration, too - they look really professional.

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  5. Cute, and I agree you put out some pretty good stuff here...

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  6. OMG, that's so awesome!!!! Congrats!! I love TF. He's got some awesome recipes.

    Lemon-ricotta cupcakes?! yum!!! Nice job. They look really lovely!!

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  7. Congrats again on being featured on Tyler's blog!
    I am with you, not such a cake fan but I'll never turn down a cupcake. These are so beautiful--love the frosting and decorations and they are making my mouth water. Great combo of flavors! Good luck in the Iron Cupcake battle! ;-)

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  8. congrats for the award. I got the kreativ blogger award, too. The cupcakes are wonderful, girlie.

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  9. congrats on the feature! these are amazing!

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  10. I love your frosting!! Super duper big congrats on the Tyler Florence spotlight--good job!

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  11. Such cute little cuppy cakes!
    Congrats again for being on Tyler's site!!!!

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  12. Those are beautiful cupakes..really.

    and did I tell you you won my little anniversary giveaway? Well, you did! Congratulations!

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  13. wow Girlichef way to go they look amazing

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  14. That is supercool! They look gorgeous!

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  15. Congrats, Heather! I'm so happy for you.

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  16. again congrats on the tyler thing - I commented on his blog as well....
    these cupcakes are out of this world...

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  17. I'm not big on sweets but I can just bet these are wonderful!

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  18. Oh damn. Seriously, I saw those cupcakes and you had me at the pic. "Not a baker".... pfffffft.

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  19. Congrats on the awesome nod from Tyler!!!!!

    Cupcakes look wonderful. You are too good at too many things!

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  20. First of all, CONGRATS!!!!!!!

    Secondly, Man! He looks good in that photo! haha

    Third, those cupcakes look fantastic.

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  21. What tasty treats you have shared today. I mean the cupcakes, of course:)

    Kudos to you!!! I too love thyme. Not only does it make a scented carpet in my garden, look what it adds to your gorgeous looking cupcakes!!! Thanks for sharing, Heather.

    Oh how I wish I could bake...

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  22. These look really great. Congratulations!

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  23. I love lemon cakes! Those look wicked good.

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  24. oh my.. how pretty and how delish this cupcake is.. i don't believe that you're baking-challenged. your cupcakes look like they were done by a pro! love the combo of thyme, lemon and ricotta. awesome.

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  25. Congrats on the Tyler blog nod! What an honor!

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  26. YOU ARE A CUPCAKE ROCK STAR!!

    I love these! How awesome to use thyme in cupcakes. Oh, I am so inspired! Nice! ;0)

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  27. Oh my wow! What an amazing cupcake! I have tons of thyme and am going to try this out :)

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  28. These are heavenly delicious! Love the ricotta filling - perfect with thyme! I'm so glad you joined - now I have to get my butt in gear - don't think I'll make it for this month.

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  29. MMMMM Pass one this way please... :) Normally I am a pie person too, but these SO look delectable, I would be willing to make an exception... ;)

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  30. oh my - look what lovely mischief you have been up to while I was away - these cupcakes are absof*ckinglutley awesome!

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  31. Girli, you must be sizzling with delight to be on Tyler's blog! I am so excited and pleased for you! Well done!!

    Cupcakes look interesting; creative use of herbs in a form I certainly wouldn't expect. I would certainly love to try one.

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  32. These are stunning and the flavors sound amazing together- groan! I'll be sure to vote for you!

    Congrats on your shout out on the Tyler blog- that is so cool! I loved those photos too.

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  33. congratulations, heather! I am so happy for you!
    And oh my god, I can't express in words how much I am amzed by that cupcake! I'm not too much of a fan of ultra-sweet cupcakes, so this is perfect!

    p.s. I received your package! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! :D

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  34. Congrats! That's amazing! These cupcakes look so awesome!

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  35. I am loving the flavors. And finding new use for my overgrowing thyme (which I also dearly love). Never thought about putting it in a dessert - which is why I love your blog!

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  36. YAY you made tylers site.. good for you!! These cupcakes look outrageously delicious!! Bet youll win!

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  37. It is so exciting to be featured on Tyler's blog. It's a big accomplishment for us foodies : ) Love the cupcakes, very creative. And you know....Tyler's favorite herb is thyme too!!

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  38. That is so awesome Heather!! Wow, you're a celebrity now!!! Look what you did with those cupcakes too - so creative. You should get into food styling I swear. Congrats again!!

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  39. Congrats on winning!

    And these cupcakes look amazing. All good flavors, all rolled up into one!

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  40. wow those look amazing!! mmmmm herb cupcakes

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  41. Those cupcakes look amazing. I'm going to have to try those. Congrats on being feature on Tyler's blog!

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  42. Ohhh...gorgeous cupcakes. That Tyler Florence really is a good looking man, isn't he?

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  43. Wow, those cupcakes look AMAZING! Lemon and thyme is the combination!

    Congrats on being featured on Tyler's blog! That is way way cool!

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  44. those are such beautiful cupcakes. I love how lemon just freshens up a recipe. I'd like to eat the filling just on its own!!

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  45. Whoa these cupcakes are super inventive! I love it. The ricotta filling looks amazing. I am going to make these soon for sure.

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  46. Those looks absolutely amazing. And as a cupcake fanatic I am dying to try them!

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  47. First off, congrats on being on Tyler's site. Very cool! I just saw him on The View this morning. I'll check the link when I get a chance.

    These cupcakes looks delicious and as refreshing as cake can be. How totally creative of you. Love it! Good luck in the challenge.

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  48. Hi! Just came across your blog from Sophia's and you totally made my day :) I'm a BIG Tyler Florence fan - I think the only times I've ever completely followed a recipe are when I'm using one of his! What can I say, the man knows his flavors! I'm definitely going to check out Tyler Florence Fridays :)

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  49. Congrats!!!!! It look at as it is to eat. Love your blog :)


    thanks for sharing your recipe:)


    Have a great Thrusday~

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  50. Wow, such a creative cupcakes...look so yummie. Love the way that it is decorated, very cute.

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  51. You are amazing, seriously! These are incredible! I can only imagine how good they taste!

    I'm going to check you out on Tyler's page!

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  52. What cool and unique cupcakes, they look amazing!

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  53. Oh, those are so pretty! I am not much of a baker, so I really appreciate the fact that you can pull this off. GOrgeous!

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  54. these are absolutely wonderful--I will vote for you.

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  55. These are so adorable and beautiful!

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  56. Really amazing cupcakes and fab flavor combo! Truly creative and luscious looking! And Oooooh you are on Tyler Florence's blog isn't that too too super cool? Congrats!

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  57. Those are gorgeous! I am not much of a baker, so I will just admire them from afar.

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  58. On Tyler Florence's blog!!??!!!

    That's the coolest!!!!!!!!!

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  59. Just when I thought a cupcake could not get any better, this pops up on my computer screen! YUM!

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