Latest Derington Creation: Carrot Chai Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting and Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Bailey’s Buttercream
During Sukkot, I had the joy of making cupcakes to celebrate Heather’s birthday. She had tried a Carrot Chai cupcake at a recent wedding, and requested that I recreate it. I also decided to try this Guinness Chocolate cupcake that I had heard of. I must say, with the internet readily available, it is quite easy to find a couple recipes for ideas, and modify them to fit what I would like the outcome to be. So here are my takes on these two delicious cupcakes.
CHAI CARROT CUPCAKE
Cupcake Ingredients
▪ 4 large eggs
▪ 1 ½ cups (287g) granulated sugar 120g
▪ ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
▪ 1 ½ cups (337g) canola or vegetable oil
▪ 1 ¼ tsp (4.5g) baking powder
▪ 1 tsp (4g) baking soda
▪ ½ tsp (1g) salt
▪ 2 Tbsp chai spice*
▪ 2 ½ cups (248g) all-purpose flour
▪ 1 lb (6-7 small or 3-4 large) carrots,
peeled and grated
*Chai Spice
▪ 1 tsp ground cardamom
▪ 1 tsp ground cloves
▪ 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
▪ 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
▪ 1 tsp ground nutmeg
▪ a pinch of ground white pepper
Cream Cheese Frosting
▪ 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
▪ ½ cup butter, softened
▪ 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
▪ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl (or standing mixer) beat together the eggs and sugar for approximately 3 minutes until well incorporated. Add oil and mix well. Continue mixing on low speed while adding baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chai spice. Slowly add the flour to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined. Fold in grated carrots after all other ingredients are mixed.
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 3/4 filled. Put in oven and reduce temperature to 325 degrees F for 24 minutes. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.
Yields roughly twenty-four cupcakes.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.
Garnish with chai spice or curled carrot.
Cook’s Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a large round tip.
GUINNESS CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
Cupcake Ingredients
▪ 1 cup Guinness (or other stout)
▪ 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
▪ ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
▪ 2 cups sifted all purpose flour
▪ 2 cups sugar
▪ 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
▪ ¾ teaspoon salt
▪ 2 large eggs
▪ 2/3 cup sour cream
Bailey’s Buttercream Frosting
▪ 4 ½ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
▪ 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
▪ 4 – 6 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
▪ pinch of salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
Bring 1 cup stout and 1 cup butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Using a standing mixer, beat eggs, sugar, and sour cream to blend. Add in stout-chocolate mixture and beat just to combine. Slowly add flour mixture and beat briefly on low speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 3/4 filled. Put in oven and reduce temperature to 325 degrees F for 24 minutes. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.
Yields roughly twenty-four cupcakes.
For the Bailey’s Buttercream Frosting
Whip the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, for several minutes. Add salt. Slowly add the powdered sugar beating until combined. Slowly add the Bailey’s until you reach your desired consistency. Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a large star tip.
Cook’s Note: I garnished them with a chocolate design. Melt chocolate in microwave safe dish. Pour into squeeze bottle. Dispense in desired shape onto wax paper. Put in freezer for at least 2 hours; and leave in refrigerator after that. Garnish just before serving.
Sukkot 2011
Our family celebrated Sukkot this past week. We hosted a few nights, and participated in other family’s nights (complete with petting zoo) as well. What is Sukkot, you ask:
Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt, or sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (late September to late October). The holiday lasts seven days. Throughout the holiday meals are eaten inside the sukkah and many sleep there as well.
Sukkot History:
The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, “booth or tabernacle,” which is a walled structure covered with schach (plant material such as tree branches or bamboo shoots). The sukkah is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
Sukkot was agricultural in origin. This is evident from the biblical name “The Feast of Ingathering,” from the ceremonies accompanying it, from the season – “The festival of the seventh month” – and occasion of its celebration: “At the end of the year when you gather in your labors out of the field” (Ex. 23:16); “after you have gathered in from your threshing-floor and from your winepress” (Deut. 16:13). It was a thanksgiving for the fruit harvest. Coming as it did at the completion of the harvest, Sukkot was regarded as a general thanksgiving for the bounty of nature in the year that had passed. According to Zechariah, in the messianic era Sukkot will become a universal festival and all nations will make pilgrimages annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast there.
