Sunflower Cupcakes

 
Aren’t they pretty?  Really easy to make too. 

Especially if you can talk your lovely daughter-in-law into doing the frosting part for you b 

(Cuz I stink at piping icing). 

(And she’s nice like that).

First, make your cupcakes 6

Perfect Cake-Mix Cupcakes K

• 18.25-ounce box cake mix
• 1 cup buttermilk, in place of the water called for on the box (the box will call for more water than the buttermilk you are using)
• Vegetable oil (the amount on the box)
• 4 large eggs (in place of the number called for on the box)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

Using substitutions above, follow the box instructions to mix all ingredients in a large bowl.  Beat with an electric mixer at low to medium speed until moistened, about 30 seconds.  Increase speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes longer.

Fill the paper liners 2/3 full.  Bake 15 to 20 minutes until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove cupcakes from baking pans, place on a wire rack.  Cool completely.

Yield: 24 standard cupcakes

Now for the frosting.  Use your favorite buttercream recipe.  This is the one I used: 

Bakery Buttercream Frosting

• 1/2 cup white Crisco shortening, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (can use margarine)
• 4-6 tablespoons cream (can use heavy cream, half and half cream or milk)
• 1 pinch salt 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 5 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted (or as needed)

In a large bowl beat together the shortening and butter with cream, salt and vanilla until smooth (about 3 minutes).  Add in sifted confectioners sugar starting with 4-1/2 cups; beat very well until smooth and fluffy, adding more confectioners sugar or cream until you achieve desired consistency.  Add in food coloring (if using) until the desired shade is achieved.

Makes approximately 4 cups. 

Okay.  Now the fun part.  Put some frosting in the icing bag fitted with a leaf tip.  

Starting from the center of the “sunflower” and working out, pipe the petals. 

Handsome son #1 is standing at the ready with the complicated ingredients for making the sunflower centers. 

(AKA hot fudge sauce). 

Using 2 spoons, drop some hot fudge sauce straight from the jar into each flower center. 

 

Please do not heat the sauce first. 

(It melts the frosting). 

(Not that I would know). 

Please visit the links in the sidebar for lots more recipes, crafts and tips 9

flowers, frogs and ladybugs

I’ve had these little baby shoes in my sketch book since last fall and finally got them finished!

Chocolate brown Mary Janes with a pink layered flower. h

Something summery and fun for a little man… cute brown sandals with green frogs. R

For the little ladies… brown sandals with ladybugs.j

They are now in my Etsy shop, puddintoes.   

Posted to:  
Get Your Craft On at Life With Lori
Strut Your Stuff  at Somewhat Simple 
Sugar & Spice at 733

Plant update

The vegetable and flower starter plants are still inside in my homemade light stand… 

Poor babies.   Most years, they are at least outside in the cold frame by now, if not planted in the raised beds under row tunnels.  

Not this year. 

We have yet to behold 60 degrees, with most days only in the 40s.   

Pretty chilly.        

But back to the plants. 

Needless to say, they are anxious to get outside and stretch their roots.  

The tomatoes have grown taller than the lights. 

Soon, my pretties.

Fast talker

 

What can you say in 1 minute 42 seconds?  Anything this inspiring that also happens to rhyme?

Jeremiah 29:11 subway art

I’ve been adoring subway art for quite awhile now.  I  so wanted to make one with a Bible verse. 

There are lots of great tutorials out there in bloggy land for subway art, each using a slightly different method.  I finally decided to give it a try, following these instructions from Tater Tots and Jell-O. 

First, I picked Jeremiah 29:11.   Then I played around with the words.  They looked much better with different font sizes and some of the words bold or narrow.  As per Tater’s tutorial, I took my file to Kinko’s and had the words printed there.  The black from my inkjet printer is not even close to true black.

I used a 12 x 16 art canvas and painted it black. Edges too.  

Hint:  Once you get the words arranged to your liking, BE SURE TO TAKE A PHOTO before permanently affixing them to the canvas!!  It’s super hard to remember the word placement and spacing once you start gluing the words down.  (Not that I would know or anything) K 

What do you think?  I love it and can’t wait to make approximately 67 a few more. 

iii

Posted to: 
Get Your Craft On Thursday  Works-For-Me-Wednesday
Made By You Monday
Making The World Cuter Monday
Keen Inspirations

start with seventy-seven cents

Last week avocados were a mere 77¢.  As in less than one dollar.

(You can imagine my delight)

While I adore the avocado in many forms, this unusual salsa is a definite favorite.  And it’s sooo easy!

First.  It has the avocado (see above).  Second.  Olives and cheese.  Avocados + olives + cheese = nummy!

MONTEREY JACK SALSA

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
5 green onions, chopped
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
1 large tomato, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional, if it's not for you)
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
1/2 to 1 cup sliced black olives
1 cup zesty Italian dressing

Tortilla chips

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl.  Allow some time in the refrigerator for the flavors to mingle, but go ahead and serve immediately if you just can’t wait :)

I told you it was easy. 

Please visit Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday for more great recipes!!

the girl loves her salsa

My granddaughter, Skyleigh, had her first taste of my home canned salsa recently.

 
First bite: 

I think she likes it…

But whatever you do, please PLEASE do NOT attempt to touch Skyleigh’s salsa bowl. 

Such and infraction will swiftly incur much WEEPING and WAILING and GNASHING of teeth.  K