boys like girl-treats, too!

It would be something of an understatement to say my cupcakes were a success.  I'm not a big braggart (ordinarily), but I have irrefutable evidence that my cupcakes were a hit - 3 previously cupcake-filled containers came home with me empty.  Then there were the nearly vulgar sounds some colleagues made while eating them.  Personally, I'm a fan of the eyes-widening, mouthful-of-cupcake-smiling reactions, of which I got many.  I've kept you in suspense long enough - wanna see 'em?

of course you do

Let's travel back in our magical phone booths to... 24 hours ago (Mister's been watching Dr Who)...

Although I honestly bought the wine specifically to make the icing, I knew I was only going to use a couple of ounces and it would be such a shame to waste that whole big bottle...  Nothing says "I'm ready to bake!" like a glass of wine balancing on top of two small cookbooks.... nothing, maybe, but a brand new apron (seriously, I don't think I can have too many - I'm becoming an apron addict).

I wish I could have gotten more of the apron in the picture, but my arm isn't long enough to do a full body self portrait, but that cute little pattern just repeats along the body and down to the cute little gathered hem bits.  Okay, so clearly I have to take a picture of the whole apron by itself because that last part made No sense.

This, right here, is probably my favorite part of the whole recipe (except the Eating It part).  This is the part of the recipe that made me fall in love with the oddly-named Funeral Cake.  This part of the recipe actually smells better than the part where the cupcakes are baking.  I know - you don't believe me - but go ahead and melt Earth Balance in a saucepan with oil, water, and cocoa and tell me you couldn't die happy.

Go ahead.  I'll wait.

Anyway, once I was done salivating from the scent of the cocoa boiling on the stove and had cleaned up enough to feel comfortable touching it, I poured the chocolatey mixture over my dry ingredients (which includes so darn much sugar I actually ran out and had to sub in some brown sugar to make up the difference - way to plan ahead and check your ingredients, Natalie - apparently flour wasn't the only thing keeping me from baking) and mixed it all together until it resembled oily fudge.  I filled the cupcake liners to the top and just look at them pretending to be pure chocolate candy cups!

Once they'd finished baking (about 25 minutes was perfect), I managed to let them cool to Nearly Room Temperature (the closest I'm likely to get any time soon) before trying to ice them.

I put about a cup of confectioners sugar in a bowl, then carefully sprinkled in 2 Tbsp red wine.  I stirred it up good with my little whisk, until the sugar had all melted into the wine and the icing had a puce kind of hue going on.  Never a big fan of pink-purple, I added another teaspoon red wine for color, but then the icing was way too thin.  In the future I will likely do the same amounts but either

a) use 1.5 cups sugar OR

b) put everything (cupcakes and icing) in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Despite the huge mess I made, I ended up dipping the top of each cupcake into the icing, swirling it around a little and then setting it down on the tray they live on in the refrigerator.  I put them all in the fridge overnight and it definitely helped the glaze set but not before it dripped all down the sides, making quite a mess when people pulled off the wrappers today.

The woman who inspired me to make these was extremely grateful and astonished I could combine two great things like chocolate and red wine, but she took her cupcake home to eat for dessert tonight, so I have to wait until tomorrow for her reaction, but everyone else gave me instant gratification.  The gents loved the cupcakes and used many descriptive words to tell me how much.  Another colleague has now specifically requested the Strawberry Creme cupcakes that were part of yesterday's brainstorm.  Fortunately, the incredible reactions I got on this batch are definitely provocative enough to get me back in the kitchen in time to bring those cupcakes in next week...

fabulous weekend > blogger

Apparently, blogger just couldn't handle all the awesome I was going to post, so in anticipation of fab-overload, it just shut down.  For like two days.  Fortunately, it will likely result in a bonus post sometime in the next 24 hours, as long as I can hide enough of the awesome from blogger to prevent it from running away and hiding in a safe, dark corner somewhere.

