A Winter Ice Cream...Vegan Pumpkin Ginger Snap Ice Cream

This weekend I felt like making a little ice cream.  Actually, I have been planning to make this ice cream for months and stuff always just came up or the task of making ice cream felt too daunting.  But this weekend, I put my game face on and got it done.  Once again realizing when I was done, how simple it really can be to make ice cream.  Oh and I almost had an ice cream disaster.  

Just a little cookie...Orange Carrot Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

The count down is on...1 week till the half marathon in Birmingham...a week and half till my nephew turns 3...3 weeks till the first meetings of the season and things really start to get busy.  What this really means is that I have a feeling that before I know it, it will be May and I will have somehow missed spring.  So, what do I do to take my mind off of this, to slow things down just for a minute or two, I...

A Boozey Birthday Cake...Chocolate Bourbon Praline Cake

How better to round out a weekend, than with this Chocolate Bourbon Praline cake? Okay the weekend...easy Friday night relaxing after a crazy busy week.  Saturday: Long run Saturday morning (half marathon officially less than two weeks away); DC Grey Market Saturday afternoon; and a celebratory dinner Saturday night at Sonoma. I still can't believe that Charles is moving to Scotland...and that it is already February.  Seriously though where did January go? Sunday: run errands and make this cake!

A bee's life...Honey Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

Sometimes a little organization is seriously needed when baking; like on weeks where you are busy with work stuff all day and have work dinners three nights in a row.  Sometimes my OCD takes over and it really plans out how and when things need to happen.  Let me just give an example...this is last week when I had to have cupcakes made for a Thursday birthday (Happy Birthday Caroline!) and make pancakes and waffles for about 30 people Thursday morning ala pancake/waffle bar.

"That Funky Monkey" Cupcake

These were the last thing I made on my baking weekend.  I have to give it to my friend James for coming up with the idea for this flavor profile a few months ago and for giving these cupcakes there name in tribute to the Beastie Boys "Brass Monkey" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLyBL2cYXmo).  He is always good at challenging me and pushing me to be a better baker.  So, this is going to be a short and sweet post because these cupcakes speak for themselves.  They may or may not be a breakfast cupcake...

The cupcake: banana cupcake + chocolate ganache + peanut butter frosting + banana chip garnish

Red Velvet "Beet" Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Last weekend was a serious baking weekend...there was a four layer devil's food, these red velvet cake-brownies and some serious banana cupcakes.  There was night with friends with singing and dancing.  There was also a run in 32 degree weather, where I proceeded to freeze.  But some how you ALWAYS feel better after a run.  There was also a taco night in front of the TV watching football and stuffing my face.  There was and will be lots more hanging out with a great guy in the next month before he heads off to Scotland for a year.  And I am losing another one this year; another best friend moving on to more adventures, in new places.  This just also happens to be the guy that I moved to DC for in the first place.   Looks like a visit to Glasgow is in my future!