A Rebel Alliance Birthday!

Hello Sweets,

Only a few more days until I get the keys to my new place, which means I am in full on packing mode.  I am excited to be back in my own place, but I will miss my fun little conversations with my roomie.  But it was time for me to get back into my own space again, I just wish someone could do my packing for me lol.  I don't have much left to pack, but the way I've been feeling I might as well be packing a 30 room mansion :p  Which in turn mean I am exhausted, so I thought I would do a quick little post about Nathan's birthday :) 

Nathan's birthday almost always falls on Thanksgiving, and anyone who has a birthday near a holiday knows that combining the two is never fun for the birthday celebrator.  Knowing this, I decided that I would separate the two and make sure Nathan felt very special.  Luckily for me Nathan loves shrimp almost as much as I do, and Nathan's parents hate any seafood so it's never made in the house.  I decided to make him my Spicy Shrimp Linguine, and when I showed him the pictures he was sold on the yummy dinner.  When it was just the two of us, I surprised Nathan with a sweet little card and some paintings that I did just for him :)

Texas flag for my Texan man

A memento of our love and anniversary

Then on the first day we had just the two of us, I decided to make him a delicious dinner complete with wine and garlic french bread.  Lets see handsome and his satisfied smile;

Happy birthday boy!

Look at that beautiful delicious dish

 Of course I also made Nathan a delicious cake, chocolate of course as that is his favorite, but we decided to keep that for the family celebration on Thanksgiving.  Since I had created Star Wars themed cupcakes for a birthday a couple months prior, it was quite obvious what the theme was going to be.  We decided to go with a "rebel alliance" theme, and he let me run with my imagination.  He told me (repeatedly) that I didn't need to make the symbols because he knows how temperamental marshmallow fondant can be, but I am both stubborn and determined lol!
 

chocolate cake with chocolate icing and marshmallow fondant

I used blue coarse sugar to emulate a starry background :)

 Needless to say he was extremely happy and grateful with the results, and nothing makes me happier than to see him smile.  I think now I have created a bar for myself when it comes to his birthday cakes, and knowing me I'll raise that bar every year from now on!

Well I really should get back to packing, but first I need to make some dinner.  Thankfully I made a couple of chicken breasts the other night, purposely, so I'd have a quick meal option :)  Yup, not just a pretty face over here lol ;)  Until next time....

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo

Just Doodling!

Hello Sweets,

I am fighting some sort of sore throat :(  It has made the packing for my move almost none existent, and that will make it for a hectic week and a half before I move.  My body is fighting so hard that yesterday I would pass out at any moment, and that was more annoying than most realize.  Normally  I would be over the moon happy that I am sleeping, because I have a lot of trouble doing so.  However, when you need to get certain things done it's a bit of a pain, since you don't get much done... at all.

Since I am bed bound for today I decided to get a jump start on my post, and that's when I realized I missed a recipe from last November.  How did I miss such a delicious recipe?  I have no clue lol, but I found it now and that's all that matters ;)  Today's recipe is a favorite of Nathans, whether I am making a cookie or a muffin he is sure to love what comes out of the oven!  I know there are many more different variations of the snack I'm showcasing today, and I even came across a  website that was full of different recipes.  Needless to say I am very excited to try out some new recipes, that is once my body decides to cooperate again :p  I guess I should tell y'all what we're making today, as my title sneakingly suggests we're making snicker doodle muffins!!  This recipe is NOT mine, but I found this delightful treat on In Praise Of Leftovers.  Check her blog out, it's full of yummy goodies :)

 Snicker Doodle Muffins

Ingredients
(muffins)

1 1/2C + 2Tbs flour
3/4C sugar
2tsp baking powder
1/4tsp salt
1/4tsp nutmeg
1/2C milk
1 egg, beaten
1/3C butter, melted

(topping)
1tsp cinnamon
1/2C sugar
1/3C butter, melted

 

Direction:

1)  Combine the first five ingredients.

 

2)  Add milk, egg, and 1/3C of melted butter, mix gently to combine.

 

3)  Butter a muffin tin, and fill muffin cups 1/2 full.

 

4)  Bake for 15-20 minutes, until tops are light brown and springy to the touch.

 

 5)  While muffins are still warm, dip in butter (from topping half).

 

6)  Roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

How cute is it that Nathan is helping me :)

7)  Serve warm.

 

great texture

Sooo yummy

 These are some of the most delicious muffins I've ever tasted, and they are even good when they're not warm.  I can't even begin to describe how good they are, but I can tell you that they are not overly sweet at all.  Also unlike some of the other recipes you'll find online there is no cream of tartar or vanilla, but you would never notice.  These are a perfect addition to any breakfast, or just as a snack.  All in all a perfectly delicious treat!

I can't tell you how frustrated I was last night trying to find this dang recipe lol, but by some sort of miracle when I searched on google today it just popped up.  I feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, a cinnamon sugar weight that is ;)  Tomorrow we are going to travel back to November for an American Thanksgiving treat, and I promise you that it is to die for!  Until next time....

Stay sweet,

Jennifer xoxoxo