Martha Stewart (spw) doesn't cut her tops off.. she just makes sure they are all uniform in size which you can do by using an ice cream scooper or a cookie dough scooper. Once you fill them with the mousse you'll want to stick them in the freezer for a little while a good 10-15 minutes or so and then you'll dip them frozen

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=c53bb276b490f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=Hi%20Hat%20Cupcakes&rsc=ns2006_r1

to watch a 2 part movie of her making them... watch the first part then it'll go to commercial then it'll start the 2nd part

I just REwatched it and I noticed Martha doesn't FILL her cupcakes.. she just covers them... I like my cupcakes filled and covered lol... for that you'd just take the bismark tip stick it down inside and squeeze filling in and then cover them

I will try to answer all the questions asked..

Re: the cupcakes. I didn't cut the tops off.. they bake up nice and level. I use a scoop like OhMyGoodies said and they are all pretty much the same.. nice and flat. To fill them I used a #12 round tip, but a bismark tip would be good too. The hole is smaller though and thick fillings don't like to come out easily.. LOL. When you fill them stick the tip in and squeeze until the cc starts to slightly buldge then bring the tip out and continue to pip until you have a nice big mound. I pipe a big glob and, while keeping the tip in the blob. just swirl around until it's a good size. then let them set up firm in the fridge before dipping them and you will have NO issues with it falling off.

Re: the vanilla beans. Yes.. they normally come in asmall glass jar. I saw some in Wal*Mart the other day actually, so take a look. I got mine at come store in the mall.. LOL. you can also order them on-line.

Re: the yeilds. You can certainly make a bigger batch of the filling. I didn't because I had no idea how many puff it would be making.. I would probably make a little more next time.. if you have extra filling.. that is NO sin.. LOL. Just eat it with a spoon! You could also not fill them until they were busting.. like I did. LOL.

Ok I have a question and it's a weird off the wall one lmao...

My husband and daughter refuse to eat vanilla ice cream because it has "flecks of dirt" in it lmfao kids will be kids afterall...

So my question is... is there something else I can use rather then real vanilla pulp?? So that it doesn't leave black "dirt" flecks in it lmfao she'd end up spazzing and that would result in her vomiting because she thinks it's dirt... this is an 8 year old lmfao... I dunno.. she's weird lol

LMAO!!!! Dirt.. LOL!!!!

Sure you can use extract. Make sure it's good quality pure vanilla and add a couple TBSP or so to the milk..

Dirt...

Thanks

Yeah I laugh at them all the time! the only way I can get them to eat vanilla ice cream if it has the specks in it.. is to smoother it in chocolate syrup lol

OhMyGoodies, that is hilarious! I was the opposite as a kid... I hate vanilla ice cream, cake, anything vanilla because it had NO flavor... like vanilla ice cream was just frozen milk! The only exception was if I saw those 'dirt' flecks in it... then I knew it was worth eating! I guess I've been a foodie since birth!

You could be mean and make yourself some with the "dirt" in them and take a HUGE spoonful and suck it down right in front of them.. "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.. love me some dirt... feel it crunch in my teeth.. mmmmmmmm" And smile with the flecks all in your teeth..

I am sick.. it's okay.. I admit it.

lmfao omg yall are too funny.

I still won't eat vanilla ice cream... it has no taste at all lmao. The ONLY ice cream I can eat is Mint Chocolate Chip and it has to be Turkey Hill ice cream lmao... other mint chocolate chip ice cream when you let it melt some... it turns back to white lol TH doesn't it stays green lmao

HA!! Yeah.. scrape the seeds out of a pod and spackle them to your teeth.. they'd be EVERYWHERE.. hehehehe!!!

"Is there something in my teeth??.. no really.. is there?? What?? WHy are you turning green????"

Thanks for sharing this recipe. I have always been intimidated by the vanilla bean. Will have to give it a go.

Very true Melvira.. poopy seeds might be more traumatic too.. they're bigger!!

Jobartwo.. I was always leary of the whole vanilla bean too.. but I can gladly say that it was very ungrounded. It couldn't bea easier to deal with. Even if you don't make eclairs with this pastry cream.. try it in a cake.. it would make a superb filling for any cake.

(???? well POOPY seeds would be traumatic for all involved ) OBVIOUSLY a typo!! but I had to leave it as it because man that kind of comedy can't be forced.. it just happens.

lmfao@poopy seeds

lmfao yeah it's better that it wasn't intentional and it's better that she left it Melvira dear... put your avatar back to that sexy beast!

Well to be totally honest... that shirt does scream you lol... When I'm cruisin thru a thread and skimming over posts if I see that avatar I stop dead in my tracks and read your entire post carefully lmfao... I was missing seeing it when you changed it... but still it's nice to be able to look at HIM lol

Thanks so much for the cupcake recipe & hints. Looks like I really opened a can of worms

mmmmm it looks yummy

yummy. thanks

Ok, this may be a dumb question but I'm having a hard time understanding how you get the vanilla cream inside the puff pastry. Can you explain to me how you cut into the puff to fill it without it oozing back out? Thanks for helping a newbie.