Yes, my life really does revolve around law school, cupcakes!

As so many of my readers know, I am working on the team that's putting together Widener Law Review's 2010 symposium, Health Law and the Elderly: Managing Risk at the End of Life, with my all time favorite professor, Thaddeus Pope (remember him--law school sympathy cupcakes).  Tomorrow we have a committee meeting, and the Law Review secretary (mastermind behind this entire operation) asked me to make cupcakes.

You also probably know that I don't really like to try new recipes.  I get scared and REALLY disappointed if they don't turn out.  Today, though, I decided to live life on the wild side and try something new.  So, I browsed through about a dozen cupcake books before coming to Martha Stewart's banana pecan cupcakes with caramel swiss meringue buttercream.

Let me tell you, this frosting was a royal pain--but it was worth it!!!!  First, I made homemade caramel, which, just by itself takes forever!  Then, I made meringue (hello--process!) and added whipped butter (whipped by me, of course).  Then I added the caramel.  After about 2 hours, this delectable buttercream was complete!  Wow, it is incredible.  It's much lighter than the traditional buttercream and the caramel makes it sweet (but not too sweet) and silky.  I just might have to make them another time (but only for a special occasion).

I drizzled the homemade caramel and sprinkled pecans over the top.  Enjoy!