Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Stress Baking

by Emily Cale

Stress. It makes people do a lot of crazy things. I know people who handle it by sleeping a lot and by never going to bed; by exercising more and by lying around the house doing nothing. We all have stress in our lives and we all have our ways of coping. I bake. Yes, when I am feeling the pressure of a million different tasks, our kitchen fills with cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and pies.

This would all be okay if I actually ate any of these things. I typically eat one of them. Then I hand them off to someone else. So basically, I get stressed and my friends get food. It’s a system that typically works out pretty well for them. For me, it means the added stress of dealing with the dishes in the kitchen. Which (of course), means I need to bake more. Yeah, it gets a little complicated.

The other downside is that my friends think I should bring elaborate desserts to every get together ever thrown. I either don’t have the time or the energy the majority of the time. So I thought I would share with you my favorite last minute dessert.

Emily's Last Minute Dessert

Ingredients:

1 box of your favorite cake mix (Plus whatever it calls for in the mix. Usually an egg, water, and vegetable oil)
1 can pie filling
Cupcake pan liners

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to temperature specified on the box
2. Mix up cake mix according to directions
3. Line the cupcake pan and fill each spot 1/3 of the way up with cake batter
4. Add one spoonful of pie filling to each of the spots
5. Add more cake batter until each is about two-thirds to three-quarters of the way full
6. Cook according to direction on the box
7. (optional) Add your favorite frosting once the cupcakes have cooled

I’m giving away a copy of Dessert First today to one random commenter.

Blurb:
Playing perfect daughter at her mother's parties isn't Alexis Arnette's idea of a good time. She always leaves grumpy and hungry. Unimpressed with the spread laid out in the living room, she sneaks off to the kitchen to find something a little more satisfying. What she discovers is chef Morgan Crane, a man who is even more delicious than his baked goods. When one taste of his creations leads to more and her good girl demeanor dissolves, would the boring evening turn into one she'll never forget?

Buy Dessert First HERE

12 comments:

Valerie Mann said...

Well, I don't know about the rest of y'all, but this is recipe is getting the big try-out tonight. If it gets teenager thumbs up, it's a winner for me!

Liz said...

and I'm giving it TO my teenager to make. (Liz doesn't bake). but this book sounds positively delicious Emily! can't wait to read it.

Kate Richards said...

Since editor Lea hasn't coughed up her cupcake recipe I've been begging for all week and I have a party to bake for on Saturday...this sounds like a really good idea! As does Desserts First.

steph beck said...

I'm a stress baker too. And I make stressy pierogies too. Congrats on the new book!

Stephanie Beck

Jessica E. Subject said...

Dessert First is a great story!

I don't bake when I'm stressed. I usually take a break and blast music so I can sing at the top of my lungs. That usually works, so long as no one is around to complain about my singing. LOL

Vanessa Barger said...

Nice Recipe! I'm a stress baker too - but actually I make chocolate when its really bad. Again, there's than endless cycle that happens though.... lol But everyone else seems happy!

booklover0226 said...

This recipe couldn't have been posted at a better time!

THANK YOU!!

Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Susan ~ Today's Writing Woman said...

I love dessert! Thanks for sharing the great recipe, I can't wait to try it

Becky Moore said...

I love to bake, though I typically have one slice of cake or a cookie or two out of my batch, then share the rest with my husband and son, and neighbors. The baking is cathartic ... but I'm with Valerie: this is definitely one to try!

Christy said...

Sounds easy and delish! christina_92 at yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Ooooohhhh yummy! What a great post, I was trying to decide what to bake for my two kids school Valentine's parties, and this is the winner! I think I'll use red velvet cake mix and cherry pie filling!, oh, wait a tic, I have to give them away? Damn, usually I'm a stress cleaner, hubby comes home, sees the bleach and vaccuum out and asks "what's wrong?" lol, as of late, I have become the stress baker from hell, kids, hubby and co-workers all very happy, but my challenge is, I'm gaining the weight back I lost in the fall, sigh. looking forward to reading good luck on the release!

JoAnne Kenrick said...

what a quick idea for something fun! My daughter is totally going to LOVE this idea :) Thanks so much for the recipe xx