cupcake challenge ::: week 17 ~ s'more cookies

last week my boys went to scout camp and had an amazing time.  they got to swim, fish, climb rocks, go repelling, and put their wilderness survival skills to the test by spending 24 hours with only a knife, rope, and water. one thing they didn't get to do was eat s'mores.  i thought i'd make them s'more like cupcakes.

i made up some cookie dough from this cookie recipe and filled the cupcake liners about 2/3 full and baked for 20 minutes. 

then placed a marshmallow on top and baked for about 4 minutes until it got a little golden and toasty.

then took the cupcakes out and topped with a kiss. 

cupcake challenge ::: week 16 ~ no bake cupcake

i had a request from an extra special and amazing  little birthday girl for some cheesecake cupcakes today. 

i took the easy road on these cupcakes and went for the no bake kind using the jell-o brand.  i make a few adjustments to the recipe on the box. 

i like using 1/2 a cup of butter.  using 5 tablespoons leaves the crust kinda dry, hard to work with and it crumbles a little too much. so a little more is worth it.  i also use half and half instead of instead of milk for extra creaminess.

foil lined liners work best for these cupcakes.

these liners are perfect for my girlie. her favourite color is black.

now, i'll let y'all in on a little family tradition for my birthday girl.  her daddy doesn't want her growing up. he doesn't want any of our littles growing up but she is the baby and has to stay little.  for a few years now she has been 5 or 4 years old.  this year she turned 5 next year she will be turning 4.  it will probably be this way till she is 30.

she was such a happy little girlie to open the card from her daddy and see the great big 5 on it. it's great their little tease can go on even with the miles between them!

wordless wednesday

cupcake challenge ::: week 15 ~ a little nutty

what's y'all's favourite kinda nutty butter?  around here it is nutella.  i haven't had a kid come over who doesn't like it.  well there was this one.... but that was because he wouldn't try it.  eventually he did and now it is his favourite.

this week's challenge is a little nutty... make cupcakes with your favourite nutty butter. 

nutella cupcakes
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
1 cup nutella + a little more to frost if y'all want
1/4 cup milk

preheat oven (or toaster oven) to 350*F

place paper liners in the muffin tins. this makes up 18 to 24 depending on how full y'all fill the liners. i filled them 2/3 full and got 18.  i should have filled them a little less than 2/3 full, they kinda overflowed a bit.

mix flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy and add eggs on at a time mixing well after each egg.  mix in the nutella. then alternately mix in the flour mixture and milk.

bake for 22 - 25 minutes.  cool before frosting.

the first pan i baked came out a little dark around the edges so i turned the toaster oven down to 325*F for the next 2 and they came out perfect.

these cupcakes bake up flat.

now if any of y'all aren't a little nutty and are just a plain nut go ahead and make cupcakes with nuts.

my brother jcub told me the other day he just didn't want to turn the oven on to bake cupcakes because of the crazy heat. i told him i understand and haven't used my oven to bake cupcakes since march.  my little secret.... i'm using my toaster oven.  using the toaster oven takes a little longer to get the job done seeing as i can only bake 6 cupcakes at a time.  but it keeps some of the heat out of the kitchen. 

wordless wednesday

layered ruffled 4th of july skirts

i didn't get all the sewing i was planning on done this weekend.  i did find my girlies new bathing suits, went to the pool a couple times, and made 4th of july skirts using a tutorial found here.  i'm going to share my adjustments to the pattern incase any of y'all want to make one with my girlies measurements and don't want to do the maths of it.

this one is a 24 inch waist and is 21 inches long. 

there are:

4 connectors (red and white polka dots) that are 5.5 inches by 40 inches. 

4 ruffles (blue with peace sign flags) that are 6.5 inches by 80 inches.

i had to sew 2 pieces together to get 80 inches. if any of y'all end up piecing 2 strips together like i did, remember to add 1 inch for the seam allowance. 81 inches between the two strips = 80 inches after sewn together.

this one is a 22 inch waist and is 19 inches long.

there are:

4 connectors (red with stars) that are 5 inches by 36 inches. 

4 ruffles (navy blue with stars) that are 6 inches by 72 inches.

again i had to sew 2 pieces together to get 72 inches so don't forget to add 1 inch for the seam allowance (73 inches between the 2 strips.)