Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

I've come to a reluctant revelation recently. I am now officially a cupcake junkie. Yes, me, the one who used to loathe and despise the sickly sweet frosting, the one who always preferred a wholesome muffin over a pretentious act-cute cupcake. Bleh. As I was rejoicing over the success of this latest cupcake and tried to offer the recipe to my bestie, she turned it down saying how she didn't appreciate the sickly sweet frosting of cupcakes. That was when I went, crap damn, I have gone over to the dark side. Or rather, the pretentious act-cute side. *Groans*

But as I bit into the moist cake along with the sweet and tart cream cheese frosting, it made perfect sense to have both. Granted some of the decorations offered out there can be overkill, but a little sprinkle here and there, or a little cookie here and there just entices you reach out for the yummy-ness that is underneath all that pretentious act-cute-ness :D

I got this recipe from here but used a cream cheese frosting instead since I've never really enjoyed buttercream frosting.

After frosting and plopping on the Oreos...

A close up. A generous dose of cream cheese never hurt anyone :P Especially not a cheesecake lover like me, bleh. 

And inside, even more Oreos. 

The cake turned out surprisingly soft and moist. So recipe is definitely a keeper! The Gardener already devoured 3, and he usually doesn't eat my cupcakes unless I force him to. Try some today! :D

Green Tea Ice Cream

Argh, today has been a looong day, but I have just uploaded these photos and grr...the sight of them has stirred my tummy into its usual growling mode again. I made some macha ice cream yesterday as a sample for a few neighbours. And for myself, of course =P

If you've never had homemade ice cream, you should come visit me when I make some. Because it's fabulous licking the ice cream maker paddle just after it's finished churning! That is, if I'll let you share...not. Did not take any greedy photos of myself. Hello...this is public space after all so let me retain some dignity okay.

Homemade ice cream does take some time to defrost before you can scoop it out, though. And melts pretty quickly since everything is natural. Alright alright...here are the pictures already.

Here's another with a failed attempt at fixing the lighting and colour. 

And another with a close up of the red beans. Yes, I know they look black. No, I dunno how to fix the colour because they're actually just dark red. But it doesn't really matter because bittersweet green tea with candied sweet red beans is heaven in my mouth. 

And now I'm off to have some because I <3 ice cream. Yes, truly. I have a 2nd stomach for ice cream :D