Mules, Mujadara, Music, and Mmmmm

At the Nature Center, we petted a chinchilla, avoided all the pea hens, cowered at the clucking chickens, lavished love on the giant rabbits (even introducing the white one to Amy the bunny and the beige one to Tango the penguin), laughed at the otters, chased the huge farmyard cats, eyed the boas and pythons warily, and smiled at the llamas, donkeys (okay, they weren't mules), sheep, goats, and various cows. We also skipped rocks on the ice of the pond, marveling at the distances of sticks, bark, and acorns.

Then we had lunch at a local Middle Eastern place, one of the best we've encountered here (in Chicago, we lived around the corner from four great ones (Cousin's, Reza's, Andie's, and the Olive Tree!) and so go into withdrawl frequently for various Mediterranean dishes). We ordered a little bit of everything, not sure what the kid would like, even though we billed it all as "Silk Road food": lentil soup, mujadara (lentils and rice with fried onions), "plain" rice (with noodles, a lot like rice a roni), chicken kebab, chicken shwarma, kefte kebab, and a platter with hummus, baba ganoush, dolmades, tabbouleh, pita, tahini, and garlic dip--most of it sprinkled with sumac. YUM! Bud liked the shredded chicken shwarma mixed in with the plain rice, while Sis liked either chicken as long as it was still in the wrap, sans all sauce. Their favorite part? The mango nectar drink. It was a wonderful change from our usual fare, which is mostly Italian or Chinese. And each time we go, we swear we'll go more often.

Then we went to the concert, which focused on percussion instruments. I knew it was perfect for Bud and Sis as we entered the hall and saw the djembe and doumbek drums, marimba, and gongs. Then the percussionist came in waving one of those plastic ribbed tubes that whistle when spun. That got everyone's attention! He and the trumpet player then spent the next 45 minutes talking about beat/pulse, rhythm, vibrations, melody, rounds, fanfares, and the like, in a very entertaining and age-appropriate way. Bud and Sis sat on the floor with Mama and were mesmerized, clapping and singing along, even getting to place their hands inside the drums to "feel" the sounds. But their favorite part, after the marching along to the snare drums, was playing the instruments themselves: drumming on the two drums, using the mallets on the marimba, even fingering the valves of the trumpet while he blew. It's the second time we've been to the children's symphony concerts and we can't wait to go see the whole orchestra when they turn 6 (and can go for free with an adult!).

We made a last stop at the cupcake shop on the way home for gigantic cupcakes. Bud, of course, wanted strawberry, which they fortunately had, in a normal size. But Sis got a chocolate one that was huge! It was disappointing, though, because the cake turned out to be vanilla and her little face fell. So, of course, we fetched a full on chocolate one, which she devoured, getting so much chocolate on her face that the table across the room thought she was so cute. Mama's tiramisu cupcake was a great idea but disappointing, probably because they didn't/couldn't include the alcohol! I got a peanut butter/chocolate combo that was outstanding, perhaps for the nostalgia factor, as the pb frosting reminded me of the pb cake I would get in elementary school.

All in all a great day, except it's Sunday and we usually do these outings on Saturday, so I keep thinking that tomorrow is a family day, too.

Joy, Fun, and a Day in the Sun

Today was the kiddos' school picnic to celebrate the end of the year.  First, I can't believe the school year is over--how has it been 9 months since we first dropped them off and worried for 2 1/2 hours, having worried all summer, that we would all be okay?  But that's another post.

When I was in the hospital on Monday night, I worried about just a few things:  what was wrong with me?  would I be able to teach painting at the kids' school on Tuesday?  and would I be ready for the picnic on Thursday?   Ruptured ovarian cyst.  Nope.  And yes, with a lot of help from a friend.

This post is about that last one.  I had volunteered to bring 2 dozen finger-food desserts and had decided to make mini-cupcakes decorated with variously-colored smiley faces.  Only, I was too doped up Tuesday night and too achy Wednesday night to do anything.  Mama Teacher to the rescue!!  She came over, not with dinner in hand as offered, but ready to bake and decorate cupcakes while also entertaining her son and my kiddos.  And she did it with aplomb!  Don't those cupcakes look great?!  (I decorated three of them, maybe, just to try my hand at it; hopefully, you can't tell which three!  I'm not sure I can; it might be those three blue ones in the middle.)  There were some big ones too, 4 of which she decorated for the teachers and three of which were decorated and eaten by our kids.  And everyone at the picnic loved them!  Kids grabbed them before taking fruit or sandwiches, carefully choosing their colors (along predictable gender lines, with kids settling for yellow when blue and pink were gone).  And the plate was emptied before anything else.   Well done, Mama Teacher!  And thanks so much!!

Of course, there was other food.  I inhaled cream cheese-and-jelly sandwiches on white bread--oh, what a sweet, ooey treat.  Bud loved the strawberries and punch; Sis loved the watermelon and cantaloupe.  Mama had a little bit of all of it.  When we were all full, we sang some songs (on seeds popping up into flowers to the tune of "Pop! Goes the Weasel" and a song about opposites) and then all did the chicken dance (Sis apparently had refused to practice--she and Mama are two peas in a pod!  But they both gave it some effort when the finale was here).  We took pictures with our teachers and also as a family and continually remarked how much everyone had grown and how fast the year had gone.  Just a summer until they're 4 and only a year away from kindergarten!

We'll have time to make lots of cupcakes over the summer but I think these will still be my favorites, the ones that friendship made.  

