Kahlua Caramel Mocha Cupcakes

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” 
― Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, dear readers! Hopefully you got to enjoy a day off. I know I really needed today off work - not that it was a restful, relaxing day - oh nooo no no. I had delusions of grandeur for my three day weekend, and was going to accomplish all kinds of great things. My house was going to be soooo clean, replete with freshly sealed and painted baseboards, and I wasn’t going to have a scrap of dirty laundry nor a dirty dish lying around. I was going to give myself a perfect manicure, after painting the baseboards, of course, create a new recipe I’ve been thinking about, and even squeeze in some time with girl friends.

Ohh yeah, I was delusional. I ended up relating very strongly to the MLK, Jr. quote, above.

Actually, I didn’t do too badly. Although I didn’t so much as touch those baseboards, nor did I work on developing that recipe, I did get a WHOLE lot done – including a LOT of things that weren’t even on my to do list. In all honesty, that’s about par for the course, for me. I obsessively make “to do” lists that even Martha Stewart couldn’t get through in one day – but it pushes me to keep moving forward, and sometimes that’s enough.

Ok, in ALL honesty, I’m totally putting those extra things that I got done on my to do list, so that I’ll have the satisfaction of crossing them off. Yesssss.

Bella helped with the laundry.

So, I just got back from a long run with my dog, which was preceded by a trip to the grocery store (which is one of the most exhausting and hated things in my life – that’s why I’m so keen on substitutions when I bake). I also went to the vet for the second time this weekend to get different medication for my new cat – oh yeah, I’ve been administering meds to a cat all weekend. If you’ve ever done that, you know that I feel super accomplished just from that. It’s a really, really good thing the cat is so cute. It makes up for the blood loss, a little bit.   

Selleck. As in Tom Selleck.

Anyway, I finally got a chance to sit down and enjoy my coffee that I’ve been carrying around from place to place all day (thank you, Starbucks insulated mug for keeping it warm!). And you know what? I do NOT feel like baking anything today. Plus, by the time I’m done it will be almost dark, and OMG bad evening lighting/yellow nocturnal pictures/lions and tigers and bears, oh my! But, my delightful Starbucks coffee reminded me of an already complete, already photographed project that I’ve been meaning to post, and there’s no time like the present! As MLK, Jr. said, keep moving forward.

                 

I made these awhile back for a friend and co-worker of mine who is always going the extra mile to do things for others, so I wanted to do a little something and bring in a treat for her birthday. She used to be a Starbucks barista, so I thought these would be fun. Well, it ended up being a keep moving forward kind of recipe.

Kahlua Man Fudge Cookie Sandwich

It's been one hell of a week for me.  I made these last Saturday, in a "stir-crazy" frenzy (not really) attempt to do something that would keep me busy for a while.  I had gum surgery on the previous Thursday, and I couldn't do yard work, go to the gym, or do anything like heavy chores.  Sitting around on a beautiful and sunny day?  Just couldn't embrace that concept.

So, I got all excited about making these cookies, measured out the dry ingredients, went to Sur La Table to buy just the right size cookie scoop.  It was like Goldie Locks: I have a scoop that was too big and one that was too small.  Now, I have one "just right."  Get home, mix these bad boys up, place perfectly-sized scoops on the lined cookie sheets and turn on the oven. 

Notice the oven wasn't heating up, seemed to be gasping for fuel.  Prayers folks and I generally don't pray unless it's really, really important.  Who to call to borrow their oven?  How to transport the sheets?  I tried the oven one more time...Thank god!  This was the last batch that oven will ever see.  It's being replaced as soon as is possible!  Kinda sad because it's made a lot of really great meals and made a lot of folks really happy over its 8 year life.

I found this recipe at one of my new favorite blogs, Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.  I have a few of her recipes in the baking queue, so keep an eye out.  :)  The cookies I made were a version of this recipe for her Homemade Fudge Rounds, hence the name change of my own.

And you wonder, why "Kahlua Man"...well, let's take a quick look...

He looks pretty proud!  Got this bottle years and years ago from a good teacher friend, Cheryl.  Notice the customs tag as it's from the source: Mexico! 

Of course, in keeping with our theme, I made modifications to the recipe for the incorporation of booze, both in the cookie and in the frosting.  For the cookies, I added 1 tsp creme de cocoa for part of the vanilla.  For the frosting, I substituted 2 Tbsp Kahlua and 2 Tbsp coffee for the water.  Next time it'll be ALL Kahlua in that frosting!!  I also rolled them in "jimmies" the technical term for those little colored chubs of sugar.  Found a new and very, very cool baking supply website.