Lemonade Yogurt Cupcakes

When life hands you lemons, make cupcakes!

Being that there are only two people in my household, anything I bake is inevitably eaten by either myself or Greg. And we all know that a batch of cookies or cupcakes means at least 12 to 24 treats going down the hatch. All pregnant jokes aside, I have no business eating 24 cupcakes. What's a girl to do?

Lemonade Yogurt Cupcakes!

This was a little experiment I did. The idea is very simple. (Which if you know my baking skills, is my kind of baking project!) 

Directions:

1. Start with any white cake mix. Add the water & egg whites as directed.

2. Substitute fat free lemon greek yogurt equally for the oil. (I have an ongoing love affair with Chobani so that's what I recommend...but you can use whatever brand you'd like.)

3. Add in the zest of one half to one whole lemon...depending on how lemony you like things.

4. Mix and bake as directed.

When they were cooled I glazed them with this Lemon Yogurt Glaze recipe. 

Why can't anything I bake look this pretty?

The cupcakes were not as light and fluffy as traditional cupcakes are...they were more like pound cake. But they were definitely husband approved. And for an essentially fat free & cholesterol free cupcake...I was willing to sacrifice a little fluff in order to indulge guilt free!

Gingerbread Extravaganza!

Every year my amazing mother hosts a gingerbread decorating day. She spends hours and hours baking, cutting out, and putting together a gingerbread house (or in many cases, something other than a house) for everyone, and we all decorate them together. Kids and adults big kids alike! It's one of my favorite days of the year, and I was so lucky to have been "home" for it this year!

This year she let everyone choose their "structure," so we had a big variety. And we aren't talking tiny houses here people. Let's just say my mother has a problem with the scale of these structures. (Note: a castle so large my niece could have probably climbed inside if she wanted.) 

What I love most about this day, is the creativity & imagination the kids display. It's refreshing & fun to watch them create with such concentration & concern.

the transformation...

is always magnificent!

A barn...

a farmhouse...

an 18 wheeler...

a train...

and a castle fit for a princess...

A day full of family, candy, & Christmasy fun...doesn't get much better than that!

Easy As Apple Pie

I've never been much of a baker. I love to cook, but baking is a tad too exact for me. I'm a little of this & a little of that kind of cook.

But this weekend G & I were at the farmer's market buying pumpkins, and while waiting in line next to the table of apples he decided we needed a bag. BIG bag. I had to do something. I'm too cheap thrifty to let those apples go to waste! So I rolled up my sleeves (not literally...it was a warm 72 degrees outside today!) and got to work.

But wait? How do you make an apple pie? I don't know. I've never made one before. But thanks to my bff google, now I do. I used this recipe for the crust & this recipe for the filling. 

And then this came out of the oven.

I asked my husband what he thought of my first apple pie attempt...

But he was too distracted to reply.

I guess I'll assume that's a win for the wifey. 

Good finds

So today I found two great cooking related finds, that made me happy enough that I had to share them with my web followers...
1. Homemade taco seasoning mix. I am a big fan of anytime I can make dinner without the help of processed foods. I guess I just like the thought that I know exactly every ingredient that goes into my food. Anyway, I found this great recipe tonight to make homemade taco seasoning, to use instead of those store bought packets. I made some up tonight & got rave reviews from G...score! I had to agree. here's the link.

2. My fellow female coworkers & I like to refer to our crock pots as our "wives." You know, because they cook dinner for us while we're at work! We'll say to each other, "So Jessi...what is your wife cooking for you tonight?" Clever, no? Anyway, today I found this blog with a new crockpot recipe posted for every day of the year! Need I say more?