tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87497739212209380562024-03-13T12:12:54.869-07:00Cupcakes on BedrestA place to laugh and learn as I bake my way through bedrest.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-38142393813116103902011-09-26T13:23:00.000-07:002011-09-26T13:23:33.122-07:00Death in the FamilyWell, the blogging gods are punishing me. The last couple of posts have been way overdue, and I'm four or five cupcake jobs behind. So, the karmic cupcake forces of evil decided to take its wrath on my computer. And by my computer, I mean my hard drive. And by my hard drive, I mean my photographs. And by my photographs, I mean the last ten years of my life. gone. And by gone, I mean <strong>gone. </strong>So, there's been a death in the family. And it was my Dell. RIP.<br />
<br />
So, I'm shipping it up to the Gainesville computer mortuary (aka, my Uncle Don's house) to see if there's any hope for divine ressurection. To my loyal and loving followers: If anyone can fix my laptop and recover said pictures, it's my uncle. He's a computer genious.<br />
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Until then, please bear with me. I've learned my lesson: <strike>no more cupcake porn.</strike> ALWAYS, always, <em>always</em> "back up" the files on your computer. Don't be a fool. It can, and it <em>will</em> happen to you. Don't say I didn't warn you.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-75635026175021140462011-08-29T11:31:00.000-07:002011-08-29T11:31:08.180-07:00Seeing Red<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, I'll admit that it's been far too long since I've blogged. So, today I decide it's time to post the cupcakes I made <em>a whole month ago</em>! I logged on, and was so delighted to see more followers! And Comments! (From people I don't know!!!!) You guys have made my day. I'm so excited that there are folks out there that I can relate to, and hopefully make smile. (Even if you're laughing<em> at</em> me, not with me!) In fact, I think I'll go home and make cupcakes tonight just so I can blog again!</div><br />
In my last post, I shared with you my Red Velvet defeat.<br />
I am now happy to report that I am <u>victorious</u>.<br />
That's right, I successfully made RED red velvet cuppies!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NO7pRA3ekOY/TlZ3FDlPzVI/AAAAAAAAAF8/P1UmdAED2Fw/s1600/DSCN1481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NO7pRA3ekOY/TlZ3FDlPzVI/AAAAAAAAAF8/P1UmdAED2Fw/s320/DSCN1481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">They were one-half of the cupcake creation I made for a celebration for my Uncle. The end of June marked a very special second anniversary for him, so we had a small party to celebrate! The party had a casual beach theme, so I took that and ran. Red velvet is his favorite flavor, so I knew I couldn't let him down. Presenting: red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, with hand-poured-and-painted chocolate seashells and brown sugar/graham cracker sand on top! I wish I had better pictures of the shells, they turned out pretty remarkable. You'll get the gist.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vptoddy-sJA/TlZ4CS50xtI/AAAAAAAAAGI/my4ITtJDzUI/s1600/DSCN1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vptoddy-sJA/TlZ4CS50xtI/AAAAAAAAAGI/my4ITtJDzUI/s320/DSCN1505.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHNYhAmJ2nw/TlZ7RDXw13I/AAAAAAAAAGU/qvvLBeI2S6w/s1600/DSCN1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHNYhAmJ2nw/TlZ7RDXw13I/AAAAAAAAAGU/qvvLBeI2S6w/s320/DSCN1509.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Bcd71zPZ6U/TlZ3mIxSAbI/AAAAAAAAAGE/Qv_oLDRwvUk/s1600/DSCN1494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Bcd71zPZ6U/TlZ3mIxSAbI/AAAAAAAAAGE/Qv_oLDRwvUk/s320/DSCN1494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The cupcakes pictured here (not red!) are pistachio flavored: a box-mix-turned-heavenly creation! (The secret? Club soda.) They added a nice variety for those who aren't red velvet fans. (Yes, they're out there). They're topped with a whipped cream cream cheese frosting, which taught me a valuable lesson: Don't turn your back on whipping cream. Ever. One second it's flat, the next, it's butter. It took me three takes to get it right. But, it was <em>totally</em> worth it!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUHgTT_zCkA/TlZ4o1ldN_I/AAAAAAAAAGM/534JhwDk2UM/s1600/DSCN1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUHgTT_zCkA/TlZ4o1ldN_I/AAAAAAAAAGM/534JhwDk2UM/s320/DSCN1507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I had fun putting together a presentation and decorating the board, also! I wish I had more excuses to do things like this. The nautical theme brought me back to my pre-dysautonomia days.. Boy I miss fishing/diving/boating/<strong><strike>living</strike>.</strong> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For those following my health, I've got good news and bad news:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The Good: The pacemaker install went well and the incision is healing like a champ (and no more sling!). I went FIVE WEEKS. Yes, you read that right... <u>five whole weeks</u> without fainting. That's amazing. No, phenomenal. I haven't gone just <strong>one</strong> week without fainting in almost a year.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The Bad: On the anniversary of five weeks faint-free, I fainted. Murphy's Law at its finest. Three days later, I fainted again.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The Good, Part 2: I haven't fainted since then. In fact, I'm feeling good... better than I have all year. I'm exerting myself and starting to test my boundaries. Admittedly, I'm exhausting myself and using a lot of "spoons" (spoon theory-google it.), but I'm so happy to have some liveliness that I don't even care. Hopefully, when it catches up to me, I'm not taking one step forward and two steps back.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Either way, I'll keep you posted. And, I'll make cupcakes. :)</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-85111686519950443892011-07-18T16:54:00.000-07:002011-07-18T16:54:24.711-07:00Fourth of July Cupcakes!So, my "about me" section (to the right) says I'll share the good, the bad, <em>and</em> the ugly. I'm still trying to determine where this next cupcake creation fits. I tried making red velvet, which I've tasted only once and never cooked before. It tasted great, looked... eh... not red. (see below). These were baked for a family get together on the Fourth of July. <br />
