:: WoRDLeSS... WeDNeSDaY ::

*STRANGEFOLK* FESTIVAL... 9/26~27

THERE'S ONLY *1* WEEK LEFT TO PREPARE FOR

THE *STRANGEFOLK~FESTIVAL* IN

O'FALLON, ILLINOIS...

THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE A *SUPER~FUN~FANTASTIC* TIME & I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF YOU THERE ~~

I WILL BE JUST *1* OF THE *MANY* ~HANDMADE~ VENDORS...

PLEASE STOP~BY MY BOOTH & SAY *HI* !!! ; *D

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& *HERE* IS THE LINK SO THAT YOU CAN CHECK~IT~OUT !! ; *D

& PLEASE *LEAVE~ME~A~COMMENT* & LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL BE THERE !!THANKS A BUNCH !! ; *)

*CUPCAKE~LOVIN'S*... THE RECIPE !

**IRIE~RAINBOWLICIOUS** CUPCAKES...

WERE SUCH A SUCCESS THAT I DECIDED TO POST THE RECIPE FOR YOU ALL TO TRY OUT TOO !!! ; *D
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF PICTURES TO SHOW THEM IN THEIR GLORY (& NOT)...
I HOPE YOU GET THE IDEA !! ; *D

& I DO WANT TO WARN YOU THAT THAY DO TAKE A BIT OF TIME... BUT, THE END~RESULT IS OH~SO WORTH IT !!

:: FINISHED~CUPCAKE... TA~DAH !!! ::

*MORE* FINISHED CUPCAKES ~~~~>>> *HERE* !!

:: YOU WILL NEED ::
: 1 WHITE CAKE~MIX
: 2 EGGS
: 1 CUP SOUR~CREAM
: 1 TSP VANILLA
: 1/2 CUP MILK
: 1/3 CUP VEGGIE~OIL
: VARIOUS GEL~COLORS (WILTON)
: CUPCAKE LINERS


:: LETS GET STARTED ::
* PREHEAT OVEN TO 350o
* LINE CUPCAKE PANS WITH 24 LINERS & SET ASIDE.


:: LETS GET MIXING ::
* IN MEDIUM BOWL... COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS & BLEND UNTIL MIXED WELL... I WAS TRYING TO COUNT HOW MANY *STIRS* IT WAS, BUT I KIND OF LOST COUNT WITH LITTLE~MIMI HELPING ME !! ; *)

STIR~IT~UP...LITTLE~DARLIN, STIR~IT~UP...


:: LET'S CHOOSE COLORS ::
* AT FIRST WE DECIDED TO GO FOR AN *IRIE* THEME ~ W/ GREEN, YELLOW & RED...
BUT, THEN MIMI DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED TO USE BLUE & PURPLE TOO !!
HEY, RAINBOWS WORK FOR ME TOO !! ; *)

:: LETS GET COLORING ::
* TAKE BATTER & DIVIDE INTO SMALL BOWLS... THE # WILL DEPEND ON HOW MANY COLORS YOU DECIDED ON... WE HAD 5.
* ADD EACH DYE~COLOR TO THE SEPARATE BOWLS OF BATTER ~ YOU CAN USE A TOOTHPICK TO ADD THE COLOR(A LITTLE~BIT @ A TIME, DEPENDING ON HOW DARK YOU WANT THE COLOR... I DID 2 KINDA~BIG DIPS FOR EACH COLOR OF BATTER)
* MIX WELL, UNTIL EACH OF THE COLORS ARE COMPLETELY BLENDED.
* SET ASIDE & GRAB YOUR CUPCAKE~PANS !! ; *)

PRETTY LITTLE CUPCAKE~BATTERS... SO BRIGHT & COLORFUL !!



:: NOW FOR THE *FUN* PART ::
* WE ARE GOING TO BE SPOONING THE BATTER INTO EACH CUPCAKE~LINER IN **LAYERS** BY TEASPOONFULS OR TODDLER~SPOONS HAPPEN TO WORK GREAT IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE AROUND !!
* DEPENDING ON HOW MANY DIFFERENT COLORS YOU HAVE DECIDED ON WILL DETERMINE HOW MANY *SPOONFULS* OF BATTER YOU WILL NEED OF EACH COLOR
* NOW, REMEMBER NOT TO PUT TOO MUCH INTO EACH CUP WITH EACH LAYER, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT YOU CUPCAKES OVERFLOWING... OR TO RUN OUT OF A CERTAIN COLOR BEFORE YOU ARE FINISHED WITH ALL THE CUPCAKES.


