Match Day—done! Hallelujah and thank you for all the crossed fingers, prayers, and happy thoughts! Last Thursday night felt like Christmas Eve as a 5 year old. I was up every hour hoping Santa had already come. The fateful email finally came in a little after 7:30 am, only moments to spare before having a heart attack.
I promised you answers in the form of a sweet treat. Here she is. Nutmeg Spice Cupcake. Can you figure out where we’re going? If you’ve read this blog long enough, you know I love Warren Brown and his cake recipes. So when it came time to announce the Match Day results, I flipped open Warren’s book—United Cakes of America. Page 38. Connecticut. The nutmeg state.
Still in total and utter shock. We’re moving to New Haven, CT. My dream of Denver mountains off in the horizon will have to wait at least two more years. But it gets even crazier. My husband matched at Yale Child Study Center. Yale?! It’s out of our league no doubt. But I couldn’t be more proud of my boy!
It’s funny how it all worked out. He added Yale to his list at the last minute after feeling like the program was a good fit to his experience. Asked me what I thought, and I said—Go for it! I’m a dreamer. I think we may have given a couple people a good laugh. Next thing you know, he gets an interview. And now we’re moving there. All I have to say is—dream! And don’t stop dreaming. It’s easy to sell yourself short. But it’s much harder to dream.
In a few short months we’ll be headed out east. I guess this means I need to rewrite my about me. First things first (Ha!). And start looking for a new job. For now, I wont even begin to think about saying goodbye to Chicago. There’s more days ahead for that. It’s time to celebrate. Cheers to new adventures and putting forth the effort to dream.
Nutmeg Spice Cupcakes
recipe slightly adapted from United Cakes of America by Warren Brown; yields 10 cupcakes
DRY
1 c. superfine sugar
1 c. all-purpose unbleached flour
1 tbsp. potato starch
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg, freshly grated
pinch allspice
1/8 tsp. baking soda
WET
6 tbsp. butter, melted
1/4 c. half and half
1 tbsp. rum
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
OLD-FASHIONED BUTTERCREAM
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. heavy cream
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 (1/2 c.) stick unsalted butter
1/2 c. superfine sugar
pinch sea salt
2 tsp. rum
1. Preheat oven to 325°. Line cupcake pan with 10 liners. Set aside.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
3. Combine wet ingredients in a container with a tight fitting lid and shake will to combine. Make sure all ingredients are room temperature or separation will occur.
4. Lightly whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients until well combined.
5. Evenly fill cupcake liners using a 2-ounce trigger release ice-cream scoop.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tops are golden and tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool before frosting.
7. Meanwhile make frosting. Combine milk, heavy cream , and flour in a small saucepan. Whisk until combined.
8. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened, about 1 minute.
9. Pour mixture into a bowl and place pastic wrap against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Allow to cool until room temperature. Mixture will appear pudding-like in texture.
10. Meanwhile, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add salt and rum. Mix.
11. Add in flour/milk mixture and beat until combined, about 5 minutes.
12. Ice cooled cupcakes. Garnish with freshly ground nutmeg. Serve at room temperature or store in an airtight container.
Side note:
• I typically food process my sugar to achieve ”superfine” status although superfine sugar can be purchased.
Mmmhm, nutmeg is definitely one of my favorite spices. And yei, welcome to the East coast!
Congrats again! I had no idea Connecticut is the nutmeg state… These cupcakes look fantastic (and sound delicious!)
Me neither! I have a feeling there’s a lot I don’t know about CT. It’ll be an adventure!
Congrats! Beautiful little town, and you can channel your inner Rory Gilmore.
Love it.
I think I need to watch Gilmore Girls to prepare for this move
Congratulations! It sounds like a great opportunity for you both
Congrats! Sounds like Match Day was a success!
Congratulations! What a wonderful new adventure you have ahead of you. Wishing you all the best! Gorgeous cupcakes too.
Congrats to Kevin on his match! Will and Meghan are excited, too, for their placement, as are we. It’s just not as close to home as we’d hoped.
I am sooo glad that you will still be able to blog from New Haven! We won’t lose touch with you and your culinary magical powers! Someday you’ll be even more famous than you are now.
I feel you in the close to home part. We’re headed in the opposite direction from home. So happy for Meghan and Will’s match!
Aww, you are too kind to me. I’ll definitely keep the blog up especially since Kevin will be working all the time. Famous though? I don’t know about that.
