Honey Cupcakes & Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

My youngest son is turning two in a couple of weeks, and I have been busy testing out recipes for his birthday party brunch. I was looking for a cupcake recipe that was light and delicious without being overly sweet, and this one from Half Baked: The Cake Blog was exactly what I was wanted.

CAKE:
1 stick butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

Yields 12 cupcakes

1.  Preheat your oven to 350, and line your cupcake pans.
2.  Mix together the flour, salt and baking powder in a small bowl.
3.  Cream together the butter and sugar until well combined and then beat in the eggs one at a time.
4.  In another small bowl, mix together the buttermilk, honey and vanilla.
5.  Combine all three bowls of wet and dry ingredients and mix well.
6.  Fill your cupcake liners about 2/3 of the way full and bake for 18-20 minutes.

FROSTING:

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp honey
yellow food coloring (optional)

1.  With a mixer, combine the butter and cream cheese.
2.  Add powdered sugar and mix well.
3.  Add honey and food coloring (if desired) to tint frosting.

I really loved the texture of this cake - a little bit denser than you'd get with a boxed cake mix, but still super moist and fluffy. I think they'll be perfect to serve at our birthday brunch because they're not too crumbly and they hold together well (ie. not too messy for the kiddos!). I'm thinking that these would also taste amazing with lemon or vanilla bean frosting too! 

And if you want another great kid-friendly cupcake recipe, check this carrot cake that Kelley made for her daughters first birthday party.

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Under-the-Sea Party: Fish Birthday Cake Tutorial

Photo by: Amber McGee Photography

 Zoey's First Birthday Cake!

I LOVE to cook, but baking - not so much.  I leave that to my sister and fellow blogger, Lesley, who for my birthday made me an awesome Tiffany's inspired cake using homemade fondant and everything. I should find a picture for you...

But, since it was my little girl's first birthday party, I had to make her a cute cake.

Zoey's birthday party was an Under-The-Sea/Mermaid themed party (blog post to come on the rest of the party soon!), and I was inspired by this amazing cake from My Cake School that I saw on Pinterest (of course).

I made it, and it wasn't quite as cool as the one on Pinterest, but it turned out pretty cute for my amateur skills. I actually wish I had bought special, brightly-colored food coloring.

I also got crazy and baked a carrot cake from scratch - I wasn't quite ready for Zoey to have the fully leaded sugar cake and frosting yet. I used the carrot cake and frosting recipe from Momtastic's Wholesome Baby Food, and they both turned out amazing. I will be making both again in the near future!
 

Side Note:  I thought I would need more cake than just the carrot cake, so I bought a good ole Betty Crocker strawberry cake mix, and made two boxes of those which actually ended up being the cake I used for the Fish Cake creation. The carrot cake was made into smaller cakes and cupcakes. Yes, I had so much cake leftover it was ridiculous.

Here is how I assembled the Fish Cake:

I drew out how it was going to work and ended up with one round 9" cake and 10 cupcakes. You can add another layer of cupcakes too but that is all I could fit on my tray. Oh yeah, don't forget to plan out what you are going to put in on! I should have used a larger board or something...

I cut the round cake in half and used one side for the head and the other side to make into the tail shape:

 Then on your drawing, map out what colors each one will be, frost away, and assemble:

Then the fun (or not so fun) part comes in - the eye, fish lips and fins. For the eye, I used a little white frosting and made a circle. I bought a black gel frosting pen for the eye lashes and used a little blue frosting for the eye ball:

 I also bought a hot pink frosting pen and used that for the lips and fins:

 And here it is!

Again, next time I would use some gel food coloring to make brighter colors for the fish. But, for my first time, I'm patting myself on the back.

And for all the extra cakes and cupcakes we made, this is what we did with those:

It was definitely worth all the effort. And trust me, if I can do it, you can too (probably better than I did!) :)

I can't believe my baby is one already (boo hoo)! 



Photo by: Amber McGee Photography

Here's another great cupcake recipe, honey cream cheese cupcakes, from Heidi!



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Banana Bread With a Twist

If you are looking for a sweet new recipe to try, this  banana bread is easy and yummy. It's a spin-off of my grandma's banana bread, and so far people have had nothing but good things to say about it.