Where to begin?  Well, I guess we'll have to go back to Thursday night and recap our dining adventures:

Finally, I made Penne with Spinach and Chickpeas in Garlic Sauce from Quick Vegetarian Pleasures.  I'm on a serious Italian-flavor/pasta kick at the moment.  I am giving serious thought to an All-Mediterranean menu for the upcoming week, just to get it out of my system...  Funny about that - when I was choosing which of the final three dinners to make on Thursday night, I wanted to make this one more than anything else, yet I was conflicted because I knew that the last two dinners were both Asian-influenced and I wasn't crazy about the idea of serving them back-to-back.  Not to fear!  As you'll learn later in this post, they both survived menu selection to be spread across a second week!

Again, I haven't cooked from QVP in over a year, maybe longer, which means it's been a long time since I've had this dish, though it was a fairly regular part of the rotation when I had fewer cookbooks.  I could already taste its memory as I started preparing the garlic and tomatoes (which are quickly becoming my favorite things to saute together in some olive oil) and as I was stirring in the spinach, I could almost feel its silky texture against my tongue.

It became evident someone else also wanted to feel the silky texture of spinach against his tongue.  I tried to remind Angst that he only likes raw spinach and that he'd already eaten all of his pieces, but he was insistent.  We got about one minute and two bites into dinner before his incessant begging and big sad eyes got the better of Mister, who tossed a slimy piece of "broken" spinach on the ground so Angst would remember and leave us alone.


That plan utterly backfired as we watched, amazed, as Angst happily slurped up his slimy spinach and looked up for more.  They say your tastes change as you get older.  I figured that only applied to humans, but since Angst has decided, only a week after his eleventh birthday, that he likes cooked spinach now, I guess I figured wrong.


Speaking of figuring wrong...

In February, Kelly at Living On The Vedge published a less than enthusiastic review of Amande almondmilk yogurt.  Fortunately for Amande, in February I have very little interest in eating yogurt.  I associate yogurt almost exclusively with breakfast that also involves fresh berries and homemade granola, so it doesn't usually make the grocery list in the colder months of the year.  Having stumbled upon Kelly's not-so-favorable review of their product, the fine folks at Amande wanted to make good.  They explained that they have recently changed the recipe and wanted her to try their newer run of products, so they sent her a little care package in which she received her favored flavors: vanilla and plain.  She had much prettier words for the almondmilk yogurt this time around, so when I saw it on the shelf at Whole Foods last week, I thought I'd give it a try.

I got the blueberry flavor, as neither the vanilla nor plain flavors have found their way to [my] Whole Foods yet.  I got it home, put it in the fridge, and promptly wussed out.  It occurred to me that if WF didn't have the new flavors, maybe they still had the run of yogurt that wasn't so good.  I let it sit there for nearly a week, even though I exchanged glances with the little plastic cup every time I opened the fridge.  Finally, as Mister was hogging the bathroom getting ready for his brother's wedding, I decided to go for it, hoping it would at least sustain me until we got through traffic to the venue (it did).

I'll admit, I was a little...underwhelmed...terrified when I peeled off the top to find a solid, slightly jiggly, light periwinkle mass inside.  It remained completely unattractive as I did my best to whip it into something appetizing with my spoon.  Finally, I decided to just taste it and see if it was worth stirring before using up all my precious energy.  The very first thing I noticed was how light it tasted - kind of like a little blue cloud of slightly sweet goo.  Not bad goo, either.  It was a mild tasting yogurt, certainly more sweet than tart and without an overpowering fruit flavor, which in this case was perfect.

While I don't think Amande will take up permanent residence in my fridge, it's nice to know there is another nondairy yogurt available for the times I don't feel like the sometimes cloying sweetness of Silk and don't feel like spending twice as much for So Delicious's coconutmilk yogurt.  I am looking forward to trying the vanilla flavor, as well as dressing up the plain or using it to make tzatziki some day in the future, but I won't be breaking down anyone's door while I wait.

This afternoon, after teaching a couple of lessons, I stopped by my oldest student's high school graduation party.  I was amazed at how happy she was to see me and how closely she stayed by my side - as though it was my party and she was the one who didn't know anyone.  Turns out we're having some uncertainty about the future with a little bit of separation anxiety thrown in for flavor.

Isn't she beautiful?  I am so proud of her and I'm having my own selfish moments of not wanting her to grow up and leave me.  I have been teaching that little girl beautiful young lady since she was just a timid little 8 year old.  It has been such a blessing to me to watch her grow up and I count it a privilege to be a part of that.

