i'd rather be baking

I may have a bit of a tendency to go overboard on some things. You know, sometimes. For instance, a recipe for peach bourbon cupcakes seems indulgent enough, yes? The answer is yes. But I just couldn’t leave well enough alone. Lily-gilder, party of one.

It all started innocently enough. The recipe called for almond meal, and I didn’t have any almonds on hand nor the desire to buy any. I knew that any sort of dry flour wouldn’t be quite an appropriate substitution, as it would lack the fat content of almonds. That would be okay except that it would require further substitution in order to ensure moist cupcakes, and I just didn’t want to go there.

Read more »

Ryan has the privilege of working with the super-talented Valerie Jar, a designer/illustrator. Despite the fact that it’s now June, once I saw her fabulous calendars I had to have one. I promised to bake her anything she’d like.

When Val requested lemon cupcakes, I immediately thought of this recipe from Take a Megabite. I’d been thinking of trying it with oranges for myself, and I probably still will. But for now, lemons.

Read more »

I may or may not have mentioned that I work at a small cupcake shop. It’s fun but, unfortunately, I don’t get to spend as much time decorating as I’d like. There are too many other things to do!

The problem here is that if practice makes perfect, then not enough practice makes, well, less than perfect. So earlier this week I brought home some frosting to practice.

Read more »

In the midst of the cold and snow that was last week, I found myself dreaming of the South. Yes, the South. If you know me at all, you’ll know that this is a little odd.

Yes, I spent a good chunk of my formative years in Arkansas, and yes, my husband spent his entire life there (until recently). I love my friends, family, and the Ozarks as much as the next girl, but really, the South isn’t my favorite. I like the ocean. And winter, generally. You can see how this would be a problem.

But here’s the newsflash: it’s warm in the South. It doesn’t snow there in May. People call you “honey” and “dear” and make ridiculously good food. And what do I think of when I think of all of these things? The fantastic Pioneer Woman.

Read more »

I have a confession to make. I’m not proud to admit it, but I sometimes cheat a little.

I’m all about the well-placed shortcut, but usually there’s a limit. My organic-eating, CSA-joining, homemade cleaner-using self typically bristles at and certainly tries to avoid things like this:

I know, I know. Preservatives, processed sugar, and ingredients I can’t identify? They’re all in that box. I’m slightly ashamed even now. What was I thinking?

I’ll tell you what I was thinking: orange cupcakes, now. You see, it’s been one of Those Weeks. I started the week with a to-do list (that at least felt) longer than my arm, full of those nit-picky things that never seem to get done. Appointments to schedule, phone calls to make — you know the drill. One thing proceeded to add to another and suddenly it’s the week that will not end. Seriously. It still isn’t over.

Read more »