tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84844267748323063422024-03-12T22:09:11.310-04:00Strengths Based CupcakeRegardless of what the day brings, food (dessert especially), seems to bring sunshine to the masses. Care to share your food joy?BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-89979841156806973342010-10-29T14:11:00.003-04:002010-10-29T14:46:19.596-04:00Bite me... it's been an odd few monthsWoot! Woot! Who missed me?<br />Yeah, all you b*tches missed me! Funny thing about insomnia brought on by wedding stress - once the wedding's over, I can sleep again! <br /><br />But, have no fear - the baking has continued and, if I do say so myself - I've begun to KICK A** at it! I've taken down cinnamon drizzle biscuits, chocolate chip/peanut/caramel cookies, pumpkin noodle kugel (roasting whole pumpkins is my new favorite hobby), and apple crisp... to name a few.<br /><br />Although I'm now a Mrs., and have changed the name, share the bills, and do more "wife-y" things - one thing has not changed. The ever so thrilling dream of running my own bakery. Strong Cupcake could be friggin' awesome! And the more I think on it, the more ideas I've got.<br /><br />The newest trend for entrepreneurs in the food service industry is the Restaurant Truck. Grab an RV, school bus, mini-bus, or gutted van, make some sweet renovations, and get moving! A restaurant truck does not have the overhead costs of a brick-and-mortar business and, thanks to blogs, Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, etc. - it's really easy to let your customers know when and where you're going to be. People could STALK Strong Cupcake! I've always wanted stalkers!! (Well, I did have one once. Yahoo dating failed me BIG TIME. Luckily, my husband's odd quirks are limited to snow globes, fear of needles, and an odd obsession with Taylor Lautner.)<br />Anyways, Strong Cupcake starting out as a Restaurant Truck could be pretty cool. And here's where my "Jewish" hat comes in...<br />On Shabbat (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) - practicing members of the tribe cannot conduct business or drive. WELL, if Strong Cupcake received kosher certification and allowed customers to pay in advance - I could just drive the Bus O'Confectionary Awesomeness right to the synagogue and folks could enjoy a delicious treat every Saturday after services!!!! (Hey, this idea came to me in a dream and I like it! All you Doubting Thomas's can kiss my patootie - I gotta look out for my Chosen Folks).<br /><br />Another spark of brilliance regarding Strong Cupcake includes serious collaboration with Sadie Poppins. I've referenced the Great Prophet Sadiekins before... well, she's got her own lil' business she's working on and it involves party planning, baby clothing, and making the world a little prettier than she found it. Seriously, this girl does not f*ck around when it comes to making her projects A Numero Uno. We are all lesser people when she is near.<br />Imagine if Strong Cupcake actually had a physical location - well, Sadie Poppins items would be on sale there AND you could rent her fabulousness out to plan your party at the shop! She doesn't know it yet, but I'm planning an all night drink-fest where we sit in our jammies and sip wine into the wee hours while writing up our ideas and plans for the future. <br />WOMAN - if you're reading this... pick a weekend night that works for you and get out your fuzzy slippers!<br /><br />Finally, I'm a woman who likes to be entertained. Let's close our eyes again and pretend Strong Cupcake has a physical shop. Well - I'd demand a little stage be present for local talent to strut their stuff while their audience eats itself into a diabetic coma. There are some INCREDIBLY talented folks in this community (Kyla Morse, Naked Shakespeare, Raqs Borealis, The Escapists, Naya's Trance, Lindsey Feeney, Magnolia Devi, Brian Tingdahl and whatever band he's with, Samuel James.... yeah, I'm naming my faves... my blog, my call.... again, kiss my patootie if you don't like it.). With the loss of Acoustic Coffee and North Star Music Cafe, there is a HUGE HOLE in small venue performance space world.<br /><br />Okay, I was away for awhile... but I'm back now. More thoughts on the future, recipe WINS and FAILS, and random shenaniganz still to come!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-80590057176819209402010-06-07T01:31:00.003-04:002010-06-07T02:23:23.987-04:00I wonder if Midol can be mixed into cake batter?If the answer to that is yes - SOMEONE, PLEASE SEND ME THE RECIPE!!!<br />I get it; I'm a strong, sassy, independent woman. I burn my bra! I leave my pits and legs unshaven! I find Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and the chick from "Twilight" to be the undoing of DECADES of feminism. Yup, got it.<br />Bottom line - I hate my monthly "friend" and all that accompanies her. I hate the bloating, the cramps, the crying over country music. (No seriously, Darius Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This For Long" gets me every time! Damn you, Hootie! And all your little Blowfish, too!). Find me a woman who claims to love her period and I will punch her in the ever cramping ovaries... because she is a LIAR!<br /><br />Okay, got that out of the system. I'd say I feel better, but that's a lie. Why am I up in the wee hours on this lovely Sunday evening/Monday morning? My cramps from surfin' the crimson wave acted as a gateway drug for Midol ULTIMATE STRENGTH.... which is caffeinated. So, on top of reading 100 pages from "The Thornbirds" (HILARIOUS), bleaching my kitchen, washing dishes, and making the strawberry topping for the cheesecake I made earlier (more on that at a later date... let's just say, it was EPIC) - I've been doing some bake-style research. Well, not so much research as reading an article in the latest issue of Cooking Light Magazine entitled "10 Things to Know about Making the Perfect Cake". And so, I've decided to report on what these 10 tips are and my ever-so-perceptive thoughts on these tips:<br /><br />1. The best results start in the mixing bowl. A cake is essentially a chemistry experiment - a series of ingredients mixed in a specific order to case reactions that produce specific effects. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Okay, gotcha - call me Bill Nye the Science Guy. From this point forward, I shall pretend I'm in Chemistry Class whenever I bake. For the record, I nearly flunked Chemistry... it got pretty bad... my dad may or may no have called in a few favors from the Jewish mob to get me through that one.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. Know your oven. To prevent an under- or overdone cake, get an oven thermometer - it's the best way to be sure your oven is calibrated correctly. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">For those of my friends or coworkers I have seen in the last week, you may recall a certain "incident" involving me, my oven, some over-flowed chicken grease, and a wee-itty-bitty flame situation. My oven and I have since come to an understanding and I was a good person yesterday and cleaned the oven out. Lesson learned.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. Choose the proper pan size (and color). Pan size is specified in recipes because a cake increases in volume 50 to 100 percent during baking. Color is important - glass or nonstick pans usually require a 25 degree reduction in baking temperature versus silver-colored aluminum pans. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">I have nothing smarmy to add - this is interesting sh*t to know. But, for the love, my cat is sleeping on the chair next to me right now and she just farted. Gross.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4. Use the right flour for the recipe. Different flours contain varying percentages of protein - the more protein, the more gluten. Cake flower is lightest; bread flour is more dense. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Okay, that one makes sense. What if one gets all saucy and decides to toss in some whole wheat flour (as I have been wont to do? Is wont still used in sentences? Or do I just sound like a pretentious ass? Did I spell pretentious correctly? F*ck I'm tired and this Midol is making my hands jitter.)?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5. Weigh, don't measure, flour. Depending on how tightly flour is packed into a measuring cup, you can end up with double the amount intended. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Alrighty, it ain't on the wedding registry - but anyone out there interested in purchasing me some sort of flour scale thingamajig... that would work for me. Normally, I'm morally opposed to scales - but since I'm nearly certain this scale will in no way be used to take note of the size of my a**, I'm willing to give it a go.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6. Chemistry is key:<br />-Flour: Thickens batter<br />-Leaveners: Causes cake to rise (baking soda and baking powder)<br />-Fats: Provides moisture and texture (butter, shortening, oil)<br />-Sugar: Breaks up gluten, absorbs liquid, enriches flavor<br />-Eggs: Helps cake batter set in the oven<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">-Delicious<br />-Delicous<br />-SUPER Delicious<br />-EXTRA SUPER Delicious<br />-Delicious with a side of bacon<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7. Give your cake a cool down. Cool cakes in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes before removing from the pan. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Like a lover, not all cakes want to snuggle immediately after baking. It needs some time alone to think, wipe off the sweat, and smoke a cigarette. Or, on some rare instances, freak out if the "cake pan" broke.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8. Frost like a professional. