spring renewal

The sun shines a little longer, but April showers rule the day. Flood watches & tornado warnings on the television screen. Yes, spring is definitely here.

With it comes a few bursts of color. These hyacinths and daffodils popped up in the yard along with a few other flowers.

I'm taking it all in. The sunshine & renewal of nature is a happy distraction from the chaos and sadness occurring around the world.

Today my heart rests with Boston & West, Texas and those suffering from such tragedy.

"Out of difficulties grow miracles."

ramble friday

I blinked and a month went by. 31 days of work and projects and food. Weeks running into each other and a great lack of sleep.

+I used the upcoming holiday to make a mini garland with glitter paper and baker's twine. Hobby Lobby sold the glitter paper as a 12x12 sheet for $1.99 (less if you find it on sale) and the baker's twine is from Target's Dollar Spot. I used some Smash* tape to attach the twine to the hearts. Easy peasy, y'all.

+I miss scrapbooking. I have a few more pounds to go before I hit a big weight loss goal, and I'm thinking of rewarding myself with the Seafoam Project Life kit. It's not too late to start, right?



+My latest food obsession is guacamole. I've made it at least once a week so far this year. Homemade is so much better than the restaurant kind.

+ I made it through 3 seasons of Friday Night Lights in the last few weeks thanks to Netflix. What I haven't done is made it through a single episode of Downton Abbey. It's like I lost my Downton mojo. Sad day. Speaking of television, I'm thinking of buying a Roku player. If you have one, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments!



+My nephew is an avid outdoorsmen and loves hunting. For his birthday, I made chocolate cupcakes with swirled "camouflage" buttercream and candy antler decorations. They were delicious, but not very diet friendly.

+I started working out with the 30 Day Shred video again. Less guilt for the cupcakes that way.

Happy Friday!

Salted Caramel Cupcakes With Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Over the holidays, I made my first visit to Trader Joe's. I know, right? Small town living doesn't exactly afford such luxuries, so my friend and I decided to check one out while visiting another friend. It was a grand trip except that we chose to visit on a Sunday evening when everyone and their mother was trying to buy groceries.

Even though I could barely move through the store, I hit the jackpot on all things salted caramel. Salted caramel chai. Salted caramel candies. Salted caramel cookies. So good and so bad. They all made it into my basket. It was quite the sugar high.

Then the holidays were over, and I had to go back to eating vegetables. I knew my first cupcake should be of the salted caramel variety. Because of course I have to bake not so diet friendly cupcakes to continue my cupcake challenge. So what if I also get to partake of the the salty sweet goodness? It's for the greater good. Right? Right.

This cupcake scared the bajeezus out of me. I'm not a candy maker. Yes, I've made marshmallows & buckeyes. Those are practically foolproof. But caramel? I made it anyway, and I can tell you with confidence that caramel isn't really that hard. It just requires a lot of attention. Lock the doors. Turn your phone off. Give the dog a bone. Because it needs your undivided attention for 20 minutes. You can totally make this.

Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe
Yields approximately 2 cups

Ingredients:
1/3 cup water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:
Set out the cream on the counter while preparing the other ingredients. In a sauce pan over medium heat, pour in the water and sugar. Stir only slightly to combine the sugar with the water. Let it boil and do not stir until the mixture turns a deep amber color.

Remove pan from heat. Being careful to avoid splatter, slowly whisk in the heavy cream. If the mixture seizes, put it back on the stove top over low heat and whisk until the mixture becomes smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the sea salt. Pour into jar or other heatproof container. Allow to cool.

Salted Caramel Cupcake with Chocolate Ganache Recipe 
Yields approximately 2 dozen cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients

3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup salted caramel sauce
Chocolate Ganache (recipe below)
Extra caramel sauce for drizzling
Sea Salt for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*F. Prepare muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs one at a time until combined. Alternate between stirring in the dry ingredients and milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir in the vanilla and caramel sauce until thoroughly combined.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with cupcake batter. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with a very light crumb. Allow to cool in the pan for a few minutes and then remove to cooling racks. 

Dip each cupcake into the ganache and allow to set up. Drizzle with caramel sauce. Sprinkle with sea salt just before serving.

Enjoy!

Slightly adapted from Vintage Cakes

Chocolate Ganache Recipe
Yields enough ganache for 2 dozen cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 cup (8 oz) chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:
Place a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Do not allow the water to touch the bowl. Pour the chocolate chips into the bowl and cover with cream. Slowly mix together until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from pan and use immediately. 

begin again

Fourteen days into the new year. It's been a busy one. I had one day to rest and relax in the new year. It's been go-go-go ever since. I don't mind though. The 12 hour days keep the monster of restlessness away. They also keep the blogging minimal.

Mother Nature dropped ten inches of snow around the new year. A week or so later, I was enjoying spring weather. This weekend, leftover snow finished melting away with the arrival of rain leaving unwanted lakes and puddles around town. This morning, the puddles froze into miniature ice rinks along with all of my outdoor locks. That's Indiana weather for you. Always changing. Somewhat frustrating.

Yesterday was spent reworking a failed cupcake recipe. I have a love/hate relationship with baking sometimes. It's a balance of creativity and science. Oh, and eating. Can't forget that. It's the most important part after all. I'm happy to report the recipe worked this time around and will be posted on Friday.

There are big plans for me after work involving a whole lot of nothing. No laundry. No dishes. Just me, a cupcake, and the new episode of Biggest Loser. Then it's back to fruit and yogurt and vegetables in the morning.

2012 Goal Wrap-up

This year I had two simple goals: 1. Get fit & 2. Bake a new cupcake each week. While I did not fully accomplish either goal, I wouldn't say it was a total wash.

