NaBloPoMo - May....can I do it?

I am thinking about trying to complete NaBloPoMo again for the month of May....It was a challenge for April, and I really enjoyed it. I want to do it again. It is great exposure, great patience and helps me improve my writing...I think!


But all I have today is these pics of Aiden "reading a book". It is my birthday today and I have been busy spending time with the boys and just got back from dinner out at Carraba's with the family. I wish Aiden came with a volume button, but at least this time no one complained!


Anyway... I noticed that Aiden was a little quiet today...and found him doing this...

Sitting in the middle of Jake's room in the sunshine reading a book....and yes he is in his diaper...he likes to have his pants off!!

More to come tomorrow...need to go eat some birthday "dessert". Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! I am an old lady now - 35! Yikes! But I guess it's ok since I don't feel it at ALL! Young at heart!


Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Put the Lime Curd in the Cupcake!

Instead of "put the lime in the coconut"....get it? I try to be funny... is it working?

I don't know where this lime obsession is coming from the past couple of days, but I am lovin' it! The lime curd I made yesterday turned out luscious....that's right....LUSCIOUS. I wanted a cupcake to go along with it that would hold up to this fantastic lime curd. So I asked my friend CB, from I Heart Cuppycakes to send me a link to her best go to vanilla cupcake recipe....and this is what she sent...you can find her version here. (Thank you for responding to me so quickly - gotta love twitter!)

Lime Vanilla Cupcakes

Makes about 12

1-1/4 cups AP flour

1-1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup sugar

Zest from one lime

6 tbsp butter, room temperature

1 large egg + 1 egg white, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line cupcake pan with paper liners.

In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Zest lime and with fingers rub the sugar with the lime zest. In a stand mixer, fitted with flat beater, beat the lime sugar and butter until well combined, about 2-3 minutes. Add egg and egg white, one at a time, beating on low.

Then add vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions, ending with the flour mixture.

Fill cupcake liners about 1/2-2/3 full. Bake for about 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

6 oz Cream Cheese

1 1/2 Sticks Softened Butter

2 tsp Lemon Extract

1 Tbsp Half and Half

Approx 6 - 7 cups of Icing Sugar

Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add in Half and Half and Lemon Extract. Add Icing Sugar until you reach the consitency you are looking for....I like to have it spreadable but stiff enough to hold the swirls and peaks!

I used the simple "cone" method to fill these cupcakes. I took a sharp knife, coned out a piece of the cupcake, cut off the bottom of the cone, put in the lime curd, and put the top of the cupcake back on. Just like this......

Then I frosted them with the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Lemon Lime Vanilla Cupcakes. They were a hit at the meeting and I actually was able to sneak a couple to bring back home for Jason and I to enjoy. They are delicious. Oh, and luscious. What a great word!

This is my last posting for NaBloPoMo......whew....it was tough to make sure to post everyday. But a very fun experiment. I may chose to do it for another month....guess I have to decide tomorrow..... thoughts?

That's it for tonight all....hope you had a good April!

Take Care,
Tania

Love Big, Bake Often