Cupcake Heaven

My sweet little recipe boxes from Fab.com arrived today -- Small Bites, and Cupcakes.  I was eager to dive right in, but a little nervous, because baking just isn't my thing.  Ask my boyfriend how those "ready to bake" cookies turned out the other day... ugh.  But I was determined, absolutely set on making my cupcakes and frosting from scratch.  Birds & blokes, I was not disappointed.

I sprinkled a little bit of orange ginger sugar on the "taste testers" -- heavenly, just perfect and delicious and fantastic and incredible.

I won't kid you, these were not easy to prepare.  I've never made cupcakes from scratch, but aside from accidentally using 4 eggs instead of the called-for 2, I did alright.  But the frosting?  That is a true exercise in patience. And, arm strength.  But it paid me back ten-fold in the end, with the most delicious cupcakes in the world.  I'll post the recipe soon, but until then, drool in envy at the sight of my gorgeous creation.

One of Those Days

Saturday was one of those days...  those days that are wonderful, relaxing, and entirely too few and far between.  Dave was out of the house, so I spend the morning continuing to photograph items for my Etsy shop.

When I was done with that, I sat down on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate + butterscotch schnapps (highly recommended), and watched Hoarders on Netflix.  You know what Hoarders does to me?  It makes me want to clean!  So, I cleaned up the kitchen, dining room, and kitchen, tried to reorganize the books (we still haven't bought or built a sufficient bookcase) and settled into the couch again, this time for silly old shows on MeTV.

Late in the afternoon, my CSA arrived (it was my first delivery, and I was so excited!), and I made a simple salad from some of the ingredients.

I know this doesn't sound like a very captivating day, but let me tell you it was.  Simple things like that -- drinking a yummy warm drink while the snow falls outside, being able to put my feet up on the couch and cuddle with the pups, having the apartment to myself for a day -- it was delightful.

Sunday could hardly live up to it.

Next Sunday, I will be getting ready to go back to work.  This upcoming week is my chance at a last hurrah of sorts, but I can't really imagine what I want to do with myself.  I think I should have brunch, at least once.  Linger lazily in a coffee shop, perhaps.  All of those things I won't be able to do during the week, anymore.  I hope you're all enjoying your weekend mini-hurrahs.  :)

If anyone in Chicago is in search of a CSA, I'm getting mine through Newleaf Natural Grocery.  I pay $15 for a small box of mixed veggies and fruits, + $5 for shipping to my door!  In the box this week I got 2 oranges, 2 bananas, 4 apples, 3 red pears, romaine lettuce, greens, celery, 8 carrots, and 1 pint cherry tomatoes -- all organic, and all very tasty!

What I'm Eating... Oatmeal & Cranberry Cookies

Okay, I'm not a baker... I couldn't have come up with this on my own.  I just wanted to use the cranberries in my freezer, and oatmeal cookies sounded yummy on a rainy Saturday, so I searched and found this recipe for Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips on another blog, Coconut & Lime.  They turned out great!  Super soft, too, which I love.  It sounds like a lot of things thrown together, but the combination of cranberries and chocolate really is heavenly.



Oatmeal & cranberry cookies (with chocolate chips!)



What I'm Eating... Strawberry Crisp

It might not feel like Spring outside, but I'm certainly going to pretend it does!  Strawberries should do the trick...

Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour, sugar, brown sugar, butter, strawberries

vanessauttaro.com

What I'm Eating... Chips & Salsa

I really don't think there is anything better than homemade tortilla chips, especially when they're still warm as you dip them into the salsa.

Chips ingredients:

Corn tortillas, oil for frying, salt (optional)

Salsa ingredients:

Roasted: Plum tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeño peppers; cilantro, sea salt

vanessauttaro.com

vanessauttaro.com

What I'm Eating... Deviled Eggs w/ Horseradish

Wow... I just ate like six of these things...  Seriously, best deviled eggs, ever.

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

It's your basic deviled eggs recipe (six eggs, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, paprika, salt & black pepper), but with a tablespoon of creamy horseradish mixed in.  If you don't like horseradish, of course, this isn't for you, but lately I'm obsessed with the stuff.

Have I ever mentioned my chicken "thing"?  Well... I have a "thing" for chickens.  I had them as pets (and egg-providers, and occasionally roast-providers) when I was growing up in Nelson Co., and because I can't keep them in my apartment (although I can keep them in the city if I have a yard!), I just collect anything with chickens on it.

Yesterday, a box arrived from my Momma, and this lovely dish was inside.

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

It was one of my favorite things when I was a kid, and I love it even more, now.  So... thanks, Momma!  It's being put to good use!

You can't tell with the eggs in there, but its set up with little egg-shaped spots for just that purpose, holding deviled eggs.  I'm not 100% sure what the middle is for... napkins?  Dip for crackers?  I don't know... but it makes me want to have a Tupperware party.

What I'm Eating... Archer Farms' Spanakopita

I'm not usually a fan of frozen foods, but I sometimes make an exception for a few items, and anything from Target's Archer Farms brand is definitely one of those exceptions.

These were perfect, and they only took about 15 minutes to bake, so it was the perfect little snack-dinner around 10:30 last night, when I finally was sitting still long enough to eat something.

Archer Farms

What I'm (not) Eating... Peeps

Mmm, I want to eat them, but I can't yet.  I have to age my Peeps to proper crispiness, first.

Just cut open the package, and let them sit for a while...

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

What I'm Eating... Macarons (or Macaroons?)

First of all... which is correct, macaron or macaroon?  I pronounce it like "mack-a-roon", but macaron seems to be the consensus.

Anyway, however you spell it, where have these things been all my life?  I saw them yesterday an Intelligentsia and couldn't resist, and now I need more!!

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

What I'm Eating... Hummus w/ Deli Flats

Deli Flats (Pepperidge Farm) are like a softer, smaller pita -- perfect for hummus dipping!

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

I attempted to sell these adorable little vintage Noritake plates on Etsy, but really, they were too pretty not to just keep for myself.  I love them for serving snacks, or small lunches.

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

What I'm Eating... Movie Popcorn

Last night, my 'fella and I finally went out to see Black Swan (I loved it!).  The popcorn made my night, because its topped with real butter!  Oh, and when you buy Junior Mints, they ask you if you want them from the freezer -- so wonderful!

Landmark's Century Centre Cinema

(clicking this link will take you to Landmark Theatre website)

Landmark Theatres

What I'm eating... "Gourmet" Popcorn

I suppose that popcorn is considered gourmet once you start topping it with something other than butter...  This is my guess.  ;)

I cooked mine in a pot on the stovetop, with a whole sprig of rosemary.  Then, I topped it with olive oil, fleur de sel, parmesan cheese, and black pepper.  It was, in a too often overused word, AMAZING.

Decorate, Eat & Repeat

What I'm eating... Strawberry Popsicle

Nate brought me a strawberry popsicle!  :)