First I'll give you the basics ---

You will need -

• 3 medium bananas (if they are a little brownish that's better because they are sweeter)
• 2 large eggs ( I use three if I need a little extra moisture in my bread)
• 1/2 cup of Crisco (you can substitute butter if desired)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 cups of flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• pinch of salt

* Preheat your oven to 350

Mix the first four ingredients together then add the dry ingredients.  Stir to a very smooth creamy consistency.

Grease your favorite pan and pop it in the oven. Bake until golden brown, usually 25-30 mins. If you stick a knife in it and it comes out clean, it's done.

This basic recipe is really great if you like traditional banana bread, but we like to put a spin on it...

After I have mixed all the ingredients together I like to add Cinnamon and Allspice to my liking. I never measure it, but I just add a little bit at a time until I can taste it and smell it. Last but not least, I will throw a cup or so of semi sweet chocolate chips in if I have any extra lying around the house. This makes the bread extra yummy. If you take it right out of the oven while it's warm and gooey and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to it, I promise people will love it :)

Happy baking!

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The Best BLT (+A) Ever!

In honor of my 3rd wedding anniversary, this one is for my fabulous husband.

Let me tell you, this one is a winner! My husband loves BLTs, and yesterday these words came out of his mouth, "This is the best BLT you have ever made...even better than you can go get at a restaurant". SCORE!

So here it is, my friends:

Sandwich fixins

(my husband is from North Carolina where there is no "g" in "fixins"):

(Serves 2)

Four Slices of Honey Wheat Bread

1/2 lb Smoked Bacon

1/2 cup of Arugula

1/2 Tomato (of choice, I like Heirloom)

1/2 Avocado (aka the +A)

Special Sauce*

*Special Sauce:

1/4 cup of Ketchup

1 TBS Mayo

Garlic Salt (to taste)

Pepper (to taste)

Cook your bacon in a frying pan. Set aside to cool in between some paper towels.

Make your Special Sauce.

Toast your bread.

Assemble the sandwich by spreading the special sauce on both sides of the bread, add slices of avocado, add slices of tomato, pile on the bacon and finish with some arugula. 

By the way, this Alpine Valley Sprouted Honey Wheat bread is my favorite - lots of great ingredients, ONLY 60 calories per slice (most are around 100!), and it tastes amazing. It could very well be the perfect bread!

Our entire family gave this sandwich a big thumbs up!

And if you like this one, try this awesome pasta with bacon recipe from Lesley!

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Easy Roasted Chicken Recipe

Let’s be honest, I’m far from a gourmet chef when it comes to cooking and am pretty much a disaster in the kitchen.  It took me two years to perfect Chicken Rice-a-Roni, and my dinner ideas range from spaghetti (which you can’t really screw up) to tacos (another one that’s pretty impossible to get wrong).  Sometimes I get that itch to look up new recipes to broaden my dinner horizons, but then I come across intimidating, fancy-schmancy cooking instructions and foreign ingredients that instantly turn me off.  I also have a family with a very picky palette which is challenging when it comes to trying new things. So here’s an easy, yummy dinner recipe for those of you who, like me, would just rather eat at dinner time.

Ingredients:

·        Whole Young Chicken (around 5 lbs.)

·        Butter

·        Salt

·        Pepper

·        1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced

·        2-4 potatoes

·        4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks

Preparation:

·        Preheat oven to 375 degrees

·        Remove the heart, liver, and neck from the cavity (who uses that icky stuff anyways?)

·        Rinse whole chicken, pat dry and place in glass cooking pan

·        Brush the outside of chicken with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste

·        Chop up onion, potato and carrots into large chunks and place around the chicken in the pan

Cooking:

·        Roast the chicken for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

·        Any leftover chicken can be cut off the bone and used the following night for chicken soup, chicken burritos, chicken sandwiches, etc...another easy meal for cheap! 

 

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What Do You Do With a One-Year-Old?

That's what I was thinking about last weekend. Yes, Zoey has boxes of toys, but she, or maybe it was me, was getting tired of those, and I thought she needed to be stimulated in a different way.  I searched and searched online for all kinds of ideas and came up with three favorites. (Well four, but I'll tell you about that in a minute!).