* OK ~ SO NOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THAT CLEARED~UP... LET'S START LAYERING !!
* GRAB A SMALL~BOWL OF COLD~WATER & SET NEXT TO YOUR BATTER... THIS IS *VERY* IMPORTANT FOR KEEPING THE BATTER FROM STICKING TO YOUR FINGER/SPOON WHILE YOU ARE EVENING OUT THE LAYERS OF BATTER !!
* SPOON IN 1ST LAYER OF BATTER TO EACH LINER & WET FINGER/SPOON WITH WATER & SMOOTH OUT EACH 1ST~LAYER. (ALL OF THAT COLOR SHOULD BE USED UNLESS YOU ARE PLANNING ON USING THAT COLOR AGAIN FOR SOME OF THE OTHER LAYERS IN THE CUPCAKES)



* CONTINUE THIS TECHNIQUE UNTIL ALL OF THE CUPCAKES ARE LAYERED WITH THE COLORS OF YOUR CHOICE & ALL OF THE BATTER IS FINISHED !
* MY CUPCAKE~LINERS WERE FILLED~UP ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY FULL.

:: LETS GET BAKING ::

* BAKE FOR APPROX. 18~22 MINUTES OR UNTIL TOOTHPICK COMES~OUT CLEAN WHEN POKED IN THE CENTER OF CUPCAKE.

* LET CUPCAKES COOL COMPLETELY BEFORE FROSTING THEM !

:: LETS GET SOME FROSTING ::

* OK ~ SO, I CHEATED A BIT HERE TOO... **COOL~WHIP** !!! ; *)

BUT, YOU COULD USE ANY *FAVORITE* FROSTING... I JUST DO NOT LIKE FROSTING TOO MUCH & WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT *COOL~WHIP* OTHER THAN IT IS SOOO YUMMY~GOOD !! ; *D~

* GRAB A ZIPLOC & PUT COOL~WHIP INSIDE... CUT~OFF A SMALL/TINY CORNER OF THE BAGGIE & START ICING THOSE PRETTY~LITTLE CUTIES !! ; *)

* CHILL CUPCAKES IN REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG BEFORE YOU ARE GOING TO EAT THEM~UP !!

& WE CAN'T FORGET THE *SPRINKLE~FAIRY*...

THANKS SOOO MUCH MIMI !! ; *D

**SPRINKLES... SPRINKLES... SPRINKLES**

NOW IT'S TIME TO...

GO & GET YOUR GLASS OF MILK ALREADY ~ RICE OR SOY IF YOU PREFER & GET READY FOR SOME *IRIE~RAINBOWLICIOUS* YUMMINESS FOR YOUR TUMMY...
THIS IS RECIPE THAT WAS BORROWED FROM *HERE*... MODIFIED WITH THE *VANILLA* & COOL~WHIP BY ME, OF COURSE !! ENJOY !!! ; *D

MMMMMMM... MMMMMMM... GOOOOD !! ; *)~

& WITH **MANY** THANKS FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE WITH ME... IT WAS SUCH A JOY TO SEE MY LITTLE~MIMI *SMILE* !! ; *)

*MONDAY~MUNCHIES*... CUPCAKE~LOVIN'S

**IRIE~RAINBOWLICIOUS** CUPCAKES... WERE A SUCCESS !!!

HERE ARE JUST A FEW PICTURES TO SHOW THEM IN THEIR GLORY (& NOT)...

I THINK YOU GET THE IDEA !! ; *D

MIMI *LOVED* HER CUPCAKE SOOO MUCH... I WAS ABLE TO GET A PICTURE OF IT BEFORE SHE FINISHED EATING~IT ALL~UP !! ; *D MMMMMM... CUPCAKES !!

&BY A VOTE OF POPULAR~DEMAND... I AM GOING TO POST **MY** VERSION OF THIS RECIPE WITH A BUNCH MORE PICTURES ~~~~>> **HERE** !!

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& WITH **MANY** THANKS FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE WITH ME... IT WAS SUCH A JOY TO SEE MY LITTLE~MIMI *SMILE* !! ; *)

*THIS* IS WHERE OUR *INSPIRATION* CAME FROM !! ; *D

*SPARKLE & SHINE ~HAPPY~4TH~OF~JULY ~ SATURDAY*... 7/4/09

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A VERY SAFE & *SPARKLY* & OF COURSE ~~

A VERY SUPER~FUN...

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE *CUPCAKES* THIS RAINY AFTERNOON... STAY~TUNED FOR SOME YUMMY PICTURES TO COME~SOON !! IN THE MEAN TIME YOU CAN TAKE A PEEK @ SOME *SUPER~SWEET* CREATIONS MADE BY A SWEET~MAMA *HERE* !!

THANKS KATE !! ; *D

THANKS AGAIN ~~~~>>> glitter-graphics.com

*MONDAY~MUNCHIES*... 6/22/09

IF YOU EVER HAPPEN TO BE IN LAKE~GENEVA, WISCONSIN...