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I guess I should preface all of this with some big news. I had a pacemaker put in on June 30th (the "bedrest" in "Cupcakes on Bedrest"), and baked cupcakes on July 3rd. <strong>Am I crazy?</strong> Probably. My left arm was strapped to my side so my boyfriend's mother helped with much of the grunt work. I used a random recipe with good ratings off the internet, and will look for another one or use my friend's recommendation the next time I attempt red velvet. As you'll see in the not-so-professional, last minute photographs, the cupcakes are brown. Did I use too much cocoa powder? too little food coloring? I simply don't know. The bottom line: the cupcakes tasted good, looked patriotic, and would've passed as german chocolate if I didn't tell anyone otherwise! <br />
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I topped them with the traditional cream cheese frosting, some sprinkles, and homemade (from the package) sugar cookies (which were decorated with one hand, an interesting experience). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyWbMrud2QE/TiTGRH01qdI/AAAAAAAAAFo/1Xp1e9GOcu4/s1600/DSCN1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyWbMrud2QE/TiTGRH01qdI/AAAAAAAAAFo/1Xp1e9GOcu4/s320/DSCN1463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRJZXUtyRz4/TiTGlrn7Y-I/AAAAAAAAAFs/UXi62KviX28/s1600/DSCN1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRJZXUtyRz4/TiTGlrn7Y-I/AAAAAAAAAFs/UXi62KviX28/s320/DSCN1464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8lqh8o7dts/TiTG5qa0QqI/AAAAAAAAAFw/tcU9Imah6hE/s1600/DSCN1465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8lqh8o7dts/TiTG5qa0QqI/AAAAAAAAAFw/tcU9Imah6hE/s320/DSCN1465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-66521046735837727552011-07-06T14:49:00.000-07:002011-07-06T14:49:30.188-07:00Confetti CuppiesThis post will be short and sweet, and it is well overdue! I made these babies a few weeks ago when my boyfriend, Martin, received some good news at work. Funfetti is his favorite, and I'll never know why. He could walk away from a vanilla cupcake but if there's little sprinkles in it, sign him up! (Especially when they're swimming in chocolate frosting and more sprinkles.) I made these from a boxed mix, but used my own chocolate frosting and some sprinkles I had around. They're adorable, yummy, quick, and easy! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxwr-oAnLiA/ThTVRF6_3PI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ijUFPGVJK0Q/s1600/funfetti+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxwr-oAnLiA/ThTVRF6_3PI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ijUFPGVJK0Q/s320/funfetti+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyJgCdqY-Ic/ThTV9vHOZMI/AAAAAAAAAFY/JLfGsAFNxtc/s1600/funfetti+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyJgCdqY-Ic/ThTV9vHOZMI/AAAAAAAAAFY/JLfGsAFNxtc/s320/funfetti+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XVWh32Hf7K4/ThTWeA8Fa-I/AAAAAAAAAFc/TmlC-jX2LX0/s1600/funfetti.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XVWh32Hf7K4/ThTWeA8Fa-I/AAAAAAAAAFc/TmlC-jX2LX0/s320/funfetti.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Aren't the cupcake liners adorable?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I made some cupcakes last weekend for Fourth of July, I'll blog those with pictures soon! They were interesting to make, because I had a pacemaker put in on the 30th and my left arm was strapped to my side. In retrospect, I really should've videotaped the whole process for your viewing pleasure. C'est La Vie!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-56177463205746378982011-06-18T11:00:00.000-07:002011-06-18T11:00:57.261-07:00Just in Time for Fourth of July...My Memorial Day Cupcakes! I created these beautiful babies for a memorial day barbeque with my boyfriend's family. I knew I wanted to make something summer-y <em>and</em> patriotic, and picked up some beautiful fresh berries at the supermarket. When I came home, I decided that I would make a vanilla bean cake and fill it with berries. So, I cooked down some strawberries in a simple syrup and pureed them, and it turned out runny. I mixed in some of the cream cheese frosting I made and it came to a pretty decent consistency and a <strong>wonderful</strong> taste! I filled the centers and topped it with the cream cheese frosting, some berries, and these great red, white, and blue sprinkles I picked up. The cupcakes went over really well, as did I, when I fainted in front of Martin's extended family :) I've learned to take the good with the bad.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee423/cupcakesonbedrest/DSCN1372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee423/cupcakesonbedrest/DSCN1372.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee423/cupcakesonbedrest/DSCN1374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee423/cupcakesonbedrest/DSCN1374.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If you look closely, you can see the little vanilla bean flakes, it was deee-licious!</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-40935098615331933502011-06-08T17:21:00.000-07:002011-06-08T17:21:18.151-07:00Guilty as charged.I've been bad. I've baked without blogging. I promise to catch up, starting now! I wish I had an excuse- I especially wish that I'd been too busy to blog because I've been feeling so great and my dysautonomia spontaneously cured, but that would be a lie. I've been feeling... normal. I have, however, spent some quality time with my mixer lately... including, but not limited to, cake pops.<br />
