Coconut Vanilla Cupcakes

I know I am woefully behind on this blog, but I need to post this recipe. It is SO good. I made them for a baby shower I'm throwing with some co-workers tomorrow night and I brought 2 in for Jill, who LOVES coconut cake, so she could try them. She gave them lots of praise, so I feel like I'm right about how good they are.

Here is the recipe, from Epicurious:
Vanilla Bean Coconut Cupcakes

I used vanilla paste in the cupcakes instead of beans or extract, and I think I put in more than I was supposed to. I think I used the equivalent of 1 1/2 beans. Whatever, they taste awesome.

Some other tips:
-The reduced coconut milk gets a skin on it when you chill it in the fridge. Skim this off before you use it, otherwise everything will be lumpy or you'll have to put it through a mesh strainer like I did.
-If you pipe the frosting on top, don't put too much on. I realized I was about to run out with 6 left, so those just got frosting smeared on top. I actually think this works fine since you sprinkle coconut on top anyway.
-I made 19 cucpakes and think I could have gone to 20. The batter is very thick but it does rise.
-I didn't bother toasting the coconut for the top.

Seriously, try these. I don't even really care for coconut all that much and these are delicious.

Sippel CSA Report 11/7/09

I'm sorry that I haven't been reporting regularly on the CSA. It's still going strong and we've gotten tons of great stuff. Lots of squash of all kinds (acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti), pumpkin, onions, lettuce, arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, radishes, horseradish, beets...all of these are things we've gotten recently!

Here is what I remember getting yesterday:
-2 small heads of lettuce
-celery root
-rainbow chard
-some squash
-2 small broccoli heads

Honestly, there was probably more but we have so many veggies right now that I can't remember what we have gotten when. :)