Chocolate Cupcakes & Happy Lakers Championship 2010
CONGRATULATIONS LAKERS!
We won! :)
After a grueling, gut-wrenching, hair-pulling four quarters in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers overcame a 13-point deficit and beat the Celtics, 83 – 79, earning their Sweet 16 NBA Championship.
The night before Game 7, Bebe Dada looked me in the eye and said, “We’re going to win. The Lakers are going to take it.” In my heart, I believed this too, and told him that I felt certain we were going to win too. Unfortunately, this confidence that I had started to waver in the 2nd and 3rd quarters as I watched the game with Aya-chan, Sean-kun, and Bebe E. I was sad Bebe Dada was traveling for business and we couldn’t watch the game together. What was worse was when he called me at half-time and I could hear the worry in his voice as he wondered how we could be down by 9, then 13-points. I began to worry. I only ate half my dinner but I couldn’t eat anymore.
At the beginning of the 4th, the Celtics were up by 4 points. With 8 minutes remaining, Kobe made three free throws, bringing us to within 1-point. Then we were tied, thanks to Ron. This is where I started to pull my hair out, and as the minutes counted down, I found myself standing, and inching closer, and closer to our TV. I started to sweat.
With 6 minutes remaining, we’re down by 3-points, it’s past Bebe E’s bedtime, she’s fussy so I’m carrying her and ever-so-frantically rocking her, but she’s still giving “high-fives” to Sean-kun and clapping on que when any of us says, “yay!”. Then, Derek hits a 3-point shot and we’re tied – the tides begin to shift. But the game is still REALLY close. Kobe, Pau and Ron make shots… we’re barely in the lead and I’m still sweating, pulling out my hair, and screaming at the TV.
Then, there’s maybe 2 minutes remaining, and Bebe E is now quietly rolling on the floor because she’s tired (I think this makes me a bad parent) but we’re careful to step back and not squash her when we jump up and down as Pau makes a basket. We give each other high-fives (I know… we probably looked really dorky) as 3-point shots go in and we are cheering like CRAZY, and wishing the clock would hurry-up and expire while we’re still in the lead by only 2-points! Then Sasha comes through with free-throws, looking calm, like a seasoned pro.
Then it happens – – – after what seemed to be the LONGEST 8-minutes of my entire life – – – purple and gold confetti falling… “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang playing in the background, and we are Champions once again!!!!! We’re jumping up and down and screaming, Bebe E is looking at us, somewhat amused and smiling. The Lakers are hugging each other, they’re hugging Phil, they’re in tears, the fans are in tears… they are the 2010 NBA Champions. Yay!!!!!
Wow, what a great way to end the day. Fortunately, given I had a super busy day, my Lakers neurosis wasn’t flaming. Here are some of the highlights of my game day:
- After some indecisiveness I decide to dress Bebe E in her Lakers onesie. (Yes, I finally did her laundry.)
- I decide NOT to wear my Lakers shirt, because every time I wore it in Lakers spirit, we had a bad game. (I am proudly wearing my Lakers t-shirt today, however.)
- I paint my toenails and fingernails in sparkly Lakers purple nailpolish that my BFF gave to me last year for my birthday.
- My brother calls due to a daycare emergency and he drops-off my 20-month old nephew, Q, before work. After we came home from the park, Q says, “Go to pool, then go Costco?” I said, “Huh?” Last Sunday we went to the pool together so I understand the pool, but Costco? I giggled. Q is so cute.
- At 10 months old, Bebe E is starting to learn new things, but I realized last night during Game 7, that aside from crawling and pulling herself up, and waving hello and goodbye, I am most proud that she can give high-fives and clap her hands on que when she hears, “yay!” She is an awesome Lakers fan.
Since Tuesday night’s Game 6 win with GOLD mango sorbet, I’ve been wondering what I should make for Game 7. I needed to make something that was sweet, celebratory and GOLD. I reeeeeally wanted to bake cupcakes because I enjoy making them for special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, Mother’s/Father’s Day, and holiday gatherings AND Game 7 was definitely a cupcake worthy special occasion.
Despite my concerns during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, I really must have believed that the Lakers would be victorious since I took the time to bake homemade cupcakes (not out of the box – which I’ve been known to do), and homemade frosting. I am SO relieved these were happy championship cupcakes and not woe-is-me-drown-my-sorrows-in-chocolate cupcakes.
Happy Lakers Championship Chocolate Cupcakes
(Makes 12. Recipe compliments of Martha Stewart.)
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
1) Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
2) Sift cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3) In a stand mixer, mix butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy on medium speed. Add 1 egg at a time, mixing each until fully incorporated before adding the next egg. Add vanilla extract.
4) On low speed, mix in a little bit of the sifted dry ingredients until incorporated, then a little bit of the sour cream until incorporated, then alternate between adding the dry ingredients and the sour cream.
5) Fill each cup with over 3/4 of the batter. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cupcake.
These cupcakes are SUPER chocolaty, rich, and very dense but they are delicious.
Lakers GOLD Cream Cheese Icing
(Recipe adapted from Epicurious)
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 12 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 – 8 drops yellow food color
Mix room temperature butter and cream cheese on medium speed in a stand mixer until fluffy. Add confectioners sugar a little bit at a time. At the end, add vanilla extract and food coloring. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Just for fun I made some Lakers spirit flower cupcakes. I am definitely NOT a decorating expert but I thought my make-shift florals were kinda cute.
Thank you, Lakers for a fabulous 2010 season. Thanks for the back-to-back 2009 and 2010 Championship title.
WAY TO GO LAKERS!
Judy | bebe mama
- FOR CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE:
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- FOR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
- ½ stick unsalted butter
- 12 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 - 8 drops yellow food color
- FOR CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE:
- Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
- Sift cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, mix butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy on medium speed. Add 1 egg at a time, mixing each until fully incorporated before adding the next egg. Add vanilla extract.
- On low speed, mix in a little bit of the sifted dry ingredients until incorporated, then a little bit of the sour cream until incorporated, then alternate between adding the dry ingredients and the sour cream.
- Fill each cupcake liner with over ¾ of the batter. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cupcake.
- FOR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
- Mix room temperature butter and cream cheese on medium speed in a stand mixer until fluffy.
- Add confectioners sugar a little bit at a time. At the end, add vanilla extract and food coloring. Mix until smooth and creamy. Chill prior to decorating, for best results.
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