A "Berry" Sweet Mother's Day!

May 10, 2010

Since we have been moving at wharp speed around here, I purposely cleared the calendar this weekend so that we could enjoy some family time.

Friday night we kicked off our weekend by enjoying a great dinner with some wonderful friends. They have two children the same ages as Nick and Sarah, so it was a perfect evening for everyone!! My friend Lina cooked the main course, so I brought an appetizer and a dessert.

As I was searching through my recipes and cookbooks for ideas, I decided I wanted to spend some time in the kitchen this weekend. I do love to cook, but lately I have not been doing a whole lot of it......we have been grilling out quite a bit and I just have not had much time to "play in the kitchen"

Normally, I would let the kids pick a dessert, but since it was Mother's Day.....I overruled their decision....... they both wanted chocolate and peanutbutter and although I LOVE that combination, I wanted to try something different......

Mother's Day-37 WM

Strawberry and Marscapone Filled Cupcakes
Recipe Courtesy of Giada De Laurentis


Ingredients
1 box vanilla cake mix (like Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe French Vanilla cake)
1 (8-ounce) container mascarpone cheese, chilled
1/2 cup thawed and drained frozen strawberries
1/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar


Directions
Make the cupcakes according to package instructions. Lightly grease the muffin tin and fill the batter almost to the rim of each muffin cup. Bake according to package directions and let cool.

In a food processor combine the mascarpone cheese, strawberries, 1/4 cup sugar, and lemon juice. Process the mixture until smooth. Transfer the strawberry mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a small tip. Push the tip gently into the bottom of a cupcake and squeeze in the strawberry mixture until the cupcake plumps. Continue with the remaining cupcakes.

In a small saucepan bring the 1/2 cup sugar, water, and vanilla extract to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved. In a medium bowl combine the vanilla syrup with the confectioner's sugar. Stir until smooth. Working quickly, use a rubber spatula spread the icing on the top of the cupcakes. If the icing begins to firm up, place in the microwave for a few seconds to warm up again.


Mother's Day-60 wm
Thought I would give you a closer look!!

These cupcakes were SO DELICIOUS!!! Even the kids loved them...... Nick and Sarah both helped me in the kitchen today, but when Nick saw me bring out the Marscapone Cheese, he started to get a little funny. He said he didn't know if he was going to like a cake that had cheese in it. Then I explained that Marscapone is like an Italian Cream Cheese and I had to remind him how many desserts he enjoys that include cream cheese. After that he agreed to try one....... or two:)

If you are looking for a new spin on your traditional cupcakes......give this a whirl!! The best part of this cupcake is the "Berry" sweet filling.

My favorite TV Chef, Giada, never dissapoints........ and BTW, have you seen that she has released another cookbook? Check it out HERE!!!

Hope that you all enjoyed an extra special Mother's Day! Mine was certainly sweet!! There is nothing better than spending an entire day surrounded by the ones you love:)

34 comments:

Love Letters To China said...

Oh those look delicious! I love Giada's recipes too. These caught my daughter's eye as I was reading your post. Might need to try them soon. Yum!

So glad you were able to relax and enjoy some over due time with your family. My day was also filled with family and relaxation. The best way to spend a day!

Hugs...

paige said...

they look delish!
my girls would think these would be a fun end of school treat. might just give 'em a try!
i love her new book too

glad you had a wonderful weekend my friend :)

Jodee said...

It sounds like you had a fun day in the kitchen. Those cupcakes look delicious and would be perfect for Kamree's birthday party coming right up! I may have to pass along the recipe to the chef in our house!

Hope you have a great week!

Sherri said...

Thanks Lisa for sharing that recipe! Those looks amazingly delicious :)
Happy Mother's Day.

Briana's Mom said...

YUM!!! Gorgeous cupcakes! Happy Mother's Day!

Jo said...

How yummy!

Hope you enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends this weekend ~ sometimes that just the "pick me up" needed to get through the busy times.

Have a great week ~
Jo

Tisha said...

Lisa,

Wishing you a "berry" Happy Mother's Day as well. These cupcakes look so divine! I will have to try this recipe for some friend visiting us in San Francisco for the first time this weekend. Thanks for sharing!

