Thursday, July 28, 2011

Rainbow Cupcakes

This heat is making it unbearable to do anything else besides stay inside.  It is almost like a snow storm because that cabin fever feeling is coming over me.  This morning I had the urge to get into the kitchen and make a cupcake that I have never made before.  My friends have always tried to get me to make these and for some odd reason until now, I have been intimidated by them.  Overall, these take some patience and a careful hand.  The finished product is so worth it.  I would have loved these as a small child; the colors are so bright and fun!  What is not to love about a colorful cupcake?  They are so great I had to share the recipe with you!

Rainbow Cupcakes

Makes 12 regular sized cupcakes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Self-Rising Flour
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
2 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
3 tbs Milk
Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Food Coloring

Directions:

  1. Start by pre-heating your oven to 395 degrees.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, use the whisk to beat sugar into butter until creamy and fluffy. The mixture should be light in color.

  3. Slowly stir in eggs and flour, making sure each is thoroughly stirred in. Mix in Vanilla.

  4. Stir in milk 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring thoroughly after each tablespoon is added.

  5. Divide mixture evenly into each of the smaller bowls.

  6. Add food coloring in this manner:

    Bowl 1- 8 drops red

    Bowl 2- 8 drops yellow, 4 drops red

    Bowl 3- 8 drops yellow

    Bowl 4- 8 drops green

    Bowl 5- 8 drops blue

    Bowl 6- 8 drops blue, 4 drops red

  7. Line muffin pans with muffin cups. Starting with purple, spoon batter evenly into each of the muffin cups, spreading slightly. Continue layering, with blue,  green,  yellow, orange, and then red.

  8. Bake for 20 minutes at 395 degrees.




I frosted them with a fresh whipped cream, it’s very simple and easy to make.  Plus it looks like a little cloud for your rainbow that you just created.  I hope that you bookmark this recipe and try it out sometime for yourself.  You will not be sorry that you did!

Monday, July 25, 2011

A Real Life Middle Sister


This post is going to be about my little, Kayla Grant because the she inspires me.  If you have never had the opportunity to meet Kayla you are missing out.  I am not sure if it is her deep swoop bangs, her sarcastic humor, or her love of black and gray clothing that makes her stand out in the world of Barbie dolls.  She is an individual and not afraid to embrace it; I truly admire that about her (even though she may not know that).  Well the cats out of the bag, Hey Kayla-You are awesome!

In other news, I am on a personal mission to make a wreath out of wine corks.  One I can keep up all year round and make fit the seasons.  With that said, I am on a wine tasting mission because I want to know every cork that will be on my wreath.  Wine is intimidating to me.  I think it was because I was always trying sips of reds.  Not the best way to jump into the wine scene if you ask me.  With much consideration I have been venturing in the white section, trying simple ones to begin with.  I have made some progress in the past couple of months.  I feel like I am finally able to have a greater appreciation for wine.  I don’t make a face after each sip like I did when this whole thing  first started.

Here is how Kayla ties in, this past weekend I came across this bottle.  I was intrigued and could not let this bottle pass by me.  This particular middle sister, tiny stick figured girl with attitude just like Kayla Grant, a real life middle sister.



So here is a toast, I raise my glass to all of you middle sisters out there!  You have been in a tough spot until now.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Fabulous Grownup Life

Sometimes life comes at you fast and things happen when you least expect them to.  For example: being grown up.  One night while in college you are hanging out with your sorority sisters on the couch, laughing hysterically while watching YouTube videos about kittens.  Out of nowhere, all of a sudden wahhhmmmo (cue Jaws Music)!  You are out in the real world, looking for a job, moving, and then working your life away like a slave.  All of this really makes me wonder, is this what it is all come to?

Here is my stance on this whole situation: Being grown up is as fabulous as you want to make it.  So here is a toast to all things glamorous, wonderful, magnificent, and everything in between! With that said, I am going to enjoy a cupcake and get a good laugh in while watching kittens inspired by kittens.



Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Pray For Rain


Here is a preview of the "s'more" cupcakes!

Oh hey there sassy blog readers, fancy seeing you here!  The past week has been a little crazy in the life of Lindsey.  However today things are slowing down a little bit.  This afternoonI had enough time to get in the kitchen and create a cupcake recipe!  I wanted something that felt “summery” since it has been over 100 degrees for the past couple of weeks and thus the “s’more cupcake” was born.  If you don’t live in Oklahoma I am sure you cannot believe this, so here is some evidence to make this claim a little more clearly.  I took this last week while in Stillwater when I was in the process of packing up my apartment.


