Monday, March 02, 2009

Sugar is Sweet

I've gotten back into the swing of baking. I've discovered some ridiculous blogs with delicious recipes that I MUST try. My nieces and I made yummy strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting for Valentine's, using my former secretary's recipe; I think it's just about as good as it's going to get for a strawberry/strawberry combo. Therein lies the issue: even a fantastic strawberry cupcake cannot compete with chocolate, white chocolate, or peanut butter. To mix it up and try more new stuff, I dipped some of the cupcakes (and some marshmallows and strawberries) in chocolate and white chocolate. My nieces thought that was fun, and it was pretty good to eat too. I also tore up some cupcakes, mixed them with frosting to make a ball, chilled, and then dipped in chocolate to make cake truffles. I didn't measure anything, and they were too moist; but it's a fun idea to try some other time.

I've also recently tried another new frosting recipe--a basic chocolate ganache but with powdered sugar and butter. Unfortunately the sugar wasn't enough to outweigh the bitterness of the Ghiradelli bittersweet (dark) chocolate, so I wasn't a huge fan (although I still managed to eat a few). I paired it with a butter cupcake, which was yummy and straight out of a Betty Crocker box. My friends who are regular dark chocolate eaters really liked them.

Now I'm looking for my next adventure. Oh side note: don't eat frosting, cake mix, and a few cupcakes and then go to the gym to do a high intensity interval workout (read: sprinting as fast as you can). I felt so lucky to get out of the gym without getting sick. It must be my advancing years and/or sprinting because I've always been able to go running after eating most anything. Speaking of working out, if you're into fitness, check out my new favorite blog: Fitness Black Book. I could really do without the scantily clad and tacky model images; otherwise the site has been helpful in giving me some new ideas insofar as my workouts.

My snow day was well used. I spent a few hours at Starbucks, reading Scripture and doing part of a Bible study and praying (I know that sounds weird to do at Starbucks, but sometimes I write my prayers out and somehow often focus better in a coffeehouse than at home). Later I passed on the gym and spent some more time reading the Bible--and not just reading chapter after chapter but instead really spending a lot of time in chapter 5 of Galatians. I'm going to read it every day this week and meditate on it instead of just reading it and moving on.

In short, my winter funk is reminding me of how much I need the Lord and how I need to press in even when I don't want to....

p.s. I'm thankful for my coworker who brought back a dozen cupcakes from my favorite cupcake bakery in Nashville today! Very sweet of her and a lovely surprise. I only ate 2 and a 1/2, and this time it didn't ruin my workout afterward :)

18 comments:

boohoo said...

I love cupcakes! I make them every week now hehe ;) Your toppings sounded yummy!

L.C.T. said...

I love that you do Quiet Times in Starbucks because I do too and people think I'm strange! In fact, am going to one this afternoon to sit and read and pray and write and I can't wait.

So glad someone shares that passion with me :)

Aaron said...

Shame on you for buying your friends with sweets.

Hey, whatever works! :P

P.S.
I've actually been breezing through the New Testament in the past week. What is my problem? ;)

Ally said...

Ys: Every week? Too bad we're not neighbors....

LCT: Sounds like you're going to have a nice afternoon!

Aaron: Yeah, I was breezing through too, and then my secretary asked me if I was being "fed" by what I was reading. And I realized I was just consuming information and not really meditating.

OK Chick said...

The cupcakes look great! There are some awesome food blogs. I look at them while at work. I guess that's why I'm hungry 7 hours out of a given work day. HA!

Thanks for blog suggestion. I'm a work-out freak. Running, aerobics, lifting weights, tennis, walking...you name it, I love it!

Galatians 5. I will check that out tonight. I've been reading Ephesians.

TC said...

Strawberry on strawberry sounds like too much for me. On the other hand, chocolate on chocolate does not. Guess you can tell where my priorities are.

Seized by Hope said...

Your baking leaves me wishing I lived near enough to come have some coffee with you and enjoy one of these tasty treats!

Scotty said...

Now, I want a cupcake!

Or two.

ella said...

Can I get a care package? :)

Anonymous said...

Um, me too?

I gave up sweets for Lent and making it a week has been quite difficult!

Tiff said...

Seriously, bring on the cupcakes. PB kills me right now but come May, I'll be in the clear.

Jennifer said...

I get more done at Starbucks too. Not as many distractions. It seems as though it's designed as both a place for people to get together and talk and also for people to get lost in themselves. I heart Starbucks.

Look at you all baking and such! I'm very impressed!

I'm chilling in the Psalms right now. It's a lovely place.

Bone said...

Oh that's evil posting pictures of cupcake deliciousness!

If I could make cupcakes (correctly) I don't think I would ever eat anything else. I usually eat something delicious and sweet after I run, though. To reward myself. And also, probably negate any good I just did.

Anonymous said...

YUM! I love baking and made some really cute heart shaped brownies for valentines day this year - cupcakes are one of my fav's too!

Thomas said...

I have just got back into cooking again. Made a big pot of chicken jambalaya last night. I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out okay.

Anonymous said...

Peanut butter cupcakes my favorite!
Funk is normal and you're not alone going through it.

Kennethwongsf said...

I notice Starbucks has become a paradoxical place. It's where people come together to do their own things separately. (I'm among them, by the way.) I'd say wherever you feel inspired is where you do your best work.

Unknown said...

So yummy .. thanks alot.. after tbe cupcakes i'm about to go out and buy to gobble down i'll have to run for 3 hours just to burn it off =)