Muffins and Cupcakes, Oh My!

I don't have any recipes today, but I do have some cupcake porn. After recovering from a killer migraine, I made some Lemon Gem Cupcakes from Vegan with a Vengeance today. These are for someone's birthday on Saturday so I'm trying my darndest not to eat any until then. I also put two to the side to bring for my tattoo artist on Saturday like I do every time I have an appointment.

I realize now that I should have take some pictures as I was candying the lemon peels. It's super easy to do and the peel is quite yummy. Okay, so I lied - here's a recipe:

Candied Lemon Peel (or Orange or Grapefruit)

A bunch of peel from lemons, oranges or grapefruits
2 cups sugar
2 cups water

Put your hands in the air and peel that lemon like you just don't care. Oh wait... you can't very well peel with your hands in the air. Errr... put your hands on your lemon and peel it like a .... crap... nothing rhymes with lemon. Ah well... I used the little notched part of my zester to get the peel all nice and thick and even, but you can also peel the lemon and slice the peel with a knife if you don't have a zester. But really, it's worth it to get one. I think I only paid $3 for mine at Target and I use it all the time.

Stir together the sugar and water in a medium pot. Heat the sugar water over medium-high heat just until it starts to boil. Add the peels and reduce the heat to a simmer. Make sure that it's not boiling really fast and hard, it should be steady and softly simmering. Stir every now and then until the peels turn translucent. I think I cooked these for 45 minutes.

Once the peels are done, take them out of the sugar water with a fork and place them on a plate to cool. They're going to get really sticky, but they taste like candy now. Yummy! This is so easy and people are always very impressed by it.

Okay, now for more pictures. I made some Cherry Almond Muffins (also from Vegan with a Vengeance) this morning.

The cherries were rather juicy, that's why the muffins are dark in places. I kinda like when that happens. I feel like I've gotten more flavor into the muffins somehow.

Also - I almost freaked out. I saw Vegan Whipped Cream at the market. No, not the Hip Whip stuff... Whipped Cream in one of those spray can thingies. Oh... my... goodness... I am soooo going to make something next week just to give myself an excuse to buy some of it. Holy crap on a stick am I excited about that.