I also took the liberty to go to Eskimo Joes one last time as a Stillwater resident.  I ordered sweet pepper bacon cheese fries and ate them all by myself (it was like a slice of heaven)!  I was that girl but I am totally fine with it!  These are two of the things that I am going to miss the most—Eskimo Joes and “my” Starbucks.


Look at that cheesy goodness!  You know you want to hop in your car and drive to Joe's right now!

At the beginning of the week I had the opportunity to see some of my favorite sorority sisters.  I got to spend some quality time with Kristin.  Then off to brick town to go to an event to remember Emily Woods.  It had such a great turn out and I think that they made a good start with her memorial scholarship.  Sometimes all a girl needs is a dinner date with good friends just to catch up on what’s going on in the world around them.  At any rate, the job search continues; five interviews this week alone!  Things have been a little sporadic and it is keeping me on my tip-toes that is for sure.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Tonight, We Bake

It’s Friday as if you didn’t already know that by now.  Another thing that you may or may not know I am kind of like an old lady.  In the regard that I am not one for the party scene; I am a homebody.  Call me lame but I would sometimes rather stay in, have a glass of wine, and just enjoy the company.  With that said, tonight I am celebrating by trying a new cupcake that is candy inspired!  I am going to give it a test with the help of some close friends.  In addition, I am also thinking about making some chocolate chip cookies as well.  My mouth is watering just sitting here thinking about it!  Then one look at this picture you will want a glass of milk accompanied with a warm cookie!  I will let you know how they turn out, everyone cross your fingers, please!



So there you have it, it’s a Friday night and I have a hot date in the kitchen.  I hope that you have had a great week and have an even better weekend!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Sweet Treats

Growing up in Pawhuska there were not many choices on places to eat or shopping.  It seems like every weekend my family would pack up and go to Tulsa or Bartlesville to have lunch accompanied with some shopping.  One of my all time favorite places, past and present is Merritt's Bakery.  When I was little we would meet my Aunt Lisa there to get an afternoon snack and it was a great pick me up!  Then on holidays, she would also bring a box of cookies and sweet treats for us to enjoy.


How perfect is this cake?  What a cute little lion, perfect for a safari or Alpha Delta Pi party!

Well now that I am somewhat of a grown up not much has changed.  I still look forward to Saturday!  Why? Because I get a Merritt's Bakery treat for breakfast accompanied with Starbucks coffee!  There is no better way to get your weekend started.  This is the time were Jered and I get to catch up with one another. I get to hear about his week at the Law firm and I inform him on my job searching/life happenings.  It might seem simple and silly but sometimes you need moments where you slow down for a moment and really enjoy each other’s company.


Take some time to make a visit to your favorite place this weekend!  Who knows you might start a new tradition!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Red, White, and Cupcakes

I finally captured the 4th of July spirit, it took long enough to find it, but I am glad I did. I made the trip home this weekend and little did I know what was in store for me when I arrived. Before that all happened I decided I should go home bearing gifts. That morning I woke up and was in the kitchen before 8:00 a.m. I made a little joke saying that I was turning into my mother if you don’t know her you might not know what I am talking about. My mother is a unique creature, such a morning person! If she is having company over; she will be in the kitchen that morning at 5:00 a.m. preparing food and goodies for everyone. Anywho, I was making some Key Lime cupcakes to bring home with me. I prepared them without any problems and then put them in the freezer while I got ready. Then we were off to Pawhuska for the day, but not before we had Starbucks in hand. And what do you know, the cupcakes made it just fine surprisingly.


Here is my finished Key Lime Pie cupcake.  It's a graham cracker cake with a cream cheese/lime frosting topped with crushed graham cracker crumbs.

I get home and to my surprise my little sister, Lauren has made some festive 4th of July cupcakes! Needless to say, we had plenty of cupcakes for everyone (Not to mention the catfish, frog legs, brisket, burgers, hotdogs and any side you could ever want)!  No one left there hungry, I can guarantee that much! My dad’s side of the family came over and spent the day, there were a lot of tiny humans swimming and setting off fireworks. It was nice to sit back and watch it all unfold and the day progressed. It was nice to spend some time at home, even if it was for a couple of hours. Pawhuska still hasn’t changed any, except for the McDonald's which is still hard for me to grasp completely.

Doesn't this picture scream 4-H Record book?  I think it's a winner!

There was also another family in attendance, my little sister’s best friend Megan Ducotey and her mother. I have known the two of them since I was a little girl. I have also watched Megan grow up right before my eyes. She was one of my little 4-Her’s back in the day. They also came with goodies, Megan made some wonderful cupcakes, and they were cherry limeade. I had to sample one and it got the Lindsey seal of approval, it was moist and delicious, tasted just like cherry limeade from Sonic. With all of these cupcakes in my house, it felt a little like cupcakes wars. But in this cupcake war, everyone was a winner!