June 16, 2011

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

 Some days do you feel like you have dropped the ball on parenting?
Well, come to my house because it is happening now.
At this very moment.

Today has been a series of unorganized parenting blunders.
Let's see...
My 7 year old wore a not-entirely-clean baseball uniform to his game.
Alright, it was dirty.
I dug it out of the hamper.
I meant to wash it.  Truly.

And there was the 2nd grade homework that I helped my kiddo complete.
It got returned as incorrect.
As in with big red "X"'s on it.
Apparently 2nd grade math is a challenge for me.

Then there was dinner.
Sometimes cereal is appropriate for dinner, right?
I mean Lucky Charms has to have some sort of nutritional value...please say yes.

Then I caught my child in the corner with a spoon and a tub of sour cream.
Maybe it's some sort of strange vitamin deficiency (see above) that's causing this strange craving for dairy, or maybe he just has an odd obsession with sour cream...either way I'm thinking it can't be good.
Adding to the day, we discovered a plant growing under the dishwasher in my kitchen.
I'll say that again...a plant was growing UNDER MY DISHWASHER.
Last time I checked plants weren't supposed to grow under there.
We are thinking that a lone seed from an "everything" bagel got trapped and sprouted.
I can't keep a plant alive to save my life, yet rogue seeds grow on their own in entirely ridiculous places.
Note to self, remember to clean UNDER the dishwasher.

I feel very overwhelmed.
Maybe a cupcake will help.
Banana Cupcakes 
adapted from All Recipes
makes 18 cupcakes

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla 
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
For Peanut Butter frosting:
1/2 cup butter, room temp (1 stick)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
6 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk (you can add more if your prefer a creamier frosting)
For garnish (optional):
Chocolate syrup for drizzle (I used Hershey's)
Reese's Peanut Butter cups, chopped
Preheat oven to 350°
Cream shortening and sugar together in mixing bowl.
Add eggs, vanilla, buttermilk and bananas.
Mix until combined thoroughly.
On low speed add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Stir together until combined.
Line muffin pans and fill with batter about 2/3 full.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until cupcakes are set and a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove to wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.

Make frosting:
Combine butter and  peanut butter and mix on medium speed until combined.
Slowly add powdered sugar mixing until incorporated.
Add milk slowly until desired consistency is reached.
Pipe frosting on cooled cupcakes and garnish with chocolate syrup and chopped up Reese's Cups (if desired)

43 comments:

decaff97 said...

Keep your chin up:) We ALL have those days! Currently I've quit my job...did I mention that my ONLY job is being a mom to my 7 year old daughter. Yep, you heard me...I QUIT!!! Mind you, it has been less than 24 hours...but it's still nice to not have to worry about someone other than myself;) She is currently begging me to not quit and to please be her mommy again...see...you're doing just fine with Lucky Charms and dirty uniforms;)

Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust said...

I love your stories. I can relate. Today, my daughter needed a swim suit. One was left at a friends house and we won't get it back for another week. The second went missing (I later found it on the floor of the car). So I clipped the tags off the new one, washed it in the sink with Bath and Body Works hand soap and laid it in the hot car to dry on my way to get her.

And lucky charms is a fine dinner. So is frosted flakes (not that I'd know).

I can't wait to try these cupcakes!

Erin said...

Cupcakes certainly are great problem solvers!

Whimsy Cookie Co. said...

I am glad to know that I am not the only one to send my kid to his baseball game with the uniform I dug out of the dirty hamper...I too struggle with 2nd grade math and..3rd grade is really going to be a struggle for me next year. Hope that cupcake helps..>I am thinking it totally will!! Hugs!
Laurie aka Whimsy Cookie

Glory/ Glorious Treats said...

Oh we've all had days like that! Ok, not EXACTLY like that, but close! =) The plant really finished it off nicely! LOL! If anything will help, I'm sure these cupcakes are it! They look delicious!

Kitty T said...

Don't worry, we've all been there. All kids have had to wear a dirty uniform at some point in their lives, they'll live. 2nd grade homework can really kick you in the butt because the teachers word things to make you screw it up. Cereal is a perfectly fine dinner alternative. As for the sour cream, hey at least they're getting their calcium. I haven't had a plant grow under the dishwasher (but who knows I've never looked, I might have a full jungle under there) but I have had a bean fall down the drain while cleaning the beans and a week later a leaf popped up complete with a full root system in my drain. And cupcakes always make it better :)

The Swank Family said...

You're so great at turning every day parenting into awesome blog posts. I don't know how you do it. I actually giggle out loud every time I read your blog. Thanks for the recipe and the smiles!

Diane Schmidt said...

Tomorrow is bound to get better! Very funny about the plant.
These cupcakes look delish!!!!

cocoa and coconut said...

Hm, I can't really relate about parenting seeing as I'm a teenager..but look, these cupcakes look GREAT and any kid in your household would be lucky to have a mamma who cooks like this!

Unknown said...

What can I say...you nailed it. Bitchin cupcakes though

Lori said...

A for effort, right?
I just have to say, the "if desired" in parenthesis after adding Reese's to the top... that can probably just be deleted. If desired? Who WOULDN'T desire to add Reese's to the top of ANY cupcake? :) Except maybe a mint cupcake. That might be weird.

Amanda said...

