Obama settles debt to china with 3 states

Remember back in 2008 when the crash first was taking effect, and Hilary flew to China and offered them eminent domain on Colorado to insure they don't call debts due?

That's why Obama has put the kabash on any drilling of oil in the US - all of that oil in the ground belongs to China now as collateral !

Interesting...I hadn't heard that one!

Oh, and as for states, we could start with ILLINOIS (because it has Chicago in it), LOUISIANA (because it is about to blow any day now with that methane sinkhole...let China deal with THAT problem!) and CALIFORNIA (since every prediction shows that entire state dropping off into the Pacific as soon as the BIG one hits...but don't tell China! shhhh)

I would not be too terribly upset if any of the above states were chosen...as long as it's not MY state!

Butterfly cakes

Light butter cakes that are filled with jam and whipped cream, and topped with cake 'wings', a small dollop of jam and a dusting of icing sugar.

Makes 15 cupcakes.

Use a 20ml tablespoon and 250ml measuring cup.

115g butter or margarine
112g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (1 teaspoon natural vanilla essence)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten (we use eggs with a minimum weight of 59g)
225g (1 1/2 cups) self-raising flour, sifted
145ml (1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon) milk

Filling
188ml (3/4 cup) thickened cream
1 teaspoon icing sugar
About 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons jam (about 60g)
Extra icing sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Celsius fan forced).

Line 15 holes of a muffin pan (1/3 cup capacity holes) with patty/muffin cases that measure about 5cm across the base and 8cm across the top.

Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer until light and creamy. © exclusivelyfood.com.au

Gradually beat in eggs.

Add half the flour and stir in by hand. Stir in half the milk. Repeat with remaining flour and milk. Beat with an electric mixer for just a few seconds, to thoroughly combine the ingredients.

Divide mixture evenly between cases.

Bake for about 13-15 minutes. The cupcakes are ready when a knife or skewer inserted into the centre of a cake comes out clean. Also, the cakes will bounce back when lightly pressed in the middle.

Allow cakes to cool completely before cutting and filling.

Hold a sharp, pointed knife at a downward angle and cut a round from the top of each cupcake.

Cut the round in half to create the 'wings'.

Whip cream with icing sugar until thick.

Place about 1/2 teaspoon of jam in each cake.

Top with a heaped teaspoon of whipped cream. Position the 'wings' in the cream. Place a small dollop of jam between the wings and dust with icing sugar.

Store butterfly cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator.