Well, HELLO!!!

Mom says I haven't been here for a LONG LONG time so it's my turn! She doesn't have a whole lot to tell you I guess. Like I do?!?! Let's see, yesterday I was ABSOLUTELY HUMILIATED!! I had a BATH! Yes, you read that correctly, A BATH!! Does mom NOT understand the complete and utter indignity of that? How am I supposed to impress the other dogs at the dog park if I don't stink? Speaking of said dog park. So it is the happenin' new place to hang out! I've even gone there with my new friend Mugsy a time or two! It's so cool, so it has LOTS of trees, PEOPLE!, and other dogs. Did I mention it has PEOPLE?!?! And not just any people, but people who love DOGS!! Happy Dance! So, other than that, there isn't much goin' on here. I see so many girls in and out of here, I can hardly tell which one is my sister anymore. Maybe I'll just call them all sister! Although, that big tall thingy with a net on it has been seeing quite a few boys, too, but I never get to go out and meet them! Bummer! It's been kinda nice, so I like to lay in the sun and get all warm, but today it was yucky and rainy. Rather depressing. You know the cool part, though? If I play my cards just right, pull out the puppy-dog eyes and mope around a bit, Dad's usually good for a Chew-EEze! Ahhh, that's the life! Well, my bed is calling me and so I think I'll answer that! Before you go, could you scratch my left ear? Thanks!

Lemon Angelfood Cupcakes

I didn't get a photo of these, I'm sorry, and now I've shared them and they aren't here! "Big T" and I made them and we agreed they are a hit! I will try to change the recipe to be chocolate, as Kent would prefer that, but I LOVED the lemon!! Super yummy and light, and "almost guilt-free"!

Lemon Angel Food Cupcakes


Sifting the flour mixture thoroughly three times incorporates the powdered sugar for a light, tender cupcake. Top with tiny edible pansy blossoms or rosebuds for decoration. Store extra cupcakes in an airtight container, or send them home with guests as party favors.


Cupcakes:
1/2 cup cake flour (about 2 ounces)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup egg whites (about 5 large eggs)
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind

Lemon Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon 1% low-fat milk
1 to 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Edible flowers such as pansies or rosebuds (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°.
Place 16 paper muffin cup liners in muffin cups. Set aside.
Lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup powdered sugar into a medium bowl; repeat the procedure 2 times.
Beat egg whites and salt with a mixer at high speed until frothy (about 1 minute). Add cream of tartar, and beat until soft peaks form. Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle flour mixture over egg white mixture, 1/4 cup at a time; fold in after each addition. Stir in vanilla and rind.
Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pan; let cool completely on a wire rack.
To prepare frosting, beat butter with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar; beat at low speed just until blended. Add milk and lemon juice; beat until fluffy. Add more lemon juice as needed to adjust the consistency. Spread 2 tablespoons lemon frosting over each cupcake. Garnish with edible pansies and rosebuds, if desired.

Yield: 16 cupcakes (serving size: 1 cupcake)

CALORIES 144 (18% from fat); FAT 2.9g (sat 1.8g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.1g); IRON 0.3mg; CHOLESTEROL 8mg; CALCIUM 4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 28.9g; SODIUM 58mg; PROTEIN 1.6g; FIBER 0.1g

Cooking Light, MAY 2006

CUPCAKES!!!

I tried these today and they were absolutely YUMMY!!!
Coconut Cupcakes

• 2 3/4 cups butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons each vanilla and almond extracts
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon each baking powder, baking soda, and salt
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut, plain or toasted
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream together 2 cups butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in 1 1/2 teaspoons each vanilla and almond extracts.
2. In another large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter and sugar mixture in 3 batches, alternating with coconut milk. Stir 1 cup flaked coconut into the batter.
3. Fill 30 paper-lined muffin cups (1/2-cup capacity) in two or more muffin pans about 2/3 full with batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing muffins from pans. Cool completely.
4. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup butter, and 1/2 teaspoon each vanilla and almond extract until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with remaining coconut.

Can you say IMPRESSIVE??

Mom sent me a link to a video to watch these amazing girls! Take a breather and check it out! They have their blog and be sure to watch the video! AMAZING TALENT and an AMAZING WORKOUT!! Enjoy!

Kings Firecrackers

Nice Evening!

We were invited to enjoy a BBQ and the nice weather at Brian and Sue's house tonight. Unfortunately, the weather started to turn although there was never any rain! They barbequed burgers, chicken and sausage and we all provided the sides. It was just such a nice spur-of-the-moment get-together. After dinner we sang some hymns and that was very special and encouraging. It is wonderful to know that we don't have to be in Meeting to encourage each other. We sang so many hymns tonight that echoed the feelings of my heart as of late. We ended with this:
"Precious thought, my Father knoweth; in His love I rest, For whate'er my Father doeth must be always best. Well I know the Heart that planneth naught but good for me; Joy and sorrow interwoven - Love in all I see. Oh, to trust Him, then, more fully! Just to simply move in the conscious, calm enjoyment of the Father's love, Knowing that life's chequered pathway leadeth to His rest, Satisfied the way He taketh must be always best."

Spring Break

For the last week it's been spring break, although you would never know it by the weather! Finally this afternoon we had a few moments of sun -- after some very chunky rain this morning!! Let's see, we've done some shopping (unsuccessful I might add!), Tiana's spent about as much time at friends' houses as at home, we checked out SAM on the Free First Thursday and then went to Pike Place Market. That was fun because we also had McCaela, Terrah and Kaylin with us. It's always fun to go to the Market and have a bite of lunch. We took the bus and went into the tunnel. It was our first time through again since it's been reopened. We had fun despite the cold wet weather. We'll have to go check Pioneer Square out and the rest of downtown when the weather gets better! Today, Tiana and I went and spent the morning with a very special friend at her school in Seattle. She's a most adorable, precocious little Bug and it was so fun to see her in her classroom and hear all of the kids sing! What an incredibly talented bunch of teachers she's learning from and they pull all of the talent plus some out of the kids, too! Right now I'm more than exhausted and so when I get out of my lazy streak then I will post some pictures from our trip downtown!

From SAM day

And finally -- I'm on the computer where I can place the link and a photo or two! Check out the fun we had HERE!

Let the Music Begin!!

This lovely picture is brought to you courtesy of my co-worker MJ!! A few months ago our piano turned sour on one note. I had the tuner out and he fixed it, but didn't guarantee that he had permanently fixed that note. Well, about 2 months later it failed again! So, kinda bummed I was, but didn't really have the money to spend so "frivolously". One beautiful day at Starbucks MJ asked if I happened to know anyone who would want a piano! She had this one that had just been lanquishing in the basement and no one had ever really played it and now they would love to have it gone to make room for her daughter to move home and have more of an apartment-style living space. Imagine her surprise when I said that someone would be me!! So, we craigslisted the old piano, got rid of it and promptly headed to MJ's to get this beauty! It's in pretty decent tune (I can probably wait a while to have that done!) and it fits perfectly in the house! All that for a batch of Coffee Toffee Cookies! Thanks to her hubby for helping us move it, too! Hope we didn't do his back too much harm!! Now to think pretty seriously about starting piano lessons for Tiana, too! YAY!!