We celebrate Sukkot to:
1. Remember/reflect (Deut. 4:9)
2. To rest and enjoy the fruit of this years’ labor (Deut. 16:13)
3. To anticipate the coming Kingdom (Rev. 21:1)
Through the Course Of a Year
In September 2010, Nick and I were a part of a “Family Teams Training” small group. Basically, we met with three other families and discussed what it meant and looked like to have a truly biblical family. What did it look like in biblical times, and how do we implement that same idea of family now? The family facilitating it had been married for several years longer than the other three couples (including us), and had two children already. During the weeks we met, one of the couples gave birth to their first child. And also during those weeks, Nick and I seriously visited the idea of children of our own.
It didn’t take long in this community for me to fall in love with the idea of having our own children; raising them to be a blessing and contribution to the family. It is unfortunate that so many “Christian” American families function nothing like what they looked like in the Bible. I realize that culture adapts, and time-periods also change family dynamics. BUT…it is my opinion that the basic set-up of family should still at least resemble the style of the Bible–family members looking out for one another, all working to contribute to the common homestead; fathers raising a generation that loves the Lord; sons growing up and taking over the family business; mothers resembling the Proverbs 31 woman; daughters adoring their fathers and respecting their own bodies. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea.
At any rate, it was through this whole process that Nick and I did decide that we were ready to start growing our family. Now, when we made that decision, we also knew that the average first-time conception takes a year, so we figured we had a couple months. NOPE!
Two weeks later…
Sukkot was taking place (more on that in another blog). On Monday, Oct 4th I felt off. It’s hard to describe, but I just felt out of it–like in a daze, yet I wasn’t actually tired. I knew it was possible that we could be pregnant, but so soon? So after work I grabbed a pack of tests, and unbeknownst to Nick, I took a test that afternoon. Nothing. I told him later that night, that I had felt strange, taken a test, but that it was negative. However, over the next days I still didn’t feel right, so I figured I’d take a test again that next Monday.
By Friday, Oct 8th, we knew something was up, though, so I took another test. POSITIVE! I walked back to our room with the stick in my hand, looking very much like a deer in the headlights. Nick and I didn’t say anything for at least five minutes. We just laid there silently in our bed until smiles crept across both our faces. Then the giddy reactions. “We’re going to have a baby!!!”
We wanted to wait to tell people, but we lost that battle the very next day, and told our families and close friends. The following 9 months were hard to express in words. My hormones and emotions were all over the board, along with my weight gain :0) So, I will allow you to follow along via photo.
6 1/2 weeks along, and trying my hardest to stick my “belly” out.
On my birthday (Nov 17th) at 9 weeks 3 days, we got our first glimpse of who we would call Peanut all through the pregnancy. He was looking very teddy-graham-esque at that point.
11 weeks along, and I was still pushing my stomach out with all my might.
At 13 weeks we were able to see Peanut again. This time you could actually tell he was human–so amazing.
And we posed for the classic Christmas photo.
By 15 weeks I felt like it was already clear to the world that I was pregnant, but looking now, that seems ridiculous.
And by 18 weeks, it wasn’t much different.
At 20 weeks, we got our final ultrasound, and found out we were having a BOY! It is so amazing how quickly they develop in utero.
By 23 weeks, my belly was finally in full bloom.
At 28 weeks we hit the third trimester and started the home-stretch.
By 32 weeks, I was pretty sure I was going to burst at any point…but we kept growing.
At 37 weeks, we took painted belly photos, thinking that I could pop at any point.
But a week later, I was still heavily pregnant.
Finally…at 40 weeks and 4 days, Peanut arrived!!! Welcome Elam Atticus Derington. Born June 23rd, 2011 at 2:39pm, weighing 8 lbs 13 oz and measuring 21″ long.
Praise the Lord for a healthy pregnancy and birth. We are so grateful for our little boy.
What an amazing year it has been. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for us next.