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Basically, there are hundreds of techniques for putting the frosting on properly. The way I see it - you've got cake, you've got frosting. You could slop the frosting on with a pitchfork and it'll still taste fantabulous! If you want it to look all pretty... well, learn more patience than me.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">9. Fondant may make for a beautiful cake, but it doesn't taste very good. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Amen, brotha!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10. Factor in for higher altitude. Since there is less air pressure at higher altitudes, cakes rise more and can dry out because liquids evaporate more quickly. <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">If you want to simply follow a recipe, don't live on a f*ckin' mountain.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well, there you have it - tips to making a better cake. Once Strong Cupcake is up and running, there will be regular baking classes (in which I will be attending) to explain the good ol' fashioned chemistry behind why recipes ask for what they ask for. As much as I like to think some of it is out there just to annoy me, I'm sure there's more to it than that!</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><br /></span></span></span>BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-21023559092814871282010-05-25T01:30:00.007-04:002010-05-25T02:16:48.084-04:00At least my cat's keeping me company...Here we are again... the wee hours of the morning. Me, my computer, and my thoughts. Seriously - I'd like some Doogie Howser, MD sh*t playing in the background - it will help me feel profound! Go on, sing it with me...<br /><br />Yeah, you're totally humming right now. I am the all mighty and powerful Social Work Jew! I can control your mind!!!!<br /><br />Alrighty, I need to figure out some better sleep strategies.<br /><br />I spent the better part of this evening baking Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. I'm not so sure I like them - I added cinnamon and nutmeg where they really weren't needed. Ech, live and learn.<br /><br />What a nifty segway! I think tonight/this morning is a perfect time to discuss well intentioned recipes gone awry! Starting with my first attempt at Lemon Parfait with Fresh Berries! Before I get all sorts of awesome and start to display photos, I'd just like to say I don't think I really screwed up the recipe - more just added too much of a good thing. Proving once again, it's not the size, but the intent that matters most! (hehehehehe.... that's what she said!)<br /><br />Yeah, you giggled at that - I've totally made you my b*tch!<br /><br />Let's get back to that Parfait!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Although you may think being a social worker is all about money, fame, and glory - I'm actually pretty broke most of the time. So, for holiday gifts this year, I made everyone a little coupon redeemable for one dessert of his/her choice. My first friend to make use of this handy instrument was Cristobel! (That's not his actual name, but it's nearly 2am and I'm punchy - so you're just going to have to deal!) Cristobel turned to me and asked for something light and fruity. And wouldn't you know, my older brother just gave me Crate & Barrels cookbook for newlyweds with a lovely light and fruity recipe all up in its grill!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.crateandbarrel.com/is/image/Crate/BrideAndGroom1stCookbook?$lg$"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 132px;" src="http://images.crateandbarrel.com/is/image/Crate/BrideAndGroom1stCookbook?$lg$" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>In order to best tell the rest of the story - allow me to insert some photos to best capture what this was all about....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/S_tk8KDTOWI/AAAAAAAAACM/oZBgvn8o5MI/s1600/Eggs+and+Sugar.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/S_tk8KDTOWI/AAAAAAAAACM/oZBgvn8o5MI/s320/Eggs+and+Sugar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475080756652095842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This, ladies and gentleman, is basically what lemon parfait is all about! Lemon juice, sugar, and eggs. Where did I go wrong? I doubled the recipe all in one batch! What should I have done? Made two separate batches! What can I say - I like my servings large and powerful! (hehehehe... that's what she said.... see? Did it again! Total mind control! You're trying not to laugh, but failing miserably. That's okay, I won't judge you!) By going WAY overboard on how much I was attempting to whisk around in my bowl, the parfait never really fluffed up the way it's meant to - only the top layer worked out correctly.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/S_tn5Wp5jAI/AAAAAAAAACU/2eIrTMSoXqI/s1600/Strong+Cupcake+018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/S_tn5Wp5jAI/AAAAAAAAACU/2eIrTMSoXqI/s320/Strong+Cupcake+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475084007030492162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, see how it's kinda curdled and moveable via Spatula of Awesomeness? Well, after being refrigerated overnight - the whole bowl should have looked like that. I could only get the top layer to curdle. Once I'd removed that layer to top off some berries, the next layer curdled pretty quickly. Unfortunately - I wanted a whole frakkin' bowl of lemony parfait delicousness and I had to work it in stages (okay... that COULD warrant a "that's what she said"... I'll let you judge that one for yourself).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/S_tpBHtTACI/AAAAAAAAACc/7A9tFnZHENU/s1600/Strong+Cupcake+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/S_tpBHtTACI/AAAAAAAAACc/7A9tFnZHENU/s320/Strong+Cupcake+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475085239968792610" border="0" /></a>And here we have the finished product - Lemon Parfait with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and a peppermint patty on top. The recipe actually called for a mint leaf - but I thought that would come off as pretentious... and I couldn't find any. So, bite me. Cristobel got a fresh and fruity dessert and I got 10 gallons of lemon, egg, sugary liquid. I may or may not have let it sit in my fridge for a few weeks to see what sort of science experiment I could create. Interestingly - nothing grew. Just that top curdled layer. Sort of a let down.<br /><br />Okay, now I'm starting to get tired - time to try sleeping again. This means forcing the fiance back onto his side of the bed and potentially threatening him if the snore factor doesn't come down about 20 notches. We shall see!<br /></div></div>BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-48640395848583276062010-05-24T14:04:00.003-04:002010-05-24T14:28:04.337-04:00Bad, Bad Social Worker!Yes, it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon, I'm on the clock at work, and I'm totally writing a little bloggerifficness because my level of concentration has completely hopped out the window and I'm hoping if I get some outside thoughts written down - I can get back to the ever so important task of saving the world. Who else loves run on sentences?<br /><br />Something I've mentioned already - my wedding dress is currently a no-show. This wouldn't really be a problem, but my dress fitting is on Friday and it took several months to get an appointment with a lovely seamstress. So, short of deciding it'll be a toga-themed wedding... I'm beginning to show signs of stress.<br /><br />My newest symptom - insomnia. Lots of it. I wake up at 2am and don't find dreamland again until 5am. That just ain't cool. I would drug up, but do folks really want to see what a doped up social worker looks like on a work day? I like to consider myself a patient woman, but while recently swirling around in a Benedryl-induced haze, a client was telling me about the various city utility trucks that are (in her mind) stalking her. And I'm not talking about one or two trucks - I'm talking HUNDREDS. I'm talking more trucks than actually are run by the city of Portland, possibly the entire state. They are all chasing my client around. LUCKILY, I stopped myself before spouting off my thoughts... none of which would have been good for my future as a clinician. ALTHOUGH, I did take a moment to myself to consider renting a big utility looking truck and driving around her neighborhood - just to see how evil I could really be. C'mon, that sh*t would be HILARIOUS!<br /><br />Like I was saying, I'm faced with insomnia and I've discovered a way to be useful during the wee morning hours - BAKING! I surprised my future hubby with a huge ready-for-work lunch the other morning, and I've even begun to pre-set tools and ingredients before bed... knowing I'll be popping up during the night and need an activity to keep me sane. Next up, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips. <br /><br />Which brings me back to the original point of creating this blog- what could Strong Cupcake Bakery look like? Is it feasible to have a working bakery up and moving 24/7? Seriously - the city of Portland closes its eyes by 1am and everything shuts down. How sweet (pun intended) would it be to have a bakery open all night? Students <span style="font-weight: bold;">craving</span> a sugar fix during finals? Drunken Old Port Tavern idiots <span style="font-weight: bold;">needing</span> a cookie to get over their frat boy fight? Future brides FREAKING OUT because the dress they'd purchased over a year ago that was supposed to arrive nearly one month ago, but now it's nowhere to be seen and the invitations should have already gone out, but now they are trapped in printer hell and the bar service that should be easy is actually a pain in the ass because the state liquor inspector may be Satan's evil twin and what if my ass has officially expanded to the point where it needs its own zipcode and the Spanx I purchased will cause me to stop breathing during the ceremony, most of which may be in a language I don't understand anyway and I think may translate to my fiance purchasing me from my father for the grand total of 12 goats <span style="font-weight: bold;">begging</span> for something drenched in chocolate? <br /><br />Yeah... a 24 hour bakery could offer some solace in the above mentioned hypothetical situations. Just a thought.