Red Velvet Cupcakes

I know, I know...Valentine's Day is two weeks away. But it's never too soon to start baking, right? It's five o'clock somewhere??

I went on a little shopping spree in the Valentine's section of Target yesterday, and I may have gone a bit overboard. I blame these AMAZING sprinkles for inspiring me to buy any and everything decorative and pink. A cart full of conversation hearts, cupcake liners, frosting, and heart-shaped dishes later, I arrived at home ready to decorate the hell out of a million mini cupcakes. I absolutely I had to try this red velvet cupcake recipe I stumbled upon.

While the cupcakes cooled, I colored some frosting.

Perfection.

And look at these totally adorable cupcake liners.

Then, we got to decorating. 

Thanks to my pastry chef roomies Fina and Liz, no two cupcakes are exactly alike!

I have an obsession.

POP on over!

When my mom comes to visit, what do we do? We bake, of course! I came across a recipe for popovers on one of my new favorite blogs, Cupcakes and Cashmere, and they just looked so cute popping out of the pan that I had to try it out. Whenever I find a delicious-looking recipe with ingredients I already have in my kitchen, its a must-bake. This one was so easy...

Butter

Flour, sugar, salt

 

Milk

 

Egg

Voila! POPovers!

 

What a wonderful start to my Friday! Mom, can you visit every week?

*Please note the steam rising out of the just-baked popover. Heaven.

Find the recipe here.

Mom in Boston!!

This week, my mom and three aunts made the trip to Boston for a quick visit. My mom came to read to and cook with my class (adorable!), I got some quality mother-daughter time, and the five of us tried some good eats in Boston. Thursday night we went to Legal Sea Foods, and, despite the hype, I am sorry to admit that I was very disappointed. Two things: 1.) the service was terrible. We waited for a really long time for silly things, like the bread basket and bowls of soup. And 2.) my food was average at best. I'll admit that I'm not a seafood fan, so it was a little tough for me to find something on the menu. But, when I saw the Goat Cheese, Avacado, Apple, Roasted Red Pepper, and Tortilla Salad, I thought I had found a winner. WRONG! The dressing was gross, the tortilla chips were soggy, and there was roughly 1 1/2 pieces of avacado in the whole dish. But I digress. I'm not usually one to totally bad-mouth a restaurant upon first taste, but I guess I just expected more from a place I had heard so much about. LSF did have one redeeming quality, which was their "Haitian Rum Raisin Bread Pudding" (pictured below). With a homemade caramel sauce and all proceeds going to the Haitian relief effort, it was a sweet ending to the night.

Friday night I got out of work early (score!), and watched a gorgeous sunset from the hotel room, then had a wonderful Italian dinner at Davio's on Arlington St. Unfortunately the lighting was very low inside the restaurant, so none of my pictures came out. I ordered the Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli, with Chanterelle mushrooms and a Madeira cream sauce. Helllloooo deliciousness! My mom and Aunt Barb both sent me home with half of their dishes - I know what I'll be eating this weekend! We split the Molten Lava chocolate cake, which they put in the oven when you order it so it comes out piping hot and oozing with chocolatey goodness.
It was so exciting to eat at two restaurants I had been hoping to try out. Davio's = winner!

I NEED to go to Europe

Number one thing I regret from college: not going abroad.

These past few weeks, I keep having dreams about Europe: frolicking through Italy, packing for a trip to France, running through the airport in Spain. Then, I started reading Under the Tuscan Sun, which makes me want to quit my job, jet off to Tuscany, plant an olive farm, and live off of wine and cheese for the rest of my life. Now, maybe its because I have Europe on the brain, but I noticed this house by my school and couldn't help but think...is this a sign?

Tell me this house doesn't sliiightly resemble a rustic Tuscan villa.

In the middle of Boston.

I need to find a way!

The sights...

 

The history...

The FOOD!

 

These pictures are from our family trip to Italy in the summer of 2007. Take me back!!!

The best brownie recipe...ever.

Tonight, I decided to whip up a batch of brownies on whim. What I didn't realize is that I was about to commence on the best. brownie-making. experience. ever. Before I show you a picture of this chocolately fudgy deliciosity, I've (reluctantly) decided to share the (EASY PEASY) recipe...

"Brownies from Heaven"

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

Directions

Cream butter and sugar till fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and cocoa, add to creamed mixture until just combined. Spread into a 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool and enjoy!

Literally the best brownies I've ever had. You're welcome.

Coziness

Comfort foods...the perfect dinner to end a chilly, windy, long winter day. Tonight Mike and I had..

Trader Joe's Creamy Tomato Soup

 Sweet potato fries

And (not to pat myself on the back) some of the best homemade grilled cheese I've eaten.

Start with a good, crusty bread.

And a nice sharp cheddar. Thanks Whole Foods!

Now, melt...

Ahhhhhh.

Finally, end the night with a warm gooey dessert. This dessert deserves its own post...

Veggie Tales: Lunches

One of my coworkers recently introduced me to the term "flexitarian", which totally accurately describes my new semi-vegetarianism. Wikipedia describes flexitarianism as a semi-vegetarian diet focusing on vegetarian food with occasional meat consumption. A self-described flexitarian seeks to decrease meat consumption without eliminating it entirely from his or her diet. This definitely describes my new way of eating, especially because I have the tendency to give in to bacon :)
Anyway, I realized I've posted a bunch of vegetarian dinner recipes, but I wanted to tell you about what I have for lunch! Usually I have some sort of sandwich, salad, or leftover dinner from the night before. Recently I've invented this "Mediterranean Pita": hummus, feta, cucumber, lettuce. Yum!
I have some sort of fruit (an apple a day...)

And have starting having yogurt (get that calcium!) - I am trying out different brands and flavors to figure out the best kind.

Tried this today...so good! Perfect amount of chocolate without feeling too guilty :)

There is something so satisfying about packing and eating lunch...especially with my kiddies! It's a great time to chat with them and hear about their days. Love my job!

Things that make me smile

As you know, my camera lived at Mike's house for a week in the beginning of January. I was going through old pictures and found these gems....

 

SOMEone had a photo shoot, MIKE. Merry (late) Christmas from the McDermott doggies!

HARRY POTTER

 photo credit

Okay okaaay - I'll admit it. I'm a Harry Potter superfan. As in standing in line for hours to get the newest books at midnight, seeing the movies the day they come out, reading all the books multiple times. So, when I heard about the Harry Potter movie exhibit at the Museum of Science, I knew I had to go. Luckily I have some equally nerdy superfan friends to come with me! The exhibit was sooo cool, with costumes, props, sets, and an even the golden snitch. The museum really made the exhibit a production, starting us off with the Sorting Hat...though it only sorted people into Gryffindor. It was fun to see all the costumes and remember what happened in each movie...

Buckbeak!

Marauder's Map

The Great Hall!!

Wingaaardium levioooosa

Happy Monday!

SO sorry for being completely MIA the past week...I have been super busy (and a little lazy). Today I woke up to birds chirping and 50 degree weather - a preview of spring?! Here are some pretty flowers (as always) to get us through the week :)

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

...tomorrow!
I know I probably won't get a chance to post tomorrow, so I wanted to make sure I said happy birthday tonight to MIKE (and twin Josie!)

I just couldn't resist posting this picture...one of my faves!

And my roomie LIZ!

Have a wonderful day, you two!