Cupcake Carriers

With Alyzabeth and I perfecting several cupcake recipes, we have the problem of transporting the cupcakes after they are frosted. For every batch we make, all but three of four stay with us as we give away most of them to neighbors and to our favorite local River House Manager (Kelly).
Back in 2008, I found a great carrier and gave one away. Somehow, if I have one I don't know where it is (we moved last year, so many things are still packed!).
I was visiting with cousin Carolyn over a month ago and we went into a few stores after our luncheon date. It was a discount store and there were two different cupcake (24) carriers. Only two. One of each type. Of course, I had to have them. Our grown daughter loves making cupcakes too, so we can share (yes, that's one way I justified the purchase of two of them!).
This one collapses when not in use and can be used for a cake too (has two removable layers):

 The next three photos are of a cupcake shaped carrier with lift out trays:

 Love them both!

Lindsey and Nick - Engagement Celebration!

Our best friends, Kenny and Pam Davis co-hosted an engagement party last Saturday for their daughter Lindsey and fiance Nick. It was held at Nick's parents home in St. Augustine. Daughter Leaa and Jesse kept AA for us and she had a great time with them at Salt Springs for the day!
A great party with delicious food (low country boil, crab and shrimp dips and plenty to drink!).
Cookies with "L and N" on them:

I didn't take many photos as friend Ralph (and fellow alumni from UMO) was taking TONS to make into a party book afterwards. I caught a few of him taking the pictures. Bride to be below in white dress:

My dinner plate, yummy shrimp, sausage and veggies:

The only photo I took of Nick is very blurry!

Our corner of the back yard was great, shade from the hot sun and coverage when a few rain sprinkles came:

Can't wait for the wedding!

Alyzabeth's Art Works

AA's Kindergarten class is offering a few weeks of art classes after school one day per week, so we signed her up. Last week while talking about it, we searched on line and found THOUSANDS of art ideas. She selected drawing a lion. It was a good warm up art exercise and she made "it her own" with brown eyes. Another masterpiece to hang on her wall!

Visit to Maine Part 2 (April 2013)

I had a great visit with my immediate Maine family from April 26th - May 1st....
I did help with the yard raking as you saw from my first Maine post; and I did a little painting too.

Mom took me out to dinner at the Royal River Grill house (used to be the Cannery); the food was great and the view even better:

I took a picture of an old photo hanging in my Mom's home: I took this picture one of the times I was a passenger with my Dad as he piloted a rental plane over Little Sebago Lake. I am not sure where the original film negative is, so took this photo. I thought it was cool, as I got the plane's windshield reflection in it. I had it enlarged and gave it to my Dad as a gift, maybe around the early 1980's. Love the big island and the beauty of our lake.

I posted this on Facebook, my yummy homemade french toast with our neighbor, the Morse's, homemade maple syrup!

All gone!

The final two pictures are of my breakfast at the Portland International jetport on the morning of my departure. It was delayed more than three hours, so United gave me a voucher which I immediately spend on this delicious breakfast at Linda Bean's restaurant. Another BIG yummy! Can't wait for my next trip  home!

Strawberry Cupcakes! Semi-Homemade!

Since I had been gone a week, Alyzabeth and I spent several hours together catching up on Mommy-Daughter time.We planned this year to make and "perfect" several cupcake recipes so that we could make them anytime with tried and true recipes. We completed the vanilla version, then the lemon one (which was posted here a couple of days ago); now we tried strawberry cupcakes. We used Nana Joy's strawberry cake recipe as cupcakes and they came out great. We used a cream cheese frosting with 1/4 cup pureed strawberries.
The batter and our mess:

The recipe used a box of white cake mix and a box of strawberry gelatin plus 10 ounces of strawberries in syrup (buy frozen):

We made cupcake flags with Alivia's name on them, since I missed her 7th birthday party while in Maine, thought we would drop by and hold our own mini-celebration.

Yummy! Now to find the perfect chocolate cupcake recipe!

The Players - Youngest Daughter

Hubby took our youngest daughter to the PGA Tournament that is held close by each year, called "The Players". It is held at the Sawgrass Course in Ponte Vedra Beach. She was able to get several autographs from the players as they walked off the greens during their practice round. Hubby said they were all very polite and Alyzabeth did great saying "Thank You" after they signed her golf cap.

Ford hopes this will become an annual event for he and Alyzabeth. This marks the second year they have attended together. The atmosphere is much more relaxed during the practice rounds as opposed to actual tournament days. Also, you can take a camera!

Above: AA intently watching a group practice their putting and chipping on hole 18.

AA waiting in line to snag an autograph.

AA's attention distracted by an otter making its way across the course to an adjacent pond.

Lemon Cupcakes

Continuing with our cupcake recipe quest, here are the lemon cupcakes we made about a month ago (early April 2013).
I used the vanilla cupcake recipe with buttermilk and substituted lemon juice, zest and lemon extract. Very yummy! A keeper recipe. After making these, I was inspired to make homemade lemon extract, so am waiting for the time when I can use it (steeps for several months).

 

We have since made strawberry cupcakes and will next move onto chocolate ones; so please share your favorite chocolate recipe.