<br />Okay, back to saving the world!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-2772051650473273942010-05-18T03:28:00.000-04:002010-05-18T03:29:38.970-04:00Things that go bump... in the early, early morningWell, HELLOOOOOOOO! (Please imagine that "hello" was provided with the proper Mrs. Doubtfire inflection, and not just that I'm wickedsuper enthusiastic to greet you... even though I am).<br />It is officially 2:43 in the wee morning hours and I can't sleep. Normally, I would blame my lack of REM bliss on my future hubby's ogre like snoring, but it's actually not his fault this time. I'm wide awake for a number of reasons:<br /><br />1. I'm sick, sick, sick and my nose has become a scaled down version of Niagra Falls. It's gross, and I'm starting to become concerned I may drown my cat in my snot-snottery goodness if she continues to insist on sleeping right near my head. Oh, and I sound like a 90 year old chain smoker when I speak - which has my co-workers thinking I'm Typhoid Mary and I should be quarantined like one of those Rage Monkeys from "28 Days Later".<br /><br />2. Today is May 18th - officially making the arrival of my wedding dress 18 days late. I'm doing my best to be all zen about this fact, but in truth, I'm starting to get concerned. It doesn't help that the woman making my dress thought my wedding was mid-September... and it's actually on August 1.<br /><br />3. Let's pretend I actually get my wedding dress before the wedding - my fitting is next Friday. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I can pretty much GUARANTEE I'm not the same size I was last summer when I made my dress purchase. I'm breaking out in hives imagining my spare tire of a midsection busting some seams. (**Put on checklist - purchase Spanx**).<br /><br />4. I'm in charge of dinner for my peeps on Thursday night - aka Burrito Night. Burrito Night has a long and majestic history and you're about to get the short version:<br />Once upon a time, folks that all worked together at Waldenbooks all had Thursday nights off and decided to make one dude cook burritos every week. Now fast forward 6ish years, give or take, and this ragtag group of misfits continues to gather each week and eat food... not always burritos, but the name Burrito Night stuck, so why ruin a good thing? (If you'd like to read the biblical version of Burrito Night, holla at me and I'll try to get you a copy).<br />Okay, now back to focusing on <span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>. I very much enjoy making delicious food items for this posse, but for some reason, I'm stressing out over the menu. Right now, I'm thinking of creating The Second Coming of Thanksgiving... cause who doesn't love turkey and its various accessories? Okay, that's what's going to happen. Turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans or salad, and MAYBE stuffing (if I'm feeling sassy - and I do feel sassy on occasion). And the crew has made a dessert request of chocolate and peanut butter...hmmm. I'll have to think further on that one.<br /><br />5. Law and Order may be canceled before it has a chance to complete 21 seasons! I'm sorry, but if that's not a reason to lose sleep... I don't know what is! That show and its various spin-offs have been a security blanket for me for YEARS. Seriously, no matter what time of day - it is nearly guaranteed Law and Order is on and Sam Waterston is KICKING LEGAL ASS! (and Jerry Orbach, your witty one-liners were a thing of beauty.. RIP)<br /><br />So, there you have it. Not very bakery related, but I needed to purge some concerns before trying to fall back asleep. I've decided to give the dirty bastard hippies of the Portland Farmer's Market another try and will be headed there on Wednesday. Maybe they've matured over the winter and will actually peak their eyes out from behind their grime filled dreadlocks if I fall on my tuchus again. A girl can dream!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-72133752512038341892010-04-26T08:18:00.000-04:002010-04-26T08:22:47.404-04:00Not Dead...Hello! I'm a wicked failure with a capital F for neglecting this blog. I promise with a capital P to do better.<br />While I scan my brain for some titillating insights regarding what WILL be the greatest bakery on the freakin' planet, allow me to leave you drooling with a list of some of the recipes I've completed recently:<br /><br />Flourless Espresso Chocolate Cake<br />S'mores Cupcakes<br />Lemon Custard with Fresh Berries<br /><br />And every Passover recipe you could possibly imagine.... nearly 9 hours of cooking; all devoured in 30 minutes.<br /><br />Okay, there's my story for now - off to work!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-83676506278608678912010-03-04T14:16:00.000-05:002010-03-04T14:26:27.212-05:00A Good DayIn general, I spend my day to day working with families in ABSOLUTE SUCK situations. But sometimes, a bright spot opens up!<br />I'm working with a young family who is adopting - they are one of the sweetest families I have ever met and every time they bring their baby to my office, I just about melt. (I then proceed to make note to harass Jay about turning me into a baby-maker. He does not appreciate my interuterine desires, but I'm working on it.)<br /><br />Anyhoo, I realize in writing my "Big Space" idea about Strong Cupcake... I left out a play space! There's a bread store near my office, Big Sky (www.mainebread.com) that reserves a corner of it's dining area for little bakers. There's a play oven, cookie cutters, and big ol' buckets of unused bread dough to play with.<br />Yeah, Strong Cupcake is totally stealing that idea. Cause that's how I roll.<br /><br />This way, should the sweetest family in the world stop on by for some coffee and a cookie, their wee tot can get in on the action and have some fun.<br /><br />In the meantime, if anyone out in cyberland feels like procrastinating and designing my bakery, I'd love if someone with an actual sense of space could draw pretty pictures for me!<br /><br />Okay, must get back to work.... this week has felt way longer than necessary and I'm getting myself all pumped up to make some good ol' fashioned Jew-y noodle kugel for a pot luck on Sunday. Yeah, Jew Food!!!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-6936950517505249062010-02-26T12:42:00.000-05:002010-02-26T13:02:57.954-05:00Thoughts on the FutureHiya! Okay, I suck and have been WAY, WAY, WAY behind on writing for this blog. I've been baking, cooking, and brainstorming - I just get distracted by West Wing reruns before I can put my fingers to the keyboard.<br />Seriously, Josh Lyman.... who wouldn't get distracted by his awesomeness?<br /><br />I've been talking about my future as a bakery owner to a bunch of folks since 2010 came upon us. For the most part, it's only a half-assed thought about "What Could Be"... but in the last 24 hours, I find myself seriously considering... What If?<br /><br />Two events have sparked this sudden belief that all things Strong Cupcake are possible:<br />1. A newspaper article<br />2. The Prophet Sadiekins<br /><br />Let's start with the newspaper article:<br />http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704479404575087420338070854.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_smallbusiness<br />My fan-freakin-tastic fiance sent me this article this morning about a former investment/real estate/money dude who turned to "manly cupcakes" when his corporate career was flushed down the tubes. I love that a person can be going along, going along, life plan all in place and... BAM! Try something new. It's inspiring!<br /><br />And now onto the Prophet Sadiekins!<br />I've explained how amazing she is before. The girl can just <span style="font-style: italic;">create</span> whatever she imagines... and she makes it look so EASY! Recently, I watched Sadiekins put together all the pieces for a forest themed baby shower. She knit little stuffed woodland creatures, ground up oreos for "dirt" on cupcakes, and put together a number of baby shower games with a "foresty" backdrop. She put in more work than I would ever have the patience for.<br />Well, her hard work paid off - and the party was a tremendous success. Seriously, this girl needs to be a professional party host. And wouldn't you know it, one of the shower guests would like to hire her to put together a bridal shower. MAZEL TOV!<br /><br />Here's where this event... and just knowing and bowing down to the wonder of the Prophet Sadiekins has inspired me. I think Strong Cupcake could be bigger!<br />Think of the bakery with three big rooms:<br />Room #1 - Baking area split in half.... half kosher/half with bacon and lobster as far as the eye can see. And this baking area is large enough for "baking therapy" to take place.<br />Room #2 - A good ol' fashioned eating area. We'd have local artists' work on the walls, bright colors, and fresh flowers on all the tables.<br />Room #3 - PARTY ROOM!!! A very neutral looking room that can be rented for birthdays, showers, and small parties that the ever-so-talented staff of Strong Cupcake could design based on the themes and preferences of our generously paying customers. OR, the space could be rented for meetings with Strong Cupcake providing the refreshments.