Christmas Cupcake Wreath

Hello everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all many blessings to you and yours this holiday season and with the coming new year!!!

Things have been plenty busy around here. Between doctor apts, a surgery for Adam {no worries, he is doing well, just needed to have a little procedure done}, work, illustrations, graphics, kids home for vacation, christmas, etc., there doesn't leave a heck of a lot left to just sit and relax!

Today is another family Holiday gathering. We are sure to have some fun with games, conversations and much laughter. Each family is suppose to bring something to share, and I chose to bring a Cupcake Wreath! My niece Ayla {age 6.5} helped me make the frosting and decorate the cupcakes...such a wonderful helper she is! {Her mom took this picture, she is a wonderful photographer, but it doesn't hurt to have such a gorgeous girl to photograph either! LOL...Looks like it came out of a GAP ad or something!}

All you have to do is make the cupcakes, frost, place in a circle and decorate! Pretty simple. I just used a white cake recipe and then White Buttercream Frosting! I've attached the recipe in case you don't have enough recipes saved already! LOL...

White Buttercream Frosting

1 c. Shortening

1 c. Butter, soft, but not at room temp

2 tsp. Clear Vanilla Extract

1 tsp. Clear Almond Extract

1/4 tsp. Salt

8 c. Powdered Sugar

5 Tlbp. Whole Milk or Heavy Cream

1. Cream shortening & butter until smooth and creamy.

2. Add extracts & salt.

3. Add powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing until incorporated after each addition.

4. Add milk/cream until you reach desired consistency. Tint & Frost away!

Kids in the Kitchen: Pancakes {And Snow Play}

Hello everyone! Happy Monday! Hope you all enjoyed a fun weekend!!!

I love lazy day weekends with my family! We don't have any plans, just basically go with the flow and do what we want situation! Love that!!! This weekend was absolutely GORGEOUS weather for MN...We had temps in the 50's and beautiful sunshine! Before the snow melted, the boys and I enjoyed a fun time outside on Friday afternoon. Daddy built a snow castle with them on Saturday that only lasted a little bit because then it all melted and turned into a lake! LOL, but they had fun while it lasted!!!

One thing I LOVE to do with the boys is set up stools by the kitchen counter and make pancakes! They take turns pouring the ingredients, cracking the eggs and whisking the batter...I LOVE LOVE LOVE cooking with my boys in the kitchen, especially if it is something as easy as pancakes! And this recipe is absolutely DELISH! Hope you enjoy!!!

Easy Peasy Pancakes

Yield: 9-12 cakes

1 Large Egg

1 cup Milk

2 Tlb. Butter, Melted

1 cup Flour

1 Tlb. Sugar

3 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp. Salt

1. Beat Egg until nice and fluffy with a whisk.

2. Add Milk to Eggs and whisk.

3. Slowly add melted Butter to Egg & Milk mixture until frothy. Don't add hot butter to mix all at once as it will cook the eggs.

4. Add dry ingredients and whisk until smooth and glossy.

5. Pour 1/4 cup batter until hot griddle. Once bubbles have formed at the top, flip pancake over.

6. Top with favorite toppings and enjoy!!!

Kids in the Kitchen: Fudgy Brownies

Hey everyone! Happy Monday!!!

This weekend was full of so much fun at our house! We spent Saturday morning going to a Teddy Bear Band at a local elementary school. The kids really enjoyed it! Sunday Lance & Daddy went to the new movie Dr. Suess's "The Lorax". They had so much fun, but while they were away, Adam & I, we did play! LOL...

Adam & I watched Nanny McPhee...if you have not seen this movie, it is super cute and we recommend it! After we watched our own movie adorned with Popcorn, snack and a beverage, we decided to make a treat for when daddy & Lance came home from their movie!

We made Fudge Brownies! Super super nummy! I only wanted to make a small batch, so I used my very very used and abused 8x8" square pan...Here's Adam demonstrating how we cover up our rusty spots! LOL...

Anyways, hope you make these yourself and enjoy!!! Let me know if you adapt them to fit your flavour profile! I would love to test them out!!!

Fudgy Brownies

10 Tlb. Butter, Melted

1 1/4 c. Sugar

3/4 c. Cocoa Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs, Cold

1/2 c. Flour

1. Prepare 8x8" square baking pan by lightly greasing the sides and lining with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a stand mixer, cream melted butter, sugar, coca powder & salt until pasty.

3. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

4. When smooth and creamy, add flour and mix until just blended.

5. Pour batter into prepared baking pan and smooth evenly.

6. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes. Cool completely and dust with powder sugar.

Happy Baking!