Sunday, March 6, 2011

Chocolate Marmalade Mini-cupcakes

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Perspective.

I have been thinking long and hard about this word. Stop a second and actually think about it. Let it roll of your tongue. Try saying it fast so that you swallow the “s.” Then say it a little slower. Roll that “r”, and then ramp up as at the “s.” Then notice that you just spent the last minute not thinking about anything but sounds. You were putting the concept of that word into practice. You just found a moment where everything was in perspective.

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I can’t say it is something I myself put into practice with any particular frequency. For the majority of the last two months, I have almost lost sight of a concept so noble as perspective. Work has consumed me, eaten me from the inside, and left me wholly unsatiated. In some meager response to the pressure, I have cocooned myself in even more work hoping the mountain of papers would somehow inure and protect my soul. If only at some moment in that month, I had realized that my soul needs no more protection than perspective. That one day off, one evening away from the labors of the office, would mean nothing more than my own sanity. Or, that taking the snow day to make a small batch of cupcakes with your girls is so much more cathartic and so much more real than anything work has to offer.

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But sometimes when you are standing at the edge, you can’t find your bearings. It is when you step back, way back, when you see the wide vista of possibilities ahead, that the lines of perspective become so obvious. You can see your present in your peripheral vision but in front, small but nonetheless there, your future reassuringly beacons you forward.

Chocolate Marmalade Mini-cupcakes:
adapted from a recipe from the Cookie Shop

Combine:
1/4 cup flour
3 T chestnut flour
Pinch baking soda
Pinch baking powder
salt
4 T cocoa power
¼ sugar
2 T brown sugar

Add:
4 tbsp buttermilk
1 egg
Couple drops espresso
½ tsp vanilla extract
4 T olive oil
1 T marmalade

Bake in mini-cupcake tins (buttered and floured) for about 8 minutes. Top with chocolate ganache.

16 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Now I really love the word perspective - fun to say, and has a lot of meaning.

Wonderful cupcakes!

lisaiscooking said...

I love the thought of my future beaconing me forward. That is a nice way of thinking about perspective. Nice-looking cupcakes too. The mix of chocolate and marmalade sounds great!

Johanna GGG said...

a friend of mine describes being a working mother as always feeling like you should be somewhere else - but I like the idea of perspective - think I might need to look for some of my own - and then some of those cupcakes too

SS blogs here said...

Hey MM.. I hear you and second everything you said. It's hard though to bounce out of the cocoon to get a perspective. Maybe I'll pray for a snow day..or better still, I'll fake one.. doesn't have to be a snow day, I'll make up some day. ;)

Glad you enjoyed the cute cupcakes.

Joanne said...

What a beautiful post! It's definitely hard to remember sometimes that it's okay to just take a minute to breathe. and eat cupcakes.

Jenn @leftoverqueen said...

I think cooking is so therapeutic and grounding! And with kinds - all the better!

Alicia Foodycat said...

They sound very delicious - and very grounding! Glad they helped get you back to your centre.

thepickyeater @ A Spoonful of YUMM ! said...

those mini cupcakes look adorable !!! lovely blog u have...happy cooking !
do stop by my blog :)

Cathy x. said...

i think i have to agree with you. my life definitely needs more cathartic moments. haven't left the house in the last 3 weeks aside from going to uni but even looking at the big picture doesn't help sometimes. i see so many things wrong with the world that we live in and have to work so hard if i want to be able to do anything to change it. sometimes i wonder.. i hope all this stress is worth it.

Culinary School: Three Semesters of Life, Learning, and Loss of Blood said...

Chocolate and orange is a lovely combination - so the marmalade would be perfect here just perfect.

Unknown said...

Wow, welcome back from your few months blogging hiatus! I'm glad you've found some renewed perspective in your life, so stepping back is often a good thing. Another good thing is of course, making these lovely chocolate marmalade cupcakes with your girls! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.

Valerie Yoder said...

I just stumbled on your blog filled with sweet little photos of food I'm dying to try! Wonderful writing, as well.

x,
v
www.hereweareinthegreatnw.blogspot.com

Nomadic Samuel said...

These look delicious! Chocolate and marmalade would be a lovely combination :)

Angel said...

Lovely post! Now, I'm not quite sure what the 1/4 sugar means..

Audrey | That Backpacker said...

These look like the perfect treat! So good!

Ema said...

This cup cakes looks fantastic. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!!!