<br /><br />I am F*CKING BRILLIANT!!!!<br /><br />Okay, back to work... but if I didn't get this down, I know I'd forget.<br /><br />On a separate note... I made chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter bacon frosting. Using whole wheat flour for the cupcakes was a mistake... but peanut butter and bacon are a BEAUTIFUL combination. I just need to blot more grease off the bacon next time.BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-59191058851411476222010-01-02T15:01:00.000-05:002010-01-02T15:36:58.189-05:00Woot! It works!Here we are in 2010! New year, new adventures, and a city covered in snow. I kicked some serious artichoke dip ass for New Year's Eve and will attempt to make some whole wheat rolls later on, but my big excitement for the weekend was meant to include my first trip snow shoeing!<br /><br />That is - until the accident.<br /><br />New Year's Day, 2010. Fresh, white, fluffy powder surrounds Munjoy Hill. Not a care in the world... and Jay and I decide today's adventure will include some serious sledding off the Eastern Promenade. I'm armed with my foam Millenium Falcon (which I prefer for speed and aerodynamics) and Jay is armed with his Big Blue Ho (yes, it says Ho on it and Jay loves it for the extra leg room and steering ability).<br /><br />We bundle ourselves up - Jay even wears goggles - and make our way to the mountain. <br />It is BEAUTIFUL! Enough folks have sledded before us to make a slick, steep path where you can either veer righ (and hit abandonded XMas trees), veer left (and wind up in a marsh), or go straight on (and risk paralysis when you hit the oncoming picnic bench). Yes, it truly was going to be an adventure.<br /><br />Off I go, wind in my face, laughter/screaming pouring forth from my oral cavity, and I managed to steer the Falcon right between the marsh and picnic bench for a safe landing.<br />Things didn't go so well for Jay.<br /><br />He was totally stoked to abandon the Ho for the Falcon to try the hill with some serious speed. Off he went... with disasterous results. Having never taken a ride in the Millenium Falcon before, Jay was headed straight for the bench. A string of sh*tf*cksh*tf*ckf*cksh*t spewed forth from his mouth and every parent did their best to cover their little ones' ears.<br />Jay threw down his arms to slow down.... and came to a halt just before impact. Some would say he was lucky...<br /><br />I would call him a crotchety, old man. You see, by tossing down his arms for brakes, he created an unneccessary pull on the muscle between his shoulder and neck. And now he can't turn his head without crying like a sissy, nanna girl. It's true - my man, my hero, my night in shining armor injured himself while sledding.<br /><br />Big ol' baby.<br /><br />On the upside, I've managed to clean, finish a book, and catch up on this blog. And, HUZZAH!, I was able to upload some photos! Enjoy!!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-mre2MvhI/AAAAAAAAABY/Ivrt1Bo_NB8/s1600-h/101_1124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-mre2MvhI/AAAAAAAAABY/Ivrt1Bo_NB8/s320/101_1124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422235742322343442" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, up top you will see what frying Sufganyot looks like. My apartment smelled like HEAVEN for a week afterwards (and by heaven, I mean the stench of oil was in the air, and clogging my pours - I broke out like an adolescent!) and they were quite delish. This batch was my first attempt... they were supposed to puff up like golf balls, but because I tossed so many into the oil at once, they stayed all frisbee like.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-n8YmDtSI/AAAAAAAAABg/sPWPr8EDpRE/s1600-h/101_1126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-n8YmDtSI/AAAAAAAAABg/sPWPr8EDpRE/s320/101_1126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422237132213433634" border="0" /></a>Here's what they look like after 5 minutes in WICKED hot peanut oil. Why peanut oil? It can maintain the highest temperature before smoking. It's also really, really, really, really bad for you. But I figured, I'm makin' flippin donuts - is health my main concern? Also, I'm not entirely sure of:<br />A. Whether or not the smoke detector works<br />B. If I did set something on fire, I can't find the fire extinguisher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-pLPBtPRI/AAAAAAAAABo/mhmZtHjXR9M/s1600-h/101_1127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-pLPBtPRI/AAAAAAAAABo/mhmZtHjXR9M/s320/101_1127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422238486854712594" border="0" /></a>Jay is the bestest helper on the planet. As each piping hot donut frisbee was freed from its jacuzzi of boiling oil, Jay helped to cool them down by covering them in powdered sugar. Mmmmm....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-qBYEG-ZI/AAAAAAAAABw/mJmu9doRJ-M/s1600-h/101_1128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/Sz-qBYEG-ZI/AAAAAAAAABw/mJmu9doRJ-M/s320/101_1128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422239416993642898" border="0" /></a>And finally - after several attempts of making puffy Sufganyot and violating them with a spoonful o'jelly... IT WORKED (sort of)! Fried dough crammed with jelly and sprinkled in sugar is well worth the apartment stink, those "5 extra pounds", and feeling like a baked goods rapist.<br /><br />More to come in 2010! Happy New Year!!!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-33156472876192663942009-12-22T22:27:00.000-05:002009-12-22T23:03:14.354-05:00Do I Have To?Yes, I have to. I gave Jay subtle hints.... I gave Jay pretty freakin' obvious hints... finally, I just had my brother turn to Jay and tell him, "Karli wants a gym membership for Hanukkah."<br />And so, here I sit. All curled up in my bed, broccoli butter cream soup simmerin' in my belly, having just set the alarm for 6am. I asked for it, and I'm getting it. I'm going to the gym. Ick.<br /><br />As I dread what the dark morning will bring, allow me to reminisce about some of the good times this holiday season and try to figure out if I will have developed diabetes by the New Year:<br /><br />1. Working down the hall from a preschool. I could have gone nearly the whole month of December without ever having packed a lunch and I could have lived off baked goodness with no problem! These parents are FANTASTIC. Hell, one of them is a PROFESSIONAL BAKER (www.creamandsugarbakery.com) who makes raspberry frosting I want to bathe in!<br /><br />2. Adam and his mom. Bless heaven, earth, butter, and chocolate. Dear Birt Family - I dedicate my first insulin shot to you. Your chocolate-toffee bars are well worth the cavities. Your chocolate peanut butter balls are better than therapy. And your fudge makes me believe in G-d. That all being said - I plan on cursing your entire family as I face the Stair Master O'Death tomorrow morning.<br /><br />3. Birthdays! Be it family, friends, or co-workers - I feel birthday cakes and I have developed a relationship on par with being lovers. No, we did not consumate our relationship... but I do feel as though I may have cheated on Jay with the amount of birthday cake I've managed to consume in the past month.<br /><br />4. Hanukkah = Oily, Slow, Delicious Death. For those of you UNCHOSEN types, here's the quick and dirty behind Hanukkah. The Jews kicked ass, but in trying to rebuild - didn't have enough oil to last more than one night. Wouldn't you know it... a MIRACLE occured! (No, it had nothing to do with a baby in a manger). The oil lasted 8 nights - so Hallmark found itself an excuse to cash in on Jews during Christmas and created the holy time of Hanukkah. And everything you eat is somehow associated with oil.<br />There are two traditional Hanukkah foods - Latkes and Sufganyot. <br />Latkes involve potato, egg, onion, and lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of oil to fry those f*ckers in. NO, it is not the same as McDonald's potato hash browns and shame on you for thinking so. This year, I kicked some sweet latke ass and made regular potato latkes, gluten free latkes, AND red plaid latkes (these involved potato, egg, onion, beets, carrots, and lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of oil... it was beautiful).<br />Sufganyot translates to Jelly Donuts. I figured, "Hey, I'm a Jew who likes Jelly Donuts. Why not try and make some?" My computer is currently behaving like a dirty, dirty, pilgrim whore and won't upload the photos of the Sufganyot adventures - but I'll get them up here eventually. They were actually pretty fun to make... and Jay did an excellent job covering them in powdered sugar. It was when the time came to stuff them with jelly he got a little squeamish and left me to do the dirty work.<br />Ever wonder how Dunkin Donuts gets the jelly into their Munchkins? Ever watch the gritty, prison HBO series "Oz"? Well, that's sort of how DD does it. You have to sneak up on the fried blob - and penetrate it in a totally invasive way. Then, once it's submitted - you inject it with fruity goodness. I almost called the cops on myself when the whole thing was over. I felt very sinister and evil.<br /><br />On the upside... they were DELICIOUS!<br /><br />So, there you have it folks! The reasons I dread what's coming to me tomorrow. On the upside, the Prophet Sadiekins has provided me incentive to go to the gym. If I work out and behave in a healthier manner, I can bake as much as I flippin' want. And while baking, I get to wear my BRAND SPANKIN' NEW HANDMADE APRON!!!!!! Again, dirty whore of a computer won't upload the photo... but I have the coolest apron the on the planet I get to wear now when I bake and I'm so, so, so, so, so excited!!!!