Carrot Patch Cupcakes

While everyone is out planting their real gardens around here, I must confess that I’ve been working on a few “seedlings” of my own. Heh, heh, heh. Aren’t these the cutest little garden cupcakes you’ve ever seen? And such a painless way to get a few more–ahem–vegetables into your system. Baaaa!

Start with fruity Mike and Ikes. I picked several kinds to make sure I had plenty of orange ones.

Plus all the leftovers didn’t hurt my feelings any either.  :}

I’d never seen Rips Whips before, and I tore them out of the bag before getting a picture. Essentially, they are skinny, little multicolored licorice strings. You’ll be using the green ones–so go ahead and eat the rest.

First just take a paring knife and make a tiny cut clear through the top of each little orange candy.

Now, cut the green licorice into one inch pieces. Then with scissors or a knife cut through the top of the licorice about half way down the piece so it looks like greenery.

Next, gently pinch the sides of the orange candy to open the cut up just a bit. Don’t get too rambunctious with this step or you’ll crack the outsides and make them ugly. Then, well, you’ll have to eat them.

Now poke the green stems into the top of your carrot. I used the tip of a knife to set it in–that worked the best for me.

Carefully squeeze your carrot closed a bit around the green top.

Oh, just look at your little harvest! Aren’t they adorable?!

All that’s left to do now is to “plant” your little candy carrots into your favorite patch…I mean batch of chocolate cupcakes. These sweet things–along with a tall glass of ice water–will make a fine reward for all those little backyard farmers coming in from a long day with the rototiller. Wouldn’t you say?

Oh, I do so love Spring!

{ Secret Formula }

“May I share with you a formula that in my judgment will help you and help me to journey well through mortality… First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love.”

― Thomas S. Monson

Cursed Counter

If you’ve seen the counter on the right side of my blog, you may have noticed that my cute little boy in Siberia will be home in just over 300 days. This sweet little timer makes me happy every time I look at it–especially since it has finally slipped below the year mark.

So, you can imagine my…ummm…dismay when I opened up my laptop the other day and saw…

this. Dismay is too calm of a word–more like heart attack!

Now, I’ll admit, every once in a while a missionary has been known to ask for an extension so that he can stay in his country a bit longer. But…what the…a TWELVE YEAR extension?!!

I think not.

Don’t even try it buster.

I know how to swim.

The Perfect Model

I asked Miss Chompy if she would let me take some pictures of her wearing the pretty little crocheted headbands that I’d just finished for the shop. She said, “Sure, Drammy.”

So, I ran to get my camera and by the time I came back…well, the Ladybug was ready for our photo session.

Now, why didn’t I think of wearing them that way?

Heh, heh.

Wicked Buttermilk Syrup

Last week, in the French Toast post, I casually mentioned “…serve with Buttermilk Syrup.”

I assumed that there were others on the earth, like me, that would actually lick the plate clean of every last drop of this glorious, syrup of the gods. And that’s only because I haven’t figured out how to hook it up intravenously. Little did I know that apparently everyone doesn’t have Buttermilk Syrup sitting around in a jeweled flask–oh, the shame.

In fact, some folks have never even heard of it. Yikes.

That will be corrected this very minute.

 

 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1 cup buttermilk

2 Tbsp corn syrup

2 tsp baking soda

1 -1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

*Note: You will need a large pot for this recipe–bigger than you think. The baking soda will cause it to foam more than twice it’s original volume…so be ready.

In a large pot combine butter, sugar, buttermilk and corn syrup and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and add baking soda and allow it to bubble up. Add the vanilla and stir. Mixture will thicken as it cools. Serve on pancakes, waffles, French Toast or scones.

Or just hook up an IV.

Either way.

5.0 from 3 reviews
Wicked Buttermilk Syrup
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 Tbsp corn syrup
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 -1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
  1. In a large pot combine butter, sugar, buttermilk and corn syrup and bring to a boil.
  2. Allow to boil for about 3 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and add baking soda and allow it to bubble up.
  4. Add the vanilla and stir.
  5. Mixture will thicken as it cools.
  6. Serve on pancakes, waffles, French Toast or scones.
Notes
*Note: You will need a large pot for this recipe--bigger than you think. The baking soda will cause it to foam more than twice it's original volume...so be ready.