CONGRATS!!!! How exciting and delicious
hope your move goes smoothly and you find yourself settled quickly. Good luck on the job hunt.
The cupcakes sound amazing. And congrats on finding out your new home, it sounds like it will be a great adventure!
Congrats Melissa and hubby!! The cupcakes look great and love the topper
Congratulations! I know absolutely nothing about New Haven, but I’m sure you’ll make it fabulous.
Congratulations! How exciting!!
Congrats to both of you! I look forward to hearing of your new experiences in the northeast! Please give my best to Kevin too!
I will pass this on to Kevin. Thanks Mary!
Big love : )
hugs…
Yah! Congratulations! How exiting your moving to New Haven. Some of my family is actually from there. It’s a pretty cool town
. Good luck packing! And these cupcakes look like the perfect sweet treat to celebrate with!
Let me know if you have any New Haven tips. We are clueless!
Beyond adorable. And the idea of the nutmeg makes them oh-so-very-enticing.
Congratulations on the move, and Yale! You got yourself a smartie. As long as you can move your photo studio and your kitchen, I’ll be a happy camper.
Thanks Heidi! He has outdone himself for sure! I’m praying for a good kitchen and pretty light. Those are my only requirements
Congratulations!! So excited for you! And the cupcakes look great!
Thanks for cheering me on Maria!
Congratulations to you and the hubby! What an exciting new adventure.
Plus, nutmeg is one of my favorite spices in the world, so this post is double exciting.
These look and sound delicious – though almost too cute to eat! Love the decoration idea.
And congratulations on the match – my husband went through the process a couple years ago. It’s nerve-wracking and stressful, but so exciting to achieve dreams and get a chance to explore a new city. Good luck!
I bet you’re so glad it’s behind you. I still get anxious thinking about last Friday. It has forever changed me
Wow, congrats on the exciting news!!! Now maybe we will be able to meet, since we’ll be driving distance apart
Also, these cupcakes look absolutely incredible. LOVE the CT topper. Just amazing!!
Yes, we must meet up! I’m excited to live so close to NYC.
Big congrats to you & hubby! So happy to have seen your beautiful blog, it’s very inspiring!!!
love the look of these cupcakes too, have spoon will travel!
Thanks for your super kind words! Put a smile on my face!
Congratulations! How fun and exciting it must be to look ahead to a new life adventure! Gorgeous cupcake too.
Congratulations on your new turn of events!! Very exciting! Also, quick question about the cupcakes before I make them – how important is it to just use the egg yolk as opposed to the whole egg…? What does that change in the recipe?
Hmm.. you have me stumped. I’m not quite sure, but I imagine it will change the texture. I’ve always thought the addition of a yolk makes for a nice tender yet dense cake. If you add the whole egg though, you’ll probably need a bit more flour.
Haha, thanks for the reply! I didn’t want to mess anything up so I ended up making it as described in the recipe
Don’t “fix” it if it ain’t broke!
Congrats!! So exciting. These cupcakes look perfect to celebrate with
Hi there! Congrats! My best friend is an ER doctor at Yale University hospital, so when I was still working in law in Manhattan (before I, eh, quit to do this), I’d take the train to see her often (so easy!) I’d be happy to put you guys in touch. She works a lot but she loves food and she’s wonderful. She’s 33. Anyway, congratulations!!! So exciting.
Also, there is a restaurant called Casseus in New Haven that is AWESOME, if you don’t know it already.
This is awesome! I am Yale/New Haven illiterate so I’ll take any and all info! And I’d love to get in touch with your friend too. Thanks for looking out for me!
First, exciting news on the upcoming move! One of my best friends spent several years in New Haven (she also went to Yale for their nurse practitioner program). I went to visit her out there and it was lovely! Moving is always scary, but totally exciting. Second, these cupcakes are gorgeous! I love nutmeg…I feel like it’s totally been overshadowed by cinnamon, but I see it coming into play in a big way.
Thanks Kasey! It’s good to hear you liked the area! I welcome any restaurant advice. Or any advice in general about the area.
I was born and raised in New Haven – and cannot say enough about the italian food there, especially the apizza! Enjoy!
Yeah! I was hoping to meet another New Haven-er! Glad to hear there’s good food.