<br /><br />Oh, before I forget.... there is a follower of this blog who I owe cookies to. Karla, for making the excellent suggestion of cookies shaped like Edward Scissorhand's creations - you will have a gift for New Years! Congrats! And I promise:<br />1. I will not violently penetrate these cookies with jelly.<br />2. I will not fry them extensively in peanut oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil (all such oils were used this Hanukkah season)<br />3. I will not schmear these cookies with the free flow of snot the above mentioned preschoolers all seemed to be infected with.<br /><br />Another Strong Cupcake thought... if you come to the baker after a workout, you get one chocolate chip cookie free. Call it a contradiction, but if I knew I had a warm, gooey, melt-in-my-mouth handful of awesomeness to eat after going to the gym - I'd work out all the time! Who's with me???BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-58016387599747903452009-12-09T16:20:00.000-05:002009-12-09T16:38:53.700-05:00Life is like a batch of biscuits......best when hot out of the oven, but still delicious with the aid of a toaster or microwave. And best made with Shipyard's Pumpkin Head.<br /><br />Today's weather sucks a hard one. It's Maine's first real snow storm, and though my office was officially "closed" at 11am, I stuck around and did my social worker's finest for a few more hours. Fortune was smiling on me, because my fan-frikkin-tastic co-worker shared some chopped liver with me for lunch and it kept a smile on my face all the way through the slushy-ick-crap shoveling experience I had when I got home.<br />For those curious about chopped liver. I do <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> recommend Google Imaging this Jewish culinary masterpiece. You will puke. No, seriously - this stuff looks like vomit. Vomit eaten by a cat. Then, said vomit is pooped out. A dog comes along and eats the vomit-poop, and then vomits all on his own.<br />But it is DELICIOUS!<br /><br />So, now that I've grossed you out - allow me to share my new favorite baking cheat. ANYTHING FROM TRADER JOE'S!!!!!!!! Seriously, I cry every night when I think of the huge loss the Portland community is experiencing by not having a Trader Joe's market attached to my house. The best food at the best prices - and their quick bread mixes make me want to kiss the dirty, pot smoking, lecherous, kinda-skeevy bagger that seems to be a universal character located at all Trader Joe's establishments. My newest discovery there - Beer Bread!!!<br /><br />Jay is a good man. He works hard, saves his pennies, and is incredibly sweet and supportive. And he NEVER gives me flack about my physical health as he heads off to the gym and I hunker down in my pjs to watch Law and Order: SVU re-runs. (PS - Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni... I will lick the sweat off your gun holsters if you'd be my friend!!).<br />Last night, Jay got all decked out in his shorts and t-shirt (and heavy winter jacket) and headed off to the gym while I contemplated dinner. After I decided to give in to my egg salad and baked bean craving (who wants to guess what the bedroom smelled like last night?), I remembered having purchased some Trader Joe's Beer Bread Quick Mix and figured I would give it a whirl. Considering the same 3 bottles of beer have been sitting in our fridge for well over a year (Woot! Woot! Halloween Masquerade 2008!), I figured it was time to put them out of their misery.<br /><br />Let me tell you - popping one of those beer biscuits in the microwave while trying to thaw out my feet has been ECSTACY! In fact, I'm off to have another.... and to continue to provide moral support to my favorite fictional NYC detectives. I especially love when Det. Stabler busts out his big, bulgy armguns and his tattoo does a little dance. (Really, guys, be my friend! I won't let you down - I'm WAY wittier than Richard Belzer!)BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-38023333401049431512009-11-28T11:47:00.001-05:002009-11-28T12:06:13.966-05:00Nipple cOOkies!Hiya!<br />Okay, I've been on Sabbatical while trying to lose weight. It's a funny thing - I try to eat healthy and suddenly I'm not baking my dream foods.<br />Well, that shit stops right now!<br /><br />My newest declaration....<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I promise myself I will do my best to make healthy eating choices and to get my jiggly ass and squishy tummy to workout a bit more. In exchange, I will bake as much as I damn well want to and enjoy the goods!</span><br /><br />I'm currently in Connecticut, enjoying a post Thanksgiving weekend with my future in-laws and my soon-to-be hubbilicous. It's been a great weekend - lots of laughter, celebrating my mankins birthday, and lots of just laying around and relaxing. Exactly what the weekend of Thanksgiving should be. As I write this, he-who-will-soon-be-legally-bound-to-me and his dad are checking digital camera reviews on the computer and I lost interest in the conversation about 30 seconds after it started.<br />What better way to use this space of time than to catch up with some blogginess?<br /><br />As I'd mentioned, I don't have much to write. I haven't been baking as much, but I've still got big dreams about Strong Cupcake and what a fan-freakin-tastic shop it's going to be someday.<br /><br />I did try making some cookies with only a mini-recipe to follow. I'm testing myself to see if I can go recipe free at some point. The attached photos will show you my FAIL in this regard.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/SxFV4LImYRI/AAAAAAAAABQ/qs6qWPy5aiI/s1600/Fall+%2709+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fACbSnbvX_4/SxFV4LImYRI/AAAAAAAAABQ/qs6qWPy5aiI/s400/Fall+%2709+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409199050998571282" border="0" /></a> I call these cookies "Nipple Cookies". Here's where my major FAIL occured. I had found some intriguiging sounding hershey kisses at Hannafords. They were candy corn flavored and candy corn colored kisses. I saw them, and immediately had to have them... what can I say? I like shiny things - and these little suckers were all shiny and glorious looking. I brought the little buggers home and decided to make chocolate chip cookies with these little suckers in the middle. At no point did I reference a recipe explaining how one would do this succesfully. And so, at the end of my adventure - I was left with cookies only a porn star could love.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />As I review the above photo (and the several photos of my betrothed using the cookies as mock eyes and mock nipples), I feel I've learned a valuable lesson. USE A FLIPPIN' RECIPE! Or, at least reference a cook book or website that provides SOME sort of insight into how to successfully create a cookie you wouldn't be embarrassed to give your grandmother.<br /><br />So, add one more "To Do" to the Strong Cupcake list. Any and all customers are encouraged to bring in copies of their favorite recipes to share with the world. Actually, I think I want all the walls painted with chalkboard paint and folks can just write their recipes directly on the wall! <br /><br />Man, sometimes my brilliance amazes me.<br /></div></div>BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-21160732377083832902009-10-27T13:38:00.000-04:002009-10-30T10:33:53.824-04:00What are you?So, over the weekend, I had the chance to make Apple Bread for a friend of mine out in Idaho. She will receive the deliciousness this week and I hope she likes it.<br /><br />Since then, I've heard from another friend - the ever amazingly awesome DJ Caps and plan on making her something scrumdiddliupmtious soon! I say soon, and not immediately for a couple reasons:<br />1. I'm at work, and am not a total social worker slacker. For this reason, as much as I'd like to spend my days watching Glee on hulu.com (flippin' LOVE this show), eating kiwis (ALWAYS the right choice), and exploring my cook books for desserty superbness - I actually have other things I need to do with my time.<br />2. I don't know what the PERFECT dessert for DJ Caps would be. I find myself listing bits of her personality and things that she likes/dislikes in order to unlock her secret-super-awesome-inner-baked goodness.<br /><br />I'm trying to answer the question... "If DJ Caps were a dessert, what would she be?" For those who read <span style="font-style: italic;">The Golden Compass</span>, I'm trying to match DJ Caps up with her daemon... only instead of some fuzzy animal, I'd like to use flour and chocolate. Maybe some peanut butter, cause she's saucy.<br />Seriously, DJ Caps is an aspiring screen writer, PHENOMENAL musician, and one of the greatest creators of mix CDs I've ever met - so this dessert has to be special. She also protected me during my first drive-by... anyone know of any bullet proof edition chocolate chip cookies?<br /><br />And so, dear Blogosphere Folks.... think of someone you know... or think of someone you DON'T know, but would like to! What is that person's perfect dessert? For example, Hulk Hogan is CLEARLY a fan of brownies with extra melted chocolate and crushed walnuts.... and I don't mean cake-style brownies... I mean gooey-warm, practially chocolate soup brownies. Cause he's mother f*ckin' Hulk Hogan and he just man handles whatever messy dessert put in front of him!<br /><br />Okay, now your turn! Again, my favorite response will have some home baked goodness delivered post haste!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-53941383523468385942009-10-17T10:40:00.000-04:002009-10-17T10:57:06.196-04:00Rules for EmploymentAs I am both bleeding to death and irate, I will make this BLOGTASTIC PROCLAMATION quick:<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">NO DIRTY BASTARDLY HIPPIES MAY WORK AT STRONG CUPCAKE!<br /><br /><br />EVER!