contest contestant

as i looked around on some new blogs today, I stumbled upon a baking blog which led to another and another. one mentioned a bakery's cupcake recipe contest and i curiously checked it out....
i've officially entered my very first "original recipe" cupcake contest (well anything contest but this happened to be a cupcake one). I am by NO means a chemist so creating my own baking recipes is never something ive attempted to dabble in. i have certainly done my fair share of altering other's recipes... but creating my own-not so much. but i thought whats the harm! the prize had me intrigued so I went for it. This bakery will pick out the top 2 recipes and make them for their customers during a celebration day, allowing them to choose the winner. The winning cupcake will go onto the menu (named after its creator) and i... i mean, the winner will get a percentage of the cupcake's sales during the 1st month. not much... but still kinda exciting. At least exciting enough to tempt me into trying! with a little food chemistry research, I created my own original recipe for "Key Lime White Chocolate Cupcakes with Mascarpone Lime Cream Frosting." Here's hopin' for a miracle!

S'mores Stuffed Sous-chef

if anything possibly even slightly resembles something having to do with something like S'mores, i am ALL over it! so the other day i came across a new recipe on one of my fav blogs to follow. though her pictures were awesome, i didnt need them... just the title "S'mores Stuffed Brownies." that was enough for me... click PRINT? um, yes please! ellia and i tried tackling these rich morsels of deliciousness the other night and thought i'd document. with all that play-kitchen practice shes had... shes turnin into one awesome (and pretty cute) little sous chef!

S’mores Stuffed Brownies
(from picky-palate)
Batch Prepared in 8×8 inch baking pan
-1 box of your favorite brownie mix
-4 1/2 full Graham Crackers
-3 1/2 Full size Hershey’s Bars
-16 large marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Line foil into an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray generously with cooking spray. Pour half the brownie batter into lined pan. Layer graham crackers over brownies following Hershey Bars and marshmallows. Pour remaining brownie batter over marshmallows. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes mostly clean from center. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Carefully remove foil and brownies from pan. Peel any foil from away from edges and cut into squares.

midnight delight

so this morning is the official launch of a new care ministry at our church that i'm helping to start (http://grace-untome.blogspot.com). im really excited about it and praying there is strong interest. getting everything ready to go last night for the booth I have to man after the services and in just my style... the one night im not crawling for the bed for sleep and feel slightly energetic soon = hey, ive got an idea (10:45 p.m.) - wouldnt it be nice to have some sort of baked goods at the table? (insert pete's rolling eyes) its kinda fitting for the ministry and well... would be cute too. why i do things like this to myself i'll never know - but probably wont quit either. anyway, so around 11 i get around to mixin' up 2 kinds of mini muffins for the morning. one was just "okay": cinnamon streusel. the other recipe was worth the late evening a delicious find!: fresh strawberry muffins

i had to share the recipe(found here). would be great as a breakfast treat or dessert but not too sweet. hope you enjoy:

Fresh Strawberry Muffins


1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
3 tsps sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well.

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to butter mixture. Add vanilla. Gently stir in strawberries.

Spoon batter into muffin pans.

Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over muffins. (I didnt do this... but sprinkled with powdered sugar when they cooled)

Bake at 400º for 20-25 minutes. (if your making minis - only 8 min or so)

late-night deliciousness and hopefully early-morning jolt...