Chunky Monkey Cupcakes

Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream inspired this cupcake recipe (with the help of some Duncan Hines cake mix).  I made it a few years ago for a super bowl party and even though they were a hit, I haven't made them since.

The occasion for these tasty treats is my best friend's baby shower this weekend, and I've been salivating since I decided these would be the cupcake for the event.

Ingredients:

• 1 Box Duncan Hines Banana Cake Mix
• 1 Package Banana flavored Instant Pudding
• 1 Cup Milk
• 3 Large Eggs
• 1/3 Cup Butter
• 3/4 Cup Walnuts
• 3/4 
• Chocolate Chips (I prefer milk chocolate, but if you're planning on being true to the B&J's flavor, dark or semi sweet chips are more accurate)
• Vanilla or Butter-cream Frosting
• Banana Chips (for decoration)

Directions:

• Preheat oven 350 degrees for a metal pan, 325 for a dark or coated pan, grease sides with shortening or oil spray, or use baking cups for cupcakes
• blend cake mix, instant pudding, chocolate chips, walnuts (so that the nuts and chips are coated in the dry mix, they won't sink as much while baking if this is done first).
• add milk, eggs, and melted butter until all ingredients are well mixed, about 2 minutes.
• pour batter into pan/baking cups
• bake 15-18 minutes
• cool in pan on wire rack 15 minutes
• cool completely before frosting.
• melt some chocolate chips and then dip the banana chips in melted chocolate, set aside on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper until chocolate sets

Butter-Cream Frosting

Store-bought frosting is quick and easy if you don't have time to make your own, but if you do, you won't regret it, this frosting is delicious, I've used it on cakes, cupcakes, cut out cookies... you name it... if it is something to be frosted, this one will not disappoint. 

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup soft butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring of choice

Directions:

• Blend butter and sugar
• Stir in vanilla and milk
• Beat until frosting is smooth and spreadable

Trade Secrets:

Brown or Black Icing?

For brown icing melt unsweetened chocolate and mix into white icing

For black icing, add black gel coloring to brown icing, you’ll use less black coloring and the frosting will taste like chocolate

Dark Red Icing?

Make the icing a day ahead of time, the dark pink will darken over time and turn red if you give it 24 hours, also can use maraschino cherry juice as a liquid, will turn the icing pink and you can use less red food coloring.

Dream State Escalate: 44

Ever have one of those dreams where you wake up so mad at the person who co-starred with you, that you want to call them up and scream at them or send them a sternly worded email? I had one of those last night.

Last night/early this morning I had a dream where my brother and I were house-sitting for my parents while they were out of town. I was taking care of their injured (he's fine in real life) dog, and I don't know what my brother was doing there.

Anyway... he decided to have a massive party with lots of, shall we say "loose" women (not to slut shame or anything, but these bitches were haggard). I told them all to get the fuck out of my house... they would not. I told my brother he couldn't have parties at the house, and hanging out with all those skanks was disrespectful to his girlfriend that he lived with. He said she had been hanging out with other guys, so it was only fair. I told him "hey, if you want to date other women, that's your business... but you need to break up with her, move out, and THEN you can start banging hoes...BUT YOU DON'T GET TO DO IT HERE." He didn't respond favorably, and instead invited MORE people, dangerous people over.

I caught them trying to steal my parents and my belongings... I finally locked myself and the dog in one of the guest bedrooms, but they kept trying to fight their way in. One even threw an grenade (my dreams are very imaginative) at us... I threw it back, and slammed the door closed, when it exploded, it destroyed the ceiling, the tile, and some of the walls in the hallway, but the door and my room stayed intact. (weird). I went outside and told all the girls that my brother had a girlfriend and he was just playing them, and they were like "what a jerk... oh well" and still wouldn't leave. I called the cops and they told me it was not their problem.

Finally I woke up.... seething.