The first one was so much fun. I walked in the door with a huge sack of balls (bought at Walmart for $10), and as I expected she saw it and yelled "BAWL" (that's how she says it). I dumped this big bag of balls into her crib and let her have at it. She kicked them around, threw them up in the air and bounced up and down. I was 1 for 1. 

I had to get some things done in the kitchen so I brought her in with me and set her on the floor with her train that she loves to take apart and play with. I also set down an old tissue box with some fabric swatches stuffed inside. Once she was done with the train and saw the tissue box she began taking each one out.  I fit around 50 swatches in there ($5 from the Walmart clearance aisle). Then to my surprise, she started putting them back in! I didn't know she could actually put things away. Is it too early to start teaching her chores? I digress. So in that whole time I was able to make dinner and fix her a plate. It was amazing!  2 for 2!

The last one was a bit harder, and we saved it for the next day when my Dad was able to come and help my husband. We got a swing to hang from our tree in the front yard on Amazon.com. It was about $25 plus we had to buy some extra rope at Home Depot because our tree is so high. It took a bit to get it up and evenly hung, but it's up, and my nephew, Valen, was the first to try it. He had a ball!  Then Zoey got in. I *think* she liked it... What does this face tell you?

All I know is that she sees the swing from the window and gets excited...I'm waiting for the excitement to hit her face when she's actually in it. 2.5 for 3?

Remember that 4th idea I was talking about?  Well, I thought that Zoey would really love a little hiding place. She loves to play hide-n-seek, and I read all over that forts/tents/canopies were a hit at this age. I was inspired by this canopy at Land of Nod,  but at $139 plus $69 more for the matching pillow (that you would have to buy because it's so dang cute!), I thought maybe I could make my own. I found several sets of instructions and bought a hula hoop and some fabric...and now I need my Mom to help. I'll let you know how that goes or if I end up just buying the cute one from The Land of Nod after all...

**Update: I made it, check out my canopy here!**

Also, for some great iPhone/iPad ideas for kids, check out Kari's list.  And if you are traveling with your toddler, here are some great tips for distractions.  

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Top Summer Beauty Products

Today I'm going to let you in on two of my absolute favorite beauty products that are so hot right now. If you're an on-the-go mom and just don't have time to hit the tanning salon or lay out for hours in the heat to get your summer glow then I have just the thing for you.

Fake Bake is an at home tanning solution that's much better for your skin than all those hours in the sun or booth. I know what you're thinking, "Those things always look orange and streak!" I can assure you that I use this product all the time to add a little color, and I  have never have any problems or complaints. Fake Bakes makes many different products to suit all skin types and shades. Many of the girls I work with at the salon use and sell this product as well. I definitely suggest this if you just have no time but want a little bit of a golden look.

My top go-to hair product is the amazing Beach Day Texture Spray by UNITE. This styling aid is super fun and simple to use. Whether you have long locks or a short sexy look this spray will transform your flat hair to a voluminous tousled style. It adds serious fullness and enhances waves. Spray it on damp or dry hair for different looks. This product is a salon exclusive so CLICK HERE to find a salon near you that sells UNITE products or you can order online directly through UNITE HERE. Be sure to check out the entire line from UNITE - it works wonders!

As a hair stylist, I personally sell and recommend these products on a daily basis to my clients. Hope you head out and pick up both of these and enjoy the rest of your summer with a little glow and sexy beachy hair!

For more of our favorite products, check out Kelley's list here and Kari's list here.

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13 Inexpensive Date Night Ideas

Sometimes in our day to day life we get so busy with work, kids, errands, etc. that we forget that the most important thing about the family is for mommy and daddy to stay connected. We have all done it. You lose a sense of the dating "honeymoon" phase after kids, and life goes on and gets crazy. Somewhere along the way being Super Girlfriend turns into being Super Mom where everything became all about your kids and not always all about your spouse. 

Here is a list of thirteen inexpensive and easy things you can do day or night to bring the dating life back to your marriage, because YES you should be dating your husband and enjoying time together!

 - Cook together - find a meal you have never tried and dive in.

- Go bowling - there's nothing more fun then a little hubby wife competition while bowling.

- Have a game night - our favorite household game is Yahtzee!

- Have a living room camp out - blow up an air mattress or make a comfy spot on the floor, get all the blakets and pillows in the house, and snuggle up together for the night.

