Cupcakes Cure Everything (with recipe!)

Kylie Rose as the indignant Mrs. Bennet!

CHAPTER 40

At long last, Lizzie was able to corner Jane for some healthy soul-baring sister talk. Plus
cupcakes, because sister talks.

“So this thing happened, Jane…”

“Thing?” Jane munches a cupcake, “What sort of thing?”

“Darcy proposed in a really insulting way, so I refused him”

“Mmrph!” Jane spewed cupcake crumbs over the bedspread. “What?”

“I know…”

“He must feel so bad! Poor man, to confess his feelings in such an unappealing way…”

“What’s worse, is that he wrote me a letter to explain himself and it turns out that Wickham is a total toolbag because he tried to elope with Darcy’s sister, and Darcy may not be that bad of a person after all.”

“Oh goodness. I’m so glad to hear that your opinion of Darcy has changed. I knew he was good at heart! But I’m sure Wickham isn’t all that bad… he’s always very nice. I’m sure there has been some misunderstanding. I know that he’s very kind to animals. He can’t be that bad of a person, can he?”

Lizzie takes a dab of cupcake frosting on her finger.

“Jane, you can’t make them both good. Between the two of them there is only enough goodness for one person, and I’m inclined to believe that person is Mr. Darcy.”

She boops Jane on the nose. Disgruntled, Jane wipes the frosting off in disgust.

“Oh Lizzie-- ”

“So it turns out that one of them got all of the goodness, and the other all of the appearance of goodness.”

“Lizzie, that is unkind. You can’t have been so silly about the letter when you first read it.”

Lizzie shrugs.

“I wasn’t because it turns out Darcy is actually a really cool guy, and because I was so wrapped up in myself I didn’t realize it. I took everything at face value and now I’m been a complete jerk to him. How I wished you were there, Jane!”

*Insert sisterly hug of comfort here*

After further cupcakes, a promise of locked lips and secrecy, and a brief pillow fight that ended in a tie, Lizzie’s heart finally felt at rest. The Darcy’s secrets had worn on her mind overmuch, and having the opportunity to confide in someone lifted Lizzie’s spirits. Even so, she could not bring herself to tell Jane the role Darcy had played in the Jangley breakup. She resolved to tell Jane of her knowledge only in the unlikely event that Jangley was reunited. No sense in distressing Jane when her sister was clearly OVER Bingley. Mrs. Bennet, however, was not.

“What do you think of this sad business of Jane’s, hmm?”

“Well, Mama…”

“I daresay, I’m certainly not going to speak of the matter any longer; I was just telling my sister Mrs. Philips this the other day! And everyone I’ve talked with mentioned that he’s not going to come to Netherfield in the summer. What do you say to that?”

“I do not think he will live at Netherfield any longer.”

Mrs. Bennet pursed her lips. “It is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come. I will always say that he has treated my Jane very poorly, and when she dies of a broken heart… then he’ll be sorry for what he has done.”

In that moment, having no idea how to respond, Lizzie had a great desire to learn how to make cricket noises.

“And so,” Mrs. Bennet continued “the Collinses live very comfortably, do they? Well. I only hope it will last. I’m sure Charlotte is an excellent manager—“

“She is indeed, Mama—“

“Well, much good may it do them. I’m sure they often talk about having Longbourne when your father is dead. They look on it as quite their own, I dare say, whenever that happens—“

“I promise, they never discussed the matter in front of me-- ”

Mrs. Bennet sniffed. “It would be very strange if they had! I have no doubt they talk about it often between themselves. Well, if they can be so easy with an estate that is not lawfully their own, so much the better. I would be positively ashamed of having an estate that was only entailed upon me. ASHAMED!”

This week's chapter was written by one of our all-time heroes, Kylie Rose. She's playing Lydia Bennet in our upcoming production.

NEXT WEEK: What Happens in Brighton, Stays In Brighton...right?? Plus, FIELD TRIP TO PEMBERLEY!!

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Cupcakes for Rainy Days

Recipe Provided By Nora Pearson, who plays Kitty Bennet & Georgiana Darcy in our upcoming production.

Nutella Cheesecake CupcakesPrep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients
For the topping

• 12 Oreos, finely crushed*
• 1 1/2 Tbsp salted butter, melted
• 6 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 12 oz cream cheese, well softened (use full fat)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk (preferably whole or 2%)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/4 c chopped, toasted hazelnuts
• chopped chocolate or real chocolate sprinkles, for garnish

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a mixing using a fork, blend together crushed Oreos and butter. Divide mixture evenly among 12 paper lined muffin cups, adding a heaping 1 Tbsp to each. Press crumbs into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while preparing filling.
• In a mixing bowl whisk together granulated sugar and flour. Add in cream cheese and using an electric hand mixer, whip just until smooth. Blend in eggs. Add in milk, sour cream and vanilla and mix just until combined, then add in Nutella and mix just until combined. Tap bowl forcefully against countertop about 30 times to release some of the air bubbles. Divide mixture among muffin cups, pouring over crusts and filling each cup nearly full, about 1/4 cup batter in each. Bake in 325 degree oven 20 - 24 minutes until centers only jiggle slightly. Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature 30 minutes, then cover loosely with plastic wrap or foil and transfer to refrigerator and chill 3 hours. Serve with sweetened whipped cream, hazelnuts, chopped chocolate or chocolate sprinkles (for best results add toppings within a few hours of serving). Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
• For the sweetened whipped cream:
• In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip heavy cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Add in powdered sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Store in refrigerator.
• *Don't use Double Stuf Oreos (there would be too much filling and the crusts would likely be too soft. To crush the oreos I just used a food processor, but you could also just place them in a large ziploc bag and finely crush with a rolling pin.
• Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

From ​http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/08/nutella-cheesecake-cupcakes/