B is for Banana

Over the few weeks, it's been a habit to bake cupcakes at the end of the week. I've been trying to test out new recipes as well as figure out which cupcakes will be on our dessert menu. I have always wanted to try a banana cupcake inspired by my favorite cupcake flavor from Sprinkles but always forget to buy bananas. This time I was inspired by my fellow blogger Diary of a Sweet Life and the show DC Cupcakes. I found a perfect recipe through my cupcake recipe books and added a little touch of my own by adding some vanilla and sour cream to keep it moist. It turned out sooo yummy. I made two frostings, nutella and cream cheese frosting (personally the nutella was heaven). I'm definitely adding these babies to the menu.

Lovely weekend recap

This past few weeks, I've been crazy paranoid. Ask the hubby and the little sissy, and they will tell you exactly how I felt. I have no idea what's going on with my body but I have not been "regular" if you know what I mean. Ever since June, mother nature has not arrived and it is making me very nervous. It's not that I don't want to be pregnant, I just feel that I'm not ready to have another baby quite so soon. My little Maxi is quite a handful (ask anyone, they will tell you! lol) but everyday I am so blessed to have him. Anyways, it's almost August and no mother nature yet. I've been meaning to POAS (pee on a stick) but I'm terrified to see two lines. While my husband is ecstatic about more kids (he thinks the more the merrier), I am here freaking out. Not only my poor body has not bounce back from my Cesarian but I haven't even lost my baby weight yet. I can't even think about another baby yet?!?

I became more paranoid because I was having symptoms when I was pregnant with Max. I was burping like a truck driver and kind of nausous. But then again, I may have been psychicing myself out. So over the weekend, I finally man(ed) up and had my hubby buy a pregnancy test. Yesterday morning (which all ladies know is the best time to POAS) I finally did it. Here is the results:

*Please excuse my poor quality Blackberry camera photo*

THANK GOODNESS!!! I was a bad girl and woke up my husband and played a silly joke on him. I told him, it was positive. He immediately got up and nervously yelled, "Are you serious?!!!!!" I said, "Gotcha!!!" I'm awful, I know =)

So that sums up my weekend, well except I forgot to mention that my hubby had the most terrible stomach virus. He looks like he lost 5 lbs! Ha! As a stay at home mom, never realized how awful Sunday nights we're. Just thinking about going to work on Monday makes me just gag! Till next blogging spree!

Themes

I've been on a blogging roll, can you tell? LOL I'm currently taking advantage of my free time blogging spree during the weekends.

But lately, after Natalie's party, my sister aka my business partner have been brain storming on what theme my delicious Maxi will have for his 1st birthday party. I never realized how difficult picking out just one idea. haha Surprisingly there are sooo many cute girlie ideas compared to boys. (That's just my opinion) I did although manage to break it down to three that I loved. Of course, I need to add my husband's input on this but if you know us, you know that we love to plan parties way in advanced. This way, by the time the party is close, we're not running around and going bananas and, kicking ourselves in the butt for not being prepared. Party planners should always be prepared. Right? Stay tuned on what I come up with...
In the meantime, how adorable is this party? I love it! It's my inspiration at the moment. Courtesy of Style me Gorgeous

Need vs Want

In my previous post, I mentioned that I have been going on a baking extravaganza... with that said, there are soooo many appliances or supplies that I soooo need. (In my husband's opinion all items are considered want.) Whatever! LOL

I'm so tired of hand mixing my batters or better yet I'm even more tired of using the electric mixer and have everything all over my clothes. I want all of these...I mean need these NOW! =)

I've always wanted a food electronic scale. This way everything I make is the same size.

I need a Silpat so bad, I waste way too much parchment paper.

Expensive Vanilla extract always makes everything taste good!

My hand is officially tired of sifting everything manually. =(

Worldwide baking

For the past months, my oven has been on full blast. We've been on a baking marathon. Speaking of, just today I just made a batch of red velvets for my lovely aunt's birthday (another post). But lately, my sister and I have been getting more and more clients to do parties and to create desserts. I wanted to expand my horizons and venture out from the typical cupcakes or cake lollipops. I decided to look into Filipino desserts. I found this amazing Bibingka recipe online and added my own touches which turned out light and airy and so delicious especially fresh out of the oven. I decided to glam it up by cutting it in squares and add a touch of coconut. Along with cupcakes, cake bites, cheesecakes, etc. these are officially on our catering menu.

Busy life

So I haven't blogged in a very loooong time. I just could not make time to do one of my favorite things to do, due to my over whelming schedule. I recently started working again, yes, I am officially a working mom. Up to this point, I did not know how difficult it would be to be away from my baby. I kind of find it funny because my husband and I have switched rolls. While he is at home with the baby, doing the laundry, doing errands I am at work. He is currently working from home and I just so envy him. It doesn't help that he sends me text pictures of my baby doing the most adorable things.

In the previous post, I mentioned that my sister and I will be opening our very own business soon and of course this job will pay for our start up cost. I am happy to announce that we have many clients in the next months. Working a 9-5 job also enabled me to network and now my co-worker has hired us to plan her grand baby's birthday party.

It will be a very busy couple of months for us. Two weddings to attend. Seattle in August. Birthdays to plan. Goodies to bake. Oh my! ♥

5 Months

It's been quite a while since the last time I posted. This is all due to the typical life of a busy wife/mommy. Recently I changed my blog name due to conflict of our new business name. Yes, I said "new business." My sister and I finally pursued our true passion. Our business consist of sweet desserts, designing dessert tables, invitations, favors, and all things parties. Stay tuned for our upcoming website. It's currently in the works.

In the meantime, my little baby turned 5 months old yesterday and can't believe how time literally flies. He is now flipping all over the bed, knows if mommy or daddy is not in the room and loves to laugh. I love waking up in the morning looking forward to that smile on Maxi's face. Yes, it's true, every morning when he sees his mommy or daddy, he has a huge smile on his face. Last night, I made pigs in a blanket and baked delicious chocolate cupcakes. Yumm! I provided recipes at the bottom of the post in case you love what you see.

Pigs in a blanket Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 frankfurters
• 8 slices American processed cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) package refrigerated biscuit dough
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Wrap cheese around each frankfurter then the biscuit around that. Put on cookie sheet with the overlap of biscuit faced down, so you don't have to use tooth picks.
3. Bake in preheated oven until biscuits are brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Chocolate cake with ganache buttercream

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.
3. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.

Frosting Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup hot fudge topping
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Cream together the butter or margarine with the shortening.
2. Sift the cocoa with the confectioners' sugar and add to the creamed mixture. Mix together adding 1 tablespoon at a time of milk to keep mixture smooth. Don't add more than 1/4 cup of milk.
3. Add the hot fudge topping and the vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy.