Last Friday, Justin played hooky from work, we dumped the kids in daycare, and then went for sushi and Harry Potter. It was fun and we had a great time.
I also have to say that the Harry Potter movie was FANTASTIC. The scene with the radio was the best impromptu dance scene since Witness. It said really close to the book where it counted, and where it deviated there were usually a good reason. Some things bugged me (spoiler: they were supposed to kill Wormtail!!) but I think that it's competing against Azakaban as my second favourite.
So I'm not really fond of Michael Gambon as Dumbledore because I think it's very evident he's never read the book or has any idea what is going on. However, this clip from Top Gear is the FUNNIEST thing ever. (By the way, Top Gear is easily the best car show ever.)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Cults or Yet Another Conversation with Justin
After mocking Boy Scouts and comparing them to a cult, especially the jamborees:
Justin: So you don't belong to any cults? Like Mormon Mommy Bloggers? Actually more like the Anti-Mormon Mommy Bloggers.
Me: That's like putting a bunch of anarchists together and telling them to organize.
Justin (thinking): Cults you belong to.....
Me: I belong to a cult. It's called Relief Society.
Justin: So you don't belong to any cults? Like Mormon Mommy Bloggers? Actually more like the Anti-Mormon Mommy Bloggers.
Me: That's like putting a bunch of anarchists together and telling them to organize.
Justin (thinking): Cults you belong to.....
Me: I belong to a cult. It's called Relief Society.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Little princess
Or things I've been working on while I should have been getting real stuff done.
Alana's Christmas dress
She'd thrown the ball down the stairs.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Heaven-Raspberry cupcakes
A local bakery (which shall rename nameless because I don't know how crazy their lawyers are) has the BEST cupcakes on Earth. I'm not a huge sweets person, but these cupcakes are AMAZING. They consist of a pound cupcake, dipped in white chocolate, with a raspberry filling, then a cream cheese frosting, topped with a raspberry lemon whipped frosting. Since I don't have unlimited funds to spend on $2.00 cupcakes, this is my knock off recipe:
1 mix Betty Crocker pound cake mix plus all ingredients on back of box
1 package white chocolate chips
1-2 Tbsps shortening
1 10 oz jar seedless raspberry jam
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp
Zest of 2 lemons and juiced (approximately 1/2 cup lemon juice), divided
1 lb powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream
1 Tbsp sugar
Raspberry and lemons slices for garnish
1. Mix cake mix according to instructions. Pour into 18 lined standard cupcake tins. Bake 11-18 minutes at 350 F or until lightly golden. Cool.
2. Melt white chocolate and shortening in microwave, being careful to avoid any water, until smooth. Dip bottom half of cupcakes in white chocolate and set on parchment lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate to harden.
3. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy. Add half the lemon zest and all the juice, beat until mixed. Add powdered sugar a little bit at a time until completely mixed. If necessary to thin, add a little milk or lemon juice.
4. Beat whipping cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in 1/2 c seedless raspberry jam and remaining lemon zest.
5. Warm remaining raspberry jam for 15 seconds in microwave, or until jam easily drips off a spoon.
Filling cupcakes can be done a variety of ways. Most common is the cone method, because it doesn't require anything but a knife. However, the thing that I found most helpful?:
1 mix Betty Crocker pound cake mix plus all ingredients on back of box
1 package white chocolate chips
1-2 Tbsps shortening
1 10 oz jar seedless raspberry jam
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp
Zest of 2 lemons and juiced (approximately 1/2 cup lemon juice), divided
1 lb powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream
1 Tbsp sugar
Raspberry and lemons slices for garnish
1. Mix cake mix according to instructions. Pour into 18 lined standard cupcake tins. Bake 11-18 minutes at 350 F or until lightly golden. Cool.
2. Melt white chocolate and shortening in microwave, being careful to avoid any water, until smooth. Dip bottom half of cupcakes in white chocolate and set on parchment lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate to harden.
3. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy. Add half the lemon zest and all the juice, beat until mixed. Add powdered sugar a little bit at a time until completely mixed. If necessary to thin, add a little milk or lemon juice.
4. Beat whipping cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in 1/2 c seedless raspberry jam and remaining lemon zest.
5. Warm remaining raspberry jam for 15 seconds in microwave, or until jam easily drips off a spoon.
Filling cupcakes can be done a variety of ways. Most common is the cone method, because it doesn't require anything but a knife. However, the thing that I found most helpful?:
That's right, a poultry baster syringe. Completely useless for poultry, but I found it's GREAT for filling cupcakes.
6. Using whatever method, you prefer, fill cupcakes with raspberry jam, approximately 1 tsp.
7. Spread cream cheese frosting over top, taking care to "seal" in filling.
8. Spoon whipped topping into pastry bag with star tip and swirl frosting onto cupcakes. Garnish with raspberries and lemons.
The result:
Lovely gooey raspberry center.
There you go. For approximately $6, you can make 18 lovely cupcakes that would normally cost $32 plus tax. Not necessarily the easiest, nor cleanest, recipe in the world, but soooooo worth it.
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