Sorry it was one of those days... we have them a lot around here and I feel your pain! Granted. I dont have plants under my fridge, but I did have a mouse nest under my back seat in my car. Seriously.

*shudder*

Mommy Hates Cooking said...

Those look delicious!

barb said...

Don't even worry about it! We all have (or have had) days and sometimes weeks like that! It's all a part of being the mom :)

Amy | She Wears Many Hats said...

Law.

Sie.

Mer.

Cy.

Michelle said...

Well - I had chocolate covered popcorn and scallops for dinner - so to me, lucky charms with a random side of sour cream at any time sounds awesome - and I think I turned out just fine. I sure have great taste in friends :)

Yammie said...

Yuuum. Peanut butter frosting is the best. I have a recipe for a banana cake with caramel frosting. mmm. That's good too.

Pink Little Cake said...

ok, I almost pee in my skirt from this post!! "Things" have grown under my dishwasher, I have feed my daughter with ice cream for dinner, yes vanilla ice cream with bananas!! I would do ceral, but she doesn't like it.At least is fruit and dairy right?
Math? forget it! I will get all her homework back for sure.
If you were closer I would hug you!! love your post.

Georgia Pellegrini said...

Holy Moly, peanut butter and chocolate is my weakness. You've found my achilles girl!

Joanne said...

That sounds like one seriously intense day! Thank god for cupcakes. And peanut butter frosting.

Jocelyn said...

Unfortunately I have had very similar days to yours:-) Dirty uniform? eeehhh it's just going to get dirtier...who cares right?:-) My 7 yr old doesn't seem to mind either. LOL to the plant growing under the dishwasher...that I have never heard of!!! Peanut butter frosting always cures all problems...these cupcakes look divine!!!!

Lauren at Keep It Sweet said...

These cupcakes cancel out any parenting mistake you could possibly make!

bridget {bake at 350} said...

Oh, I have SO done the "pulling the uniform out of the hamper" thing! Multiple times!!!

And the sour cream? That's just making me laugh.

Yes, cupcakes make it ALL better especially THESE! They're amazing!

Jenn D said...

Thanks for the laughs this morning!! I can soooo relate . . . I'm still recovering from a five hour playdate yesterday at my house with five kids under five so I definitely needed a chuckle!! That's way tooo many fives!!! Cupcakes are gorgeous!!!

Cookbook Queen said...

So pretty!!

And I've dug my son's karate uniform out of the hamper more times than I'd like to admit.

That's why Febreeze was invented, right?

Sarah said...

Just FYI, kids will often eat things like sour cream, sticks of butter, jars of peanut butter etc if they are going through a growth spurt, or have not eaten as much total food recently as their body may require (esp. if they're very active), or if they haven't eaten enough fat (since kids need more fat in their diets than adults generally do, for growing brains and such). :)

Cereal is a good dinner. Cheerios is my favorite!

KitchenTherapy said...

cereal for dinner? try ice cream for breakfast.
those cupcakes are epic

Wenderly said...

BIG HUGS to ya sweets! Been there done that...

Hope the cupcake helped! :)

Wish I had one!

Carrie said...

i love your blog. keep up the good work.

Alia said...

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Nice recipe!
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Cookie Sleuth said...

Cupcakes will help any day! :)

Sue said...

Oh, you make me laugh! :) Yes, Lucky Charms are fortified with vitamins and minerals:) The everyhting bagel idea cracked me up! I have to share this post with my daughter.
The peanut butter icing sounds amazing!

Treya said...

Oh my... These look and sound amazing! Bananas, chocolate and PB, my 3 most favoritest things on the face of the planet...

You're one of those secret conspirators who are trying to get me to eat junk, huh? One is okay... right?!? :P

I cannot wait to make these, and I believe I have everything on hand!

SweetSugarBelle said...

My house...every day. THESE truly are beautiful and perfect!

Barbara said...

Somehow, no matter how we screw up, our kids grow up fine. All we can do is our best.
Your pb frosting on the banana cupcake would have been a favorite with Elvis, for sure!

Two Minute Takes said...

Kids only care that they do have something to eat and something to wear and a Mom who's there. You are doing just fine.
Cupcake is gorgeous, pour yourself a glass of wine tonight and enjoy one or two...you deserve it.

Lorraine said...

You crack me up! I have had many crazy days like that. The plant is really funny, though. The cupcakes look amazing, as all of your goodies do.

Your son is smart, sour cream is awesome, give him a chip next time...lol

driving school hereford said...

Very nice design. I love cakes. It look so delicious. Yummy !

THERESA E. said...

WE AS PARENTS ARE HUMAN. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT PARENT. WE ARE ALLOWED TO DROP THE BALL EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT. THE KIDS WILL BE FINE. I HAVE 3 BOYS AGE 31, 13, AND 18 AND THEY ALL SURVIVED!! LOL

LimeCake said...

These cupcakes look delicious! I'm sure your parenting skills are great! Feel better!

Kristen said...

A book you'll love - Even June Cleaver Forgets the Juice Box. Read it - you'll love it, I promise!
Love these cupcakes!

Heather Smoke said...

Your writing is so funny, and this recipe looks delicious! I'm definitely making this!
(Hang in there, I'm sure things will look up soon--it's almost the weekend. :)
http://www.curlygirlkitchen.com/

grace said...

i don't know who first decided to combine peanut butter and bananas, but it was a stroke of genius. these are delightful and would brighten any day!

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