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It was my first time making cake pops, <em>and if I have anything to say about it, it'll be my last. </em>I used boxed cake mix because I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, and I knew the process would be labor intensive.<em> (</em><strike>Labor intensive?</strike><em> More like working in a Chinese sweat shop!) </em>If you've never heard of cake pops, it's a combination of cake and frosting, molded into a ball, stuck on a lollipop stick, and covered in candy coating. Much more fun to eat than to make! Here's some pictures:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePh2tSFo_40/TfANVkFwMjI/AAAAAAAAAE4/rtM8-rGU-gM/s1600/Cake+Pops+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePh2tSFo_40/TfANVkFwMjI/AAAAAAAAAE4/rtM8-rGU-gM/s320/Cake+Pops+002.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5j122nml-IQ/TfANr-peQ8I/AAAAAAAAAE8/67rQoju3uWM/s1600/Cake+Pops+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5j122nml-IQ/TfANr-peQ8I/AAAAAAAAAE8/67rQoju3uWM/s320/Cake+Pops+006.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stick is dipped into the candy coating, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then it's frozen to get nice and firm for dipping!</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFsNpcYFqgE/TfAOFGFrGwI/AAAAAAAAAFA/b9EmFDgHilA/s1600/Cake+Pops+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jFsNpcYFqgE/TfAOFGFrGwI/AAAAAAAAAFA/b9EmFDgHilA/s320/Cake+Pops+015.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is what the finished product looks like!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdOinHoOA3E/TfAOYXeCisI/AAAAAAAAAFE/UhXrk4_htIg/s1600/Cake+Pops+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdOinHoOA3E/TfAOYXeCisI/AAAAAAAAAFE/UhXrk4_htIg/s320/Cake+Pops+064.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jYMDdXWTTE8/TfAOsuE0InI/AAAAAAAAAFI/8cdtuI7YJAg/s1600/Cake+Pops+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jYMDdXWTTE8/TfAOsuE0InI/AAAAAAAAAFI/8cdtuI7YJAg/s320/Cake+Pops+060.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know they don't look so evil. They look cute and delicious. Here's the clincher: the candy coating- it's <u>impossible</u> to work with. Maybe I need some more practice, <em>maybe I won't bother trying. </em>It stays the perfect consistency for no more than 90 seconds, then it gets too hard or too thick to coat. So, you've got to keep putting it in the microwave, taking it out, dipping a few, repeat. That's not fun. But, WAIT! There's MORE! The freakin' pops don't stay frozen long enough to keep them intact through the whole microwaving <strike>torture</strike> process. So, the candy coating gets too hard, the pops get too soft, and remedying all of this requires lots of standing and walking and sitting and running and all sorts of other activities that aren't always possible with dysautonomia. Final verdict? I'll stick to cupcakes. Unless you're willing to pay a lot, <strong>a lot, </strong>to make me make cake pops again.</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-71349684513759269912011-05-13T09:45:00.000-07:002011-05-13T09:45:29.634-07:00Apple Spice and Everything NiceWhen I started cupcaking (cupcaking? sure.), my mom recalled her Aunt Opal's Apple Spice Cake. So, for mother's day, we tracked down the recipe and I turned them into cupcakes. I've never actually tried the cake, so I can't judge whether I did justice to my great aunt. I can, however, attest to the beautiful, aromatic cake with sweet caramel frosting that it turned into. I purposely made these cupcakes for Mother's Day so my own mother could be the judge. Naturally, she took one look at the cupcake and said, "The frosting is the wrong color!". I already knew this, and I'm considering it to be a mother's day gift to her. You see, if I'd left the frosting the way my Dear Aunt Opal had intended it, the only gift my mother would be receiving would be three route canals and a shot of insulin. Her recipe called for a cup of brown sugar melted with a cup of water, mixed with two cups of powdered sugar. I have a new cavity just from tasting it. So, I threw in a little of this and a little of that, about a half brick of cream cheese, and <em>finally!</em> it wasn't just palatable, it was <strong>good. </strong>I just wish I'd remembered to write down the new recipe!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJufMM9zB08/Tc1f7YGGCxI/AAAAAAAAAE0/sPfNd9DrYUw/s1600/0000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJufMM9zB08/Tc1f7YGGCxI/AAAAAAAAAE0/sPfNd9DrYUw/s320/0000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The words on top were just a little something for my mom, piped from melted chocolate.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(I love you, Mom!)</em></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-55022519261567417462011-04-25T20:11:00.000-07:002011-04-25T20:11:29.923-07:00Cupcakes and Crown RoyalThe Easter Bunny has arrived...<br />
<strong>... and he brought cupcakes!</strong> <br />
I'm a legal adult and the youngest in my whole family, so Easter is no longer about chocolate bunnies and colored eggs. In fact, it's about bacon and Crown Royal (for breakfast!). What better cupcake to accompany our Easter brunch than a carrot cake... and <em>Boy! They were GOOOD</em>. Before we get into the cupcakes themselves, I'll back up and explain why we booze up on Easter morning. My dear Uncle Don, whose family is from Czechoslovakia (I think?) brought us his tradition of Speck/Schpek/Shpeck.. shoot. It's a delightful meal which is so sinful that we probably would die if we ate it more than once a year. It's a simple process:<br />
1. Make bacon, save grease.<br />
2. Make more bacon, save more grease.<br />
3. Think you have enough bacon? Make more.<br />
4. <em>Yes, keep the grease.</em><br />
5. Light your grill and open up a big, crusty loaf of sourdough bread.<br />
6. Bread? Where? The Grill? YES.<br />
7. <strike>Just put the bread on the grill?</strike> <em>HELL NO.</em> You must brush your bread with bacon grease first!<br />
8. Grill your bread- not for too long, though! Make sure both sides are fully covered in bacon grease.<br />
9. Chop up some raw vidalia onions and put your salt on the table. Don't ask any questions.<br />
10. Pour a glass of Crown Royal for everyone there. Make the glass extra tall for your Dad and Uncle.<br />
