Love is Coconut

Oh my gosh, dudes.  I made the BEST cupcakes!

Coconut.

Cupcakes.

But, ah, let me back up.  First thing’s first.  I’m addicted to the Food Network. 

Like, seriously addicted. 

It’s weird.  It was kind of a gradual thing with me.  I’ve always liked to cook and bake, but I never really got into the shows about it.  I always thought that cooking shows on TV were just boring old Donna Reed types who were strict about the “rules” and had the personality of…well, of someone who cooks on TV. 

I remember the first time I really watched the Food Network, though.  I had gone over to my sister’s place, and she had Paula Deen’s show on.  Paula was making peach cobbler.  Enough said.  Between the deliciousness that was the cobbler and the awesomeness that was Paula, I was hooked.  That was probably, oh, eight years ago.

Now, I like to watch it for the recipes and for the chefs that I love…and for its general food fantasy qualities.  Aside from actually sitting and watching the shows, I even like to have it on just as background noise.  The sound is like little food elves are hanging in my living room with me planning a holiday party.

Ahem. 

Anyway, what was I saying?

I love Ina Garten.  Sure, she says “fabulous” too many times, and sure, she acts like everyone has a house in the Hamptons and can afford all the specialty stores she frequents.  But, I can’t hate.  Girl used to work in the White House.  And, she built a specialty food store into a successful business that she eventually sold to her employees.  That’s heart.

So, really, the coconut cupcakes.  They’re AMAZING.  And, I’m not even a huge fan of coconut.  They’re not overwhelming at all, though.  I ended up making only half the recipe because, between CK and me, there was no way we would should go through all those cupcakes.  As it was, I stuck a bunch in the freezer because half a recipe made almost two dozen cupcakes.

The batter was kind of thick, but since the recipe called for 5 eggs, halving it was, well, let’s just call it a little tricky.

I think I may have baked them a little bit too long, too, since the tops were kind of hard (but, I didn’t have any toothpicks, so it was hard to tell if they were done in the middle).  But, the smell in here when they were baking…

Heaven.

And, the icing.  MY GOD THE ICING.  It made the whole cupcake.  (And, it made a ton, so be prepared to freeze some icing for future indulgence).  I decided to sprinkle extra coconut only on some of them (it’s a texture thing…I’m ok with coconut inside…but, for some reason, not on top).

So, please.  Go find your inner Ina.  You know it’s in there…