Cupcakes - it's that simple

Our Ms. Emma has been very much under-the-weather all week with a horrible stomach bug. It has been all we can do to find something that she is able to eat/drink without getting sick. Last night after she was finally able to keep some pudding down I asked her what is something she wanted once she was all better.

Her response -- "Just a good Cupcake!"

After hearing that I could not stop thinking about cupcakes today! If you know me you know that once I have something on my mind it does not go away easily. I thought since I couldn't have a Cupcake today -- it would not be fair to Ms.Emma by any means now would it? - that I would find some pretty ones to hold me over until she and I can both have a yummy treat!

Behold the Yumminess!

via Google

Adore these curly cues!

via Martha Stewart

Caramel Apple Cupcakes: I totally have to find this recipe!

via Martha Stewart

So stinking cute - the "hair" is Cotton Candy = LOVE

via Cupcakes take the Cake

Sweet looking wrapper - I have lots of those flowers so I may try this sometime!

via Catching Fireflies

Owls - when are they not adorable?

via Google - numerous sources but not one specific

I thought this one was the perfect way to say --

Thank you for allowing me to indulge myself(and Emma).

Do you crave specific things when you are not feeling well? If so - what are they?

To my Darling Emma -- we will plan a Cupcake evening as soon as you are feeling better -- Love you babe!

Emma's Bake Shop

Yes you are reading that correctly ~~ Emma's Bake Shop. One day you will see that sign hanging outside of an awning fronted window from which the smells of cake and all things yummy waft from.
For as long as I can recall Emma has had a love for baking. Heaven knows that is a trait that she did Not inherit from me. My fabulous MIL is a kitchen queen and the one thing she has always done with the kids go over there is bake something with Emma, usually some to-die-for chocolate chip cookies :)  Em graduated from the Easy Bake Oven to the real thing when she was about 8 years old and I do mean graduated. She wouldn't even let me help out in the kitchen when she was baking except for taking the pans out of the oven for her :-/ ~smart gal our Em!

She will get a notion, usually at around 9 o'clock or so to bake something. She will proceed to look up a recipe on the internet until she finds one that she likes(or that we have all the ingredients for). She will then whip up some yummy goodies for the rest of us to try. When asked what she is going to do when she grows up it has been the same answer for years -- "I am going to Art School then Culinary School so I can be a Baker(the art school will help with the decorating part)". I like that answer much better than the answer one of my friends got when she asked her son the same question. He wants to be a Garbage Man(no offense to Garbage Men :)

I must admit that it comes in handy when I am craving something sweet late in the evening. "Ohhh Emmmmaaaa" :)

Here are a few pics from tonight's cookie craving.

Mr. Handyman and I are looking forward to all the sampling we get to as she prepares for her future- not to mention all the free goodies will we have access to. :) :)

Did you become what you aspired to as a child?
What is something your children want to be when they grown up?

Our son says he is going to be a video game developer -- well I am here to tell you, he gets enough "research" in each day that he should have lots of success in that field ;)

Homemade Goodies #1

Every Christmas I tell myself that I am going to bake more goodies but then the time flies by and the New Year rolls around without me even getting out my rolling pin. This year I am changing history and I can say that honestly as I have already made 3 batches of this yummy treat!

This was my first ever attempt at making brittle and I am not sure what the "normal" way is but this way is the bomb and I have no problem making some a few times a week. Yep it is THAT Easy!

Cinnamon Pecan Brittle

• 36 Servings
• Prep: 20 min. + cooling

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon Spice Island® Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions

• Butter a baking sheet; set aside. In a 2-qt. microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 3 minutes; stir. Cook, uncovered, on high 2-1/2 minutes longer. Stir in the pecans, butter and cinnamon.
• Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes longer or until mixture turns a light amber color (mixture will be very hot).
• Quickly stir in baking soda and vanilla until light and foamy. Immediately pour onto prepared pan; spread with a metal spatula. - It's good to have help with this part as it is HOT!
• Cool; break into pieces. 

 Yield: 3/4 pound.