Easter Grandma!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Grandma turns 91 today, and looked radiant-in-red for her birthday party, n'est pas? That's my beautiful Gramma! Hopefully, I got some of her youthful genes (still getting carded at the grocery store, so, so far so good!).

She worked in the couture shop at Marshall Fields in downtown Chicago for many years, and has been my shopping buddy all my life. She strikes a hard bargain! And has tried to talk me into brightly colored faux-fur on more than one occasion. Grandma has told me that she never felt more proud of herself than when she was dressing ladies for special occasions. She does have an amazing eye
for fashion!

So, in honor of my Grandma's love for her old employer, I made "Frango Mint" cupcakes (pictured on the right). Chocolate cake, filled with mint icing, topped with a thick layer of chocolate ganache and a mint "L" for Laura (her name isn't "Grandma," after all). I also made some plain chocolate-chocolate cupcakes for the mint-haters of the world, but I managed to pipe some nice chocolate roses on the tops. All dairy-free for my lactose intolerant family!

Happy birthday to my beautiful Grandma!

Hibernation

Blackberry & Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes

Just sharing some cupcakes I have made in the past month.

Blackberry & Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes: Matcha green tea cake with green tea icing, injected with a bit of blackberry jam and topped with a fresh blackberry.

Has anyone else noticed all the delicious fresh berries in the grocery store right now? Where are they coming from?!

"King Cake" Cupcakes

"King Cake" Cupcakes: I was going to try my hand at making a King Cake for the first time, since we celebrated Mardi Gras this year with a pot-luck at work. Then I started reading recipes and felt overwhelmed...plus, I felt like the end product wasn't worth all that work. Looks like coffee cake; tastes…well…a bit like coffee cake. Instead, I made these little treats: lemon cakes with almond OR apricot filling (12 of each), topped with vanilla buttercream and festive Mardi Gras sugars.

Just look at my Watson, chest-deep in the snow! Instead of walking, he leaps around like a bunny. *

*(Don't mention the "bunny" part to him, if you should happen to see him.)

PS: Redesign! Yay!

the great list.

My friend, Betsy, does this thing called "The Great List" once-a-week or so:

What's beautiful about this weekly list, is that it forces you to concentrate on what you are happy about and thankful for in your life. For Betsy, I would guess this just comes naturally. I haven't seen her in a while, but I remember her laughter as being absolutely contagious. For the rest of us, I think, this can be a tough endeavor.

A while ago, I had the idea for my husband and I to think of 5 things to thank each other for before going to sleep at night. I think all couples should do this. It can be as simple as, "Thanks for doing the dishes today," or "Thanks for letting me complain to you about work today." The key to a great marriage, perhaps, is never taking one another for granted. The key to a great life, as Betsy points out with her list, is taking nothing for granted.

With that in mind, here goes:

•••

1. I took three days off to go camping this week. We had incredible weather, heard a cacophony of birds (saw a woodpecker up-close! then scared it away with my camera lens), met a few chipmunks, sat around the fire, and saw that beautiful moon. Say it with me: "Cacophony."

2. The Ultimate Autumn Cupcake came into fruition in my kitchen this week. Still needs a couple of minor tweaks, but, ladies & gents, I wish I could bake one for each of you and hand-deliver it to your door. Pumpkin cake with apple pie filling, topped with cream cheese frosting and a caramel drizzle.

3. Seeing old friends! I have to tell you, I am always anxious to see friends when it has been a long time. What if they don't remember me? What if they are too cool for me? So, when we headed over to the Metro to see our friends Murder By Death, you can imagine the silly ideas running through my head. We didn't get to spend enough time together, but it was better than ever to hear their new songs, bear-hug them, catch-up a little, and remember how much we love each other. I know so many good people – I really am lucky, that way. 

4. On a seriously thankful note, my father-in-law, Wally, triumphed over yet another heart surgery yesterday. This is only weeks after grandpa-in-law did the same. Thank you, amazing doctors!

•••

That's my great list! Let's start a craze!

96 cupcakes for Grandma, in detail.

Grandma turned 90 yesterday. We had a party! I made cupcakes.

French Silk Cupcakes

Chocolate cake, filled with chocolate mousse, topped with whipped cream frosting and miniature chocolate chips.

Growing up, I visited my grandparents nearly every weekend for family dinners. I remember Grandma putting a French Silk pie on the table for dessert nearly every time.

Double-Shot Espresso

Coffee-flavored cake, topped with espresso buttercream and a chocolate-covered coffee bean.

Because Grandma is a coffee-junkie.

Coconut Lychee

(from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World")

Lychee cake, topped with coconut glaze and a jelly candy, wrapped in edible rice paper.

Some more traditional Asian-inspired flavors for the lactose-intolerant.

Green Tea

(from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World")

Matcha green tea cake, topped with green tea glaze and a neapolitan taffy twist.

Another dairy-free concoction–why not offer both tea and coffee? Interesting to note: Taffy, when placed on green tea glaze, basically melts. it was still good! Just not as pretty as pictured above.