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My daughter participates in a competitive cheerleading program. Right now, they're going through intense choreography sessions as they learn the routine that they'll perform at competitions across the state and, depending on how they do, across the country. Because the squads are working so hard, the coaches and team parents are frequently organizing extracurricular activities. Usually something that requires some effort by a parent. Tomorrow is no different. They'll have a choreography session that will last several hours and then they'll let off steam by going to a potluck and pool party.
We got picked to be on the dessert list.
So I made my favorite cupcakes. They're triple chocolate, in a way. Chocolate cupcake with a ganache (truffle-like) filling and a whipped chocolate frosting. Something pretty much guaranteed to make most people swoon with happiness.
So join me as this:
becomes this:
Here are the ingredients for all three stages: ganache filling, cupcake, and frosting....
Here are the ingredients for the ganache, which is quite simple to make.
Just throw them all together and microwave for 20-30 seconds.
Whisk. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Now the cupcake batter ingredients:
First, combine the cocoa, chocolate and strong, hot coffee (the coffee brings out the flavor of the chocolate and the cocoa powder like you would not believe!) Whisk and refrigerate for 20 minutes to cool.
Mix together dry ingredients and set aside. When the chocolate mixture has cooled, whisk in the eggs, vinegar, oil and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients. Whisk until smooth.
Pour batter into prepared cupcake tins.
Drop ganache filling into center of cupcakes by the teaspoon:
Bake. Cool, first in tins on rack for 10 minutes, then out of tins on rack until room temperature, about an hour. In the meantime, make the frosting, ingredients here:
First, melt the chocolate on a double boiler.
Allow the chocolate to cool to 85-100 degrees. While that's happening, prep the frosting base. Over a pot of simmering water, pour egg whites, sugar and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk until temp is 150.
Remove to stand mixer and whip until it's a shaving cream like consistency. Add butter, bit by bit.
Then add cooled chocolate and vanilla.
By now, the cupcakes should be cool enough to frost.
Voila! Decadence on a plate! Enjoy!
Without further ado, here are tonight's Top Comment nominees:
From Alfonso Nevarez:
Who thought that this suggestion by winkk was a good idea - from UnaSpenser's diary.
From Julie Gulden:
LaughingPlanet made this sad but true comment in my "Borders ARE SAFE" diary.
From Angie in WA State
I'm sending in this comment thread, because it's what all of us really do believe is THE problem with, well, everything.
this comment by Jeff Y and it's reply comment by citizen k
in this diary by RiseUpEconomics
From Timbuk3:
I'd like to nominate this post by Into The Woods. I liked it, best, for this simple truth: "Can't think of anyone with whom I agree 100% (thank goodness.)" But I liked the whole tone of it.
From Indycam:
who thought that this comment by MeteorBlades was self explanatory as to why it was nominated. From clammyc's meta diary.
Here's part two, also by MeteorBlades, from nokona's diary about Anthony Weiner.
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers, and Mojo Friday:
1) sand for everyone! by Cedwyn — 166
2) he is amazing by damned if you do — 116
3) the fact that the title had to be changed by clammyc — 100
4) A Democrat with beliefs by virtual0 — 99
5) It's a pretty sick story. by Benintn — 97
6) I'll say it again: by Diogenes2008 — 94
7) that's because most of the "grown-ups" by Hopeful Skeptic — 84
8) I have gotten really turned off by all of this by SeaTurtle — 84
9) at one time in the 1970s this was not radical by citizen k — 82
10) It Takes a Lot by JekyllnHyde — 80
11) AHHHH! Just got my BWD Fix! by SeaTurtle — 79
12) Some diary it is, too by Big River Bandido — 75
13) way to go 'cc' - call it like it is by SeaTurtle — 73
14) Have to confess, I've been checking back all by CS in AZ — 73
15) MLK was a big supporter by RiseUpEconomics — 72
16) don't forget her other big hit by Cedwyn — 71
17) it brings to mind an essay by Maher Arar by SuperBowlXX — 69
18) He's a made man now by Valtin — 64
19) Sharron Angle: Pension Thief by Sandino — 63
20) second that! it is a shameful re-write by soothsayer99 — 63
21) How is this an attack on Obama? The diary itself by richmonds — 62
22) I'm not trying to do anything by clammyc — 61
23) 8a does not... by tim wise — 61
24) And none dare call it betrayal, by Words In Action — 58
25) Was listening to Morning Joe by snackdoodle — 57
26) Oh my God BWD, this is amazing! You can feel the by CS in AZ — 57
27) Thank you for another informative mishmash by Ruemara — 56
28) Shame on Webb by Julie Gulden — 55
29) I have what might be a better idea... by kakumeiji maru — 54
30) Not jobs, but by Frank Palmer — 53
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tip Jar by nokona — 430
2) (*) by clammyc — 393
3) Tip Jar by blackwaterdog — 363
4) Tip Jar by RiseUpEconomics — 331
5) Tip Jar by Big River Bandido — 327
6) Tip Jar by The Electrical Worker — 234
7) Tip Jar by tim wise — 220
8) Tip Jar by UnaSpenser — 209
9) Tips by blue aardvark — 208
10) Tip Jar by Valtin — 183
11) sand for everyone! by Cedwyn — 166
12) Tip Jar by pontificator — 125
13) Tip Jar by A Siegel — 123
14) he is amazing by damned if you do — 116
15) Tips? Flames? by Something the Dog Said — 104
16) the fact that the title had to be changed by clammyc — 100
17) Scritchie Jar by triciawyse — 100
18) A Democrat with beliefs by virtual0 — 99
19) Mojo Mug by TexDem — 99
20) It's a pretty sick story. by Benintn — 97
21) I'll say it again: by Diogenes2008 — 97
22) Happy mojo Friday to all! by blue jersey mom — 91
23) CC Is Watching by TexDem — 91
24) Morning BJM! by Hedwig — 90
25) Thanks For Stopping By by TexDem — 88
26) The Lounge Is Open by TexDem — 88
27) Many, many thanks to the dKos community by Gulf Watchers — 87
28) Mojo Friday Wants You by TexDem — 86
29) that's because most of the "grown-ups" by Hopeful Skeptic — 85
30) Hi Owl. by blue jersey mom — 84
31) If You're On Street Prophets by TexDem — 84
32) I have gotten really turned off by all of this by SeaTurtle — 84