Brandy & Amaretto Cream Liqueur Cupcakes

I’ve been learning to drive for over a decade and during that period, I’ve graced many an instructor’s car across two continents. I’ve got a list of excuses at the ready to justify the length of time it has taken to get this far, but I want to spare myself the embarrassment.  It has been a bit frustrating at times but whenever I’m tempted to chuck in the towel, a quick trip on public transport (especially during rush hour) is enough to get me booking as many lessons as possible in advance to get my licence.  I’m not a gambler, but I wouldn’t mind putting a quid down on being the longest learning driver in London – something I’m sure my driving instructor would attest to.

The last month has seen my driving improve tenfold. Don’t get me wrong I’m no Lewis Hamilton (a difficult feat when the only car I’m sporting these days displays an L plate), but it appears years of exercising my memory bank and gentle reminders  from my very patient instructor are finally beginning to take effect.  I no longer dread my lessons, I look in the mirrors more often, I don’t wait until the car is on the verge of exploding before changing the gears from first to second, I’ve stopped blaming lamp posts for getting in my way when reverse parking and best of all I can see myself in one of those bad boys like an Aston Martin or a Maserati GranCabrio (a girl can dream can’t she?).  Obviously there are niggling bits still hovering around like a bad smell (namely roundabouts – booo hisss), that need to be nipped in the bud.

Something miraculous happened to me a couple of weeks ago.  I was making the most of my new found confidence while attempting a tricky manoeuvre on the road when my instructor sprung one on me – he suggested it was about time I booked my practical test. As thrilled as I was, and as harmless as his suggestion was, I couldn’t help thinking how bad his timing was as it doesn’t usually take much for my nervous disposition to kick in.  You see, because I never imagined hearing those words, let’s just say my sudden footwork action on the controls almost wiped the classic look off a car parked inches away.

The journey back home was a complete blur, but I do remember racing straight to the kitchen for a celebratory drink – a little premature I know.  What I hadn’t anticipated when I opened my cupboard was a box of Brandy and Amaretto Cream Liqueur Tipples and not much else.  Emptying those 20ml sachets into a glass (ice or no ice) would have seemed a little desperate so I did the next best thing and baked and iced cupcakes with them.  The Brandy and Amaretto Cream Liqueur buttercream frosting was simply divine and the cake mixture benefited from a dash of espresso.  My faithful testers felt the cake mixture could have benefited from a couple more lashings of espresso to intensify the flavour.

Friends and family still can’t believe their ears, and keep trying to hoodwink me into revealing my test date.  You won’t believe some of the stunts they’re pulling.  My sister even offered to buy me a couple of Louboutins if I let slip the dates.  This is serious bait for any girl especially this one and I’d be telling porkies if I said I wasn’t tempted.

I have a driving lesson next weekend, and hope my new-found driving happiness isn’t short lived.

Cupcake Treats x

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