11. Assemble Speck.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omILinH9Azw/TbYybk4HfOI/AAAAAAAAAEU/t42RkwZEn0A/s1600/Easter+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omILinH9Azw/TbYybk4HfOI/AAAAAAAAAEU/t42RkwZEn0A/s320/Easter+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9cUmCIKNbk/TbYyxgVehJI/AAAAAAAAAEY/PuugDyAxBG0/s1600/Easter+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9cUmCIKNbk/TbYyxgVehJI/AAAAAAAAAEY/PuugDyAxBG0/s320/Easter+022.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Place a piece of grilled sourdough on your plate, then add your raw onion (don't be shy! The Crown will mask the onion smell), add bacon, add more bacon, salt heavily. Follow with Crown Royal!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Let's move on to the cupcakes!</strong> Carrot Cake with traditional Cream Cheese frosting, rolled in chopped walnuts and accented with modeling chocolate carrots and bunnies :) They're precious <em>and</em> delicious. My new go-to Carrot Cake recipe is adapted from <a href="http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/sams-famous-carrot-cake/Detail.aspx">AllRecipe's Sam's Famous Carrot Cake</a>. I also topped with Cream Cheese Frosting (lot's of cream cheese flavor.. only 2 cups of powdered sugar in this one!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05ImZa3oV2s/TbYzHVZbcII/AAAAAAAAAEc/n0gChZLJeQc/s1600/Easter+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05ImZa3oV2s/TbYzHVZbcII/AAAAAAAAAEc/n0gChZLJeQc/s320/Easter+006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jhc8HWlNPY/TbYzd4lu_NI/AAAAAAAAAEg/H05RUd876Q0/s1600/Easter+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jhc8HWlNPY/TbYzd4lu_NI/AAAAAAAAAEg/H05RUd876Q0/s320/Easter+008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DghZ8tfYQ-Q/TbYzz4K1L3I/AAAAAAAAAEk/cen-UCQcCkU/s1600/Easter+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DghZ8tfYQ-Q/TbYzz4K1L3I/AAAAAAAAAEk/cen-UCQcCkU/s320/Easter+009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D89v4azqqfI/TbY0HgFMI1I/AAAAAAAAAEo/m19AUK-dM0Q/s1600/Easter+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D89v4azqqfI/TbY0HgFMI1I/AAAAAAAAAEo/m19AUK-dM0Q/s320/Easter+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>They were delicious, and the more perverse members of my family really enjoyed eating the heads of the modeling chocolate bunnies. All in all, it was an overwhelmingly successful and fun holiday with awesome cupcakes! What more can I ask for?<br />
<br />
Oh, yeah. I can ask for good health. <sigh> On a side note, I've had two severe episodes in the last few days, one of which ended in a trip to the ER. I'm heading up to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville next month, hopefully they'll have some better treatment ideas.<br />
Until then, I'm sticking to the best medicine: CUPCAKES! :)<br />
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</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-20790146133985225022011-04-17T12:34:00.000-07:002011-04-17T12:34:19.367-07:00Cookies and, erm, cookies?<strong>Oh no,</strong> <strong>you didn't.</strong> <em>Oh yes, I did.</em><br />
Confession: I love all things cookies and cream. Cookies and cream candy bars, cookies and cream ice cream, and- apparently- cookies n' cream cupcakes!<br />
I experienced a lot of inner turmoil over these bad boys. Do I make a gooey chocolate cupcake with cookies n' cream frosting, or cookies n' cream cupcake with cookies n' cream frosting? It was a tough decision. I raked my mind and... AH HA! An image of a cupcake with a cookie in the bottom popped into my brain. (The part of my brain that actually works, oh dysautonomia.) I'd seen it before, and I made a mental note to try it... So here began, "Operation: Cookies n' Cream Cupcake With an Oreo Cookie in the Bottom and Cookies n' Cream Cream Cheese Frosting."<br />
Several good things came from this:<br />
First, I was able to use my beautiful black and white swirly damask cupcake liners. See pictures, they're precious.<br />
Second, I got to kill two birds with one stone. My <em>wonderful</em> grandparents were in town for the weekend and they came over with my mother for brunch in the morning. Then, Martin's parents and aunt and uncle came over for a barbeque dinner. Two families: one cupcake recipe. LOVE IT!<br />
(DISCLAIMER: No birds or stones were actually harmed in the making of these cupcakes.)<br />
Third, the cupcakes are dreamy. The Oreo cookie chunks baked up into these soft, chocolate, cake like nuggets of love folded into a beautiful, light white cake. The cream cheese frosting balanced the sweetness perfectly, and the little flecks of oreo said "cookies and cream".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ClRAiTKBic/TaszZOt1GWI/AAAAAAAAAD4/tFCowhe3iSk/s1600/cookies+n+cream+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ClRAiTKBic/TaszZOt1GWI/AAAAAAAAAD4/tFCowhe3iSk/s320/cookies+n+cream+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S2H3AryBPsE/Taszr8qUbjI/AAAAAAAAAD8/cMJDvnmJSfg/s1600/cookies+n+cream+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S2H3AryBPsE/Taszr8qUbjI/AAAAAAAAAD8/cMJDvnmJSfg/s320/cookies+n+cream+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qht-3AFEiP4/Tas0BtAruVI/AAAAAAAAAEA/hV2XM964CV0/s1600/cookies+n+cream+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qht-3AFEiP4/Tas0BtAruVI/AAAAAAAAAEA/hV2XM964CV0/s320/cookies+n+cream+011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ol1zK6VsMss/Tas0Wu8k-RI/AAAAAAAAAEE/DDWMglW6qas/s1600/cookies+n+cream+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ol1zK6VsMss/Tas0Wu8k-RI/AAAAAAAAAEE/DDWMglW6qas/s320/cookies+n+cream+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYNB4CswQGo/Tas0sd8MfYI/AAAAAAAAAEI/RQOsI5CSHtU/s1600/cookies+n+cream+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYNB4CswQGo/Tas0sd8MfYI/AAAAAAAAAEI/RQOsI5CSHtU/s320/cookies+n+cream+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Well, yes... They <em>are</em> as delicious as they look.<br />
PS, wanna play a game?<br />
Take a shot for every time I said "cream" in this post.<br />
<br />
Thats, <strong>twelve</strong> shots. Have fun! :)Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-35782488777247518172011-04-11T13:37:00.000-07:002011-04-11T13:57:29.870-07:00Lemon Berry LOVE!<em>Could I have a new favorite?</em> <strong>I think I do. </strong>Last weekend, I asked my Dad what cupcake flavor he would like, and he said Blueberry. What every happened to chocolate or vanilla? Even red velvet if you're feeling really crazy. <em>But blueberry? </em>I've heard of blueberry pancakes and blueberry muffins, but never blueberry cupcakes. Not to mention, blueberries really don't come into season until later in the summer. But, he's my Dad, and what he wants, he gets.<br />
<br />
