Wordless: 6 am

Muffin Tin Monday : Sticky Chicken

Finally I was able to get it together enough to have a Muffin Tin Monday.

If you don`t know what I am talking about take a little trip over to Muffin Tin  Mom and learn all about it.

This week the Twins had a Tin for Two.

Sticky Chicken Drums ( Ingredients and How to at the end of this post), Red Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Carrot,  1 Minute older had Ketchup, 1 Minute Younger had Mayo, there was some fresh Pretzel/Brezel ( How I made them you can read Here!), Mini Smartis and Apple as Dessert.

Sticky Chicken

8 - 12 chicken legs and/or thighs
1 cup ketchup
1/4 honey
1 /3 cup brown sugar ( if you want it sweeter add more )
1/2 cup Worcestershire Sauce or Soy Sauce if you like it salty  
Minced or crushed garlic

Put the chicken into a Ziplock Bag  and add all the other Ingredients. close the bag and give it a good squish. ( this I let the kids do, I just love the giggles and think that this makes the chicken taste so much sweeter). Put the chicken and let it marinade for at least 2 hours.

Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes now and then turning the pieces making sure they don`t burn.

Let us eat Cake: Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes

I always wanted to know what made the cupcakes from Sprinkles so amazing that America loves them. And since I don`t have enough pocket money to fly around the world to taste some cupcakes I was happy to find this recipe on Martha Stewart.com.

I baked them and after tasting the dough, tasting the finished cupcake I can say that I really hope they have better cupcakes.

Did I like this cupcakes? No

Would I pay a crazy amount of money for them? No

I found them boring and tasteless. The Strawberry flavor is almost nonexistent. 

Since we in Germany are obsessed with cake, really fancy cakes I think a piece of a nice Torte would be more rewarding.

Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes

Makes 1 dozen
2/3 cup whole fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 large egg whites, room temperature

Frosting

1/2 cup whole frozen strawberries, thawed
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, firm and slightly cold
Pinch of coarse salt
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
Place strawberries in a small food processor; process until pureed. You should have about 1/3 cup of puree, add a few more strawberries if necessary or save any extra puree for frosting; set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, mix together milk, vanilla, and strawberry puree; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy.

Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until well combined and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended. 
With the mixer on low, slowly add half the flour mixture; mix until just blended. Add the milk mixture; mix until just blended.

Slowly add remaining flour mixture, scraping down sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary, until just blended. 
Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until tops are just dry to the touch, 22 to 25 minutes.

For the Frosting place strawberries in the bowl of a small food processor; process until pureed. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Reduce mixer speed and slowly add confectioners' sugar; beat until well combined. Add vanilla and 3 tablespoons strawberry puree (save any remaining strawberry puree for another use); mix until just blended. Do not overmix or frosting will incorporate too much air. Frosting consistency should be dense and creamy, like ice cream.

Transfer muffin tin to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely in tin before icing.