~Traci
As Time Has Passed
It’s been over a year since we’ve touched this blog. It’s not as if life has been dull in the least. In fact, this has been one of the most exciting years of our lives. I’ll just highlight some of the things in order to bring you up to speed.
In June 2010 Nick and I displayed some of our photos at a local Starbucks (not the one I worked at)…
and learned to make some awesome sushi.
In August 2010 we harvested some home-grown goods. I’ve previously always had a “brown thumb.”
In September 2010 we watched the fireworks down at the Ohio River.
Following into October 2010 with participating in our first Sukkot….during which, Nick and I found out we were EXPECTING!!! (more to come in a future post)…
and we spent some much needed time at “Family Vacation” in Florida.
In November 2010 I celebrated my birthday and Nick took me to see Sarah McLachlan. Woot woot!
In December 2010 Nick and I celebrated our second Christmas together, complete with a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
In February 2011 Nick flew out to Apple’s Headquarters in Cupertino, CA while I went and visited Krystle in New Mexico.
In March 2011 we visited my family and were thrown an awesome baby shower…
We also took the plunge and bought a second car.
In May 2011 we participated in “Go Cincinnati” and helped do some landscaping at an international home for children…
And I was thrown a SECOND awesome baby shower here in the Northern Kentucky community.
And on June 23rd, 2011 we gave birth to ELAM ATTICUS DERINGTON.
~Traci
Keeping Up With the E-mails
It is amazing how busy Nick and I have been lately. My last training camp for AIM was three weeks ago, but things have not really slowed down. I wanted to update you a bit on what I’ve been, and will continue doing for the Ambassador Program.
Right after our last training camp, I took a few days off of “AIM stuff” in order to catch back up on life here in Kentucky. I loved going down to the camps in Georgia, but leaving Nick back at home was not ideal. Plus, with the camps so close together, it was difficult to keep up with the house, relationships, and everything in between for those few weeks.
So after a few days “off,” I started back into the swing of things. We put the new 2011 trips up that following week, and the inquiries have been incredible. I’ve had hundreds of e-mails from prospective participants come in since that point. And it is a bit daunting at points to open the inbox and see 70 new e-mails in bold print. On the plus side, we are now offering two spring break trips, and an even wider variety of trips all around the world during the summer. It is exciting to be at the start of this.
Last year, if you recall, I joined in late February or March, so I missed a lot of the initial inquiries and participants. Additionally, because I started in the middle of everything, I felt like I was always playing catch-up. I hope to stay ahead of the game this year, and help participants get through the application process, and into the support-raising process sooner. Maybe that will alleviate some of the support phone calls closer to the trip that I dread making. 
More importantly, though, I am hoping this gives me the chance to get to know each participant. I missed a huge chunk this year because they were already through the application process (which is what I primarily help with), and I never had to follow up on their support. So, unfortunately, at the training camps, I was talking to many of them for the first time.
So among my normal duties of e-mailing and calling participants, I am also going to be doing a bit of recruiting. There aren’t too many benefits to me not living near the base in Georgia, but one lies in the fact that I have a whole community people unfamiliar with AIM. I am hoping to speak with the leaders of the youth group at my church, that has a regular weekly attendance of over 300 high school students. I was able to talk to one of the leaders a few weeks ago, and she seemed eager to get me involved since they do not already have their own mission trips set up. That could be an incredible blessing to have participants from right here in my backyard. Please be in prayer regarding all of that.
Thanks for your many prayers and support year-round. You guys are my family and my support system, and without you this would not be possible.
It’s Drime Time
The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. I have been working just as much at Starbucks, but have also kept busy with Ambassador stuff. We have closed all of our trips at this point, and ready to send the teams out into the field. I’ve been making all kinds of calls to track down last minute documents and support, but it’s exciting to come to this point.
Although training camps started several days ago, I was not able to come down to Gainesville, GA until yesterday morning. It has been an awesome time so far. We have talked about being “chosen,” “broken,” and “blessed.”