After a few hours, a couple of glasses of wine and some tasty Italian desserts, I got back on the train and headed home.  After arriving home, I realized Angst needed food and kitty litter, so I put my jacket back on.  Since he was seated by his window, Mister decided there were entirely too many "icky people" outside for me to go to Superfresh unescorted, so he shoved his feet in his shoes and came with me.  We stepped out onto the sidewalk and immediately breathed in the heavenly scent wafting from the open door of Hostaria da Elio and found ourselves hungry for rich, flavorful Italian food (anyone surprised?).  When we reached Superfresh, I suggested picking up a couple of ingredients for our own Italian feast.

I can't tell you how pleased I was with the way this sauce came out.  I picked up a jar of Classico Cabernet Marinara, but then remembered how little texture jarred sauces have, so I also grabbed a can of diced tomatoes.  Since I got the garlic-n-olive-oil kind, I didn't want to drain the tomatoes, but I also did not want a wretchedly watery sauce.  Here is where the only love I can muster for science makes a brief appearance: I sauteed some garlic, added the tomatoes, turned the heat up high and watched the magic of evaporation reduce my tomatoes to a potent sauce base.  In the last three minutes, after almost all of the original liquid had disappeared, I added the jarred sauce, stirred everything up and reduced the heat while I drained the pasta.

Oh yes, and while I retrieved the garlic bread from the toaster oven.  I love my toaster oven.  I also love $1.25 sticks of french bread just the right size for Mister and I to each have two generous pieces of garlic bread.

Simple?  Quite.  Delicious and flavorful?  You bet.  Did Angst beg?

Does the Pope.... just kidding.  Yes, of course Angst begged.  Once again, we tried to remind him he doesn't like garlic, but he was not to be deterred by silly things like that.  Once again, Mister pulled a piece of his bread off and dropped the Angst-sized "crumb" on the floor.  Once again, my grumpy old man decided to show that his tastebuds have matured with this recent birthday and ate it all up and asked for more.

Mister has become far more attached to his little partner in crime than he is willing to admit most days.  Granted, I work 6 days a week, so the last thing on my mind is buying gifts for a creature who is unaware of what a birthday even is, but Mister really wanted to get the kitty birthday presents.

 

Here is Angst's cute new food bowl (water bowl beneath).  Around the outside it says "kittykat" and they are just the right size.  He also got the little bugger a new stash of catnip for dessert.  So "happy birthday" to my little punk!

winning!

God bless Charlie Sheen.  That man is completely out of his mind, as well as touch with reality.  Unfortunately, I don't think there will ever come a time he will be old and wise enough to look back over some recent interviews and be embarrassed.  I think he truly believes he is winning (and since he's not dead yet, I guess he is).

Fortunately, everyone can win sometimes!  I would not classify my overall life as "winning" and I spend more time than I should dwelling on ways I've disappointed myself, but I've had a few great days lately (though some could definitely be better described as "bi-winning," thank you, Charlie).  Oh, and by the way - Happy May!

Last night, I issued myself another Basket Challenge, since I didn't go food shopping until today.  Well, let me back up - we almost went out to dinner last night, but then we remembered it was Saturday and we don't like crowds of annoying people falling all over the place while we try to walk to a restaurant.  Mister framed it like this: "Why don't we go out tomorrow night, when it's nicer out?"  It was actually cooler today, so.... anyway, I ran up to Superfresh to grab a couple of ingredients and then made a new recipe that I think requires at least one more making before I share the recipe, but I'll show you pictures:

So pretty and colorful while sauteing

Pretty and tasty, though it does need "something more"

So then, with PIFA over, taking with it all of my reasons to screw around and not be productive on my one day off, I did make my way to about a half a dozen shops today to accomplish various errands.  When I set out to start shopping, I wanted to head over to Williams-Sonoma before it closed - I "needed" a flat whisk.  I've been resisting getting one because I already have 5 whisks in various sizes, but I have made one of the items on our new menu before, using one of those 5 whisks, and let me tell you - it doesn't work.  I really needed a flat whisk to make this recipe work.  Here begins a small comedy of errors.

