"strangers with candy" news and stories

Amy Sedaris is one of my favorite performers, and she also happened to write one of my favorite cooking/entertaining books, I Like You. She was on Martha Stewart's show earlier this week (her second visit) and I unfortunately missed it. But thank God for the internet! Martha has posted (well, I doubt she posted it - I really can't see her sitting down and working the HTML and uploading pictures) a video of her appearance, where Amy and Martha each made cheeseballs.

Amy's was from her book. Lil' Smoky Cheese Ball sounds like the perfect appetizer for your guests, and very easy to make. Here's the video from Martha, and after the jump the full recipe.

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.