Words of Wisdom From "Modern Family"

On a recent episode of ABC's excellent new show "Modern Family," the wise-beyond-his-years mini-man Manny declares:

"If you're gonna be stranded, might as well be in a place full of cupcakes."

It's just so, so true.

Peanut Butter-Filled (?) Chocolate Cupcakes

Among other difficult issues and conundrums, I often have this debate with myself: Which is the better flavor combination, chocolate & peanut butter or chocolate & mint? I can never decide. I may, in fact, go to my grave without ever resolving this. But I will also spend my remaining days here on earth doing scientific experimental taste tests in pursuit of an answer.

So, I made some chocolate & peanut butter cupcakes.

Look! I have a camera that actually takes pretty pictures now!

Good old Martha titles this recipe "Peanut Butter-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes," and it's true that there is the chocolate "cupcake" part and then there is a separate gooey deliciousness that could be classified as "filling," but rather than the filling actually filling the cupcake, it's more like swirled around to create a marbleized effect.

See? Swirling 'n' combining:

And here is the final product, which I tested with my swanky new tester:

Whatever they are (hyper-fancy muffins? Frosting-less cupcakes?), these things were insanely delicious. The mint-chocolate combo has some tough competition.

Have Your Cake and Deep-Fry It, Too

Have you ever looked at a delicious cupcake and thought, "The only way this could be any more awesome is if I speared it with a stick and deep-fried it"? Me too! So it's crazy and exciting that someone (Cakespy over on Serious Eats) did just that, and they've shared the recipe.

I appreciate the nod to Paula Deen in Cakespy's post. I really think Paula might be trying to kill us with butter. But everything in moderation, right? One little deep-fried cupcake can't be too bad. . . . (And if you have leftover batter, Cakespy recommends deep-frying peanut butter cups. It's like I've died and gone to the greasiest — and most delicious — heaven imaginable.)

Many thanks to my friend who writes the scrumptious blog Brooklyn Plated for the tip!! :)