Yes in my Mess.

Kristen and I met over Hostess cupcakes.

OK, not really.  Our family moved in next door to hers.  Two introverted moms who said hello in the yard...we had boys who, despite their age difference, hit it off.

One day, Kristen's son was over playing LEGOS with kiddo and the boys came into the kitchen....just as I was contorted into some awkward position taking pictures of...cupcakes.
(Looking back at those pictures now makes me cringe, and I was *really* trying!  Ugh.)

I was embarrassed they'd caught me taking pictures of food.  What would he say when he got home?  "Mom, Mrs. Edwards made cupcakes and before offering us one, was lining them up on a tray, bending over at a weird angle, moving them around, and taking pictures of them."

Instead, her son walked right up and said, "do you have a blog?"

And, that's how I knew I was living next door to THAT family...We are THAT Family.


Kristen and her family have become friends, and truthfully, inspirations to our family.  They've since moved to a new neighborhood, but we still think of them as our neighbors to this day.

A few years ago, Kristen had a life-changing experience.  She traveled to Kenya and witnessed the poverty, hunger, and devastation there.  She also heard a call.  A call to do something.  She and her family have answered that calling in a beautiful way...opening Mercy House Kenya. 

In Kristen's new book, Rhinestone Jesus, she tells her story.  It all starts with a Rhinestone Jesus pin she wore to high school, and well, the story continues to this day.

Kristen said, "Yes" to her call.  Did she have millions stashed away to give?  Did she know exactly how to start a non-profit?  Was her life in perfect order and everything in place?  No.  Kristen said yes, as she puts it, in her mess.  #yesinmymess

One of my favorite passages in the book is this one:
  

"We often don't do anything because we think our contribution won't be enough.  Or we convince ourselves that we must do something great for it to be important.  We don't act because we lack confidence.  We convince ourselves that our contribution couldn't possibly matter."

So, whether you're being called to start a maternity home in Africa...or you're making dinners for new moms in your parish like another Kristen I know, or you're fostering and adopting a child like my friend, Karen, or you're ministering to people by feeding and entertaining them in your home like Sandy, or you volunteer tirelessly at your child's school like my friend, Melissa...Rhinestone Jesus encourages us to say "yes" in our own mess.

{If you'd like an opportunity to win a copy of the book, please scroll down past the recipe.}

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes

(adapted from Food Network magazine, makes 20)

For the Cupcakes
1 & 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup water
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 & 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

For the Filling
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup marshmallow creme

For the Ganache
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Icing

1 stick unsalted butter
1 & 1/2 - 2 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar

white food coloring (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners for about 20 cupcakes.

For the cupcakes: Bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Place the chocolate and butter in a large bowl of an electric mixer, pour the sugar syrup on top.  Let sit, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture has cooled slightly. Stir in the vanilla.

Beat the eggs into the chocolate.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into the batter.  Mix until thickened and combined.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans (about 1/4 cup batter per cupcake) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.

(They will sink in the middle...they'll puff up when filled later.)
For the filling: Using a mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon heavy cream; beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Beat in the marshmallow creme; set aside or refrigerate.

For the ganache: Place the chocolate in a bowl. Heat the cream and 1 tablespoon butter until just boiling, then pour over the chocolate; let stand for 5 minutes. Stir gently until smooth. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla; and stir.  Let stand until cool but still glossy and liquid.

Assembly:  Spoon the filling into a pastry bag with a medium star tip. Insert the tip into the center of each cupcake top; fill until the cupcake is heavier and the top puffs up (do not overfill). (It's OK if some of the filling peeks out, it will be covered by the ganache.  Feel free to scrape the excess off.)

Spoon a little cooled ganache on each cupcake and lightly spread with an offset spatula or a knife. Chill for at least 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the icing: Using a mixer, beat the butter until fluffy. Mix in the milk and powdered sugar until smooth, adding more milk if needed.  Tint white by mixing in white food coloring (optional...the icing will be an ecru color without it, but look very light against the dark chocolate). Spoon into a pastry bag with a small plain tip, such as a #2 or #1, pipe onto the cupcakes to decorate.

Store in the refrigerator.

Kristen's book, Rhinestone Jesus, is available starting May 1 at many retailers and is available NOW on Amazon.  If you'd like to be entered to win a copy here, please leave a comment letting me know how you say "yes in your mess"....or how you'd like to start. ♥

{Entries accepted through 11:59pm CST, April 27th.}

{my mess.}