Inspiration

HA!
Believe it or not
I heard from the Rachael Ray Show!
I kid you NOT!

Whether I was captivating enough
to warrant a visit to the show
remains to be seen.
However,

It did jump start me to
experiment a tiny bit.
I made more cupcakes.
They didn't go quite as I planned.

I started here.
Chocolate and peanut butter.
I started with a recipe off of 52cupcakes.
I used the Reese's hearts at the bottom of the liners.

I think they were a bit too small.

I would use mini cupcakes next time or

WHOLE regular peanut butter cups.

This is what I ended up with.

I ordered a bag of BABY peanut butter cups 

from Country Kitchen Sweet Art.

I also did a peanut butter buttercream.

The cake was awesome.

The hearts were too small and thus overdone.

The frosting was to die for!

Probably my most inventive to date.
And my least successful...

Yep those are Froot Loops you see in that batter!

My kids said, "WHY would you put Loops in a cupcake?"

I said, "Why not? The box was sitting there."

I started with this:

Now before you get your dander up.
I have MANY recipes that are not mix based.
However, when I see interesting flavors I buy them.
Mixes are good for gooey butter cakes and some cookies.

I doctored things up a bit,
Threw in 2 handfuls of Froot Loops,
Used orange juice...

I added orange buttercream.

I added crushed Froot Loops.

The cake was one of the best I've had.

The Froot Loops shrunk up and became tough and gummy.

I would NOT add Froot Loops to the batter again.

I think I can figure out how to make it work though.

The frosting was orange too.

Orange buttercream is dreamy.

I WILL make this again just the same way!

So Rachael whether you call me back or not

I'm gonna keep on experimenting.

There is so many interesting things you can throw

in a cake.

Thanks for thinking of me Rachael and pushing me

to keep baking. (Even though you're not a baker.)

Rubi has told everyone she's going to the Rachael Ray Show.

I love that girl...

And Rachael if you are listening...

I would LOVE to have a bright yellow KitchenAid Stand mixer...

Wordless Wednesday

Green Kangaru ~ bake with abandon: SHEESH! That Impulse Control Thing...

Green Kangaru ~ bake with abandon: SHEESH! That Impulse Control Thing...: "So last night I became weak in the knees. I'm a FaceBook junkie. I'm pretty sure you guys are shocked by that. A friend posted a link to the..."

SHEESH! That Impulse Control Thing...

So last night I became weak in the knees.
I'm a FaceBook junkie.
I'm pretty sure you guys are shocked by that.
A friend posted a link to the Rachel Ray FB page.
She's asking about cupcakes...

It felt as though she was speaking just to me.
Calling me...
Without thinking -
I answered said call.

YIKES!
What did I do?
There may come expectations of me now.
What have I done?

I'm going to now post photos of recent baking adventures.
Sorry Rachel.
I love your show.
How I'd love to meet you...

There it goes again.
Impulse control...

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Roll recipe. HEAVEN!

With the cream cheese icing added.

*sigh*

Rubi's treats for November.

Time consuming but oh so fun!

Cookie trays I sent for some teachers at Christmas.

Can you tell my secret to the reindeer?

Just looking for the right buttercream.

January's treats got a bit Pinkalicious!

Sadi's 12th birthday treats.

I thought she should go out with a bang!

Her homework was to find out how I made these.

She failed. Ancient Chinese secret...

Aren't these the most fun?

Sadi's not much of a "regular" cake fan.

She requested chocolate cheesecake.

I got creative.

Triple Chocolate Zebra Cheesecake.

I need to work on the zebra.

These are Jeff's birthday cupcakes.

They need no icing.

He likes to warm them in the microwave.

He adds vanilla ice cream.

These were my own from top to bottom.

Yum!

Jeff's favorite candy is Whoppers.

Jr. class cake raffle during basketball games.

Red velvet and white with cream cheese frosting.

Ina Garten's Outrageous Brownies and Valentine fudge.

Not my favorite raffle tray.

This was my favorite raffle tray.

I love the Dollar Store to find trays at.

From L-R: Pecan pie bars, Red Velvet Gooey Butter cookies,

Sour Cream Pound Cake in school colors, RVGB cookies &

homemade peanut butter cups.

Sour Cream Pound Cake.

This. Is. Crazy. Insane.

I am baking away all the time.

Maybe Rachael will notice.

Even if she doesn't I have fabulous friends.

They will always taste my creations. :)

PS: I was denied a mixer (the most wonderful mixer I've ever seen) by the Pioneer Woman once more...*sad*

Heart Of My Sadness

I'm sure that those that read this are aware that I have a child graduating high school this year.
I've been struggling to figure out where 18 years of my life have gone.
I've been struggling to figure out where 18 years of HER life have gone.

Friday was tough.
Friday was Sofi's last parent's night.
Friday was Sofi's last home basketball game.
I'm selfish and want them to win BADLY tomorrow night.
I do not want it to be over...

#23

She started

It was awesome.

The tears already stung...

The last beginning.

What a great bunch of girls this year.

Never afraid to be aggressive on the court.
It always amazed me.
Her basketball self was the opposite of her home self.

The end is coming.
Can you feel it?
I could.
This whole time...

She had one last, beautiful 3 pointer.
I never knew how she did it.
I never cared.
She made me love basketball.
She makes me sad her court time is almost over.

I've loved everything this girl has done.
I've loved every minute of every bleacher I've sat on.
Why when I was young and in high school did the days drag on?
Why now that I'm a mom can I not slow them down?

Wordless Wednesday

Mental Health Baking

I haven't been around much. Computer issues, LOTS of basketball, wrestling and speech. The holidays. Some sadness. Filling out college paperwork and taxes and preparing now for graduation. *Sigh* Where did the years go?

Baking up a storm. I've tried LOTS of new recipes and created a few of my own - my most recent being Whopper cupcakes for the Superbowl last night.

I'm not going to say much today as I'm putting together a Christmas post - maybe the heart of my sadness? I'm not sure, but I'm discovering that baking will cure whatever ails me. As long as I can find enough tasters it's always good. Stay well my few readers and warm.

Cookie trays I sent for teachers at Christmas.

Pinkalicious cupcakes for January's Kindergarten treats.

I thought it would be fun to reference a story.  Mrs. Sudbeck read the book while they snacked.

The Quiet One's last school bday treats. Her homework was to find out how I did it. She failed. A baker never gives away secrets. Right?

These were so cool!

LOVE that blue! This shows me that purple velvet cupcakes will be on the dessert table for graduation.

These were just because. I've been trying to find the perfect white cake and frosting. This is very close.

These are Jeff's favorites. They need no icing. The caramel filling is a toothache in and of itself. Mmmm...

These are my own creation. Jeff loves Whoppers so I gave it a shot.

I hear they are delicious.

Wordless Wednesday