When I'm Wrong, I'm Wrong

I don't string these words together often, but when I do, I mean it. Mark your calendars and tell your friends -- I was wrong.

Truly.

I was.

Last week when we headed to the Animal Rescue League to hang out with some kittens, I wasn't sure if we would leave with a new friend or not. When I opened the door to where the cats are, though, I changed my mind instantly. I knew. We were going to take home this little guy.

He was a blonder version of Max with blue eyes and long-ish fur. And he was STUNNING. Truly, he was one of the most adorable cats ever. EVER EVER.

And I wanted him.

But ... it wasn't solely my decision to make. So when Alexis said she liked a different kitten, I mumbled under my breath but then let her see the other kitten. We ended up in a little room with both of them, with me having already decided how the game was going to end.

Except, that isn't what happened. There is exactly one word to describe what happened and that word is "Alexis." She happened. She sat on the floor playing with kittens, as happy as can be, and one of those damn kittens made it real clear that she was going home with us. The kitten picked Alexis much more than Alexis picked her. It was meant to be.

And MAN was it meant to be.

This kitten, the kitten that picked Alexis while we were at the shelter, promptly changed her human selection once we were home.

This kitten has picked me as her favoritest in SO many ways. She lives in my lap, follows me around all over the house, and she lets me do stuff like this.

Which, by the way, is anything. This kitten will let me put her anywhere, dress her in anything, and she lets me take photos of it.

She seriously doesn't care.

I'm in kitty heaven, and all because I was wronger than wrong.

(No, she still doesn't have a name. We should probably work on that, eh? Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments. It has to be a name that comes from a Disney movie, though. That's our only rule.)

Peaches 'n Cream Cupcakes

I'm a sucker for a good deal on fruit, so when I saw peaches on sale at a local grocery store, I tried not to think too hard about the fact that they aren't really in season yet. I know how that voodoo magic happens, but I prefer not to think about it. I just buy the fruit and enjoy it.

I hope you didn't think I just ate them plain. Of course I didn't. I let Alexis eat like three of them, and then a couple more found their way into cupcakes.

I have a thing for putting fruit in the middle of a cupcake, as you may remember. These aren't quite as good as the Strawberry Shortcake predecessors, but that's like saying winning $1,000 isn't as good as winning $10,000. THERE ARE NO LOSERS IN THIS GAME. It's just that the strawberry ones are other-worldly.

These are good.

REALLY GOOD.

They seem a little more complicated than they really are, by the way. Here's the trick -- first you make the cupcakes and then you cut a whole in the middle.

Then you put some peach stuff in that hole.

Frosting hides all the fun, which just means that the peach filling is a fun little surprise for anyone who you deem cupcake-worthy.

See? Easy!

Peaches 'n Cream Cupcakes

(makes 12 cupcakes)

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup peach filling

Filling
2 cups peaches, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Sugar to taste (I used 3 tablespoons -- out of season peaches aren't very sweet)

Frosting
1 8-oz package cream cheese or mascarpone cheese (mascarpone holds up better because it's more rigid, but it's super expensive)
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with super cute liners of your choice.

2. Throw the filling ingredients in a saucepan (peaches, cornstarch, and sugar). Cook over medium heat until the peaches are soft -- it took mine about five minutes. Toss the whole shebang into a blender once it is cooked and mash it all up. I used an immersion blender and it worked just fine. BTW, you can leave the peels on for this. They aren't noticeable.

3. Place the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir them up with a whisk.

4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla.

5. Put the wet ingredients in the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix at low speed until just combined.

6. Fold in 1/2 cup of the peach filling stuff.

7. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when you stab a cupcake. Not that I would stab a cupcake. Obviously.

8. Allow the cupcakes to cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before you cut the little circle in them. To do that, just cut a circle with a knife and pull out the chunk of cupcake. It doesn't matter if your circle isn't perfect. You can hide the evidence by eating the cupcake middles.

9. Place peach filling in the middle of the cupcakes. Set them aside while you make the frosting.

10. To make the frosting, place your ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix at low speed for about 30 seconds or until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Then mix it at high until peaks form.

11. Use a piping bag to put the frosting on top of the cupcakes.

12. Be happy. You have Peaches 'n Cream Cupcakes.

It Means GO PENS!