Glad to hear that you were able to slow down and enjoy your weekend with the ones you love.

Blessings,
Tisha

Carolin said...

oh my, looks DELISH!!!! happy belated mother's day!

Jboo said...

Oh yum! Those look delish -- would they fit in my diet? ;) Sounds like a fun weekend! Hope you have a great week!

Janet

Wanda said...

Lisa, what a perfect little dessert - and soooo pretty too. They have all the things I love and I'm a huge Giada fan - have all her books except her newest one. Thanks for the link.

I'm so glad you had a restful and loving week-end - you needed that. Here's to a great week, my friend.

Hugs!!

4D said...

Thanks for sharing! Num num indeed.

Keep smilin!

Dita said...

Oh, MAN...you really do know how to kill a girl's diet don't cha?!

These look heavenly. It was so nice to see a post from you this morning with you doing the OTHER thing you love to do so much (and that you also do like no other!)

Happy to hear you had a wonderful Mother's Day with your sweeties!

xoxoxo
Dita

Maddy said...

Happy Mother's Day! These look yummy and I love the food and recipe post! Hoping you'll share more in the near future :)

Lori Lynn said...

Those fabulous pictures make those cupcakes look so yummy! I don't know why it never occurs to me to take a picture of food. I'll have to work on my presentation skills and get snapping away. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Those look fabulous!!!
I'll have to try and make those! Yummy!

I'm so glad you had a wonderful weekend!

Colleen said...

Oh wow these look yum! I am so glad you had such a nice Mother's Day week-end Lisa! :)

Casey said...

Happy Mother's Day, Lisa!! Those cupcakes look DIVINE!! So glad you were able to spend some quality family time this weekend!

Marla said...

YUMMO. I can't wait to try these!! Glad y'all had a great weekend, you needed some fun and relaxation!

Have a great week, talk to ya soon!

Kim said...

Lisa! Thanks for the super sweet comment today.

I am glad you had a great Mother's Day weekend and were able to slow down and enjoy it. The spring is such a busy time I am ready to skip through May and head right to summer! Have a great week!

Formerly known as Frau said...

I think I just gained 5 lbs looking at your pictures...yummy! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's day!

fleur de lis cottage said...

Oh, those look yummy. I make a raspberry tiramisu with marscapone cheese...love that stuff. And, I love Giada's show. I don't know how she's around food all the time and stays so petite..she's adorable.

Hope your Mother's Day was awesome...looks like you had a sweet one ;-)

Mimi said...

They look yummy!
And I love your new slideshow of photos at the top, at least I think it's new.
Can I be really cheeky and ask why lots of American recipes use packet cupcake or muffin mix? I use a so simple recipe, that you just throw all the ingredients in the food processor, that I never buy packet cake mixes. But I know that you do have a much bigger selection ther than we have here.

Mimi said...

Forgot to say, glad you had a lovely Mother's Day!

Unknown said...

Mmmm....these cupcakes look delicious! Thanks for sharing! Glad you had a blessed mother's day!

Kim said...

YUMMY... Looks sooo good..
Glad you had a great Mother's Day..
love you ..
Hugs.

Patricia said...

Happy Mother's Day to you!! Sounds like you had a great one!

OK...I think I just gained 5 lbs. by just looking at the photos of those glorious cupcakes!!! Mmmmm!!! Love Giada...gotta try them!!

Thanks for your sweet get well wishes for Kiara! She's on the mend today & was actually a little bit feisty ;)

Virginia said...

Wow, those look yummy! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Sharon said...

Yummmm! Happy Mother's Day!

Denise said...

Yummy..although my boys would have a hard time with the cheese too! Happy Belated Mother's Day...just think, next year you will have 3 blessings to celebrate with~

Unknown said...

These look very pretty Lisa! Just lovely! I am glad you tried something new and took a chance. Isn't that what makes life such fun?
You are a very special mother. I can just tell!

Humble Bee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nishant said...

Hope you have a great week!
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Hannah said...

These are a favorite in our house too! YUM!!

3 Peanuts said...

They look so delicious....It is killing me because I just had to give up all sugar and yeast for a few months. My mouth is watering now.