This is one of those recipes where <strong>nothing </strong>came out the way I intended. Yet, the finished product was absolutely phenomenal. I knew from the begining I wanted to do a lemon cake with a blueberry frosting. That happened... kind of. The finished product was, officially, a "lemon cupcake with blueberry filling and a lemon cream cheese frosting, garnished with a blueberry drizzle, lemon sugar, and a candied lemon"... That title is entirely too long, so <u>Lemon Berry</u> is it! :) The lemon cake is particularly nice, and a good contrast to the sweet blueberry and syrupy lemon garnish. I used <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/recipes/lemon-cupcakes-535963/">Better Homes and Garden's Lemon Cake Recipe</a> and was very happy with the outcome. (<em>Note to self:</em> next time I want to make <em>anything</em> lemon, do it on a day when I don't have numerous unexplained cuts on my fingers. ugh.) Now, things got tricky. I started making my cream cheese buttercream frosting and adding frozen blueberries that I'd thawed and sent through the food processor. Things started to go south, quickly. The frosting got so thin, there was no return. I added powdered sugar, I added corn starch, I added more cream cheese. I tried <em>everything.</em> So, I hid it in the center of the cupcake as a filling, not a frosting. I went back to my go-to cream cheese frosting and added a little bit of lemon extract, and it turned out very well. What to do with the leftover blueberry goo? Drizzle it over the top! I also rubbed some lemon zest with some granulated sugar and sprinkled it over the top. The piece de resistance is the candied lemon slice- a pain in the patootie but totally worth it. I followed <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/282042/candied-lemon-slices">Martha Stewart's instructions</a> and simmered my lemon slices in a simple syrup for about a hour and a half. They were gorgeous!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74jWo57GWrI/TaNkU0j0foI/AAAAAAAAADU/2bCMjvXLFX4/s1600/DSCN1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74jWo57GWrI/TaNkU0j0foI/AAAAAAAAADU/2bCMjvXLFX4/s320/DSCN1195.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPcUTD_Fs8k/TaNo_4mb_zI/AAAAAAAAADs/EzNMyZzp4gI/s1600/DSCN1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPcUTD_Fs8k/TaNo_4mb_zI/AAAAAAAAADs/EzNMyZzp4gI/s320/DSCN1190.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNXw-CqHFNM/TaNpbwyVR0I/AAAAAAAAAD0/7wxrTWlytpE/s1600/DSCN1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNXw-CqHFNM/TaNpbwyVR0I/AAAAAAAAAD0/7wxrTWlytpE/s320/DSCN1183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The blueberry filling</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58vjMk--Qw4/TaNkq8--Y7I/AAAAAAAAADY/KesoxwcFulo/s1600/DSCN1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58vjMk--Qw4/TaNkq8--Y7I/AAAAAAAAADY/KesoxwcFulo/s320/DSCN1208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definately some of my favorites!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CSbI72WGE4/TaNk_hv0ACI/AAAAAAAAADc/gfsz9eOjDSs/s1600/DSCN1213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CSbI72WGE4/TaNk_hv0ACI/AAAAAAAAADc/gfsz9eOjDSs/s320/DSCN1213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ph8GtfH5hoc/TaNlQblPFsI/AAAAAAAAADg/4p6X_MOe5j4/s1600/DSCN1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ph8GtfH5hoc/TaNlQblPFsI/AAAAAAAAADg/4p6X_MOe5j4/s320/DSCN1173.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After I piped in the blueberry filling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQQdRcIriC0/TaNlaSLpOCI/AAAAAAAAADk/0rb3xaFLHv0/s1600/DSCN1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQQdRcIriC0/TaNlaSLpOCI/AAAAAAAAADk/0rb3xaFLHv0/s320/DSCN1157.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">slice the lemons....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLJ9sidZy8k/TaNlkaz0mXI/AAAAAAAAADo/2jjDbdV9arA/s1600/DSCN1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLJ9sidZy8k/TaNlkaz0mXI/AAAAAAAAADo/2jjDbdV9arA/s320/DSCN1152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">simmer in simple syrup!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Well, guys, I think these turned out pretty well. What do you think?Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-51008463539491325492011-04-07T17:55:00.000-07:002011-04-07T17:55:30.534-07:00Spring has Sprung (Part 2)Remember when I said I'd find my digital camera? I did. I charged it, and I took pictures of the Easter cupcakes that I had left. Here's the thing... either the Dysautonomia or one of the medicines make my hands shake likes it's nobody's business, so accomplishing a clear, beautiful picture like some of these other blogs might not happen. I guess that's what makes Cupcakes on Bedrest so special :)<br />
<br />
To elaborate on the construction, the chicks' heads are a marshmallow- the cream cheese buttercream was piped over it and the rest of the cake. I also tried to pipe up little "tails" on the cuppies too, I think it's more apparent in person. The eyes, beaks, and cheeks on the bunnies are a gumpaste/modeling chocolate blend. I was really happy with the consistency these dried to. Yes, they were a pain in the ass to make. The bunny ears are also marshmallows with food-safe pink gel painted inside, with some shimmery sprinkles for fun :) The bunnies are covered in shredded coconut. The nests are all buttercream, colored and piped, with Cadbury Eggs. <br />
<br />
<em>... drumroll, please.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zS7E3Di882A/TZ5a465GlbI/AAAAAAAAADA/jdJah-_DE6k/s1600/DSCN1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zS7E3Di882A/TZ5a465GlbI/AAAAAAAAADA/jdJah-_DE6k/s320/DSCN1104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVvik5z5Gak/TZ5bFX_yWlI/AAAAAAAAADE/Bmfr6sW_dKg/s1600/DSCN1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVvik5z5Gak/TZ5bFX_yWlI/AAAAAAAAADE/Bmfr6sW_dKg/s320/DSCN1108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cEJKGH9B3E/TZ5bQ5wQH9I/AAAAAAAAADI/8Lx8JxhVMJE/s1600/DSCN1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cEJKGH9B3E/TZ5bQ5wQH9I/AAAAAAAAADI/8Lx8JxhVMJE/s320/DSCN1125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z-yw9Yytj0/TZ5bdMrpS7I/AAAAAAAAADM/f1_zv1_2RuU/s1600/DSCN1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z-yw9Yytj0/TZ5bdMrpS7I/AAAAAAAAADM/f1_zv1_2RuU/s320/DSCN1129.