"letterman" news and stories

Photo: John Paul Filo, CBS Broadcasting Inc./AP.

President Obama made his first appearance Monday night on the "Late Show with David Letterman" as President of the United States, but it was a potato that stole the show.

The commander-in-chief -- who made his sixth appearance on the talk show (his first as President) to discuss Afghanistan, the economy, unemployment and health care -- was upstaged by a heart-shaped potato, brought to the show's taping by Mary Apple of Independence, Mo.

"The main reason I'm here?" the President said. "I want to see that heart-shaped potato."

Those of you who read our TV Squad blog know that I have an obsessive, unhealthy need to keep track of everything that Amy Sedaris is up to completely normal respect for Amy Sedaris' work. Not only is she independent, only taking the roles and working on stuff that she wants to work on, how many fairly well known celebrities do you know that still wait tables? (I also happen to find her very cute, but that's a different post for another day.)

And there's another reason to love her: she runs a small business out of her apartment, making cheeseballs and cupcakes for New York City bakeries and shops! Here's the recipe for her cupcakes, from the new issue of Venus magazine:

Amy Sedaris' Vanilla Cupcakes

In a large bowl, cream together:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups of sugar
Add in:
 2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
Alternate:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups of milk
Stir until batter is smooth. Fill cups, bake in a preheated, 375F oven for 18-20 minutes.

For the frosting, whip together 1 box of confectioners sugar, 1/4 cup half and half, and 1 tsp pure vanilla until smooth and fluffy.