I'm back!!!

After my little hiatus, I am back. I just needed a little break to get my head on straight (not sure I've REALLY managed that, but oh well). Ever get that really stressed and overwhelmed feeling and it's nothing specific that's doing it, just EVERYTHING? That was me. Last week. I'm feeling a little better now.

I have to report on Valentine's Day. I didn't give Q enough credit. After blabbing my mouth off to my friends about how I wasn't expecting anything from him, he comes through big time with these flowers that I couldn't have even picked. They were that nice! Check 'em out:

Aren't they pretty??? I LOVE them. Spring flowers are my favorite, much better than roses IMO - they're just so happy and spring-y! So he gets an A for that. I really wasn't expecting anything at all. Love you, Q!

Are you wondering what I got him? Well, I didn't really get him anything except a card. But I MADE him something. I was watching Martha early last week, and got the bright idea to make him strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting. With fresh strawberries. It was quite a process, but they did turn out really yummy. Wanna see how I made them? I know you do!

First you sift the dry ingredients (I like to sift flour with a whisk):

Next you whiz up some fresh strawberries in the food processor and mix in a little milk:

Meahwhile, you cream the butter and sugar:

And add your egg and egg whites:

Then add the dry ingredients to the wet:

Add the strawberry and milk mixture:

Isn't it pretty???!!! I love how it turns all pink!

Now you scoop the batter into the cupcake papers:

And this is what they looked like when they came out of the oven - not as fluffy as I would like - I think I need new baking powder - but still pink and pretty:

Now for the icing! Sift your powdered sugar with a seive:

Then cream the butter and add the powdered sugar:

MMMMMM! Add vanilla and then your strawberry puree!

Yay! Pink frosting!

And the finished product - yummy!

While I was watching that episode of Martha, I got really inspired by the lady who was making the cupcakes with Martha. She owns a cupcake bakery called Sprinkles in LA. What a great idea! I love the idea of a cupcake shop! Everyone (well, almost everyone) likes cake, but a whole cake is such a big committment. But a cupcake it just a cupcake. You eat it and it's over. No big deal. Probably just another one of my ideas... I have them all the time, but I'm never sure how to get them going to become more than just an idea. Anyone want to help me out with this one??? How fun would it be to bake cupcakes and get paid for it???!!!