It’s Monday.

And this past weekend I got to make a birthday cake for my awesome friend K, which was great because although I make a lot of cakes, not very many of them are for my friends.

Partly because I don’t have many close friends….and partly because….uh….I don’t have many close friends.

I usually blame this on the fact that I am a weirdo freak that doesn’t fit in (which I am convinced it at least partially to blame), but the main reason is that groups of women intimidate me.

And seeing as how women usually travel in packs….this can be a bit of a problem.

I guess I always feel like I will be judged because I don’t measure up to other moms. I don’t feel like I always do the right “mommy” things.

I don’t carry a Tupperware container of sliced veggies in my bag. If my kid gets hungry while we are out, he’s lucky if I can find a smashed up Little Debbie in the bottom of my purse somewhere.


Barney and The Wiggles are banned from my television. Sorry, there is something about those dudes that is JUST. NOT. NATURAL. Way too annoying for me.


I don’t watch TLC’s A Baby Story, or A Mommy Story, I have 17 Kids or whatever all those shows are called. I have a kid. He is a lot of work. The last thing I want to do while I am relaxing, is watch more kids. Sorry.

I’ve let my kid eat food off the floor…..more than once. 

My five year old son has a mohawk….and here lately, temporary tattoos that go up and down his arms, legs, and sometimes across his knuckles. It’s what he wants…and I’m thinking maybe I’m better off letting him get it out of his system sooner rather than later. 


But the thing about my friends is that they don’t judge me for these things. They love me anyways, and think that I am a very good mom. And if they don’t….at least they don’t tell me that to my face. And that is why I was thrilled to make K a super awesome cake.

Well…that and the fact that I’m always looking for an excuse to break out the Disco Dust.

So, if you see a woman feeding a five year old punk rocker smashed up Little Debbie cakes off of the floor…it’s probably just me. Come say hello, I promise I’m a good person.

Happy Birthday K and Happy Monday!!




 

One thing I know about kids: they like candy…and cookies….and cupcakes….anything sweet, really. 

So do I.


I know that some parents don’t like their kids eating sweets but I’ve never really been a big freak about my kid eating junk food. I mean, of course it has to be in moderation, and after a healthy, substantial meal. And teeth need to be brushed and flossed thoroughly.

I’m the mom that always has a treat for the kids that come to my house. A cookie, a cupcake…something.  Because, I’ve seen what happens to kids that are junk food deprived. They get all wild-eyed and are constantly scanning the room for any signs of a sugary crumb. Junk deprived kids will consume handfuls of cough drops if it’s the closest thing to candy they can find.

See? I’m just trying to save your children from a crazy-eyed cough drop-eating binge.


When I was a kid, my friend Copycat Julie was constantly on a diet. This diet was not of her choice (what seven year old would choose a diet?) but her parents. As a result, she was obsessed with sweets. I remember her coming to our house once to help decorate sugar cookies for Christmas. Julie kept disappearing from the kitchen for long periods of time and my mom finally got a bit worried and went to investigate. Turns out that she was going into the living room and taking chocolates from the Christmas candy dish and shoving handfuls of them down her shirt. She would then go to the bathroom, lock the door, and eat them.


When Julie was at her own home, it was no better. Her grandparents lived downstairs and she’d tell her mom we were going down to tell them hello. As soon as we got in the door, her grandma would lock it and start handing her chocolate bars. I would watch in fascination as Julie would eat like, three in a row in record time. We would then head to the basement where the freezer always had a nice supply of Pudding Pops. I’d find a vanilla/chocolate swirl, Julie would grab a few chocolate ones, and we would head to the back yard and eat them in a spot that was not readily visible to her mother.

A lot of good taking all the sweets away did her.  I truly believe that she was just a few steps away from car jacking the ice cream truck guy.

If you want to save your child from a life of candy crime, I suggest making these cupcakes. They are a wonderful combination of cupcake and candy, and will satisfy any sweet tooth.


INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes: (From Buttercup Bakes at Home)

3 medium size classic Milky Way candy bars, cut up
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened, divided
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk 

Preheat oven to 350. 

Line 2 muffin tins with cupcake papers.


In a medium saucepan, melt the candy bars with 1/2 stick butter over low heat. Stir occasionally until smooth and set aside. Cool slightly.


In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Set aside.


In a large bowl, cream the sugar and remaining 1/2 stick of butter on the medium speed of an electric mixer until fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until well incorporated. Add the dry ingredients alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir in the melted candy (it should still be warm), mixing thoroughly.


Spoon the batter into the cups to about two-thirds full. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.


Chocolate Buttercream: (From Cupcakes from the Cake Mix Doctor)


4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 to 5 tablespoons warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Place the butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is soft and well combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons water, and the vanilla. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water if the frosting is too stiff.


This recipe makes about 15 super delicious cupcakes. Enjoy!!


Happy Friday!!