I have been responsible to teach the drama this year. That has been a big challenge, but a lot of fun. So with the help of another AIM staffer, Emily, we have gotten through two-thirds of the teams so far, and all in less than five hours over the last two days. We are doing a DRIME (silent drama set to music) to the song “In The Light” by DC Talk. Old-school, I know, but it’s the most practical to teach to a huge group, and it’s effective for ministry. It depicts the story of two girls created by God. One gives God praise and honor for creating her while the other initially rejects God and and succumbs to the devil’s schemes, before finally realizing her need for a Savior and turning to Him.
Last night, after Don Rock spoke about “brokeness,” one of the participants came up to her leader and shared that she was not a believer. It was during the DRIME practice that she began to relate to the “bad girl” character, and she realized she has never made a decision to follow Christ Through the rest of the sessions that day, she knew she was ready to make that step. She accepted the Lord and joined the family last night. PRAISE GOD!!!
Please be in prayer for these teams–their effectiveness on the field, their unity as a team, their safety, and their own growth with the Father.
Trying to Live a “Story-Formed Life”
I cannot believe it is already June. This year has just been flying by, and I can barely keep up. As demonstrated by a lack of blogging. Nick and I celebrated six months of an awesome marriage this past weekend. We sat talking about what it may have been like if we had waited till spring or summer to get married. I am so grateful we just went for it!
The Lord has been teaching me so much lately. It’s crazy all of the new things I am taking in each week. Not that I feel like he has ever withheld his teaching–rather I’ve neglected to listen. Nick and I have been going through a ten-week series with our church called “Story-Formed Life.” It was compiled by one of our friends and elders here in the community, but is actually quite simplistic in nature. It basically breaks down the thought that we are the center of “the story,” and shows us, through scripture, how God is the center of the story…and then how we fit in to that. I say it is simplistic because it only uses scripture to demonstrate it’s point, but it really is fundamental in changing our paradigm, and actually living a God-centered lifestyle. We are about mid-way through the series, and already I feel like it has altered my heart and many of my behaviors.
Lately, I have been working on my prayer-life. Because I am an internal processor, I spend a lot of time in my head–breaking down conversations, replaying interactions, and criticizing whatever I deem unworthy. I am working hard to change that. I am proactively trying to use my “thought time” to pray for people, and particularly while I am at work–a disgruntled customer, a buddhist co-worker, my [understandably] stressed-out boss, etc. Wow, has it changed my perspective.
The first week of SFL–titled “The Fall”–shows us that we are made is God’s image. Not only that, but we are all to blame for the fall. Not one of us is exempt. With that in mind, I have been challenged to look at people through the lens’ of Christ. Of course I’ve heard this before, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever actually implemented it…at least not here in America. It has helped me to be more patient, understanding, and forgiving, and has aided in prayer for people. I am so thankful that God is the center, and not me.
~Traci Derington
Easter Weekend Pt. 2
This is clearly well overdue, but I wanted to show a few photos of our Easter weekend.
Sunday morning we had a great Easter celebration with many various families from our community. We spent time feasting, in worship, and hiding eggs for the children.
After a glorious Easter snooze, Nick and I headed out to one of the many parks in the area, to take in the beautiful spring blooms.
On the way home we came across the coolest house I’ve ever seen. It’s owned by an artist–clearly. I want it for myself, though.
For dinner we had a fabulous Chinese food picnic in a different park with our friends/neighbors. It was truly a great Easter where we could sit back, relax, and reflect on Christ and creation.
- Traci Derington
New Discipline
As a continuation of the last blog I have decided to implement a new discipline in my life. I want to get to know the New Testament of the Bible more thoroughly. I have spent much of my time in the Old Testament and quite frankly neglected my studies of the NT. After a bit of research I discovered there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. Broken down further 89 chapters in the Gospels and 171 chapters in Acts through Revelation. Assuming a 30 day month if you read 3 chapters starting with Matthew and 6 chapters starting with Acts a day you can read the entire NT in a month.
Don’t get me wrong this is not me trying to get all legalistic but what would happen to my understanding of the NT if say I did this for 1 year? Yeah I don’t have an answer for that but one would think it would give you a more intimate understand of Christ assuming you are not just reading for the sake of reading. So there you have a new endeavor for Nick Derington.
- Nick Derington
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