I HIGHLY RECCOMMEND THE *EGG~HARBOR~CAFE* FOR BREAKFAST &/OR LUNCH !!! YUMM !! ; *D

HERE IS THE *CONCEPT* OF EGG~HARBOR CAFE...

AS TAKEN FROM THEIR WEBSITE:

The Concept of Egg Harbor Café:
The definition of "Concept:" An idea, especially a generalized idea of a class of objects.
The concept of Egg Harbor Café is a restaurant specializing in gourmet breakfast and lunch creations from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, in a warm, charming country setting, with fast, friendly,and efficient service.

YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE *STORY* BEHIND THEM...
Story of the Egg Harbor Café for information about our full history.

YUMMMMMM !!! & I MUST ADMIT THAT THIS PLACE WAS SOOOO GOOD, THAT WE ATE THERE *TWICE* WHILE WE WERE IN TOWN !! ; *D

*MONDAY~MUNCHIES*...

UUUUMMMM... WELL, ANOTHER RAINY~DAY HERE IN ST. LOUIS... BLAH !!! ; *(

WHAT MAKES EVERYTHING *ALL* BETTER, EVEN WHEN IT'S RAINING AGAIN FOR THE *MILLIONTH* DAY IN A ROW ???

YOU GUESSED IT... ICE~CREAM... & FROM WHERE ELSE...

*TED~DREWES*... OF COURSE !! ; *D

GO~AHEAD & CHECK~OUT THE *MENU* & SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TRY... I BET THAT THERE IS... MAYBE EVEN A FEW !! ; *)

YOU CAN ALSO *PLACE~AN~ORDER* FOR OVERNIGHT~DELIVERY... IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN ST. LOUIS !!

THIS IS WHAT I HAD TODAY...

*HAWAIIAN~DELIGHT* WITH HOT~FUDGE !! ; *D

NOW, THIS SUNDAE/CONCRETE DOES NOT COME WITH HOT~FUDGE...

YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM TO ADD IT & I DO SAY THAT THIS IS A *MUST* !!! ; *)

OK ~ HERE WE GO ~~ NOW, PICTURE THIS...

CREAMY~VANILLA CUSTARD

FRESH~BANANAS

SHREDDED~COCONUT

CRUSHED~PINEAPPLE

MACADAMIA~NUTS & MY *SPECIAL* INGREDIENT...

HOT~FUDGE !!! ; *D

I KNOW... I KNOW... BUT, I FIGURE HEY ~ IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT... YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO IT *BIG* !!! 8 *) YUM !! YUMMMM !! ; *)

OH ~~ & THERE IS ENOUGH TO SHARE... WHICH IS WHAT I NORMALLY DO, BUT DIDN'T TODAY !! ; *D HE HE

*MONDAY~MUNCHIES*... 6/8/09

MONDAY~MUNCHIES...

GET READY FOR SOME *YUM~YUM~YUMMINESS* !!

:: COCO~CHOCO~OATY~CLUSTERS ::

:: YOU WILL NEED ::

: 1 STICK OF BUTTER

: 1/2 CUP SUGAR

: 1/4 CUP COCOA~POWDER

: 1 TSP VANILLA

: 1/4 CUP MILK

: 2 CUPS QUICK~OATS

: 1/2 CUP SWEETENED~SHREDDED COCONUT

:: LETS GET STARTED ::

* LINE A COOKIE~SHEET WITH WAX OR PARCHMEMENT~PAPER & SET ASIDE.

* MELT THE BUTTER, IN A MEDIUM SAUCEPAN OVER *MEDIUM~HIGH* HEAT.

:: TIME TO GET COOKING ::

* ADD IN THE SUGAR, COCOA~POWDER & VANILLA... MIX WELL.

* NOW, ADD IN THE MILK SLOWLY... MIX WELL TO REMOVE CLUMPS.

* BRING MIXTURE TO A *ROLLING~BOIL*...

* AND THEN REDUCE HEAT TO *MEDIUM* & CONTINUE BOILING FOR 1~2 MINUTES... MIXING CONSTANTLY !!

* DRIP A TINY~BIT INTO A CUP OF *COLD~WATER*... IF THE MIXTURE FORMS A SOLID~BALL IN THE WATER... MIXTURE IS READY.

IF MIXTURE HITS THE WATER & DISPERSES... CONTINUE TO COOK A BIT LONGER !! THIS *TIP* IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COOKIES TO STAY TOGETHER & NOT FALL~APART !!

THANKS GRAMMY !! ; *)

:: LETS GET MIXING ::

* REMOVE PAN FROM HEAT.