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Now, I know what you're thinking... "Karli, you're a do-gooder social working PHENOM! How could you not share the love with the hippie population?" Well allow me to explain why I am currently in need of a blood transfusion:<br /><br />It's a lovely and brisk fall morning. And it's Saturday! A chance to head on down to the Portland Farmer's Market to purchase some local, fresh produce for extremely reasonable prices. While the weather forecasts wind, temps in the 40s, and an all around feeling of itsalmostwinterhopeyourereadyhahahahahahaha, I refuse to give in. So, I put on my lovely sweatpants, fuzzy sweater, and flip-flops - because I'm a rebel like that.<br />As I saunter through the market, I misjudge a curb and am suddenly HURLING THROUGH THE SKY, ass over elbows, may have found an alternative universe, life flashing before my eyes, I really hope I don't land in dog crap.... and land on all fours. For those who know me - I'm not a quiet woman. I can guarantee a loud animal-like yelp came from my lungs as I launched through the air.<br />Wouldn't you know it - not a single flippin' farmer hippie took notice of the adorable girl in the Down Dog position, bleeding from the toes, and attempting to maintain some level of self dignity. When I finally stood up, after ascertaining I was not dead, I noticed at least ONE DOZEN DIRTY HIPPIES staring at me... AND NOT ONE ASKED IF I WAS OKAY! I think one might have even been chewing on her dreadlock!<br /><br />And for this, they must be punished.<br /><br />So, here are the rules for employment at Strong Cupcake:<br /><br />1. I don't care what your views are on legalizing marijuana - no stoners allowed.<br />2. I don't care what your thoughts are on "No Shave November" or whether or not you believe a woman shaving her legs is only a symptom of an oppressive patriarchal society. There will be no icky, hairy armpits floating around in the shop. And if I'm concerned your meals for the last 3 days may be showing from your beard - I will CUT THAT F*CKER OFF!<br />3. If you in any way, shape, or form smell of patchouli - don't even bother coming in.<br />4. Dread locks are all fine and dandy - but if I suspect either a bird family or some rodent herd is roaming around in the tangle; I will vomit and make you mop it up with your "I'm just living outside what society wants me to conform to" hair.<br />5. If you walk too slow because you are trying to truly "experience the moment", I will run you over in my mini and you still won't be hired.<br />6. If you ever use the phrase UTOPIAN SOCIETY to explain your hopes for the future... I will cut you.<br /><br />Okay - did I make that clear?<br />Now, off to bandage my big toe, which appears to have deflated from the massive blood loss.<br /></span></span>BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-63460567334877383632009-10-15T14:20:00.000-04:002009-10-15T14:53:15.543-04:00Kosher Kupcake?Despite what the rumors say, the state of Maine isn't exactly The American Jewish Homeland. Shops don't close early on Shabbat, mothers whose soul point of existence includes smothering their child in guilt are far and few between, and we don't all head to Tampa once we reach 67 years old. (I know, it's a <span style="font-style: italic;">shunda!</span>)<br /><br />However, we do have a fun and vibrant little mini-Jew village here in the greater Portland area running about 3,000 strong... not too shabby for a city where many women <span style="font-style: italic;">choose</span> to purchase matzoh as part of a weight loss program. And amongst our army of 3,000, we have a small faction of families who maintain a Kosher lifestyle.<br /><br />What's kosher? WELL, it's one of the most complicated set of dietary rules you've ever heard of -all dating back to Adam, Eve, and that friggin' apple. (On a side note, Eve was framed... FEMINISTS UNITE!). Kosher laws set forth what foods are consumable by the Chosen Ones (that would be me!) and how to properly prepare them. For an extremely comprehensive list of rules, feel free to take a gander at www.oukosher.org. The Orthodox Union are the Kosher Food Barons of the United States and what they say goes - kind of like the mafia, but instead of putting out hits on our enemies, we revoke their loans.<br /><br />Here are some kosher basics:<br />-No mixing meat and dairy... EVER... seriously, you decide to put cheese on that burger and somewhere out there, a fairy dies.<br />-No pork... EVER... Porky, Wilbur, Babe - all these Hollywood friendly swine are totally safe. To all you anti-semites out there, Jews did not create the Swine Flu, so quit blaming us! Oh, and your shaven head make you look like a penis.<br />-No shellfish...EVER... this really sucks for those of us in Maine because lobster is one of life's perfect foods. I may or may not have heard a rabbi once say, "G-d had never tried lobster when He made the kosher laws."<br /><br />If you'd like to know what meats are kosher:<br />Addax<br />Antelope<br />Bison<br />Cow<br />Deer<br />Gazelle<br />Giraffe<br />Goat<br />Ibex<br />Sheep<br />**** What the frick is an Addax or Ibex?? Kosher or not, if I've never heard of the animal, I don't plan on eating it. Oh, and how interesting is it that it's okay to eat a Giraffe? How would one go about preparing such meal? Yeah, you're going to think about that question all day!***<br /><br />What is all this kosher rambling about? WE-ELL, I have it on good authority that there are no kosher bakers in greater Portland. For a bakery to be kosher, it would require Orthodox supervision, proper cleaning of utensils, and no plopping bacon into the middle of the chocolate chip cookies.<br />On the downside, going kosher is EXPENSIVE - like, ridiculously expensive... like, I would have to ask myself what's more important - eletricity or a cinnamon bun? But if Strong Cupcake were the only kosher bakery around, there could be a nice market. And I do love me some cinnamon buns.BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-85528147651166640842009-10-14T07:32:00.000-04:002009-10-14T07:56:18.825-04:00Zombie Muffins & A Challenge!I love zombies. Not sure why. While the world seems all caught up in vampire madness - I toss those bloodsucking bastards to the side and would rather get me a zombie any day of the week. And with Halloween just around the corner, I've been thinking to myself - if zombie's weren't so into eating human flesh, and all that jazz, what would they eat? What sort of cakes, cookies, muffins would get them more giggly-happy and less cannabilistic brain munchy?<br /><br />I made some muffins over the weekend - Pumpkin/Apple/Cranberry. Perhaps it's still the ick-factor I feel when dealing with pumpkin-puree, but I suspect zombie's would have been all up in these muffins' business.<br />Or apple pie filling - the warm cinnamon, butter, apple magic getting all mushy and delicious... that seems PERFECT for zombie consumption! (On a completely separate note - I made an AMAZING apple pie this weekend FROM SCRATCH and I'm all but positive my own father thinks I bought it and tried to pass it off as my own.... I will resume therapy next week.)<br /><br />What does this have to do with the greatest bakery that has yet to exist? I would love if Strong Cupcake offered some special treats just for the holidays. And I mean ALL HOLIDAYS! There'd be the basic Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Thanksgiving type provisions - but I'd want to provide desserts for the most ridiculous and little-known holidays one can find.<br /><br />So, your newest challenge... for the many holidays I've got listed below, I want your thoughts as to what the perfect dessert would be to represent this holiday. For the ones I like - <span style="font-weight: bold;">I will attempt to make said dessert and send it to you!</span> Sound good?<br /><br />Here you have it (I'm not making these up!):<br />National Talk Like a Pirate Day<br />White Cane Safety Day<br />For Pete's Sake Day<br />Lips Appreciation Day<br />Chuck Norris's Birthday (That would be March 10, and though not an official holiday - I celebrate all the glory that is Chuck Norris!)<br />National Wheelchair Beautification Day<br />Volunteer Blood Donor Day<br />Get Organized Day<br />Hand Washing Awareness Day<br />Holy Humor Day<br />Frog Day<br /><br />Okay, you've officially been challenged. Don't let me down, people!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-8395096326147386772009-10-07T09:46:00.000-04:002009-10-07T10:18:48.382-04:00Crockpot Splendoriffic!Anyone who has had the opportunity to speak with me or Jay in the last 24 hours may have noticed an odd, muppet-like quality to our voices. <br />No, we haven't busted into Juliette's catnip or started taking hits off helium balloons. And, despite what you may think, though the hippies who do their laundry in the basement have POTENT patchouli stink detergent - we are not being slowly poisoned (at least I think we're not - if I start to wander the streets of Portland naked, singing Kumbaya, someone better get me to Maine Med... STAT!).<br /><br />The sad truth is - summer is gone and it's that time of year to get sick. So, my beloved and I have been dragging our butts to bed by 8:30 every night, snoring, snotting, and wheezing our way through Sudafed-induced comas, and throwing mini-tempertantrums every morning when the alarm goes off and it's rainy and gross outside. To top it off, I finished the final book in the Twilight series (a shame that will never leave me)... and the ending SUCKED! HARDCORE! WICKED LETDOWN! I am so filled with anger about this book series, I kept Jay up for an extra hour just to yell about its craptasticness! Seriously, it really, really sucked.