St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

I was looking for a way to use up some ricotta cheese, pecans and chocolate and these cupcakes used them all plus they are delicious and perfect St. Patrick's Day. Adapted from Bon Appetit (February, 2004)

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Yields: 24 mini cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1  cup pecans or 1  cup walnuts
• 1  cup ricotta cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped of fresh mint
• 2  tablespoons honey
• 1 3⁄4 cups flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 6  ounces  semisweet chocolate, broken in pieces
• 3⁄4 cup butter or 3⁄4 cup margarine, cut into pieces
• 1 3⁄4 cups sugar
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 cup  whipping cream
• 1  tablespoon butter
• 8  ounces white chocolate
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  mint extract
• 1 -3  drop  green food coloring (depending on how green you want your frosting)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Spray 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray or grease pan.
3. Using a food processor, process first four ingredients (pecans- honey) using on/off turns until pecans are finely chopped.
4. Sift flour and baking powder together in separate bowl; set aside.
5. In a microwave safe bowl melt chocolate and butter in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Let cool.
6. In a large bowl, beat sugar, eggs and vanilla together for four minutes or until thick.
7. Beat in chocolate and flour.
8. Stir in ricotta cheese mixture.
9. Spoon into muffin tins.
10. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick tests clean.
11. Let cool while making frosting.
12. To make frosting: In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat cream and butter, until butter melts.
13. Remove from heat.
14. Add white chocolate, stirring until melted.
15. Add mint extract and food coloring.
16. Let cool and whip until thick enough to spread on cupcakes.