an amazing thing called meat cupcakes.

I am thrilled to guest blogging at Kelly's request :) Kelly was intrigued by a recent dilemma of mine. About a week ago, I was confronted by a horrifying proposition. I was responsible for providing birthday goodies for my friend Susan's birthday. This would usually send me into fits of delight; baking is always a wonderful way to spend an afternoon if you ask me. However, quite literally the day before this revelation, Susan told me she was strictly on the Atkins diet. What do you make for someone who only eats meat and cheese??? As I pondered this thought, all I could think of was Susan telling me how she loves the diet because she simply orders meat at a restaurant and then inquires as to if they might be able to add bacon and cheese to it. Bacon cheese steaks are not really my idea of birthday goodies. And thus, the brilliant invention of the meat cupcake.

Now, I understand the total revulsion to the idea, but I have to say, they are at least 80 times prettier then what you first pictured in your head. Not that I would have particularly enjoyed it as a dessert myself, but then, that would be why I made mango sorbet for all of us non-meat for dessert folks. These are my little creations. Three varieties in fact. So the next time you are faced with a similar dilemma, might I suggest that a little prosciutto, salami and pepperoni can brighten an Atkins's birthday. Plus, then you too can claim the title of Maker of Meat Cupcakes. And really, who doesn't want that?

oh, and for those out there who honestly would want the recipe, here you go:

1- buy cold cuts.

2- curl into pretty, less deli meat style piles.

3- stick in silicone baking cups.

4- refrigerate until serving.

enjoy!

~b

Aunt Sue Sunshine.

It's been so great to be able to stay with UncleFather and AuntMother these past couple of months. I don't have a lot to repay them with, so I do what I can, with what I have, where I am. I think that's a quote from a president's wife. Let's just check to make sure. False. It was from Teddy Roosevelt. Which would make him NOT a President's wife.

Anyway. Aunt Sue's birthday was yesterday, so once again, it was cupcakextravaganza time. This time, however, the cupcakes decided to either riot or throw a rave in the oven. I can't decide which. After careful monitoring of their progress, and sweating it out, they made it to the other side. (From raw to baked, of course) In a moment of clarity, I decided that the cupcakes needed to be green. In fact, they MUST be green. That was in order to acheive my full design vision, of course. Which was a sunflower, by request.

Anyway. I tried out two new recipes. The first was for a delicious sugar-cookie-tasting cupcake. Which ended up tasting delicious, despite the bailing out of their containers. The second was for the icing. And that was a bit too confectioner's sugar-y. I guess the combination of the cake and the sugar was okay in the end, but during production, it was a mess.

So. Here they are. The unveiling of the preliminary Aunt Sue Sunshine cupcakes.
I made a much bigger mess than last time. And this was only at the beginning. I could not pick up my camera for fear of sugar invading the casing when I was midway through cupcake-ing.


This is me. Waiting. For the butter to get to room temperature.

ONE TIME. I have been tempted ONE TIME to eat a creamy butter and sugar mixture. And this was that time. It looks like mashed potatoes and delectable. I resisted that nasty urge, though.

The cupcakes after they were done cooking. MESS.

The cupcakes have been cleaned up some. But they still look like leprechaun snot.

And this, my friends, is what homemade icing looks like.

And now... the unveiling.






Ta-daaa!!!

UBD cupcakes.

Welcome!! This is the saga of the very FIRST named cupcake. Yesterday was Uncle Brad's birthday (Happy Birthday, UncleFather!), so I thought it'd be a great time to delve into the world of "baking from scratch." And that is what I did. Step One: select recipe. I wasn't entirely sure how a recipe for Chocolate Sponge Cake would turn out... but I gave it a shot.

This cookbook was a book that was one of Aunt Sue's college coursebooks: "The Basic Cook Book." Clever title.

Second, collect the ingredients.

Third, whip until your arms hurt. Then whip again.

Make a mess.
Bake.
Decorate. And enjoy.


Uncle Brad gave them his seal of approval, and they have therefore earned the name: UBD cupcakes.

A new day.

I changed the logo. duh. I felt a bit bauhaus-ish today. I don't really know why... but there it is.

As I'm sitting in this coffeeshop, which is now a Tuesday afternoon tradition, a million thoughts are running through my head. And I saw this on my coffee-neighbor's laptop and thought it to be helpful:


And as of right now, the most applicable thing is #2. Be calm.

So that's what I'm practicing. Being calm.*k

Julie, Julia & the blog

Last night, I went to a book club. And we watched a movie. About a book. That counts, right? So let's begin; my very first book club. I never wanted to be one of those "book club girls." The thirty-somethings that are unmarried, that drink wine, commiserate about their singleness and how romantic a book is. But lo and behold, there I was... drinking wine... talking about books. Now, I tend to get quite distracted in large-group conversations, so I found myself getting lost when these women were talking... Popeye was on the large screen. How could you not get distracted about this? Anyway. Fast forward to the movie (Julie & Julia).

Fantastic. Funny, witty, cute, clever... all of those. And inspiring. Julie (main character) cooks her way through Julia Child's cookbook and blogs about it. Dedication! But now I'm completely inspired to do something similar. I haven't decided quite yet what it is that I am going to do... Suggestions? Ideas? I read this blog about doing something new every single day for 365 days. Quite interesting. But what about cupcake-ing? My bff and I have this grand idea to one day open up a cupcakery/craftsy shop. Could it have something to do with that?



I'm not sure. But I'm taking suggestions.

*k

way too many good videos to pass up today.

Seriously. This is good stuff... parenting advice 101.

My favorite book.

I've turned into a reader over these past couple of months. In fact, one of the best days here in Texas was when I was able to procure for myself a library card. Remember Reading Rainbow and the big push for getting a library card? Well, we're going to have to move past the nostalgia for a big. In the past 5 years, I discovered this book. And it's a children's book, really. But I found it useful. And appropriate. And the best news is that there's a series of them. All very helpful for children. And now there's a movie trailer about it. Much thanks to my friend, who discovered this trailer and passed it on to me. I will forever be indebted to him.



*k