cupcakes!

baking
i like to cook. i started baking when i was young; my favorite thing to make was banana bread. in my post age 16 years, i cook more meals, largely from the need to feel myself but also because i am not really a sweets person. i like salsa and chips and savory snacks. for the 2008 holidays, a friend gave me Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. i have made a few cupcakes, always to rave reviews.

this past week, i got chocolate mint leaves in my CSA. what am i going to do with this? i poked around on the internet and saw a recommendation for chocolate covered chocolate mint leaves. perfect. i have a birthday party to attend. what better thing to bring than cupcakes with something a little new!

i used the chocolate ganache recipe from VCTOTW and dipped selected leaves in there and laid them out on wax paper to dry. once they had all been dipped (read: once i got bored of doing it), i put them in the freezer. for the cupcakes, i made the basic chocolate cupcake, and for the icing, the vegan buttercream.

the cupcakes were great. everyone that had one loved them. i had one, and i think next time i'd make a couple of changes:

• chop some mint leaves and put them in the actual cupcake batter that way the mint would happen throughout the cupcake rather than just on the top
• use the quick ganache to cover the leaves since it sets better

next steps?
i have left over buttercream and ganache. i could make another batch of cupcakes with the changes, or i could do something completely different (cookie sandwiches?). please leave any ideas in the comments!