<br /><br />This morning, however, their was hope in the air! Since the idea of getting up one minute before 7am to make our lunches made me rageful, I had the stroke of sheer brilliance to whip out the good ol' crockpot, toss in broth, chicken, onions, and carrots and call it a night. What did I wake up to this morning?? JOY! Utter, perfect, hot, and delicious JOY! The whole apartment was filled with the fragrance of comfort and warmth! And I could actually smell! Now, it's been 3 hours since this modern day miracle, and my sinuses have decided to stage a coup... but, it's too late! I was filled with crockpot hope that the Swine Flu will pass me by!<br /><br />I'm not thrilled crockpot season has set in, but I do wish a Nobel Prize could be awarded to whomever invented this technological glory! It's brilliance ranks right up there with the cure for polio and zombie movies.<br /><br />What is your favorite crockpot recipe? As I continue to create Strong Cupcake fantasyland, would a crockpot option on the menu be something to consider? Does anyone know of a drug more potent than NyQuil that will keep me in a deep enough coma so I won't hear Jay's sasquatch-like snores?<br />Feel free to answer any and all the above mentioned questions.BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-55059286207252375652009-10-05T10:57:00.000-04:002009-10-05T11:37:08.965-04:00Pumpkin LoveSeriously, why hasn't someone written a Dessert Treaty to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? <br /><br />The world has a problem with Iran? If President Obama knocked on Iran's front door with some hot cider donuts (of which I ate 6 on Saturday - Paleo Diet can kiss my patootie!), I guarantee any and all nuclear weapons would be handed over without a second thought.<br />Republicans and Democrats need to learn how to play nice? I assign the Democrats to make all the Republicans a warm batch of Snickerdoodles and the Republicans must make all the Democrats toffee crunch cookies. JUST YOU WATCH how quickly we suddenly have bipartisan cooperation! Health Care Reform would be agreed upon and signed before you could say, "Can I have a cold glass of milk?"<br /><br />Here's my empirical research supporting my Dessert Solves All Problems hypothesis:<br /><br />On Saturday, Jay and I had a tiff. I have since discovered, I was the one having the tiff - Jay just thought I was in a mood. In an effort to learn better communications, I will now leave Jay very clearly marked post-it notes by the toilet spelling out:<br />JAY, I AM ANGRY, BUT REFUSE TO COME OUT AND SAY I AM ANGRY BECAUSE IT IS YOUR DUTY TO FIGURE IT OUT BASED ON MY EXAGGERATED SIGHS, UNNECESSARY LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW, AND GENERAL FOLLOWING YOU AROUND THE APARTMENT WITH AN EXTRA THUMP IN MY STEP. OH, AND I AM ALSO FOLDING THE LAUNDRY WITH EXTREME VIGOR. LOVE, K<br />Why leave the note by the toilet? Because I know he will be visiting the toilet soon, and will have no other options but to take the time to read my passive aggressive declaration. His only other choice is to read old Fox Trot cartoons.<br /><br />Back to my story - Jay and I had a tiff and after it was clear Jay didn't get my obvious cues that I needed him to get on his knees and tell me what a g-ddess I am, I felt the urge to leave the apartment. So, in the rain, I drove to East Waterboro to Raven Hill Orchard (www.ravenhillorchard.com).<br />EVERYONE MUST GET THERE SOMEDAY! This place was amazing! An adorable bakery, HUGE orchard, all organic, and heirloom varieties I've never heard of! I took my sweet time picking $35 worth of apples (my counter is now a shrine to all things applelicious), cooled off from my frustrations, and made my way home. Along the way, I recalled Jay mentioning his favorite sort of pie is pumpkin pie.<br /><br />Let's get one thing straight - pumpkin pie is not a dessert I would go out of my way to eat. I find the texture icky, the gingery-y flavor makes my tongue crinkle, and the idea of making my own crust gives me small tumors along my frontal lobe. BUT, since I'm the BEST FIANCE EVER, I figured I would show Jay how much I forgave him by making pumpkin pie. Please, keep in mind, Jay had no idea what he had done wrong, had no real idea why I was angry, and I'm all but positive, he did not feel any need to apologize for anything. Silly rabbit. Someday he'll learn.<br /><br />So, I did it. I made pie crust from scratch (it involved shortening... ewwww... better than the suggested 12 tablespoons of LARD, but still.... ewwww), whisked pumpkin puree with lots of whoknowswhats, and baked away until my entire apartment carried the scent of a bad Christmas Craft Fair. (Although, my cat did enjoy eating a couple spoonfuls of pumpkin puree - and I love Juliette more than life, so bringing her joy was a highlight.)<br />And it worked! Jay returned home from his studies (poor, poor bastard) and took down nearly half the pie in one shot. After said gulping o'pie, we got all snuggly and watched some Friday Night Lights (PS - remind me never to be a Texas highschool football player.). It was as if the morning's conflict had never occured. Well, in his mind, I suppose it actually HAD never occured - but that's neither here nor there.<br /><br />We are all happy and in love again. All it took was one pie! <br /><br />There you have it - conclusive evidence that dessert solves any and all problems! Think I could receive a federal science grant to open up Strong Cupcake for further research??? How long before our world leaders realize my sheer brilliance and come knocking on my door for guidance and to bask in the glow of my general awesomeness?<br /><br />Just sayin'.....BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-60052792997422469392009-09-30T14:02:00.000-04:002009-09-30T14:21:56.603-04:00Consignment Thoughts...What is the perfect dessert for a mom? A mom doing the best she can with what she has?<br />Or, how about her kids - watching their mom and knowing how hard she's working to do right by them?<br />All snarkiness aside - should Strong Cupcake become a reality, we would develop Bakery Therapy. For anyone having a day... a day that just leaves them beat up and feeling low, you could come into Strong Cupcake and have access to our amazing-state-of-the-art-nothing-quite-like-it kitchen to make your absolute favorite dessert. There'd be no charge. And we'd have one of our Professional Dessert Heroes (that's what we're calling the bakers & pastry chefs) nearby to help out.<br />And if that person wanted to share his/her recipe with the public, we put that life altering dessert on the menu. And a percentage of what that confection perfection sold for would be pulled aside into a personal emergency $$ account. After all, my brain only holds so much room for original recipes (currently, 2... and one involves a box of pudding, Cool-Whip, pre-made graham cracker crust, and a banana... I'm a simple woman) - it would be criminal of me not to pay the creator of a dessert royalties for his/her brilliance!<br />Sort of like recipe consignment.<br /><br />So, back to my original lady. We'll call her Jane.<br />Jane's had a day unlike any other. She would come to Strong Cupcake, where OF COURSE, we'd have a rocking corner for her toddler bakers-in-training. While her mini-bakers learned the joy of flour fights, she'd have the chance to head into the kitchen and bake whatever sweet treat suits her needs for the day. Knowing Jane, I'm guessing she wants some form of a Seven Layer Bar. She makes enough to share with her little darlings (who are currently covered head-to-toe in flour and laughing like crazy!) and leaves the excess for other customers to try out.<br />Without a doubt, these bars are a hit, so Strong Cupcake begins to make & sell them, under whatever title Jane prefers - again, I'm guessing she'll call them HadADay Bars. Each time Strong Cupcake sells that bar, a portion goes into an account just for Jane. It'll never be as much money as she needs, but maybe it'll be enough to fill her car with gas one week - allowing her to head to one more job interview.<br />Jane's not looking for the state to pay for her life - she just needs a helping hand for awhile.<br /><br />Waddya think? Is this my liberal naivete shining through? Or could such an idea have real merit?BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-44483946582314317602009-09-27T18:42:00.000-04:002009-09-27T18:54:49.870-04:00The Prophet SadiekinsI am a cutey-patootie Jewish girl. And don't argue with that. Seen "Will & Grace"? I'm Grace, but with a way hotter rack & bootie... I'm serious, I even lived with a very clean gay guy once... and I notice he may read this, so, "HI!!! Jay & I put your big, white cupboard thing on the side of the road today because it's falling apart."<br /><br />Where was I? Oh, yes... I'm a cute Jew.<br />Yom Kippur begins at sundown, so I'll be fasting, praying, and doing the best I can to be inscribed in the Book of Life by sundown tomorrow. Here's hoping.<br />However, though I may subscribe the religion of Judaism, I <span style="font-style: italic;">listen</span> to the wisdom that is the Prophet Sadiekins. <br />She is a wise, and all knowing prophet. She can make you a quilt lickity-split, or a tire size pumpkin whoopie pie without breaking a sweat (it's true -I've seen her do it), and will not hesitate to throw some 'bows and take off her earrings if a drunk skank tries to stomp her yard.<br />Any-hoo, the Prophet Sadiekins is one of the more creative souls existing on this planet, and she gives full approval for a social worker run bakery/dessert shop. In fact, she came up with the best slogan I could imagine, so I needed to get it down for interwebby posterity before I forget:<br /><br />Strong Cupcake Dessert & Bakery Shop<br />There is no healthy here - only happy.<br /><br />This was WAY better than my idea for a slogan:<br />Strong Cupcake Dessert & Bakery Shop<br />You will want to make out with me, this sh*t is <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> good.