* ADD THE OATS & COCONUT TO THE MIXTURE... MIX WELL, UNTIL INGREDIENTS ARE COMPLETLEY BLENDED.

* SET ASIDE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO COOL.

* DROP BY ROUNDED *TABLESPOONFULS* ONTO PREPARED BAKING~SHEET !!

NOW IT'S TIME TO...
GO & GET YOUR GLASS OF MILK ALREADY ~ RICE OR SOY IF YOU PREFER & GET READY FOR SOME COCO~CHOCO~YUMMINESS FOR YOUR TUMMY...

THIS IS AN OLD~SCHOOL RECIPE FROM MY GRAMMY... MODIFIED WITH THE *COCONUT* BY ME, OF COURSE !! ENJOY !!! ; *D

MMMMMMM... MMMMMMM... GOOOOD !! ; *)~

& WITH MANY THANKS TO MY *GRAMMY* FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE WITH ME !!

; *)

*MONDAY~MUNCHIES*...

YAY...

FOR SUPER~SWEET ~ PHATTY STRAWBERRIES...

& GHIRARDELLI SEMI~SWEET CHOCOLATE !!!! ; *D

PUT THEM TOGETHER & WHAT DO YOU *HOPE* FOR...

A CHOCOLATE~COVERED *STRAWBERRY~DEELITE* !! ; *)

*

& WHAT DID I GET...

A BOWL OF STRAWBERRY~STEMS & A FEW SCATTERED CHOCOLATE~CHIPS !!! ; *)

WELL, SO MUCH FOR MY *STRAWBERRY~DEELITES*...

MAYBE NEXT TIME !!! ; *D

OOOEY~GOOEY BUTTER~COOKIES... YUM !!!

OOOEY~GOOEY BUTTER~CAKE *COOKIES*... YUM !!

A ST. LOUIS *ORIGINAL* !!

SO ~~ WE WERE CRAVING SOME COOKIES THE OTHER NIGHT & DECIDED TO BAKE SOME. WE WENT TO THE PANTRY, BUT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHOCOLATE~CHIPS THIS TIME... HERE IS WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO:

OOOEY~GOOEY BUTTER~CAKE COOKIES !!!
NOW, LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS IS NORMALLY DONE AS A CAKE, BUT... WE THINK THAT COOKIES ARE LOTS MORE *FUN* !! ; *)

YOU WILL NEED:

: 1 EGG
: 1/4 TSP VANILLA
: 1/2 CUP OR 1 STICK OF BUTTER
: 1 8 OZ PKG OF CREAM~CHEESE
: 1 BOX BUTTER~RECIPE YELLOW CAKE MIX

: POWDERED~SUGAR


LETS GET STARTED:

* PREHEAT OVEN: 350 o
* LIGHTLY COAT COOKIE~SHEET WITH NON~STICK COOKING~SPRAY...
OR YOU CAN ALSO USE *PARCHMEMENT~PAPER* IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEM STICKING... THEY COME OFF THE PAN SOOO MUCH EASIER THIS WAY

TIME TO GET MIXING:

* MIX BUTTER, VANILLA, EGG & CREAM~CHEESE IN MEDIUM BOWL UNTIL BLENDED
* CONTINUE TO BEAT INGREDIENTS UNTIL LIGHT & FLUFFY
* MIX IN DRY CAKE MIX... JUST UNTIL INGREDIENTS ARE BLENDED
* CHILL IN REFRIGERATOR FOR 30 MINUTES

LETS GET COOKING:

* DROP BY ROUNDED *TEASOPOONFULS* IN SMALL BOWL OF POWDERED~SUGAR...
OR YOU CAN MAKE THEM LARGER, LIKE I DO !! ; *)
* BAKE FOR APPROX. 8~12 MINUTES OR UNTIL GOLDEN~BROWN...
** 8~9 MINUTES FOR CHEWY COOKIES (YUMMM~~ THIS IS THE WAY I LIKE THEM)
** OR APPROX. 12 MINUTES FOR A CRUNCHIER COOKIE

NOW IT'S TIME TO...

GO & GET YOUR GLASS OF MILK ALREADY ~ RICE OR SOY IF YOU PREFER & GET READY FOR SOME BUTTERY~YUMMINESS FOR YOUR TUMMY... AN OLD~SCHOOL *ORIGINAL* COMING TO YOU STRAIGHT OUT OF ST. LOUIS !! *CLICK~HERE* FOR A DEFINITION OF & *CLICK~HERE* FOR A LITTLE~BIT OF HISTORY. ; *)

ENJOY !!! ; *D MMMMMMM... MMMMMMM... GOOOOD !! ; *)~


& WITH MANY THANKS TO MEGAN FOR SHARING THIS RECIPE WITH ME !! ; *)