Apr 21
The 2.0s can be bought. Or at least it appears they can be. Take a look at the happy campers enjoying the fruit that T2 sent to my office this week, along with the addition of a little melted chocolate. Their verdict? “He’s got MY vote.” And I thought they were so picky. Who knew?
T2 managed to surprise me all the way from England when he sent a fruit basket from Edible Arrangements to my office. When it arrived, I was out of the office in court. After I got out of my hearing, I had a message from one of the other lawyers in the office letting me know I’d “found a keeper.” Thankfully, everyone waited for me before digging into it…nice of them, don’t you think? Once I got back, we opened it up to share. And hardly made a dent in it. Even with five people. One of the gals at the office is really hoping that T2 “stays in the UK a LOOONG time so that ‘we’ can continue getting gifts like this.” Personally, I’d prefer he was here, but that’s just me. Since he’s not, I’ll content myself with eating pineapple. It was my VERY. FAVORITE. PART. I think I ate more of that than anyone else. I feel totally justified about it, don’t worry. After all, it WAS addressed to me. Despite the “we’s” and “us’s” that I heard about “our” gift.
After we tried (and failed) to finish it at work, I decided to take the rest of it home to my family. I knew they’d do their part to make sure that it didn’t go bad. They did not let me down. It seems that they all felt T2 sent it specifically for them. (And I’m going to let them think that.) Jessie summed it up best. “I’m glad T2 loves us so much.”
Tagged with: 2.0s • chocolate • edible arrangements • england • family • jessie • leila shea law • pineapple • t2 • uk
Sep 24
There is something about a cupcake that makes it impossible to hate. And most of the time, impossible to resist. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s your own personal little cake. Maybe it’s the pillows of frosting that all good cupcakes come with. I have been to a few cupcake bakeries in my time – they’re called “cupcakeries.” One of my favorites is Mad Hatter Cupcakes in Las Vegas, in the Summerlin area. When I lived in Las Vegas, they were a dangerous addiction – way too close to my house and just on the way home from the gym. (Because you can justify having a cupcake after you have worked out for an hour. Totally negates the workout, but at least you aren’t doing yourself as much harm.)
Making specialty cupcakes on your own isn’t that difficult and if you do it right, they are often better than the cupcakes you can buy. They can even look stunningly sophisticated.
There are a few websites that have some great ideas for inspiration: The Cupcake Project, The Busty Baker and Bakerella. (You’ll notice that they are also listed in my “Things I Love” blogroll.)
Here’s one of my own latest cupcake creations, inspired by The Busty Baker’s own Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes. Her photography is better than mine and her directions are probably clearer. The biggest difference between the cupcakes is that my cupcakes are filled with raspberry filling. These were a big hit when I took them to a friend’s dinner party.
White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
Cupcakes:
- Your favorite chocolate cake mix or recipe. I cheat. I use a box.
Filling:
- 2 1/2 cups raspberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
Mix the raspberries and sugar together on the stove until sugar is dissolved and raspberries have been all been smashed. Continue to stir on the stove until raspberry mixture has slightly thickened.
Frosting:
- 1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened
- 1 bag of powdered sugar (2 lbs.)
- 4 squares of white baking chocolate, melted
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Mix all above ingredients. While mixing, add 1/4 cup water by the spoonful. Whip until you have a nice, fluffy consistency.
Put it all together:
Wait until your cupcakes have cooled. Cut out a hole in the top of each cupcake. Spoon raspberry filling into the holes. It will seep throughout the entire cupcake. You can replace the top of the cupcake if you want. Cover with white chocolate frosting. Voila!
PS – these are especially good if you have let them sit in the fridge overnight so that the filling really gets into the cupcake.
Tagged with: chocolate • cupcakes • food • raspberries
The 2.0s can be bought. Or at least it appears they can be. Take a look at the happy campers enjoying the fruit that T2 sent to my office this week, along with the addition of a little melted chocolate. Their verdict? “He’s got MY vote.” And I thought they were so picky. Who knew?
T2 managed to surprise me all the way from England when he sent a fruit basket from Edible Arrangements to my office. When it arrived, I was out of the office in court. After I got out of my hearing, I had a message from one of the other lawyers in the office letting me know I’d “found a keeper.” Thankfully, everyone waited for me before digging into it…nice of them, don’t you think? Once I got back, we opened it up to share. And hardly made a dent in it. Even with five people. One of the gals at the office is really hoping that T2 “stays in the UK a LOOONG time so that ‘we’ can continue getting gifts like this.” Personally, I’d prefer he was here, but that’s just me. Since he’s not, I’ll content myself with eating pineapple. It was my VERY. FAVORITE. PART. I think I ate more of that than anyone else. I feel totally justified about it, don’t worry. After all, it WAS addressed to me. Despite the “we’s” and “us’s” that I heard about “our” gift.
After we tried (and failed) to finish it at work, I decided to take the rest of it home to my family. I knew they’d do their part to make sure that it didn’t go bad. They did not let me down. It seems that they all felt T2 sent it specifically for them. (And I’m going to let them think that.) Jessie summed it up best. “I’m glad T2 loves us so much.”
