“When you look at a cupcake, you’ve got to smile.”
Anne Byrn
The annual “Paint It Purple” campaign raises awareness about Violence Against Women (VAW) by getting a global audience to “paint” the internet purple during the campaign using social media. The campaign also raises funds for The Pixel Project, our partners and participating VAW nonprofits worldwide through cupcake bake sales and “Paint It Purple” parties.
“Paint It Purple” is open to all VAW nonprofits, grassroots groups, bakeries and individuals supporting the cause to end violence against women.
India has her own initiative in this direction, The Bel Bajao campaign, translated to mean “Ring The Bell“. “Around 35 percent of Indian women suffer from physical violence at the hands of their partners while nearly 40 percent men and women think that it is sometimes or always ‘justifiable’ for a man to beat his wife (UN Women report on Progress of the World’s Women: In Pursuit of Justice, 2011-2012).
I think the more we get involved in our individual capacities, the better the chances are that violence against women will find an end. Any action, however small, is good news. Let’s join hands and make a difference. Each voice counts, and in turn gives support to those at the receiving end, paving the way for a brighter and safer tomorrow. Learn more and/or get involved.
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with buttercream and marzipan
Ingredients
- Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
- 100gm unsalted butter, soft
- 100gm powdered sugar
- 1/2 vanilla bean scraped
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 125gm plain flour
- 1tsp baking powder
- 1/8tsp salt
- 2 tbsp buttermilk
- ~
- Buttercream Frosting
- 50gm unsalted butter
- 2tbsp low fat cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar {I eyeballed the sugar}
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder
- Few drops purple food colouring
- ~
- Homemade Marzipan
- {Recipe adapted minimally from http://alessandra-onlyrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/12/home-made-marzipan-sweets.html}
- {Makes 300gm of marzipan. You need about 75gms for these cupcakes}
- 200gms almonds,blanched and peeled
- 100gm powdered sugar
Instructions
- Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 200C. Line a 12 mold cupcake tray with 8 liners, and fill the empty spaces with about a 1/4 cup water each. {This will aid equal distribution of heat}
- Beat the butter, vanilla bean and sugar until light and fluffy.
- With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the eggs.
- On low speed, beat in the flour, baking powder and salt, followed by the buttermilk, until well mixed.
- Divide into 8 cupcakes and bake for 20 minutes/ until done.
- Remove to rack and cool completely.
- Frost as desired {recipe follows}
- Butter cream Frosting
- Beat all the ingredients until desired consistency is reached. If the frosting is runny, add a little more sugar and continue to beat.
- Homemade Marzipan
- {Makes 300gm of marzipan. You need about 75gms for these cupcakes}
- Run the peeled almonds in the bowl of your food processor until ground. They will be soft and begin to release oil. Add the sugar and process on low speed until mixed. The marzipan should hold together when pinched with the fingers.
- Remove to a bowl and knead briefly until pliable. Keep wrapped in cling wrap so that it doesn't dry out.
- Tint with food colour, a drop at a time, keeping the remaining marzipan in cling wrap all the time.
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Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India
