Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Lots of Ways Banana Cupcakes


This week's selection for Tuesdays with Dorie was chosen by Kimberly of Only Creative Opportunities. Lots of Ways Banana Cake is, as the name implies, open to many changes. I know I'll see a lot of variations on the theme of banana cake if I'm able to tear myself away from my spreadsheet du jour and visit my fellow TWD bakers. And to those of you who are still stopping by to see if I'm still alive (yes!), I'm ever so grateful to you for continuing to do so in spite of my seeming neglect of your posts. I read much of what you write while I'm eating my lunch, but I don't comment, thinking I want to wait until "later" to comment when I'll have more time to write something more meaningful than "nice brownie." It's still not "later" so I have yet to write the intended comments. My Google Reader has a life of its own. I could cut it down considerably by marking as read all the Lolcats and The Kitchn posts, but who doesn't need a laugh and a recipe?

My inability to cope with the sheer volume of work and external demands on my time led me to punt with this week's recipe. Dorie suggests we make cake layers and then suggests a few ways to top them. The spectre of taking a cake layer to the office and disappointing three-quarters of my coworkers was added stress I didn't need. And I was confounded by trying to imagine how it would look. So I made cupcakes. I even made sort of healthy cupcakes (no, thank you, I am feeling quite all right). I subbed about 1/3 of the flour with white whole wheat. The recipe yielded 17 regular cupcakes and 24 minis. I followed Dorie's suggestion and made her ganache for the umpteenth time and took it to work with me to frost the cupcakes after they cooled. My coworkers streamed in and out of the break room, oohing and ahhing when they spied cupcakes topped with chocolate for breakfast. And since not everyone likes chocolate, I left some bare. I grabbed one (with ganache, naturally) to enjoy as my afternoon snack. As the day played out, I emailed with my coworker who was ripped out of her position and stuck in another one, not in my department, as a result of the layoffs we had. She's miserable, and I met her while she took her break. The banana cupcake, while not a solution to her problems, did bring a smile to her face. And isn't putting a smile on a crying face so much better than eating a cupcake?

These were lovely, fluffy cupcakes, delicious with their undertone of coconut. I heard that the ganache + banana was a winning combination. They're a definite repeat.

Thanks, Kimberly, for choosing such a versatile and easy recipe. If you'd like the recipe, Kimberly has it for you here.

16 comments:

Cakelaw said...

Hi Leslie, hope things calm down for you soon. That lovely little cupcake with its chocolate frosting looks pretty good to me!

Kimberly Johnson said...

Your cupcake sounds yummy with the ganache! Glad you were able to perk up your co-worker with them! Thanks for baking with me this week!

Amanda said...

I have to make cupcakes next time, both times I have made this I used a 13x9. Yours looks great! This was my farewell post with TWD after almost two years of baking along. Hope you'll stop by and say goodbye!

Peggy said...

So you have been a slacker on commenting, eh? hee hee. We all go through periods like that. I love that you made cupcakes. I'm going to try my next one as a sheetcake. I put blueberries in mine and we loved it. This is possibly one of my favorite TWD recipes so far.

Tia said...

looks like a great coffee break. what a treat :) Tia

Cindy said...

It was a great recipe perfect for sharing. I want to try a slice with sweetened whipped cream or chocolate ganache!

Judy said...

Cupcakes sound like good, portable choice and chocolate for breakfast is always good.

I use my Google Reader constantly and say all my comments out loud, forgetting, of course, that no one can hear me and must assume that I never visit their blogs. I do. But I have to keep reminding myself to actually VISIT the blog in addition to using Reader.

AmyRuth said...

Wow Leslie, I certainly am in no position to judge. My commenting and blogging goes in waves anyway. I am impressed by all you blog about and I sure lots you don't have time to post, Your generosity with all your coworkers is amazing. Don't be too hard on yourself. We'll see ya when we see ya, right? hehe
Take care and I'm so glad at least you made someone smile in the midst of the storm.
AmyRuth

Anonymous said...

Your cupcake looks wonderful (and you have a very nice desk!). I'm sure it was a bright spot in your coworker's stressful day.

Pamela said...

That stinks about your coworker, but it was so nice of you to give her your cupcake. And it was nice of you to share with everyone!

margot said...

I like the photo of the cupcake on your desk, it seems appropriate. It's nice you could make a co-worker's day a little better.

It's hard to keep up sometimes, isn't it? I still subscribe to the Kitchn, but had to remove the Apartment Therapy main feed from my reader 'cos there were so many posts.

Hanaâ said...

Awww... it was very sweet of you to give up your cupcake. Sorry to hear about the stuff that's going on at work. I hope things settle down soon for you and your coworkers.
Judging from the Choc Banana Stud Cake I made over the weekend, I can vouch for the Choc/Banana combo. It works!

spike. said...

sounds like crazy times at work- a cupcake certainly would help!

Kayte said...

I figured you would chocolate this one up a bit. Love the look of it, I should have made cupcakes with it and given Mark different toppings to vary it up a bit. I love the shot with all the files around as that is how I picture you these busy days, surrounded by work and no time to Twitter bake/cook with us. Of course, right now I am patient as I am at Purdue University with Matt at the USA swimming sectionals so I can't be home baking/cooking anyway. But NEXT WEEK....get ready!!!

Hindy said...

Your co-workers are so lucky to have you share your baking skills with them.
Love your little cupcake on the desk photo!

Katrina said...

Well, don't feel bad, I'm so behind on my own reader that I didn't realize you were behind. ;)
My reader just my explode soon. Almost done travelling (one more quick weekend away next week), then I'm hoping to settle down and just sit in front of my computer. Hehe, wishful thinking.
LOVE the cupcake idea and for sure love the ganache most of all.