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGB0p_t2dWk/TZ5bpH6cFCI/AAAAAAAAADQ/sp0p4-ytpyg/s1600/DSCN1132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RGB0p_t2dWk/TZ5bpH6cFCI/AAAAAAAAADQ/sp0p4-ytpyg/s320/DSCN1132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-40000205864219702862011-04-06T16:07:00.000-07:002011-04-06T16:07:51.305-07:00Spring has Sprung!That's right! Spring is in full bloom... <em>all over my dining room table.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSE9cG8pOVU/TZzuqENUL1I/AAAAAAAAACg/7u0lUwCLwfQ/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSE9cG8pOVU/TZzuqENUL1I/AAAAAAAAACg/7u0lUwCLwfQ/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I would say, "it's not what it looks like." But it is. Except the vodka, that was really used in the decorating. Today, my best friend Megan came over and we did a "trial run" on Easter Cupcakes. If you've read my last blogs, you'll know that I've had a slight obsession with making and decorating cupcakes for Easter. Truth is, I couldn't wait another three weeks. I will confess that we used boxed cake mix... and it made me wonder why the hell I go through the trouble of making recipes from scratch. Alas, I will continue to do so. The cupcakes are vanilla and we used my favorite cream cheese buttercream frosting. They were delicious! But, this was more about aesthetics. We made Easter Chicks, Bunny Rabbits, Nests, and a couple of flowers. I think they turned out <strong>a-dor-a-ble!</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bj8W1HinD0I/TZzwlMF1m7I/AAAAAAAAACk/qXx_aEOXSu8/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bj8W1HinD0I/TZzwlMF1m7I/AAAAAAAAACk/qXx_aEOXSu8/s320/7.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AB133sMMhbs/TZzwqbZvD-I/AAAAAAAAACo/PITzSj9-P9U/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AB133sMMhbs/TZzwqbZvD-I/AAAAAAAAACo/PITzSj9-P9U/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXCx6q4yEc/TZzxFz8NhMI/AAAAAAAAAC8/9FVmJGtLgV0/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNXCx6q4yEc/TZzxFz8NhMI/AAAAAAAAAC8/9FVmJGtLgV0/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_b-PLiBpWlM/TZzwvRYMCdI/AAAAAAAAACs/-Hf6Ll7cNfU/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_b-PLiBpWlM/TZzwvRYMCdI/AAAAAAAAACs/-Hf6Ll7cNfU/s320/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcAlHn6rLyA/TZzw1KlqRFI/AAAAAAAAACw/NndipXPbH4U/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcAlHn6rLyA/TZzw1KlqRFI/AAAAAAAAACw/NndipXPbH4U/s320/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjCEPFfANww/TZzw63ydcfI/AAAAAAAAAC0/5jvXmqo66vs/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjCEPFfANww/TZzw63ydcfI/AAAAAAAAAC0/5jvXmqo66vs/s320/11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KssCczVkbhI/TZzxAWuys7I/AAAAAAAAAC4/BxRM-kxAsB0/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KssCczVkbhI/TZzxAWuys7I/AAAAAAAAAC4/BxRM-kxAsB0/s320/13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>They're almost too cute to eat. Good thing I am surrounded by men who don't mind ;)<br />
<br />
PS, I promise to locate my digital camera and start taking pictures with that instead of my Droid. Hey, it's the quality of pictures that stink, not the quality of cupcakes!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-45152463115041987622011-04-04T14:45:00.000-07:002011-04-04T14:45:32.531-07:00I'm not from boston, but...I<em> do</em> ADORE my new boston creme cupcake recipe! Made these gorgeous cuppies today while dealing with side effects from fainting last night and the medicinal concoctions of the day. I knew I needed the therapuetic effect of baking, but I wouldn't be able to stand. So, I set up shop with a swivel chair at my kitchen island, right between my oven and the countertop, and started baking. I saw an idea on Food Network from Sandra Lee- who hosts a show called "Semi Homemade". In Sandra's version, boxed yellow cake mix, boxed pudding, and boxed icing combine to make a Boston Creme Pie inspired cupcake. In an effort to make mine a little more authentic, I made yellow cake from scratch (<a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/YellowButterCake.html"><span id="goog_1621313196"></span>Joy of Baking's<span id="goog_1621313197"></span></a> recipe... is there any other one?!), with a pastry cream filling (Wilton's recipe), and chocolate ganache (no recipe, it's two ingredients!) I also made modeling chocolate for the first time, used white Ghiradelli chocolate and colored it for little flower accents on the cupcakes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyPP8OZOUPk/TZo2RFIauUI/AAAAAAAAABw/8JhIjz3fFsA/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyPP8OZOUPk/TZo2RFIauUI/AAAAAAAAABw/8JhIjz3fFsA/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hjDlMmGNTvQ/TZo2-bqC-mI/AAAAAAAAAB0/qOWJRGIKWdk/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hjDlMmGNTvQ/TZo2-bqC-mI/AAAAAAAAAB0/qOWJRGIKWdk/s320/2.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeFVG45L1F0/TZo3HP8IGgI/AAAAAAAAAB4/1Xuj5Z57ZNk/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeFVG45L1F0/TZo3HP8IGgI/AAAAAAAAAB4/1Xuj5Z57ZNk/s320/4.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>The SNAFU's: </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. The damned pastry cream. Can I leave it there? The first batch came out more like tapioca pudding, bumps and all. Why? No idea. There are four raw egg yolks in the recipe that go right over the heat. My best guess is that the eggs scrambled a little bit. I pitched that and started over with lower heat, a better eye and a stronger stir, then VOILA! <em>Gorgeous, smooth, why-bother-putting-in-the-cupcakes-when-we-can-eat-it-from-the-bowl </em>custard. I used my <strong>new </strong>tip to inject a tablespoon or so of that into the cupcakes and allowed them to set up in the fridge. Crisis averted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. The damned ganache. This one is a classic lesson on the art of KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid! The ganache turned out beautifully, as did the cupcakes. Getting the ganache onto the cupcakes without it looking like a chocolate tsunami was the issue. I started with a spoon and got some major drippage. "X" that idea. So, I got fancy and grabbed a piping bag and started to pipe. That wasn't any more effective. Back to the drawing board... AH! Just dip the cupcakes in the ganache... Worked like a charm! Sometimes, less is more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">\ </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Pastry-Cream-Filling">Wilton's Pastry Cream</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ingredients:</div><div class="col"><ul><li>3 tablespoons all-purpose flour </li>