I walked out the door and headed west because as long as I was going that way anyway, I wanted to stop into Salon Sugar and make an appointment to cover up my grays before the upcoming wedding season.  That accomplished, I headed up to Spruce Street to catch a bus to Center City West because I wanted to save a little time.  As the bus was approaching, I pulled out my April Trailpass...and realized it was May.  I put it away and started my trek up to the train station where I waited in the longest line I've ever seen there (people overflowing from the serpentine pen!) and got my new Trailpass so I don't miss the train waiting in line tomorrow... anyway, since the station is only a few blocks from my desired destination, I just strolled down Broad Street, amazed at how clean it was after yesterday's huge PIFA street fair.

It's not every day you see a ferris wheel in the middle of Broad Street in Philadelphia, so I think a person could logically say the PIFA went out in style...

Anyway, after procuring my whisk, I headed across the street to MAC...I mean...I was up there anyway.... whereupon a nice young man with almost as much mascara and slightly less eyeliner than me proceeded to paint my lips with the "perfect" berry shade.  A few moments later and lighter of purse, I headed down to Whole Foods to continue the spending spree for this menu:

1. Penne with Spinach and Chickpeas in Garlic Sauce from Quick Vegetarian Pleasures.  I have had this book for years and neither Mister nor I have a clue where it came from.  We know it came home from one of his tours with him, but we don't know how it got in his bags.  Anyway, I have several favorite recipes in here that have been neglected while I played with my shiny new books.  I decided to blow the dust off the cover and flip through for some old-timey goodness.

2. Spicy Ragout of Vegetables and Tofu, also from Quick Vegetarian Pleasures.  Whereas I have made #1 on many, many occasions, I have never attempted this recipe, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes.

3. Sloppy Joes from The Urban Vegan.  I am so looking forward to the new book coming out I kind of can't stand it.  So, while I wait, I'm revisiting some favorites from book #1 and living in the world-traveling, cosmopolitan faerietale world Dynise has constructed for me.

4. Granada Paella, also from The Urban Vegan.  This is my favorite Paella recipe and one of my favorites from the book.  I love the way it tastes and once everything it chopped and in the pot, I can just putter around my kitchen, say, sorting through and throwing out a week's worth of neglected mail.  Not that I would let something like that pile up.  Just a hypothetical situation...

5. Orecchiette con Broccoli, also from The Urban Vegan.  This is the recipe I "needed" the flat whisk for, provoking my travels all around Center City today (in the course of which I found a little hidden/secret kitchen toy store on Walnut St called Kitchenette.  Next time I have a ton of money and nothing to spend it on - yeah, right - I will go there for a shopping spree).

6. Punjabi Peppers and Tofu from La Dolce Vegan.  Just because it's been way too long since the last time I made this. 

Before I tell you about dinner, I want to introduce you to my new kitchen assistant:

Great company while chopping, dicing, sorting, and sauteing.

Tonight, instead of going out, I offered Mister a choice of cuisines (mainly because I couldn't make up my mind between 4 and 6), and asked him if he'd prefer Indian or Spanish.  Apparently, my husband is able to make the distinction between Mexican and Spanish, and therefore recognize how infrequently we eat latino food that isn't inspired by the southern-most tip of the continent, so he chose Granada Paella.

I'm so lucky to have such a pretty measuring dish to measure my one cup of diced red pepper! I don't usually measure the red pepper - I normally just get one pepper, dice it and call it a day.  However, my pepper choices this afternoon included tiny, misshapen, mutant peppers at Whole Foods or the hugest red peppers I've ever seen at Superfresh.  I figured two of the huge ones would equal the three normal-sized ones I had intended to purchase, so in order to make sure I had enough peppers for the other meals, I actually measured this time.  How could I help it when I have such gorgeous kitchen tools?

Doesn't that look delicious?  Believe me - it is.  Now that Mister and I have figured out the hidden location of vegan chorizo sausage, I will make it 100% true to recipe next time, but this time I still diced some Italian-style Tofurky, which is still awesome.

I may not have as much money as Charlie Sheen, or as much fame or nice things or notoriety, and I certainly don't have two "goddesses," but every bite of dinner tonight told me that I most certainly am "winning."