St. Patrick's Day Cream Pie Cupcakes

As some of you may know, I have essentially two sets of children. My 90s set and my newer version, born in this century. What you may not have known is that I have actually had children in three different decades. How weird is that?  It's almost creepy when you think about it so I try not to.

One thing having a big span between your children is good for is perspective. When my oldest children were small, I thought they'd always think I was the supreme authority on all things and that it was essentially impossible for me to be wrong. Ha. Those days are numbered, friends. If you have small children, enjoy those moments while they last.

Now since I KNOW the moments are numbered, I'm careful to protect them. At. All. Costs. But recently I blew it. Our little Bell who is in kindergarten had a lot of questions about St. Patrick's Day when all the green began showing up in the stores. There are those mothers who carefully explain the real background of things like holidays. I could have gone into the whole religious and cultural background but I am not that mom and went instead with the magical leprechaun, green rice krispie treat, lucky clover kind of explanation.

Had I stopped there, all would be well. However, I apparently went one step too far when I told him that you have to wear green or you will get pinched. Who knew that pinching was no longer part of it? I mean, that was the whole story when I was a kid.  Wear a green shirt or get pinched. And if your mom (not MY mom, I always had a green shirt so really, Mom, if you're reading this, I'm not talking about YOU) didn't do the laundry, your teacher would take pity on you and cut a shamrock out of green construction paper and pin it to your shirt to "save" you from the pinchers. Except everyone knew that a green construction paper shamrock was not really WEARING green so it totally didn't count and you got pinched ten times harder. Duh.

Anyway, all this talk of pinching has apparently traumatized my son. He came back to my room later that night and asked if I really pinched kids in my class. I lied. I had to. And you would have, too, had you seen the absolute repulsion in his eyes that his do-no-harm mother may have actually been a pincher in her younger days. So for the rest of you who did not get the memo? Pinching is no longer part of Saint Patrick's Day. You're welcome.

Saint Patrick's Day Cream Pie Cupcakes
Recipe by Michelle's Dinner Bell

1 yellow cake mix and ingredients called for on box

Filling
1 small box instant pistachio pudding mix
1 cup half and half
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Ganache
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

  1. Prepare cake mix as called for to make cupcakes. 
  2. In small bowl, combine half and half and pudding and mix well.
  3. In another bowl, combine 1 cup whipping cream and powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
  4. Fold pudding mix into whipped cream.
  5. Split cupcakes horizontally and top with cream. 
  6. In small saucepan, heat remaining whipping cream until just beginning to bubble. Add chocolate and turn off heat. After about five minutes, stir to incorporate chocolate into the cream.
  7. Allow ganache to cool and thicken.
  8. Spoon over cupcakes, letting chocolate drip down the sides - you might want to put some parchment underneath a rack to catch the chocolate. There is no real neat way to do this.
Enjoy!

4 comments:

  1. Looks yummy! I hate St. Patty's Day! A total Scrooge. I give in now that I'm a mom, but it always bugged me that you have to wear a certain color or else people (ANYONE...even a stranger, mind you) is given the "OK" to assult you. It's nuts! ...and to top it off, my mom would end the horrible day with the traditional horrible dinner. I think my mom's over zealous holiday to-dos have scarred me. Bawhaha!
    These treats look great!

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  2. Oh the dinner, Jen.... Guess what you'll find here on Tuesday? A spin on the traditional horrible dinner. A DELICIOUS spin if I do say so myself!

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  3. I LOVE you!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL LOL!! :)

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