Strawberries and White chocolate

So this past Sunday was my wedding anniversary. We celebrated three years having to legally put up with each other. It may not be that long but it seems like forever. I admire the couples that has been together for many years because marriage is tough.  I got lucky with The Husband, he has a sense of humor. You need a great sense of humor to live with me. When I really started to expand my cooking skills, he wasn't the biggest fan but he supported me anyway. He finally understood my passion and accepted his faith as my constant taste tester. One thing that drives him crazy is the "pregnancy" weight he gained since he met me. Sunday arrived and we actually did not do anything for our anniversary. It seemed like everybody had a birthday this past weekend including my friend Anna. Instead we went to her place for her birthday and by the time we were going to celebrate, The Daughter was falling asleep. Instead, I made cupcakes the next day to acknowledge the day. Since The Daughter is allergic to everything, I made a strawberry and white chocolate cupcake. Except I kinda messed up my white chocolate ganache. I believe I put too much butter or cream or both actually.


Strawberry Cupcakes

(influenced by Joy of Baking)

1 1/2 Cups of Cake Flour

1/2 Cup of Butter at room temperture

1 Cup of Diced Strawberries

1 Tsp of Vanilla Extract

1/4 Cup of Milk

1/2 Tsp of Salt

1 1/2 Tsp of Baking Powder

1/2 Cup of Sugar

3 Eggs

Garnish

White Chocolate ganache

Whole Strawberries

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven for 350F and prepare the muffin tin with the buttered cupcake liners.
2. Shift together the flour, baking powder, and salt onto parchment paper.
3. Than cream the butter and sugar together with a hand or a stand mixer.
4. Once the butter becomes fluffy, add the eggs one at a time and than the vanilla.
5. Take the flour mixture and pour in about 1/3 of mixure into the wet ingredients.
6. Than add 1/3 of the milk.  Continue to alternate the dry and milk additions until it is well incorporated. 
7. Remove the bowl from the mixture and gently fold in the diced strawberries. 
8. Fill the muffin tins about 2/3 way up and bake for about 18 minutes.
9. Let it cool.
10. Dip the tops into the white chocolate ganache and top with a 1/2 a strawberry, also dipped.
11. Serve.

My white chocolate ganache came out like condense milk.

Happy Anniversary Honey....sorry you are going to have to start your diet next week!

I also used this to enter in The Sweetest Kitchen's Mystery Box Cupcake Challege. Please vote for me. 
The winner of August’s Mystery Box Cupcake Challenge will receive prizes from:

• Bake It Pretty; $5 electronic gift card
• Beanilla; 3 Indian + 3 Tahitian vanilla beans & a jar of Ground Vanilla
• CT2Designs; a cupcake ring
• Miss Kitty Creations; a cupcake charm of your choice
• Sweet Cuppin Cakes; a prize pack worth $25

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Voting Starts August 21!