<li>1/8 teaspoon salt </li>
<li>6 tablespoons sugar </li>
<li>1 cup half & half or 1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream plus 1/2 cup whole milk </li>
<li>4 egg yolks </li>
<li>1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract </li>
</ul><h3>Makes:</h3>About 1 1/3 cups of filling.</div><!-- // .col --><div class="col"></div><!-- // .col --><!-- // idea-meta --><div id="steps"><h2>Instructions:</h2>In saucepan, blend all ingredients except vanilla. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches the consistency of medium cream sauce. Remove from heat, add vanilla and cool quickly. To prevent a skin from forming, brush with melted butter. Stir before using. </div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-73079493215085622462011-04-04T09:01:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:02:23.118-07:00Self Loathing and Cake Decorating SetsOkay, World... I don't know whether to shamelessly brag or hang my head in embarrassment. You see, I'm the proud new owner of Wilton's <strong>"Ultimate Decorating Set"</strong> - awesome, right? Yep, my boyfriend bought this for my birthday... which is over a month away. To be honest, this move was calculated, but it turned out slightly more caniving than I intended. Martin and I were heading to Petco (which is so conveniently located in the same plaza as Michael's) when I mentioned I had a coupon for 40% off any single regular-priced item.. ::<em>cough:: the decorating set ::cough::</em> - I had him in the palm of my hand. He crumbled and told me to wait in the car (with his dignity) and he pranced into the arts and crafts store. In the meantime, I called my Dad, who was in St.Pete with my brother, uncle and pseudo-aunt. Now, when I'm not on godforsaken bedrest, my favorite past time is fishing- a hundred miles offshore with lines screaming and fish jumping, covered in blood, sweat, and salt water. Just thinking about it makes me sad. Sad?!! Yes. Sad. Dysautonomia has thoroughly screwed any chance of me being <em>near</em> a boat, more or less on one or out of land's sight. So, when I called my dad and they were offshore with a box full of grouper and more fish on the line, I lost it. I tried SO hard to stifle the tears as I told Dad to have fun and be safe, but the second I hit the "end" button on my cell phone, I broke down. Poor Martin had no clue what was waiting for him when he came out of the store. He wiped my tears, and we headed home. <br />
You see, I've been obsessing over Easter and the idea of cupcakes with little chicks, bunnies, flowers... <em>OH the options!</em> All of which need special tips, bags, colors, et cetera, that are included in this kit! Martin knows this. So, as we got home and I continued feeling sorry for myself, Martin knew just the thing to cheer me up. Yes, I was allowed to open my present a month early. No, I'm not ashamed. It's not like I did this on purpose. Right? <br />
<br />
Well, here I am... done feeling sorry for myself and ready to bake.<br />
On Deck: Boston Creme Cupcakes.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBZwvhYRAOQ/TZnp1quv1iI/AAAAAAAAABs/Ra2YTBpblOI/s1600/2109-0200_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBZwvhYRAOQ/TZnp1quv1iI/AAAAAAAAABs/Ra2YTBpblOI/s1600/2109-0200_m.jpg" /></a><br />
<div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I'll keep you guys posted.</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-72455638854810447832011-04-03T16:07:00.001-07:002011-04-03T16:07:28.945-07:00Let's Play Catch UP!Last week my boyfriend, Martin, started thinking about what we'll be planting in the flower beds this spring. Let's back up... when I say "we", I really mean <em>he</em>. I don't garden, I actually kill our fake plants.The man has orchids in bloom all year long. I adore him for keeping my herbs alive and flourishing. This idea, in conjunction with my first official purchase of real Wilton decorating tips, made me decide to make my own garden--- out of cupcakes. I did some googling and Martin went to home depot, and we set out on our gardens. This is what I ended up with:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xE51F1GUlI0/TZT89TzHCEI/AAAAAAAAABE/m6cisfOCcJ0/s320/flowers.BMP" width="320" /></div><br />
So, the cupcakes are Key Lime with a cream cheese buttercream and Pina Colada with coconut buttercream. It was my first time piping flowers and I picked it up suprisingly well. It was also my first time using gumpaste and stamens, which was also suprisingly easy. I was a big fan of the Key Lime cake- and the crusting buttercream, oh my god! My other half didn't share my opinion... he thought the Key Lime cake was way too lime-y. The Pina Colada cake was OK- not sure I would make it again. The cake recipe called for shredded coconut to be folded in and I wasn't a big fan of the texture.<br />
<br />
Here is the recipe for crusting cream cheese buttercream, compliments of <a href="http://www.cakeartisan.com/">http://www.cakeartisan.com/</a><br />
<blockquote>SERVES 1 , 4-5 cups (change servings and units)<br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients</span> :</span><br />
1 cup butter, softened<br />
1/2 cup vegetable shortening<br />
1 lb cream cheese, softened<br />
1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract<br />
3 1/2 lbs sifted confectioners’ sugar<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Directions:</strong></span><br />