<br /><br />We also discussed the chance that one night per week, Strong Cupcake would become a bar serving dessert flavored drinkities! Yummy, fruity martinis, dessert liquers for all! As spoken by the Prophet Sadiekins, it shall be forever written!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-30795143227840951952009-09-24T12:50:00.000-04:002009-09-24T13:04:53.001-04:00What sort of cookie?There are some days at work where I just have to cry. I'm pretty lucky - I get to come to a job I love everyday and work with some amazing men & women. Still, there are some cases that just get to you and leave you wondering... When can I open that bakery? <br />Cause everyone's happy at a bakery.<br /><br />Yesterday was one of those days. Without getting all NASW Code of Ethic screwy, I'm working with someone who could easily be me. Someone who took a risk, it didn't work, and now they're calling a social worker (pride in hand) and asking for help.<br />On the upside, I think I was able to offer some assistance. Only time will tell.<br /><br />After a day like that, I usually don't sleep well. Too much running through my head and not enough answers. Last night, I had a number of thoughts. It all made sense in the 2am haze with a background of Jay snoring, Juliette scratching the door, and the occasional car passing by - but I may have trouble articulating it now.<br /><br />All I kept thinking - if I could have given this person any dessert and his problems would be solved... what would that dessert be? Honest to goodness, I pondered a number of confectionery delights and the potential powers they held.<br />Think about it - have you ever had a JUST BAKED chocolate chip cookie - all gooey, warm, and smelling like Mom's kitchen on a snowy day when you're home because school was canceled? Is there a better feeling than that? (Okay, there are, but I'm trying to keep this blog "family friendly")<br />Or what about a scorching hot August night, when it's too hot to move and someone hands you some fresh strawberry ice cream made THAT DAY with handpicked strawberries (Woot! Woot! to Red's Ice Cream in South Portland)? It's a feeling of total satisfaction and happyglee.<br /><br />I lay awake last night wondering if it would be possible to provide a dessert like that to a person in need and have them experience that amazing feeling for as long as they needed. It's naive and silly, but at 2am, I'm going to indulge my naive side because the only other option is to wake up, turn on the light, and continue to read Twilight (the fact of which I am so, so ashamed).<br /><br />So, I throw this question into the interwebisphere....<br />Think about a time you were at your lowest. If a dessert had the power to heal your pain, what would that dessert have been?BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-80305262204285075972009-09-21T09:38:00.000-04:002009-09-21T09:46:53.313-04:00Cookies for Equality!Well, my grand schemes of trying out the Banana Pear Ambrosia were quickly dashed when I discovered the avocados I'd purchased were hard as rocks. Oh, well - give it another try at the end of the week.<br /><br />HOWEVER - I will be volunteering at the No On One office tomorrow and I'm feeling the urge to bring some baked goods for these warriors of justice! Any thoughts?<br />When you think of legalizing marriage for same sex couples, what sort of sweet treats come to mind?<br />Please keep in mind, I'll be concocting this confection later tonight, after drinking with an old friend whom I haven't seen in MONTHS... so it's all about simplicity! Cause if Bar Lola offers delish fruity martinis, I'm screwed.<br /><br />Teehee!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-32347935568135142332009-09-20T14:10:00.001-04:002009-09-20T14:22:53.744-04:00Hannafords O'BlissI can't help it... the grocery store makes me giddy.<br />You can keep your yoga - nothing makes me more zen-like than a Sunday afternoon at Hannafords Super Market.<br />And I'm lucky - the Portland Hannafords is the LARGEST IN MAINE! It's just aisles and aisles of happy!<br /><br />I am not a freak. One of my favorite parts of any given Sunday includes making up my grocery list, color coordinating my re-usable grocery tote to go with my flip-flops, and doing battle with the squeaky cart up and down the endless aisles of food bliss.<br /><br />My lovely brother has assigned me the Paleo Diet to help me get all Wedding Dress Hotness. Basically, if the cavemen didn't eat it, I shouldn't either. I can have one meal to myself each week, otherwise it's meat, eggs, meat, fish, meat, root veggies, meat, berries, meat, water all week long. We're talking A LOT of meat. I hate violent movies and I've now watched 3 Tarantino flicks all in one week - who knows what sort of hormones are raging freely through my veins. And I had a dream where lots of fat bald men were missing the top part of their skulls. Go figure.<br /><br />As much as I miss my bagels, pasta, and cream of wheat (aka Nectar of a Merciful and Loving G-d) - I get all excited to search out recipes and head to Hannafords for the weekly purchase.<br /><br />On tap for this week:<br />Italian Chicken<br />Rosemary Salmon (if the salmon is cheap... one would think with the ocean 10 yards from my kitchen I could get some reasonably priced seafood)<br />For Dessert... I'm going to try Banana Pear Ambrosia<br /><br />For Banana Pear Ambrosia I have to blend a pear, a banana, some lemon juice, some honey (no refined sugar on this diet o'mine), and an avocado for texture. I'm highly intrigued and a bit weirded out.<br /><br />Any bets on what it will look like? While you ponder this thought, I'm off to Hannafords, my own little Graceland.BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-74757351894328975552009-09-19T18:37:00.000-04:002009-09-19T18:57:17.922-04:00A bit more direction...Happy 5770!<br />It's the New Year!<br /><br />I've just returned from a fabulous wedding (Yippy for Jenn & Casey) and I find myself with a couple of hours on my own before the return of Jay. That lucky SOB had the fortune of spending a GORGEOUS day inside, studying, and becoming WAY smarter than I will ever be. And I'm okay with this, because it gives me a chance to stare at this blog and figure out what comes next.<br /><br />And I think I have an idea...<br /><br />The first thought that crossed my mind as I came home and learned my hubby-to-be wouldn't be home for a bit was, "Hey, I should make him some kugel! It's Rosh Hashanah and Jay loves kugel." (For those of you non-tribe members, kugel is like a Jewish casserole - my version includes sour cream, cottage cheese, apples, golden raisins, and cinnamon... it's DELICOUS!).<br /><br />Back to my story...<br />Once I'd decided kugel was the way to go, I became very calm and happy. And the proverbial light went off. I work in a setting where I spend my day solving problems, hearing terribly sad stories, and stepping into unknown situations that usually involve needing some hand cleanser afterwards. The idea of coming home and baking, cooking, whipping up frosting, slicing up fresh fruit... it's all so appealing because I know the amazing aromas it will produce, I know how each bite will help ring in the New Year, I know Jay is going to enjoy it. I'm not going to dread what my apartment smells like, or argue with Jay over ethical dilemmas regarding my treatment of egg noodles (though, I dare him to try), and it's a relatively simple project (even though peeling apples is on my Top 100 lists of Things That Make Me Want to Punch Kittens).<br />I suspect, I'm not the only one out there who feels this way - and maybe that's why my Facebook Status about opening a dessert shop was so appealing. Not the business end of it; the simple enjoyment end.<br /><br />And so, friends and colleagues, I have a global assignment for all of you.......<br />I WANT YOUR RECIPES!<br /><br />Don't worry, I'm not going all Julie/Julia on you and plan on making a billion recipes in 10 days. I want to know what baked goods (or regular meals) bring you joy. Bring you to that happy place.<br /><br />I want to know:<br />-Recipes - All sorts!<br />-Memories of recipes from family, friends, clients, co-workers, teachers - you name it... why did Grandma Mary's pumpkin pie make you happy?<br />-Favorite stories about food<br />-What desserts you think could help bring world peace<br /><br /><br />Yes, this is extremely cheesy and silly. You may begin the mockery and I will take it in stride. But I'm 100% serious. Why a dessert shop?<br /><br />Okay, enough time on this - I've got apples to peel!BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484426774832306342.post-42202093466243576162009-09-18T16:58:00.000-04:002009-09-18T17:05:50.192-04:00What adventures may come...This log is a response to a Facebook Status. After a difficult day at work, I took a moment, closed my eyes, and imagined owning my own bakery.<br />Now, I'm no fool - I have no preconceived notions that owning a bakery is anything short of extremely difficult work. But I still find myself daydreaming about the glories of owning my own shop o'happiness on days when I just feel like I'm banging my head against a wall.<br /><br />But - back to the Facebook Status. I posted:<span class="UIStory_Message"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Hey, Social Workers! Who's up for ditching our careers and just opening a dessert shop?</span><br /><br />It was a pretty harmless post... and received nearly as many responses as when I posted I was engaged. Actually, I received more responses the next day - from teachers, development staff, counselors, students. I even got a phone call.<br /><br />So, this got me thinking - what to do with all this creative energy?<br /><br />Short answer - I have no idea. So, against all better judgement, I've opened this blog to see what formulates.BigRedButtercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861199798458925952noreply@blogger.com0