- Pack a picnic and head to a park, lake or river. Being outside relaxing with good company and a nice lunch is cute and fun. Make it a little more romantic and pack some champagne and strawberries.

- Go to a sporting event.

- Have a movie marathon - we prefer scary movies of all types, it really gives you a reason to cuddle up with your main squeeze.

- Go to a new restaurant, preferably of a totally different ethnicity. Exploring the taste of the world without leaving your city is an adventure in itself.

- Have a spa night with candles, bubbles, massage oil, and the works. It's very romantic and you both can relax.

- Go on a hike

- Visit the zoo

- Go on a treasure hunt - grab a small amount of cash and hit the garage sales. See all the fun things you can pick up for $20.00.

- Make homemade pizzas - hit the store together, grab all of your favorite ingredient,s and head home to get your bake on.


These are just a few of many ideas to keep the fun going. When life is busy you can't expect to spend every night together with just each another, so include the kids in a few of these ideas for a family date night. The point is not to let your busy life get in the way of enjoying and spending quality time with the most important people in your life. Don't wait...why not start dating again? There's no better day to start than today!

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Six Must-Have Beauty Products for Moms on the Go

What can I say—I’m a makeup and hair product fanatic!  With all of the items stored under my bathroom sink, in the drawers, on the counter, and in the spare bathrooms, I think that I could probably open up my own Ulta or Sephora store.  Now that I really sit down and think about it, maybe I could say that I’m somewhat of a makeup hoarder.  I love trying new colors, different brands, fun products, etc. which is why I have such a massive collection of beauty items.  With that being said, over the years I’ve managed to come across some products that I think every girl (and mom) should not live without.  Here’s what I’ve discovered: 

Moroccanoil – This little miracle in a bottle does wonders for your hair!  It’s a bit pricey, but a little bit goes a long way.  The overall outcome makes hair soft and shiny without weighing it down or drying it out. Cost $20-$40 depending on the size purchased.

Dry-Shampoo – For moms on the go, this is a dream come true!  Don’t have time to fully wash, dry, and style your hair?  Spray this on your roots, let sit for a couple of minutes, brush out and then style.  Klorane ECO Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk $18.00

Concealer – Whether you’re looking to cover up a blemish, dark under eye circles, or a sun spot- Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer is amazing!  This product is also on the higher priced end, but it doesn’t take much to get the job done so it will last a while!  $32.00 at Sephora.com

Long-Wear Lipstick – I really dislike applying lipstick in the morning to only have it MIA by the time I get to work, which is why I’m now in love with Maybelline Super Stay 14 Hour Lipstick ($9).  It stays put and smells good too!

Cheek Stain – This rose-tinted stain creates a natural flush without caking to your face.  Use on the apples of your cheeks or mix with a sheer lip balm for instance lip color!  Benetint by Benefit Cosmetics ($29.00 for full-size or $20 for pocket-size)

 Waterproof Mascara – When taking my little one for a dip in the pool it is not uncommon to get splashed in the face.  For me, it is critical to have mascara that can withstand squirt guns, tidal waves, and the occasional cannon ball.  Secret weapon? CoverGirl Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara ($8).

For more of our favorite beauty products, see Kelley's list here and Jessica's list here!

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Easy Zucchini Bites Appetizer

Do you have an overabundance of zucchini taking over your garden this year? This easy appetizer recipe is the perfect solution! It is wonderful to serve at summer parties, and it also makes a great snack for picky kids who will likely think that they're eating something akin to tater tots as they scarf these down.

I like to use my food processor to shred the zucchini for me, so I usually pick and shred all of the zucchini in my garden at once. After making the appetizer bites, any leftover shredded zucchini gets put into 2 cup portions in freezer bags and frozen for later use. There's nothing like that fresh-from-the-garden taste in the middle of winter! When using frozen zucchini, allow it to thaw and then drain before using.

Zucchini Appetizer Bites

adapted from The Naptime Chef

2 cups shredded zucchini (squeeze out any excess moisture with a paper towel)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 small yellow onion, shredded

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs

1 tsp. dried parsley

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Salt & pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs and then add the zucchini, onion, cheeses, bread crumbs and seasonings.

Fill muffin pan and bake for 15-17 minutes until the tops are a deep golden brown.

Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping if desired.

Check out another kid friendly snack here, Kelley homemade some fabulous goldfish crackers.

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