No. I did not lose a ton of weight, but I did lose 20+lbs this year which is 20 more than I lost last year. I also took the time to evaluate my eating habits and make small changes that added up to big changes. Sure, I still eat the cupcakes I bake, but it's a conscious decision that will affect the rest of my day.

Exercise is still a big issue. I've tried off and on to get into a good routine, but I can't seem to stick with anything. I've thought about utilizing the Wii and getting some workout games. If you have any suggestions in that area, I'd love to hear them!

I'm pretty happy with what I've accomplished in this area. I've been trying to lose weight for years, but nothing ever worked until I reached the place where it was okay to fail. Mentally, this changed the game entirely and it's why I'm so excited to see my progress in 2013.

While I didn't make it to the end of my weekly cupcake project, I did manage to post 12 different cupcake recipes. A lot more were baked but never made it to the blog.

Food blogging is hard work, y'all. I quickly found out that I wasn't properly prepared for such a task. That doesn't mean I'm giving up though. I'm turning 52 cupcakes into an open ended project. My revised blogging goal is to bake a different cupcake every other week until I reach #52.

Overall, I'm okay with this ending. I've learned a lot this year. There were countless baking experiments and many pounds lost. Accomplishing both of those in the same year is a miracle in itself.

Happy New Year's Eve!

first snow

So last week when the world was supposed to be ending, we had our first snow on the first day of winter. It didn't last very long, but it was lovely while it was here.
Despite my wishing and hoping for a white Christmas, yesterday was pretty boring weather wise. Today? There's a blizzard outside my windows. The kind that causes your workplace to close. Happy snow day to me!

Did you have a white Christmas or a blah weather day like me?

Tidings of Comfort & Joy

For unto us is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas! May you be surrounded with tidings of comfort & joy this season.

the tree hunt

What do you do when the rain pours and fog rolls in? You cut down a Christmas tree, of course. While the weather was less than desirable, it was the only day that my family could all get together. So we packed up and went out to find a tree.

We've cut our trees from this tree farm for many years. It's family owned and operated with acres of trees to choose from. They also sold some lovely evergreen wreaths and decorations.  Pine and fur trees went on forever. Or to the treeline anyway. The only rule here- you must pick a tree with a pink tag.

The fields were full of trees too big. Too short. Too thin. Too wide. Too many holes. And then a couple of perfectly shaped trees ...that will be tall enough in about two years.
This one was a keeper. Seven and a half feet of a lovely canaan fir. Thank goodness for nephews who want so badly to do the sawing despite the muddy ground.

I'll be posting photos of the decorated tree next week. This afternoon, I'm finishing a few more handmade Christmas gifts and then I'll be off to Michigan for a weekend with friends.

Happy Friday!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake Recipe

If I had to pick one favorite candy, it's the peanut butter cup. Especially the miniatures. You know, the ones where you start with just one and somehow end up with ten wrappers. What, that hasn't happened to you? They're addicting, I tell ya.

Needless to say, I really-really-really love them. One day I had the thought to throw one of the miniatures into a chocolate cupcake, because hello? Who doesn't love a nice candy surprise in the middle of an already sweet treat?

The only thing that could make these cupcakes better was a good peanut butter frosting. And this particular peanut butter cream cheese frosting is high up there on the lick-the-bowl-&-beater scale. I might as well have piped some onto a spoon or twelve.

Then I chopped up the leftover peanut butter cups to garnish the cupcakes. But let's be honest. There were only about four leftover because I ate too many, so I topped the rest with sprinkles. Still just as delicious and a whole lot prettier.



Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake

Yields approximately 2 dozen cupcakes

Ingredients

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp dutch process cocoa powder
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp hot water
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks + 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
3/4 cup sour cream
1 bag of peanut butter cup miniatures, unwrapped
1 batch of peanut butter cream cheese, recipe below
Extra peanut butter cups for garnish, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*F. Prepare muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a small dish, whisk the hot water into the cocoa powder. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt together the butter and sugar over medium heat until fully smooth. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on low speed until the mixture is cooled. Add in eggs one at a time, beating until fully combined. Stir in the vanilla and cocoa/water mixture. Gradually add in the remaining dry ingredients alternating with the sour cream- beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with cupcake batter. Push one of the peanut butter cups into the batter in each liner. Bake for 16-18 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for a few minutes and then remove to cooling racks. Frost as desired and top with extra chopped peanut butter cups. Refrigerate when not being served.

Slightly adapted from Annie's Eats.

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 blocks (12 oz) cream cheese, cold
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tbsp clear vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and cream cheese. Blend in the peanut butter and vanilla extract. Slowly stir in the powdered sugar half a cup at a time until fully combined, being careful not to over mix. Frost cupcakes as desired.

Adapted from Confection's of a Foodie Bride via Annie's Eats

Enjoy!

December Daily 2012: Pages 1 - 5

I've attempted the December Daily project twice now & failed to actually complete a whole album. This year, I'm trying again and taking a different approach. Instead of going with the flow, I actually pulled together my own kit. I would've liked to purchase one of the gorgeous kits available online, but this girl's on a budget. Instead, I picked out a few new supplies and gathered them with several things I already had to make my own kit.

Since my December Daily was going to be a 4x6 mini album, I bought the 6x6 Sleigh Ride paper pad by Crate Paper. I love the color scheme and vintage modern feel of the collection. The paper pad made it super easy to pull together the mini album. Crop two inches off one side, punch some holes, and I'm done!

Five days in and I'm still going strong! Well, except for the cover. For now, it's still a plain piece of chipboard until inspiration strikes.



If you're working on a similar project, I'd love to see it! Link it up in the comments below!

For those who would like to know more about December Daily, check out Ali's blog for more info!