CUPCAKES!

I have two more additions to my goal of creating ten cupcake combinations for my 28 in the 28th list! I'm blowing through these list items with the speed of a gimp turtle! On top are the Mummy cupcakes, which are white cake with raspberry jam centers, and buttercream frosting. (and jelly belly eyes. I don't like red hots, which were recommended)

Some more Spice Cupcakes with Pumpkin Butter Centers, and Cream Cheese Frosting on top. 

 

 I'm actually the most happy with these. They're banana cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting Centers, and chocolate ganache on top. and the theme was "spooky" (see aformentioned mummy cupcakes) and so I wrote scary things on them. Like "The Dark" and "The Dentist" and "Germs" and "Zombies"

 

The Mummies..... they are coming for you....

Ten Things That Are Making Me Happy Right Now

Previously here.

Sometimes on a Monday morning you need to remind yourself what is good.
1. Having a relaxing sunday afternoon

2. Man Vs. Food marathon on Food Network - Sidenote: Baltimore people- he's doing a Baltimore episode on Wednesday!

3.  Best Burger in Baltimore Begins TOMORROW!

4. S'mores bars  (Golden Grahams with marshmallow, with  chocolate chips on top)

5. Thinking up ideas for the Bake Off at work

6. 11 days until RHODE ISLAND

7 . Drinking my water out of a mason jar at my desk.

8. GLEE.

9.  Short week at work this week!  work: Monday & Tuesday, off  Wednesday, Work thurs and friday, off for the weekend!

10. Julie's Halloween  Party!

A Google Meme

So I really like the Vlogbrothers , and Hank Green has this video about doing a Google Meme, that I fould amusing.  It is called Google Verb, where you put your name into the beginning of a sentence and let Google complete it.

My responses are bolded.

Val needs to get over whatever her problem is and have fun
Well, not always... I do not think I am the stick in the mud that Google appears to think I am.

Val looks like no one else and behaves like no one else
Is that a compliment? I'm taking it as one.

Valerie says a fond farewell
.... That's vaugely ominous.

Val wants you to check out a photo on MySpace
No, no she does not, because who goes on myspace anymore? no one. that's who.

Val does not cause schizophrenia
Good to know.


VAL hates banking accounts sometimes
Especially when they do not have enough money in them.  Like the millions that a life as a lady of leisure would provide.

Val Asks YOU: What beauty solution do you want?
Really, I want to know!


VAL LIKES TO WEAR A THONG ON THE BEACH
no. just. no.

Val eats a french fry.
Val rarely eats just one french fry. Val likes to eat multiple french fries.

Val wears a hood before her release.
I'm prefacing this by saying it  came from some sort of falconer website, so it is not quite as creepy as it appears.  on the other hand, without that information? CREEPY. 

Val Loves Jason.
I don't think i know a Jason, but if I did, I'm sure I would love him

Cupcake Mania

I may be a little obsessed with cupcakes. I love their size, the infinite combinations that can create a great and delicious dessert. plus, they do not require a fork. I recently won a pumpkin bake-off at work with my spice cupcakes with pumpkin butter filling and cream cheese frosting on top, dusted with pumpkin spice. (Those were pretty good)

I often start with an idea. A flavor pairing, based on flavors I've been thinking about recently. for our Sunday Night Dinner this past week (friends of mine having awesome sunday night dinners) I had a taste for bananas. Well, I need to go back. I've been having a taste for bananas for the last month, as evidenced by the amount of banana pudding I made. But I made banana pudding for last sunday's dinner, and I had cupcakes on the brain.

Also peanut butter.

So I was thinking about all the things that go well with bananas. Peanut butter, chocolate. How can you go wrong? So I paired banana cupcakes (which were dense and cakey) with a peanut butter frosting in the center, and topped it with a rich, dark chocolate ganache.

yum.

(this counts as the first of my 28/28th cupcakes- I made them after my birthday, so it counts!)

28 in the 28th

Ok, It's that time of year again! This year, I have made a conscious effort to mke more manegable goals, and I want to complete EVERY SINGLE ONE of them.

1 Write a Novel.

2. Try one new craft

3. Go to DC for the day by myself and walk around

4. Cater a Non Family Event

5. Make Homemade christmas gifts

6. Learn how to can things (like jam)

7. Take a cooking class

8. Go camping

9. Go to a non House Concert- Show

10. Get a Manicure, Pedicure and Facial

11. Go on 12 dates

12. Visit a city I've never been to before

13. learn how to make a recipe by watching my G make it

14. go to at least one Free Fall Baltimore event

15. Have a Cookie Baking/Decorating Party

16. Make a tradition of my own

17. Go to a museum

18. Have dinner that is multi-course and paired with wines

19. Go to a winery and have a wine tasting

20. Make something beautiful

21. Create ten new cupcake combinations

22. Get my camera fixed.

23. Twelve Random Acts of Kindness for strangers

24. Go for a week without internet (for non work puroposes)

25. Do some acting

26. Go to ten new restaurants in Baltimore

27. Learn a new card game

28. Go see a movie with Subtitiles (or, rent and watch Amelie without falling asleep)

Along with this list is the perrenial "update the blog more" which I also plan to do, at the very least , weekly.