Cream butter, shortening, cream cheese and extracts. Gradually add confectioner’s sugar and salt. Beat on low speed until nice and creamy. If you want whiter icing, try to use butter without dyes available at most health food stores.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">NOTE: This recipe is for a stiff consistency. For a thinner consistency, use 3 pounds of powdered sugar instead.</div></blockquote>The pots are cheap terra cotta from Home Depot, the leaves are from Wal Mart, and to assemble I just used the green styrofoam stuff (the extent of my gardening knowledge) and scewered the cupcakes into it using toothpicks.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-65273193290217344932011-04-03T16:05:00.000-07:002011-04-03T16:05:59.352-07:00Let's Play Catch UP!March- St. Patrick's Day on the 17th, and my BIG brother's 21st birthday on the 18th. So, I made vanilla cupcakes and my <em>favorite</em> brownies (recipe below) and sent them with him to share with my Dad's office. (I would have taken them myself, but this blog is also about my lack of driving privileges.) Okay, stopping my self loathing now.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gU6869uQhg/TZT1wESXhpI/AAAAAAAAABA/n_SrPDCQ7yw/s320/cupcakes.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This was before I owned a proper icing tip, so the swirls (created with a snipped ziploc) look more like soft serve ice cream than light, fluffy frosting!</em></div><br />
The cupcakes and brownies were soon devoured and all I had left was this picture, compliments of my dad:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkGpWVgMgWw/TZT1k8twbUI/AAAAAAAAAA8/A3U-3A1G4yA/s1600/brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkGpWVgMgWw/TZT1k8twbUI/AAAAAAAAAA8/A3U-3A1G4yA/s320/brownies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My "go-to" brownie recipe: <strong>Brooke's Best Bombshell Brownies</strong> on <a href="http://www.allrecipes.com/">http://www.allrecipes.com/</a></div><div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;"><h3>Ingredents</h3><ul><li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 cup butter, melted </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">3 cups white sugar </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 tablespoon vanilla extract </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">4 eggs </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 teaspoon salt </li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 cup semisweet chocolate chips </li>
</ul></div><div style="border-top: #ccc 1px dotted; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;"><h3>Directions</h3><ol><li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended. </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate morsels. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting. </span></li>
</ol></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-71605386992272956732011-04-03T16:01:00.001-07:002011-04-03T16:01:47.753-07:00Let's Play Catch UP!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">February- Strawberries came into season and Valentine's day rolled around! My wonderful grandmother has a phenomenal recipe for strawberry cake that my mother made me for several birthdays. For some reason, my cupcakes turned out really dense, so I turned the frosting into more of a glaze and used cheap gel writing icing from Publix to draw little strawberries. I also had a LOT of leftover frosting and batter, so I baked and iced a 9" round to go with. (The round was also very dense, I must have screwed up the recipe somehow!)</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PYkGU3oHx8/TZTyhfrf9eI/AAAAAAAAAA4/02R96dV40tI/s1600/strawberry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PYkGU3oHx8/TZTyhfrf9eI/AAAAAAAAAA4/02R96dV40tI/s320/strawberry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-61212411938697220692011-03-31T15:44:00.000-07:002011-04-03T16:19:37.317-07:00Let's play catch up.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I didn't start baking because I wanted to start a blog; I wanted to start a blog because I started baking. So, I've got to get caught up on the last few "cupcake creations" I've made.</div><br />
January 29th-- I was already on bedrest and getting my first taste of REAL cabin fever. My wonderful boyfriend was keeping me as much company as possible but I needed more human contact. So, I planned a birthday party. For my cats. Don't laugh.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQ-clWK3xJM/TZTmFecycHI/AAAAAAAAAAk/1H-JpAnP4_0/s320/29812_1292633517701_1286170015_30698336_6166980_n.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Rosie (on the left) and Enzo (on the right) were turning 1 about a week apart.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides the fact that I treat my kittens as my biological children, I needed a reason to make some cupcakes. I found this adorable paw print candy mold by Wilton, which inspired me to create the following:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_FD4nwT0U4/TZTqn4Y-ELI/AAAAAAAAAAs/LzytOVY7auE/s1600/paw+prints.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_FD4nwT0U4/TZTqn4Y-ELI/AAAAAAAAAAs/LzytOVY7auE/s320/paw+prints.BMP" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cupcakes are white with a vanilla bean buttercream. I also made chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting that are not pictured. I made two types of paw prints: peanut butter with chocolate toes (pictured) and vice versa- chocolate on peanut butter. I'll have to dig up a picture of the other style somewhere from my family. Both were garnished with peanut butter and chocolate sprinkles. They were dee-licious!</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749773921220938056.post-8514211910957285022011-03-31T13:05:00.000-07:002011-03-31T13:05:35.516-07:00Hello World!Well, I guess this endeavor needs a bit of a preface. In the section over on the right, you can read why I'm on bedrest. I've got Dysautonomia- a dysfunction of my Autonomic Nervous System, which effects my brain and heart. The girls at my day job at a bank got tired of having an ambulance on speed dial and my doctor finally said, "enough is enough!" So, my days are now spent at home experimenting with medication and experimenting with cupcakes.<em> (I really prefer playing with cupcakes... the only side effect is weight gain!)</em><br />
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Why did I decide on cupcakes instead of knitting or scrapbooking? Good question. To be honest, I don't have the slightest idea. I've always been a creative person, so I wanted to do something that allowed me to decorate, mold, and draw. I've also always loved to cook (thanks, Dad!), so cupcakes seemed to fit the bill.<br />
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I won't post every day, I don't have enough people to give cupcakes to! But I solemnly swear to post pictures of the cupcakes I <em>do</em> make, be they good or bad.Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01114285608444632553noreply@blogger.com0