Snickerdoodle cupcakes

Last night, I had the itch to bake. I know, that isn't really a stretch for me, but oh well! My co-worker's last day is today, and I wanted to bring a little something to mark the day at work.

I've been borrowing quite a few cookbooks from the library recently; they're my version of eye candy (pardon the pun). One of the books currently in my hot little hands is a cupcake book by Martha Stewart. (OK, I don't know if she actually wrote it or if it is just something she staffed out, but it has her name on it.). It has quite a few recipes that I want to try, but decided on this as my maiden voyage and am really glad I did. It was easy, fast, and produced a tasty treat.

The recipe called for using seven-minute frosting, but because I made the cupcakes last night and was concerned the frosting wouldn't hold up, I just made a basic butter-based buttercream frosting; it worked out quite nicely, if I do say so myself. I also didn't do the exact frosting method that good ol' Martha called for; instead, I went for more of a flower than a dome of frosting, which looks prettier, if you ask me!

I halved the recipe and had plenty of cupcakes to share. I think I wound up with 18 or 19. The original recipe's yield is 28; they must use much bigger cupcake pans than I have. Regardless of how many you want to make, I have to give the recipe a big thumbs up. They are very yummy and seem to be a hit among my co-workers.

Snickerdoodle cupcake

View of the top

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/316419/snickerdoodle-cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, plus 1/2 teaspoon for dusting
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together both flours, baking powder, salt, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each.
3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored up to 2 days at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
4. To finish, combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (Ateco No. 809 or Wilton No. 1A), pipe frosting on each cupcake: Hold bag over cupcake with tip just above top, and squeeze to create a dome of frosting, then release pressure and pull up to form a peak. Using a small, fine sieve, dust peaks with cinnamon-sugar. Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are frosted; keep at room temperature until ready to serve. 

Our Island Escape

Par for the course, we seemed to pack as much into our 3-day Labor Day weekend as possible.

Saturday was filled from stem to stern with errands, including a trip to the local fabric store so we could buy the fabric for Annika's Halloween costume; she decided she wants to dress as a witch, but not just any witch. She wants to be a witch in a pink sparkle dress with a purple hat thank you very much.

On Sunday, we packed up the crew (minus Smudge, so stayed home to relax in the peace and quiet) and headed up to Whidbey Island to have a sleep over with Eric's folks. After arriving and putting our feet up for a bit, we headed to the health club that Eric's parents belong to and took advantage of the club's salt water pool. Three generations of Olsons were in the pool splashing, swimming, and playing together. It really was a treat to go swimming together and not stink like chlorine after climbing out of the pool.

The real reason for our visit this weekend was a surprise to our kids right up until the last minute. A few weeks ago, Eric's mom's told her friend (Cindy) about the cowgirl hat and boots she and Jack gave to Annika for her birthday. Cindy extended an invitation for the kids to come over and ride her miniature horses, so Annika's cowgirl gear could get some horse time. Really, how could we pass that up?? We kept this adventure a secret from the kids just in case the plans fell through, but all worked out and we got to visit the pint-size equines. Oh, how I love horses.... great and small, and it seems that Annika has been bitten by the same hose-lovin' bug. :)

We started out with a little introductory time with the horses Tawny and Prince. Cindy told us about how Tawny had colic the day before (UGH!) and how impressed she was with Tawny's rapid recovery thanks to the vet's intervention. She also explained how Prince was nursing a sore hoof (poor guy) and wasn't feeling at the top of his game. Cindy's granddaughter Avery was there, too, to meet our kids and share "her" horses with our kids. The girls were adorable in their pink cowgirl boots, I have to say! After we got the low-down, the kids got some hands on time with the horses; Conor wasn't overly interested in riding, at first but Annika was all over the idea from the get go. We are so grateful to Cindy and Avery for sharing their Monday and horses with us!

Cindy and Avery walking Annika (on Tawny) around the yard

Tawny, Annika, and Avery mozying around

Annika taking Tawny and Avery for a walk

Conor and Prince getting to know each other

Our cowgirl

Eric showing Conor how to feed flowers to Prince

Eat up, Prince

Conor feeding snacks to Tawny and Prince

Staring contest

Conor going for a ride on Tawny

Our kids: The next generation of city-born-but-country-at-heart kids

Annika taking Tawny for one more lap before heading home

 

Princess Day

A stomach bug has attacked our kids. We've done more laundry and cleaned up more bodily fluids than we care to think about. After much Gatorade, homemade Jello, and chicken soup, we seem to be emerging from the land of illness.

Eric stayed home with the kids yesterday, so today is my turn. The kids are definitely rebounding and back to playing a bit. They decided to play dress up and as soon as Annika donned a princess dress, Conor insisted on being a princess, too. They are having a wonderful time, aside from the drama caused by us only being able to find one magical wand. We own about 6 wands, but can't find more than 1 of them ... they truly are magical! They disappeared!!!

Conor hanging out in the castle

Princess Conor and Princess Annika (the knocked-up princess)

Stylin'!

Princess Annika tending her new baby ("Snow White")

Combat-ready Princess Annika
(you can't quite see it, but she's wearing a camouflage soldier helmet)

"Abra-ca-da-bra-zap!"

Daring Bakers Challenge: Filled Pate a Choux Swans

This month's Daring Bakers challenge was really tasty and fun. We were challenged to make filled pate a choux swans (please don't ask me to pronounce it ... French is definitely not one of my go-to languages!). I was initially intimidated by the thought of shaping the swan necks/heads, but was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was.

