holidays & recipes: mother’s day cupcakes with swiss meringue buttercream

A month ago, when I started planning ahead for May’s subject matter I had a typical Mother’s Day post in mind. A lot can happen in a month. I feel compelled to share a particular story with you because I have experienced a paradigm shift, which has me viewing Mother’s day in another light. Three weeks ago I was informed I’d need medical testing done. I went into panic mode. My blood pressure jumped to a dangerous level and I couldn’t control my emotions. My husband was calm, reassuring and a rock. My children were on edge, but held it together. I called my brother to tell him and he told me about his very dear friend who could relate. I asked my brother to have her call me. I needed to talk to someone because I could not get a grip on my emotions. I felt out of control.... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: mother’s day cupcakes with swiss meringue buttercream

A month ago, when I started planning ahead for May’s subject matter I had a typical Mother’s Day post in mind. A lot can happen in a month. I feel compelled to share a particular story with you because I have experienced a paradigm shift, which has me viewing Mother’s day in another light. Three weeks ago I was informed I’d need medical testing done. I went into panic mode. My blood pressure jumped to a dangerous level and I couldn’t control my emotions. My husband was calm, reassuring and a rock. My children were on edge, but held it together. I called my brother to tell him and he told me about his very dear friend who could relate. I asked my brother to have her call me. I needed to talk to someone because I could not get a grip on my emotions. I felt out of control.... Read the Rest →

 

pasta & recipes: how to fundraiser ideas and fundraising events with a spaghetti dinner and cupcake recipe

As spring nears walk-a-thons and races will begin taking place around the country. Americans will get moving to raise money for their favorite causes. A few years ago a friend asked if I would participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Naturally, I said yes as I knew how important it was to her and many others. I had no idea, though, what I was getting into when I agreed. Many walks and races require a minimum donation in order to officially participate. In order to be an official participant in the Avon Walk a minimum donation of $1800 was required. Two more friends agreed to participate and so we became a team of four that needed to raise a total of $7200. Individually we had a difficult time raising the funds so we decided to work as a team. We set up bake sales at craft fairs, but... Read the Rest →

 

pasta & recipes: how to fundraiser ideas and fundraising events with a spaghetti dinner and cupcake recipe

As spring nears walk-a-thons and races will begin taking place around the country. Americans will get moving to raise money for their favorite causes. A few years ago a friend asked if I would participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Naturally, I said yes as I knew how important it was to her and many others. I had no idea, though, what I was getting into when I agreed. Many walks and races require a minimum donation in order to officially participate. In order to be an official participant in the Avon Walk a minimum donation of $1800 was required. Two more friends agreed to participate and so we became a team of four that needed to raise a total of $7200. Individually we had a difficult time raising the funds so we decided to work as a team. We set up bake sales at craft fairs, but... Read the Rest →

 

easy desserts & recipes: paula deen's chocolate malt cake (cupcakes)

I admire Paula Deen her for her many accomplishments and the obstacles she had to overcome. She will always have a special place in my heart for more reasons than just her recipes. She helped me to adjust and grow in a culture that was very foreign to me. Because of my husband’s career in the USMC I’ve spent many years on and off south of the Mason Dixon Line. Twenty years ago, when I first moved to North Carolina as a newlywed I was reluctant to embrace anything southern. With a heavy New Jersey accent I stood out like a sore thumb. I went through many adjustments that first year of marriage. Military life, carrying our first child, and living within a culture foreign to me all caused me to cling to my roots, particularly the food. But, it was Paula Deen that truly opened the door to the... Read the Rest →

 

easy desserts & recipes: paula deen’s chocolate malt cake (cupcakes)

I admire Paula Deen her for her many accomplishments and the obstacles she had to overcome. She will always have a special place in my heart for more reasons than just her recipes. She helped me to adjust and grow in a culture that was very foreign to me. Because of my husband’s career in the USMC I’ve spent many years on and off south of the Mason Dixon Line. Twenty years ago, when I first moved to North Carolina as a newlywed I was reluctant to embrace anything southern. With a heavy New Jersey accent I stood out like a sore thumb. I went through many adjustments that first year of marriage. Military life, carrying our first child, and living within a culture foreign to me all caused me to cling to my roots, particularly the food. But, it was Paula Deen that truly opened the door to the... Read the Rest →

 

giveaway: when and where invites (giveaway)

We will be giving away the “Gingerbread Food Picks”. GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED When and Where Invitations offers a unique way to capture your guests’ attention with stylish and innovative custom-made three-dimensional invitations. These can give your guests a sneak preview about how fun and exciting your party will be. When and Where Invitations is the brainchild of Amanda Richardson from Cincinnati, Ohio. Amanda explains, “we are a small company that focuses on unique touches to make a wedding spectacular.  Invitations that come in a box with a touch of handmade, makes our company stand out from all the others. We focus on quality, not quantity so the bride that is only inviting 25 people to her wedding, can still get the look and feel she desires without having to pay for 50+ invitations.” Aside from invitations for weddings, other occasions include bridal showers and birthday parties. The company also... Read the Rest →

 

fudofinds friday: georgetown cupcakes take the cake

It’s another FudoFinds Friday and today we’re featuring Georgetown Cupcakes! They are convenient to grab when in a hurry, they are smaller than a cake yet has its richness and the creamy frosting, and they also look adorable! Cupcakes are fast becoming a popular snack food for many Americans. Cupcakes and doughnuts are battling neck and neck to be in the top spot. Until it replaces doughnuts as a police officer’s accompaniment to coffee, that’s the day I reckon cupcakes will be declared the winner. For now, cupcakes are dainty, delicious, and delectable treats, from the simple and no-nonsense designs to those adorned with the cutest and fanciest frosting. For anyone who is a food fanatic or as what we fondly call ourselves, “foodies”, we should all be too familiar with the popularity of cupcakes and perhaps even caught the reality TV series on TLC titled “DC Cupcakes.” It features... Read the Rest →