Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes

Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes

Again while searching through the lovely Pinterest, I came across these bad-boys: Banana Cream Pie CUPCAKES! Yes I said it! Cupcakes! And over at the Betty Crocker site, Arlene Cummings with Cooking with Sugar posted this recipe and I had to try it!

Recipe adapted from Arlene Cummings

Ingredients:

For Cupcakes -  
1 Box of Betty Crocker® FUN da-Middles™ yellow cupcake mix with creamy vanilla filling
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 box (3.4-oz size) banana cream instant pudding and pie filling mix
12 vanilla wafer cookies

For Frosting -  

1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 box (3.4-oz size) banana cream instant pudding and pie filling mix
3 tablespoons whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons banana extract

For Garnish -  

1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (I forgot to do this haha)
12 vanilla wafer cookies

Directions:

1. Make cupcake batter as directed on cupcake mix box, using water, oil, eggs and adding 1/2 box of pudding mix. (Other half of box will be used in frosting.)

2. Before filling paper baking cups as directed on box, place 1 vanilla wafer cookie in bottom of each paper cup. Fill cups as directed on box. Bake and cool cupcakes.

3. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat frosting ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

4. Frost cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle tops with graham cracker crumbs; top each with 1 cookie.

For the "how-to" click here, it really helped me!

 

Word of the Day 11/20/2012

Tartar (noun)

1: a person of irritable or violent temper

2: one that proves to be unexpectedly formidable

Examples: "Strange that one whom I have described hitherto as so timid and easily put upon should prove such a Tartar all of a sudden on the day of his marriage." — From Samuel Butler's 1903 autobiographical novel The Way of All Flesh

"'Yes, Great-aunt Gert took us both under her wing.' He jerked his head toward the severe woman in the painting. 'My father's spinster aunt, a bold tartar of a woman who most people were frightened to death of.'" — From Anne Gracie's 2008 novel The Stolen Princess

Did You Know?: Originally, their name was "Tatar," not "Tartar." Since at least the 1200s, the Tatar people have lived in Asia and Eastern Europe, and they were among the fiercest fighters of the Golden Horde of the Mongols. In the 13th century, they rode with Genghis Khan and became the terror of their day. Their name, "Tatar," is believed to come from Persian or a Turkic language, but in Europe it was associated with "Tartarus," the Latin name for the part of Hell reserved for the punishment of the wicked. Because of that association, English speakers began calling the Tatar people "Tartars." Over time, "tartar" came to be used for anyone considered as ferocious or violent as the Tartar warriors who had once ransacked the ancient world.

#77 DZP: Complete 3 DIY projects

Now when I say "DIY", I really thought "Craft-Time". So while I was off work, and staying home with Ryan, Craft-Time is what I did during his Nap-Time. :)

My craft store loved me: Ryan and I probably went (at-least) 3 times each week...

 

I always wanted to make melted crayon art, so I bought my crayons, the board, the frame, and the flowers, and took my glue and hair dryer to them. Tutorial to follow :)

 

 

Since it was Halloween, I found this off Pinterest (what else?!) and decided to make my own.

Just take a fake pumpkin (from craft store), spray paint it black (or white, or orange, or neon green... get your Pantone-color on!), take rhinestones and stick/glue them on into a web pattern, then hot glue your creepy (but glittery) spider! I absolutely HATE spiders, but I loved this project!

 

Once again, Pinterest sparked my creative-funny-bone: Halloween Tu-tu Wreath!

Take a roll of tulle (I bought mine from amazon, but tulle is everywhere!) and cut into strips. Tie, knot, slip-knot (whatever you want) on a foam wreath (also from craft store, I think I used a 12" wreath). Then run to the craft store and gather decorations for your fancy wreath: flowers, leaves, glittery-shinnies, and hot glue them on! I used  purple and black flowers, orange-glittered stems, and a decorative peacock feather. And because the spiders were 2-package deal, I used the other for my wreath!

 

Yay for crafts and Do It Yourself Projects!

#15 DZP: Get professional pictures done of the 4 generations

Ok, so this one was slightly altered because my father came with us, so it's the 4 generations + Jichan (grandfather in Japanese). We took pictures at Emotion Portrait Studios/Dogma Pet Portraits (located at Newport Beach, CA) and this would be our second time going. We love David & Sylvaine! I always LOVE the pictures and I'm so glad we took Ryan and captured his 18-month-old-self!

 

#79 DZP: Dye my hair a different color

I didn't want to dye ALL my hair a different color, but I didn't want to look like a zebra with blonde streaks coming down. So I talked it over with my stylist and she suggested a couple shades lighter, so it's suttle, but shines in the light. I was so down!

I don't have a picture of it just as I was stepping out of the salon, but my family and I had pictures taken at Emotion Portraits Studios in Newport Beach, CA. I was stoked that I got my hair done before!

 

#96 DZP: Eat at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour

When the Brea's Farrell's opened way back when, my Mother told me stories of her trips to Farrell's and how she loved the food, and of course the ICE CREAM SUNDAES!

 

So Alex, Ryan, and I took a trip up there on Alex's day off, and enjoyed a family lunch out!

We've tried going there before, but the line to get in was wrapped around the corner... so needless to say we didn't go then. But the lunch was perfect. And unforunately I didn't take my snapshots (how un-Japanese of me!!) but I did take this snap of my baby and his Dodger shirt.

 

#58 DZP: Buy a Lotto Ticket

Can you believe that I'm over 25 (that's all I'll say about that too) and I haven't bought a lotto ticket!?!

I've been to several 7-Elevens and passed by the CA Lotto purple stand, but never stopped to get a ticket. When I was little, my parents bought a mini lotto ball dispenser, so I got to help pick lotto numbers, but I was too little to buy one, obviously haha!

But I bought one, so yay! & good luck to me! :)