cupcakes!

I thought of maybe a better way to celebrate 500 posts than apple muffins: CUPCAKES. Obviously. However, it's too late... so, happy belated 500th post, blog o' mine.

Internet, I have been on a cupcake CRAZE lately. I blame it all on Annie's Eats. She always has the most amazing desserts. And I blame that discovery on Lyndsay, who I'm pretty sure told me about Annie. So, Lyndsay, I'll be sending you my medical bills when I get diabetes.

Anyway, my 2 latest obessions are...

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

(some modications made using this recipe)

and Cookies & Cream Cupcakes.


Both pics are from Doug's phone, so not the greatest quality. For better pics, and more importantly, the recipes!!! - click on the links. You won't be sorry... until you're on the hospital bed next to me.

And even then...

celebrating 500

So, it's my 500th blog post. What better way to celebrate than with a phenomenal fall recipe, utilizing Excelsior Apples?!

Apple Muffins w/ Sauce

Muffins:
1 T. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 c. flour
1/8 t. salt
2 T boiling water
1 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
1 c. peeled and diced tart apples

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Combine all ingredients in order given.
3. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Sauce:
1 c. brown sugar
2 T. flour
1/2 c. boiling water
4 T butter
1 t. vanilla

Directions:
1. Mix brown sugar and flour together in small saucepan.
2. Add water, butter and vanilla.
3. Cook over med-low heat until thickened.
4. Serve hot sauce over muffins.

Recipe from Applehood & Motherpie cookbook.

Perfect fall recipe. Sorry, no cam = no pics!

thursday thoughts

...Lord am I thine? art thou, Lord, mine? So rich!

How doth thy Wealthy bliss branch out thy sweets

Through all things Present? These the Vent-holes which

Let out those Ravishing Joys our Souls to greet?

Impower my Powers sweet Lord till up they raise

My 'Fections that thy glory on them blaze...

-Edward Taylor, Things Present

one less

Did you know that there are over 5 million orphans in Ethiopia?

In a few months, Lord willing, that number will be one less.

My buddy from Spring Arbor, Jim, and his lovely wife, Emily, are in the process of adopting a baby boy from Ethiopia.

A lot of you know by now that Africa (especially Ethiopia & Kenya) has a very special place in my heart. Not as many of you know this, but Doug & I actually hope to adopt one day as well. So we think it is so awesome that God has laid this passion & desire on our friends' hearts.

If you know anything about international adoption, you know that the costs are astronomical. Jim & Emily have come up with some really awesome, creative ideas to alleviate some of those initial fees. If you're interested in helping them in this journey, please visit their website and take a look!

front door

In continuing (ever-so-slowly) the pictures of our house as it comes together... here is a terrible comparison of the front door. I accidentally left my camera at home in WNY after spending the weekend with my family, so you'll have to deal with this until I get it back.

The house itself is the same color as before (gray/blue). I'm just too impatient to wait until I have a better picture of the front door to do a real before/after shot.

More coming... someday...

Also... haven't been doing such a great job keeping track of the "mastheads", so here goes. I think I left off in July... oops.

July 2010: Out wandering the world

Just a factual statement of my life in July.

August 2010: Do I dare disturb the universe?

From "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"... I'm so pensive.

September 2010: (Hide your kids, hide your wife)

From this amazing video (pt. 2 here).

October 2010: Queen of the Phonies

From Catcher in the Rye, naturally.

(Happy belated Banned Books Week!)