Cupcake Madness

This week I was asked by a friend if I was able to make cupcakes for a community dinner her church was hosting this week. I jumped at the opportunity because it made me feel like a contestant on "Cupcake Wars". I baked almost 100 chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. I heard back that they were a big success because not only did they tasted good, but they looked nice and festive for Easter. For some guests at this dinner, their meal was the high point in their holiday weekend and the cupcakes were the treat. I am so glad they were able to bring a bit of fun and joy into peoples lives.

Getting ready for the Royal Wedding

I have quite a bit to do to get ready for Easter this weekend. I have offered to make 100 cupcakes for a friends church dinner this Thursday, and I have family coming for dinner on Sunday. In all this I am constantly reminded on television that "the" wedding is just over a week away. I'm thinking I might have to go to bed sometime Thursday afternoon so I will be able to get up at 3:00 a.m. for the start of the t.v. coverage. Other than the fashion (I love HATS) it is also the notion of a real Tea. About four years ago my husband and I had afternoon Tea at the Chateau Lake Louise, in Alberta. We sat in this grand room at a table by the window and watched the last of the ice melt on the lake. Not only was the room and the view amazing but check out the tea stand we were served. I wonder if I could whip up something like this for me at 3:00 a.m. on April 29th. Maybe I'll just get scones at the local bakery the day before and a new bottle of raspberry jam. I think I have some Murchies tea around here too.

Looking for sunshine and cake

The nasty weather experienced in the States in manifesting itself in rain, sleet, snow and winds here. It has been an ugly weekend. This morning, Murman and I did all of our errands and stopped for a coffee and treat, then he dropped me off at home so I could do some things while he went back out to get the groceries. It's 2:30 in the afternoon and I have put my winter flannel pajamas on and am trying to stay warm. We have a family wedding this fall, with a floral theme of sunflowers, which is very inviting on a day like this. I found this photo in my collection, which I am using for inspiration as I source out cake ideas for the big day. You may have noticed, I like cake.

My Green Thumb Groove is Back

Remember a while back when I thought I had killed by schefflera???? Well, once again, Tasneen was right, I did come back. I had a pot billed with twigs that I was prepared to haul out to the curb on yard waste day but look what has happened. I am anxious to see what it will look like by the end of the summer. I promise to take better care of it this winter.

Emotional Baking Banana Bread

As promised here is the "I want a man with bigger balls than my banana bread" recipe from "The Dater's Guide to Emotional Baking". What can I say, YUM!!!! I liked that is calls for apple sauce instead of any oil or butter, and it was very moist. When it was baking the house smelled divine.

I give this recipe two enthusiastic thumbs up.

My Tree

Six or seven years ago I came across a sapling that was growing under the fence. Well It wasn't really a sapling, but rather, more of a twig with a couple of leaves on it. It had to go so I grabbed hold and pulled it out. Out came a twig with a couple of leave and a few root fibres. Why not I said, so I planted it in an open area of the garden bed. The darn thing survived and grew more leaves and over the years not only has it gotten taller (that was all it did, just a tall twig with leaves but no branches), and we are now getting branches. I could have put it in the yard waste bag but no I planted it instead. Now, we have a maple tree, A CANADIAN MAPLE TREE. No maple syrup, but you can't have everything.

Spring Garden Love

Absolutely gorgeous day outside today. Finally!! I was out clearing winter debris and found green and blooms hiding under the leaves. I swear the spring shoots are taller this afternoon than they were this morning.

Emotional Baking

You may or may not have notice but I enjoy baking. Well, if the truth be known, I enjoy EATING the baking and well you have to do one before you can do the other. My very good friend gave me this wonderful cook book just for keeping an eye on her cat Skooter for a couple of days. This cookbook is great. Check out the title "The Happy Baker - A Dater's Guide to Emotional Baking" by Erin Bolger ( I think I saw her on either BT Toronto or on CityLine last November or December). I am not technically a dater but I do have date night with my Husband on a regular basis so being an emotional baker is not a stretch for me.

Since I have bananas, ripe for the baking, I have decided to try her recipe:

Please know this is not a statement agains't my man, but the bananas are ready and this recipe was begging to be tried. Last week I make a banana bread from Worldsbestbananabread.com. I need to try them all.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

BTW, Pam ... thank you AGAIN. You are the best

Birthday Cupcakes

I can remember when my sons were small (alright I will admit that was some time ago, as my oldest in 30) I would make cupcakes for them to take to school for special occasions like the Halloween party, Christmas, Valentines Day etc. They were always chocolate cake with vanilla icing coated with sprinkles of a colour or colours for the theme of the day. I was always busy with three boys and a full time job but the guys always wanted to take the cupcakes to school. I just remembered the my middle son STILL has me make red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing for his companies United Way bake sale fundraiser every fall.

Today is my grand daughter's 10th birthday, and guess what, Gramma can you make cupcakes (the Halloween ones with the skeletons where a huge hit). Yesterday I make cupcakes. Cupcakes have become a bug deal of late and have become rather festive. I got an idea for these online. I think they will be a massive hit.