Tiny Caker Baker

For Christmas, Helya gave me a Cupcake cookbook with recipes so lovely, I had a hard time refraining from ripping out the pages and framing them in my living room. Choosing which cupcake to bake first was even more difficult. I narrowed it down to two based on the ingredients I already had on hand and went to work. 

I spent an entire Sunday afternoon mixing, sifting, stirring, and frosting. I usually don't enjoy baking because accuracy is key to successful results. I am the worst when it comes to precise measurements and ingredients. But I wanted to take a stab at these delightful treats because I knew it would be worth it in the end. However, my biggest initial mistake was deciding to half the recipes. I didn't really know what to do with 48 cupcakes, so I thought 24 would be more manageable and I could just half every ingredient and it would still be accurate. You tell me what's worse: too many cupcakes or dividing 1 and 5/8ths by 2? In hindsight I would have been much better off with cupcakes coming out of my wazoo. Fractions belong in hell. Well, with Steve's help, I managed to convert all of my ingredients into weird amounts like 13/15ths of a tablespoon or somewhere between 3/4 and 7/8ths of a cup. I think that may have had something to do with the outcome because in my opinion, they weren't sweet enough and were a bit dry. On the other hand, Steve ate about 20 of them all on his own so they must have been alright. 

The best part about all of this is that I tried something new and I didn't fail. I've never baked 100% from scratch, so it was an accomplishment and something I will definitely try again. Tiny cakes on deck:  Dark chocolate molten lava :)

Mocha Chocolate with chocolate whip frosting and cocoa powder

Banana Pecan with butter cream frosting

Tiny Caker Baker

For Christmas, Helya gave me a Cupcake cookbook with recipes so lovely, I had a hard time refraining from ripping out the pages and framing them in my living room. Choosing which cupcake to bake first was even more difficult. I narrowed it down to two based on the ingredients I already had on hand and went to work. 

I spent an entire Sunday afternoon mixing, sifting, stirring, and frosting. I usually don't enjoy baking because accuracy is key to successful results. I am the worst when it comes to precise measurements and ingredients. But I wanted to take a stab at these delightful treats because I knew it would be worth it in the end. However, my biggest initial mistake was deciding to half the recipes. I didn't really know what to do with 48 cupcakes, so I thought 24 would be more manageable and I could just half every ingredient and it would still be accurate. You tell me what's worse: too many cupcakes or dividing 1 and 5/8ths by 2? In hindsight I would have been much better off with cupcakes coming out of my wazoo. Fractions belong in hell. Well, with Steve's help, I managed to convert all of my ingredients into weird amounts like 13/15ths of a tablespoon or somewhere between 3/4 and 7/8ths of a cup. I think that may have had something to do with the outcome because in my opinion, they weren't sweet enough and were a bit dry. On the other hand, Steve ate about 20 of them all on his own so they must have been alright. 

The best part about all of this is that I tried something new and I didn't fail. I've never baked 100% from scratch, so it was an accomplishment and something I will definitely try again. Tiny cakes on deck:  Dark chocolate molten lava :)

Mocha Chocolate with chocolate whip frosting and cocoa powder

Banana Pecan with butter cream frosting

Yes, I Took Those Photos Myself

Remember this photo project? Finally, I got around to posting a picture of our latest work of art. You guys voted on the best photos to hang, but I think I went a little crazy and decided to frame most all of them. I'm hoping that after a little practice with my new Canon Rebel XS, I'll be able to print out some more of my own photographs and adorn every wall in our apartment. :)

I'll take LANGUAGE for $1000, Alex.

Today, I signed up for a car wash at work (my work has a car washing service come every month for us) and I went outside to get the car washer's attention, so I yelled, "hi sir!", and waited for him to acknowledge me with a response, but to my surprise and horror he just stood there staring at me like I had a massive white zit on my nose, causing such a distraction  that it caused a lapse in what I thought was going to be a simple exchange. As I become flush with embarrasment, he points to his ears and mouths the word, "deaf!"

Oooooh!! Okay, so I don't have a bulbous goiter on my face, but somehow I feel even more like a creep and I just want to get out of there because I don't know how to communicate with a deaf person! But I have to try to tell him where my car is if I want a carwash. I start to pity him a little and trick myself into thinking what a great person I can be if only I use a little patience and understanding. So, I rattle my keys up in the air (how cliche!) and point to my car and slowly mouth, "white". He tries to ask if I'm on the sign-up sheet, but all I can do is stand there dumbfounded. He then brings me the sign-up sheet so I can point to my name and then I stupidly give him a thumbs up. A THUMBS UP?! He is not a child! GOD, I am such a dolt! Then he tries asking me something...I have no idea what he is saying because I thought he knew all he needed to know! Something about my lunch break? So I just offer a few animated nods and smile a very loud smile...because, let's face it, I have to make up for not speaking, right?! He is probably so sick of reactions like mine. I would have been so much cooler if I would have busted out some sign language! BAM!

Obamicon

You can do it too! Click here: Obamiconme

(Thanks Rach, again!)

Fox News is Awesome

Listen closely - Umm, ouch?! Better choose your words more wisely Fox News!


(Thanks Rachel!)

To Sir With Love

The New York Times posted an article about young children's thoughts, hopes and advice to President Obama. Here is the link to the entire article - Dear Sir Obama: Presidential Advice - you should read through their letters, especially if you need a good giggle! I have included my favorite letter here:

(thanks Rachel!)