Happy Heart Day Baking Extravaganza

There is no hiding it. Not even if I tried. I LOVE CUPCAKES!!!! Even more than just loving cupcakes for the purpose of consumption, I adore making them! They're just so perfect and cute and little and there is nothing better than a simple swirl of frosting on top of them. 

My girlfriend, Kathryn, suggested that we make Valentine's Day cupcakes together yesterday so she could send some to school with her Mum this morning. While I was looking forward to a typical lazy Sunday of nothingness, I welcomed the idea thinking that I would whip up a batch of cupcakes and take them to work with me. While Kathryn wanted to make some very cute and fun cupcakes, I was on a mission to make a classically swirled cupcake with a twist. Ladies and gents, I have never made frosting that swirls two colours (intentionally) but am so glad I tried it. 

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, here are what products of our labourious afternoon :) Red Velvet Cupcakes (Martha Stewart's Recipe) with a twist - I threw in about a cup of semi sweet chocolate chips/chunks. 

My kitchen table during the crafting process

The boxed little bits of goodness

Kathryn's cupcakes - I LOVE the XO one!

I want to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day and hope that you're spending it doing something you love with someone you love :) 

Happy Monday! 

Tamara

New-found Addiction

I am in love with The Nesting Project!!!! This blog is fantastic and I have only just discovered it! I swear Rosy, who writes the blog, is me in Tennessee! She cooks, she sews, she knits and she is wonderful :) 

I was at home yesterday going through my rounds of checking up on all of my regular blogs and was so enamored with her blog that not only did I decide to replicate one of her posts, but TWO! Post one was about a delightful knitted blanket found here. I've been trying to knit my own blanket for AGES now and it takes so much time (especially since I am using quite small knitting needles!) but this one is sinfully easier because the needles are so much bigger. I promise to post a photo ones mine is done! I swear there is nothing more fantastic than finding the supplies for one's new project on sale for half price! Hello $30 blanket! 

The second post was for Challah Bread (found here)! It's from one of my favourite books, Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day and I have tried to make it once before. While my bread turned out amazingly, I don't think it's really possible to call what I made Challah for the simple fact that I forgot to add the eggs (don't ask, it was a long day!) Challah is a sweet egg bread and when one forgets to add the eggs, you don't in fact have challah. Regardless, The Nesting Project has made me want to make it again and that boys and girls is exactly what this gal is doing today!

I will post the results of both projects as soon as they're complete! 

Happy Saturday!!! 

t

Cornmeal Muffin HEAVEN!

I don't know if I've mentioned this in the past but I LOVE cornmeal muffins. My Dad used to buy them for me every once in a while and I'm pretty sure that's where the love affair began. It probably also doesn't help that when we used to vacation in Jamaica, they used to serve them every morning along with the most delightfully moist banana bread. Anyway,  I am always intrigued when I come across a cornmeal muffin recipe and tuck them away into my "try me one day" folder. However, the recipe that I came across at Blissfully Domestic claimed that these muffins were both moist AND delicious. How could I resist!?!?

So with a girls brunch coming up and all of us bringing something, I decided to give these muffins a try. Am I ever happy that I did!!!!!  They are super easy to make, they are moist and delicious and they keep well in a sealed container for upwards of a week. On top of all of this wonderfulness, I also got to use some of my cute cupcake liners (have I mentioned that I have a slight obsession with them? Well, I do!). And here they are, in all of their delicious and amazing glory! 

Here's the recipe (as per Blissfully Domestic):

Featherlight Corn Muffins
by Gale Gand

• 1 cup All Purpose flour
• 1/2 C yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 C milk
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Grease or line 8 muffin cups. (**I doubled the recipe and ended up making a dozen regular muffins and a ton of minis too).
3. Sift dry stuff together.
4. Whisk eggs and milk in large bowl.
5. Add a third of the dry stuff to the egg mixture, then a third of the butter, stirring gently just until incorporated.
6. Repeat with remaining dry stuff and butter–don’t over mix.
7. A little flour not mixed in at the end is fine (she says-but I always mix everything in, lol).
8. Use an ice cream scoop, filling muffin cups half full.
9. Bake about 15 mins, till risen, light golden brown, and firm to the touch.
10. Let cool about 15 mins in pan.

Look how cute!!! I mean honestly!

The dry ingredients

The wet ingredients

Do not overmix. Just mix until things are just combined.

I used a mini-scoop for the small muffins

Hello! We're cute little bite-sized mini muffins!

All packed and ready to go to girls' brunch!

Hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Tamara