Heart Day Whoopie Pies

Some people think of Valentine's day as the day to shower the one you love with flowers, candies, and a candle lit dinner. Other's think of it as a Hallmark holiday. Some may even think of it as a day to celebrate heart shaped items. How ever you choose to recognize February 14th, chocolate whoopie pies filled with a strawberry filling will surely top it off!

Why yes, that is bacon in your cupcake!!

You wouldn't know it from the picture, but this is a 'Maple Frosted Bacon Cupcake". Yes, BACON! It started with facebook (I feel like that happens more and more theses days). A friend posted he was gifted with theses bacon cupcakes. Which, to me sounded...well...not worth baking, nor trying. And if you know me, thats a lot. I try to give everything at least one shot. As you know, anything that starts with facebook turns into a whirlwind, so when my brother-in-law asked if I had seen our friend's facebook status about bacon cupcakes, I was quickly informed there was bacon in his freezer.

Needless to say, I stuck to my "I'll give everything a shot once" moto and put his bacon to good use. They were surprisingly yummy! However, they are a very dense cupcake, more of scone like.

Maple Frosted Bacon Cupcakes:

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour

1 Cup Cake Flour

1 3.9-ounce Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 Tablespoon Potato Starch (I used Corn Starch)

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg (I just used Nutmeg Spice)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

4 Large Egg Whites, at room temperature

1/4 Cup Maple Syrup

1/2 Cup Half-and-Half, at room temperature

1/2 Cup Chopped Cooked Bacon (about 5 strips)

For the Frosting:

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature

2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, at room temperature

2 Cups sifted Confectioners' Sugar

1/4 Cup Maple Syrup

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 Strips Bacon, Cooked and Chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place paper liners in a 12-cup muffin tin. Prepare the cupcakes: Combine the flours, pudding mix, baking powder, potato starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl with a whisk.

In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugars with a mixer on low speed until combined, 6 to 8 minutes. Gradually mix in the vanilla and egg whites. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; continue mixing until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the maple syrup and half-and-half, mixing after each addition and ending with flour. Mix until the ingredients are just combined; do not overmix. Fold in the bacon.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about three-quarters of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon; beat until combined. Spread on the cooled cupcakes; top with chopped bacon, if desired.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

Let me start by saying...I'm in love with HOW this recipe is made! I found the recipe here...and decided I had to try it! You mix all of the ingredients in the 8x8 pan that you bake it in...simple, easy, and best of all only 1 dish to clean!! It's very rich! Next time I would suggest smaller portions with maybe a little French Vanilla ice cream?? YUM!

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups hot water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In an 8x8 inch square pan, stir together the flour, white sugar, 1/4 cup of cocoa, baking powder and salt. Add milk and oil, mix well. Sprinkle brown sugar, remaining cocoa and chocolate chips over the mixture. Add the vanilla to the hot water, then pour the water over the top.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the surface appears dry. Serve warm with a spoon or at room temperature.

Round 2...

As I promised, here is round two of the sugar cookies. Item number one I wanted to tackle was the thickness...DONE! And with ease. Item number two to tackle was stickiness/rolling of the dough....DONE! There is more I need to work on, they're not exactly where I want them to be, but they are almost there.

And if you are wondering why snowflakes? Well, it's probably due to the lack of snow around these neck of the woods. I thought it was winter!! Geez, oh well. If I can't have real snow I can at least have snow cookies.

Sugar Cookies

And because I needed a little bread making fix....here are some home-made pretzels. I really wanted to bake bagels, but decided I would try something new. I've been dying to try this recipe for a while now, and here they are! YUM YUM YUM! They are not the prettiest of pretzels, but they make up for their looks in tastes. It's what's inside that really matters, right?

Pretzels

Have a good week everyone, may it be better than the last!

hello there sugar..

...Sugar Cookies that is. First off, I need to admit something. I've had a bit of an obsession this week with...a blog. A friend of mine sent me it, and I fell in love. This lady has a pure talent with decorating cookies. PURE TALENT! This inspired me to try THE SUGAR COOKIE. It's something I've tried a few times, but I've yet to make it happen. So I'm starting fresh. New recipe, new ideas, new determination. Here is the first round, the GNO cookies. That's short for Girl's Night Out. You know, the night that all the girls get together in their PJs, slippers, and their oversized sweatshirts. The night we all cuddle up on the couch together, chit chat, catch-up, and drool over Dr. McDreamy.

So stay tuned for more sugar cookies, because the next batch of dough is currently in the fridge chilling...I'm not giving up until I have the best sugar cookie recipe.

Bring it on 2011!

Well everyone, it is finally here. Another year has come and gone. Another year of laughter, smiles, heartache, and love has past. I can't help but think about everything that has happened in the past year. Everything that has changed. Everything I expected to happen that did, and all of the unexpected I was blessed with. If we time-traveled back exactly twelve months, I never could have expected to be here. But I am. So, going into this new year, I'm taking with me this: Live and learn. Love you life. Be thankful for the family that loves and supports you. Be thankful for the family you are born into, and the one you've grown into. Be thankful for every experience. Do not regret a single thing for you cannot change the past. Learn from your mistakes. Believe that if it is meant to be, it will find a way. And, be thankful for every day, every moment, every breathe.

Resolutions...this year, my resolution is to post at least once a week. My life one is to "Laugh more, smile more, eat more, drink more, and have fun more."

Here's to my first 2011 post:

Ladies' night is always a good night. Pizza night is also always a good night. So when we combine the two, it's a FABULOUS night! It was a night of laughter, fun, stories, and celebration. We proudly celebrated my sister closing on her first house! She recently got her realtor license and I couldn't be prouder! =)

Happy 2011 to everyone! This is going to be a BIG year...and I have a feeling a GREAT year! See you all next week...

Spinach and Prochuto Pizza

The infamous 'White Pizza'

Num Num Num!

Christmas 2010...

Where to begin? Well let's just say it all started with this crazy idea I would bake for a couple of my friends...which somewhere along the way turned into baking bags filled with goodies for 14 families! There were 'Maple Pecan Buttons (a.k.a. Russian Teacakes)', 'Soft Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting', 'Chocolate Mint Cookies dipped in White Chocolate topped with Crushed Candy Cane', and last but certainly not least 'Chocolate Whoopie Pies filled with Peppermint Filling'. About halfway through all my baking, I stopped and thought to myself "I can't wait for the day I can do this EVERYDAY!".

I'm in LOVE with how these bags turned out...there will definitely be more in the future

And finally...Santa came!

I hope everyone has enjoyed their holiday season...I know we sure have! May you all have a safe and happy end of the year...bring on 2011!