Make Up Some Yummy Cupcakes for WOrld UFO day

July 2nd 1947 is a date well known to UFO believers It is the date of the great Roswell Incident. Mac Brazel a rancher in northwest Roswell New Mexico was the individual to discover wreckage of a metallic object on his ranch. The wreckage and the metal it was made of was strange. Military authorities investigated the site, removed the wreckage and defined the object as a Unidentified Flying Object. The incident was later changed and reports were hiden leading to one of the largest cover ups. The incident sparked fear of a UFO invasion and rumors of other incidents that led to thoughts that are still alive and well today. 

So tonight, as you look to the skies to watch the stars keep an eye out for those UFO's that may just appear. The World UFO day started officially on July 2nd 2001. Those that believe in UFO's think that the existence of intelligent beings from outer space dates further back than believed. They would love to see government files to "declassify" the knowledge about sightings throughout the history. 

Author: Love and Olive Oil | Martha Stewart | Donna Hay magazine, Kids' Issue 2010

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 12 cupcakes

• For the cupcakes:
• 1 cup coconut milk
• ⅓ cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons almond meal
• ⅓ cup cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• For the frosting:
• 6 ounces (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 8 ounces confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• green food coloring – paste, gel, powder or liquid is fine

1. For the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together, by hand, the coconut milk, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, almond meal, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low-speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the coconut milk mixture until it is uniform and smooth (do not overmix).
3. Pour batter in liners, filling cups no more than ⅔ full (3 tablespoons of batter). Bake 18-20 inutes, or until cake tester comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
4. For the frosting: Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.
5. Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, ½ cup at a time, beating after each addition, about 5 minutes. (After every 2 additions, increase speed to high, and beat for 10 seconds, then reduce speed to medium-high). Add vanilla and enough food coloring to turn the frosting a bright pastel green, and beat until buttercream is smooth.

NOTES

Use M&M's or Smarties to decorate around the outside of the cupcake to make UFO lights. For the "alien" inside the UFO, use a green lollipop and just place the stick down into the cupcake (trim stick with the scissors if necessary). To make the UFO dome, use small plastic shot glasses. Be sure to use silver foil cupcake liners to make the cupcakes look like shiny little UFOs!