Pear & White Chocolate Cupcakes

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I absolutely love the flavour of pears, especially lightly cooked, but am not a huge fan of them uncooked as the texture is often too gritty for me. As I had a batch that were 'on the turn', I decided to whip up some cupcakes which would make good use of them.

Pear & White Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 4oz self-raising flour
  • 4oz caster sugar
  • 4oz butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 1tbsp vanilla yoghurt
  • 1 pear, peeled and chopped
  • white chocolate drops
  • buttercream
  • chocolate spread
  • white chocolate
  1. Cream the butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.
  2. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract, add a little flour if the mixture starts to curdle.
  3. Sift the flour in and mix thoroughly.
  4. Stir through the vanilla yoghurt gently.
  5. Divide into cake cases and cook in a preheated oven (200°C/Gas Mask 6) for 12-15 minutes.
  6. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  7. Mix the buttercream, but before transferring to a piping bag with a star nozzle, smear chocolate spread around the outside of the bag. When the buttercream is piped, there will be a gentle hint of chocolate in the topping.
  8. Grate white chocolate and sprinkle over the top of the buttercream.

I'm sure that more than one is allowed, there is fruit in it after all?

Pear & White Chocolate Cupcakes
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Things I'd Love This Valentine's Day

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The ever wise KateTakes5 has declared that love is in the air for this week's Listography. If it is, I'm opening the window and investing in some air freshener, can't be doing with any of that nonsense!

I've read various blogs recently about romance, partners and love. Prior to The Boy, not once did I realise how much relationships change when offspring arrive. My mother has always maintained that for the first year of their life, it's about them. After that, they fit into your family lifestyle and routine. I'd agree with that, but for the fact that I don't remember what our routine or lifestyle was like before the arrival of The Boy. I think there probably was a lot more romance, but that's easy when there's no bottles to wash up, toys to tidy and sleep is not broken by "mummy, daddy, up-py" at 3.37am. It's a bit hard to look adoringly into each other's eyes when The Boy pushes daddy away from mummy if we even contemplate a hug.

Nevertheless, this list is a wish list; I know hubby loves me, but we do not have the finances for it. Therefore:

1) A money tree

Go on, call me shallow. Those who say 'money doesn't buy happiness' have clearly been in the position to experience it! I am not asking for a ridiculous amount of money, but enough so that I don't have to work. Oh and possibly so we can have a porch and a conservatory. Thanks!

2) A Links of London bracelet

Isn't it pretty?! I've bought the imitation one from the chemist and it just looks nothing like it. Pitying glances have resulted in it being passed onto my niece for dress-up. Oh but a real one would be divine.

3) White chocolate truffles

Achievable and realistic. I'm quite fond of the Italian ones from Marks and Spencer, do they still make them? Otherwise they sell them in Thorntons. Who am I kidding? I'd be happy with the ones from Lidl.

4)  Another four hours in the day

I wouldn't need a personal assistant/ironing lady/cleaner/gardener if I had another four hours. Maybe five. I'd dedicated two of them to sleep and the other time could be used to sort out the towering inferno of paperwork resting on the recipe books in the kitchen. But then of course, that money tree would mean that I could give up work and have that time. Do they sell them in B&Q?

5) …

… no words, sigh!

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