it's been awhile.

Hello blogger world.

I have to admit- I kind of missed it.

there's something almost theraputic about sharing your adventures, successes and mishaps!

never fear- even though I haven't been blogging- I have indeed still been baking and crafting away!

Some crafts you'll have to wait until after Christmas to see...since they are Christmas presents!  They are pretty fantastic though- so they'll be worth the wait :)

And in the meantime, I'll share with you all the recipes I have been trying out.

I hope that you'll share any tips you have with me as well!

This week, I'll post my apple crumbe cupcake recipe, my favorite cream cheese frosting, and some of the struggles I've had making red velvet cupcakes!

stay tuned...

my new love

Here is a quick update on what I learned in

last week's class...

my fav- carnations!  So fun to make.

Calla Lillies

 Roses

 Oh, and a picture of my new favorite toy...   :)  I LOVE!!

I will update more soon.

I plan to craft tonight

and I have class tomorrow.

*perfection for a perfect newborn

a friend just had a new baby boy.

CONGRATULATIONS

Brody Anthony was a bigggg boy- 9 lbs 13 oz.

I decided to make cupcakes for the new parents.

I tried a Recipe from Martha Stewart-

Polka Dot Cupcakes

I made a few tweaks though- I added vanilla flavoring.

And I made my own chocolate frosting!

THESE CUPCAKES ARE DELISH!

be warned though- these cupcakes need a strong frosting flavor to counteract the orange in the cake.

I think I may be doing an orange,lemon, and raspberry cupcake next time with a light cream cheese frosting!

To make the chocolate frosting-

1 cup shortening

1 lb. confectioner's sugar

1 tablespoon Meringue Powder

10 teaspoons milk/water

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup melted chocolate chips

*mix all together in the blender.  You may need to add more water/milk.  The chocolate makes the mixture more stiff!

Banana Creme Pie Cupcake Recipe!

Well...you all wanted the recipe...so here it is:

(it'd be faster for ya'll if I just wrote one as a I went oops!)

Cupcakes:



1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-4  mashed ripe bananas

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling:

1/2 pint Heavy Whipping Cream

4 cups Powdered Sugar (more if consistency isn't stiff!)

Frosting:

Use whatever frosting you love!

Crust:

Vanilla Wafers

Melted butter

1. Grind the Vanilla wafers as small as possible.  Mix in just enough melted butter to make the cookies able to combine.  If you put too much butter, it will be greasy.  Put a tablespoon in the bottom of each cupcake liner.  Stamp down.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, bananas and buttermilk. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl; add to banana mixture. Add cupcake mixture to liners until it is 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. 
3. Cut a hole into  the middle of each cupcake.  Mix heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to make filling.  Add one cup of powdered sugar at a time to get desired consistency.  Add a dash of salt to cut down on sweetness.  Fill each cupcake until top of cupcake.
4. Pipe your favorite frosting on each cupcake ( I used a basic buttercream) and garnish with leftover cookie crumbs!

***  Alternative to cookie crust.  The cookie crust will be crunchy on the bottom.  If you'd prefer you can mix in the cookie crumbs INTO the whipped cream for the filling!  Delicious either way!

If you want to see pictures of the delectable cupcake...see previous blog posts!

mission accomplished...

mission:  banana creme pie

mission status:  accomplished!

 smashed nilla wafers being stamped down by my baking assistant :)

 Cupcake's being filled with homeade whipped cream (heavy whipping cream + powdered sugar)

Taught Ange how to use a piping bag to frost the cupcakes!

 Garnished with baked and crumbled vanilla wafers!

 Finished product...  (Kid tested and approved) 

 Today we also took Makayla to get her ears pierced and gavin had fun trying some things on!!  Here are the pics of our adventures!

She did so well!  Almost didn't cry, but she just did for a few minutes!!  Brave girl :)  She did say that she wasn't getting any more ears pierced though!

I want to do a blog on fashion.

So here's the deal...

send me a pic via text or facebook

of something in your closet you just don't know how to wear

or how to match up...

Then I'll make it my mission to show some options

here on my blog.

I'm up to the challenge...are you??

Shaggy mums and Rosie Roses :)

Today was another day of class!

Here's what we did...

How fun!!

I did start on my cookies and cream layer cake.

The frosting is setting, then it'll be ready to be decorated and

EATEN!!!

Yum! 

I also started my banana creme pie cupcakes.

I used a vanilla cupcake recipe and added mashed bananas.

The dilemma is that the texture is similiar to banana bread. 

It's a little too dense, so if anyone has tips, please let me know!

Tomorrow I'll add the rest of the ingredients to make it a creme pie :)

...til my next adventure, make your life interesting!