I agree with Talley below – the East Rock section of New Haven is a great place to live. I spent a good portion of my childhood there (I live in NYC now, though my family are still in New Haven) Louie’s Lunch is a must as well, and if you are interested in a CSA my best friend belongs to the one at Bishop’s Orchards. There are 3 main pizza (or apizza as we say) places that put New Haven on the map for pizza – Pepe’s, Sally’s and Modern. Everyone has a favorite of the three.
New Haven! I often tell people I’m from New Haven, and I guess after living there for almost 10 years I kinda feel like I am. I have a lot to say about Yale (undegrad + architecture school) and even the Child Study Center, where I spent a summer working for Fred Volkmar in the autism center. I’d be happy to email about restaurants (Caseus is a must and so is Pepe’s) and neighborhoods (we lived in Wooster Sq so I could walk to work, but I’d probably recommend East Rock for the community – lots of grad students). I’d be happy to email about any questions you two might have. It will certainly be a change from Chicago, but I hope you will like it. Congrats!!!! – I’ll have to try these cupcakes for a little taste of home (I also grew up in CT – Greenwich, so I’m a true nutmegger)
Beautiful photo’s! i love a cook that can made delicious treats and photograph them well!! I feature food styling! Would you mind if I did a profile post http://ohmysweetlove.wordpress.com/ Would love it!!!!
Regards!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you guys
This sounds
amazing!! Oh, & adorable cupcakes, I love nutmeg
http://www.cloudoflace.com
Congrats! The East Coast rules! Best wishes for an exciting new journey…
Little late to the party, but I’m SO stoked for you Melissa. Such lovely country out there. What an exciting time! Also loving that you glorified nutmeg in cake form. It totally gets a bum rep most of the time.
Congrats to the both of you babe! New Haven, so beautiful! And this cake, craving it hard.
Sounds like it’s going to be an exciting time for you! All the best to you and your husband on your move!
These cupcakes look gorgeous! Is the texture light and fluffy? or is it the dense and rich type?
Wow – congrats! And congrats to dreaming! Best of luck in your new adventures … And of course: beautiful cupcakes
Omg!! Congrats on matching at Yale!!! That’s wonderful news!!! I’m jealous that you will get to live in a gorgeous state!
Congratulations! I live in West Haven – the town (as you might guess) immediately to the West of New Haven. New Haven is a really cool city experiencing a lot of rebirth and is a great place for us foodies! There’s a new co-op, awesome farmer’s markets, great restaurants and tons of stuff to do. You’ll love it!
Hi Anne! Thanks for the sweet comment! I’m feeling more and more excited, especially after getting to hear from New Haveners! A fellow foodie? You may have to show me the ropes!
Hi! I just saw a link to your blog/post on the Facebook page for Elm City Market (new food co-op in New Haven) and had to leave a comment. I live in New Haven and my husband is a resident at Yale-New Haven Hospital. It sounds like our match experience was somewhat similar to yours – we were focusing on other programs/locations, but decided to add YNHH to the list at the last minute because my husband thought it would be a good fit. I was so anxious about match day and a bit shocked when it turned out to be YNHH. Anyway, good luck with the move and let me know if you have any questions about New Haven. As others have said, there are lots of good restaurants in addition to the pizza places – agree with Caseus and Sally’s, and Zinc and Bar are two other favorites. There are several local farmer’s markets and some great neighborhood food stores/markets (Nica’s market in East Rock is around the corner from where I live and is awesome). P.S. I did not know CT was the nutmeg state, but these cupcakes look yummy. I will definitely start checking out your blog!
Thank you so much for leaving a comment! You just made my night and made the world feel alot smaller. We’ve been looking at the Elm City Market so it was crazy to see that they had linked to my blog. How do you like living in East Rock? We are looking at that area too. Thanks for the food tips. I’m taking notes. Please keep in touch!
We love East Rock! We lived in Wooster Sq. for a year or so when we first moved and that was great too. I think ER has a bit more of a neighborhood feel, but WS is a little closer to downtown (also has the best local farmer’s market in my opinion). Would be happy to tell you more or answer any questions before or after you move. Just let me know!
These look great, as a Nutmeger from CT I fully appreciate it when something good comes from my home state. It’s interesting that you’re moving to New Haven, I live in the general area, about half an hour from New Haven and would love to hear about your experiences. I can’t wait to try out this cupcake.
Cheryl
Lovely cup cakes. I’m drooling over here!