During my first attempt at making the dough for the swans, something went wrong and I wound up making a runny paste instead of a nice dough. I scrapped the gunk and tried again; this time, using Martha Stewart's recipe. I definitely had more luck with that one! I think the extra 1/4 cup of flour made all the difference.

I was a bit shocked by how easily everything came together and was thrilled with how the final products tasted. In the interest of time, I only made a few swans; the rest were more standard cream puffs.... sooo good! I even wound up bartering a dozen of them with a gal I know who offered us some of her plum harvest.Talk about a win-win!!

Swan heads, swan bodies, and general creme puff balls

A completed swan. Who knew I'd be such a fan of eating swan?!!?

Two swans "swimming" in my grandmother's china saucer

Kat of The Bobwhites was our August 2012 Daring Baker hostess who inspired us to have fun in creating pate a choux shapes, filled with crème patisserie or Chantilly cream. We were encouraged to create swans or any shape we wanted and to go crazy with filling flavors allowing our creativity to go wild!

Plums, plums, plums

One of the hosts of the Mamas with Cameras group recently moved fairly close to us.... scratch that ... BOTH of the hosts of the group recently moved close to us. One of the gals (Wenmei) has been posting on her Facebook wall about how many plums they have in their new yard, and how she's been turning out plum bread like crazy. Ummm.. yum!!

First I asked her for the recipe. After eying it seeing how great it looked, I told her I'd take some plums off of her hands if she had more than she could use. She very kindly said, "Come on over!" So, Conor and I got ourselves loaded in the car (with homemade cream puffs as a thank you) and made the quick drive to her home (aka the land of plums).

This was Conor's first fruit-picking experience and he loved it. Wenmei's two kids and Conor had a great time plucking plums from the low branches; her husband even climbed up their new ladder (bought today so they could get the plums on the high-up branches ... now that is dedication to their harvest!) and we quickly filled a plastic shopping bag with plums.

After getting home, I started thinking about what to make first. Wenmei has been making plum bread, which I'll definitely try tomorrow. I actually almost dug into that recipe when I thought about the plum cake that Annika's BFF's grandmother makes. That cake is to die for! So, I asked my very good friend Mr. Google to find a German plum cake recipe for me. No shock ... he did!

The search pulled up this recipe, which looked easy to prep and quick to get in the oven. I was thrilled when I read I didn't have to peel the plums. Bonus!  The batter went together in a blink and before I knew it, we were enjoying the smell of baking plum cake. Halfway through dinner, the timer dinged and told us the cake was done.

Since then, we've cleaned up the kitchen and then turned our attention to getting the kids to bed. So, I actually have no clue if this cake is a winner. Will keep you posted! (Hey, I'm all about building suspense and anticipation with this blog!)

Plum Cake

Annika's 1st Dentist Appointment

Yesterday, Annika had her first dentist appointment. We'd meant to take her earlier, but insurance changes and new dentists not taking kids (who does that?) delayed us actually getting an appointment for her.

Our little girl was beyond excited about her appointment and counted down for it much like she counted down for her birthday. Each day, she would ask us. "How many more school days until my dentist appointment?" (Lord, please help her retain that enthusiasm!!)

She was a champ at the dentist and savored every minute of the experience. She loved the chair so much that she asked if we could get one at home. I said that it was too big for our house, to which she replied that we could find room. I told her that we'd probably have to get rid of her toys to have room... shockingly, she agreed that would be OK. Seriously??? What child offers to get rid of her toys in exchange for a dental exam chair?

The hygienist was wonderful with Annika. She took the time to clearly explain everything that she was going to do and let Annika examine all of the tools.instruments she planned on using. Annika payed very close attention and didn't miss a single morsel of information. The hygienist counted Annika's teeth (20 in all, just what a 5-year-old should have) and then polished/flossed her teeth. After that, the dentist came in and took a peek and that's when the appointment took a bit of a turn (at least from my perspective). She saw some things with her magical binoculars (I'm sure there's a more clinical term for them, but don't ask me what it was!) and asked for two x-rays.

The dentist asked me if Annika's molars have always been this close together. Umm... yeah; we didn't move them. Apparently, Annika's molars are so close together that they touch. The problem is the icky yuckies that cause cavities love when teeth are too close together. Because all her molars touch another, 7 of her 8 molars have developed "shadows", aka early-onset cavities. I about fell out of my chair when the dentist told me that. She was very consoling and told me we did everything right, but these things just happen because kids have really thin enamel and tend to eat a lot of carbs. (That didn't ease my desire to weep... but I did manage to keep it together). The dentist assured me things were caught very early and Annika will probably not even need to be numbed when the cavities are treated and one or two might only need to be sanded down a bit.

Even though we left with my heart in my toes, Annika had a LOVELY time at the dentist and can't wait to go back. The toy closet and her new princess toothbrush were the icing on the proverbial dental cake.

Watching the hygienist fill a cup with the water sprayer and then suck up the water with "Mr. Thirsty"

Getting ready for the exam

Getting those 20 teeth all polished up

Annika wearing her superstar glasses and fashionable paper bib

Annika the Fish

Annika's swim lessons are really paying off. She has recently started doing the back stroke and is a natural at it! She's been doing the crawl stroke for quite some time now, but just recently started figuring out how to do side breathing, aka breathing without stopping and picking up her head.

Every so often, the kids in her class have the chance to jump off of the diving board in the deep end of the pool. Until recently, they always donned life jackets prior to taking the plunge. Recently, her teacher decided their skill levels were great enough for them to jump off of the diving board without a flotation device. Never fear! Her teacher is right there to help out should the need arise.

Annika is always so proud of herself after jumping off of the diving board... and we are darned proud of her, too!