February 11, 2008

Love at First Bite

Magnolia Bakery’s Vanilla Cupcakes

Think outside the Valentine’s Day box of chocolates and whip up a batch of Magnolia Bakery’s sweetest treats. They make hearts sing.

Vanilla Cupcakes
Serves 24

Ingredients
1 ½ c. self-rising flour
1 ¼ c. all-purpose flour
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 c. sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients
1 c. unsalted butter, softened
6-8 c. confectioners’ sugar
½ c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cake:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Line two twelve-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.

3. Combine the flours and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth and gradually add sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with milk and vanilla, and blend well.

5. Fill cupcake liners three-quarters full and bake 20-25 minutes.

6. Let cool fifteen minutes in tins.

Frosting:
1. Place butter in large mixing bowl and add four cups of sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and creamy.

2. Add remaining sugar, one cup at a time, until icing is spreadable. Add a few drops of pink or red food coloring as desired and store at room temperature.

3. Frost cupcakes.

4. Give each member of your brood his or her own cupcake to decorate with Cinnamon Hearts, colored sprinkles, or Sweethearts.

Now you’re eating the love.

Also available at Magnolia Bakery, 200 Columbus Avenue, at 69th Street (212-724-8101); 401 Bleecker Street, at West 11th Street (212-462-2572).

PLAY
Invention at Play
What: Kids learn about the creation of everything from Kevlar to the telephone and experience their own playful processes, too.
Why: Blind them with science.
When: Sat.-May 11. Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Queens (718-699-0005).

EXPERIENCE
Thunderbird American Indian Dancers Pow-Wow
What: Dancing, story-telling, and traditional music from the Iroquois with proceeds benefiting Native American students.
Why: Pageantry with purpose.
When: Thru Feb. 17. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.
Where: Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., b/t 9th & 10th Sts. (212-254-1109). Tickets online at ovationtix.com.

SEE
The Velveteen Rabbit
What: Musical version of the classic about a magical stuffed animal and the meaning of love.
Why: For that warm and fuzzy feeling.
When: Thru May 11. Sat. & Sun., noon. Preshow arts workshop, 11 a.m.
Where: The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., b/t 3rd & Bleecker Sts. (212-352-3101). Tickets online at literallyalive.com.