Love Cupcakes, Eat Often

Miss T and I had an awesome time in NYC on our cupcake tour, but not because of the cupcakes. Most of the places we visited were pretty standard and unimaginative; we were looking for cupcake creativity. What we found did not match what Miss T creates (you should be proud, Miss T--yours are better than the best we found in NYC). But we didn't let that hamper our good time, especially because we also managed to shop at a few other stores, including Balducci's, have tea at the iconic British shop Tea and Sympathy (where I had scones and tea and Miss T ate--get this--Spaghetti Os on toast!), and finished off the tour by sitting on a comfy couch and sipping deliciously rich hot chocolate at Chocolate Bar in Henri Bendel overlooking 5th Avenue. I include my thoughts below and look forward to Miss T's more professional opinions.

• Buttercup Bakeshop--Because this was near Mama's old office, I have had many of their cupcakes before--Lady Baltimore, German Chocolate, Lemon, Devil Dog, Red Velvet--and was excited that they were on our list to visit. And they didn't disappoint! While there isn't much seating or space, the staff were friendly and the cupcake variety inspiring. Indeed, it was my favorite cupcake stop of the day. I had a delicious almond-y Lady Baltimore, with merengue-coconut topping and a cherry, my favorite. I even bought the cookbook so I can try making some myself.
• Cupcake Cafe--the other place I had been before, this cupcake place is in new digs across the street from its former hole-in-the-wall locale behind the Port Authority. The detailed, accurate, floral decorations on the cupcakes, made with this delightfully colored frosting in many shades, are simply gorgeous. The frosting is very buttery, not very sugary. And the cupcakes were standard chocolate or vanilla, with a few different buttercreams, so not very adventurous. I had vanilla/vanilla, but it was so cold that it tasted like the refrigerator; the one Sis ate at home--chocolate/chocolate with pink tulips--was better because it wasn't ice-cold. The urban eclectic space--the best space and decor of the four shops--certainly added to the enjoyment of otherwise standard tasting but beautiful cupcakes.
• Magnolia Bakery--Eh. Yes, yes, I know, it's famous from "Sex and the City." Too urban hip for me, with its young NYU see-and-be-seen crowd gathering outside (because there is no seating) to inhale the rather standard chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting. No real taste adventures; nothing big in the decoration department. I read on the menu that you can order special flavors, if you are going to get a dozen. I didn't, and so had a chocolate/chocolate, which I took home and didn't even finish (and Bud had a pink-frosted chocolate cupcake, the closet to strawberry I could find; he quit halfway through). Best thing about it? Well, there are two: I love the "I [cupcake] NY" t-shirt even if they made it in sizes that only fit young NYU students (and Miss T!); and I'm glad the former owner was successful enough to leave and open Buttercup Cafe!!
• Babycakes--This was the vegan/hypo-allergenic bakery on our list, having been featured everywhere for its gluten-free, low glycemic fare. I had seen Erin McKenna the owner/baker on Martha Stewart and in several magazines. Of course, wth the kids having had allergies, I was familiar with these kinds of treats, in theory. Most of the gluten-, egg-, dairy-, and soy-free cakes and cookies I had made or bought were mediocre to inedible. But Babycakes's sweets were definitely edible, even good. Well, good enough. There is nothing that mimics the crumb of flour but they do a good job of creating a lighter, cakey baked texture, not the dense, gritty cornbread-like cake I often managed to make. And the frosting--which is palm oil based (she finally released a recipe of the frosting, which is a real jewel if you need a dairy-free one and don't want to go the Crisco way)--is very good. Period. I enjoyed my GF lemon cupcake, well, as long as I had frosting left. There was a little sadness for me that we hadn't been able to get such cakes for Bud and Sis when we needed them. Even with the familiar retro, 50s chic decor, I didn't feel comfortable there, especially with aforementioned Erin frosting cakes in the visible, tiny kitchen without any air of warmth or welcome. Miss T even tried to engage her in conversation without much success. And we were obvious cupcake fans. Oh, well. I recommend it if you need vegan or hypoallergenic--you'll be in heaven. And there is a cookbook coming out, which I wish I could've had three years ago.

A lovely day, a wonderful experience, great memories, and even pictures (which I will try to send to Miss T so she can post them, as they are all of her). And I understand that as I type, Miss T is researching local CT cupcake shops for a last whirlwind Moms Night Out. I'm in!

Sugar Coma

Miss T and I did our Cupcake Tour of NYC today and had a wonderful time.

However, I am in a sugar-induced coma from eating my way across 4 bakeries, one teahouse, and a chocolate shop, so I will post at length about the fun tomorow.

I'll say only two things now:

• Miss T's cupcakes are better than any we tried today: more creative flavors, better crumb, with a decorative touch. Now, if she'll only try to make a Lady Baltimore for me!!
• Thank you, Mama, for making our detailed itinerary map!

Have sweet dreams!

I will.

More Cupcakes for Grownups

Ohmygosh, I had the second best cupcakes (or maybe the first--it's hard to compare the proverbial apples and oranges) today.

I asked T to make a batch to give to my PTs as thanks and she made these incredible chocolate cake with chocolate raspberry ganache filling with vanilla buttercream frosting dream cakes. WOW.

Mine got ooey gooey in the car so that the buttercream oozed off the top and the ganache melted in my mouth. Pretty good actually, even if I had to lick buttercream off my own face!

She's amazing!

Cupcakes for Grownups

Before I start, I need to say that I don't have the recipe for these.

Hint, hint.

Last night, I had the most incredible cupcakes. Not your average birthday party chocolate with buttercream (though, I really like those too).

No, these were cupcakes for grownups, specifically tired moms who need something new, something special. It was a tender vanilla cake with lime curd filling and this delicate lime buttercream. Oh, my gosh they were good.

I was sent home with two and only because I love her did I give one to Mama. But no way was she getting both, even though I had already had mine.

Thanks, T. They were special.

And happy birthday to you!

No Debate on Cupcakes Here

We're making cupcakes today because we have a birthday party tomorrow.

Perfect timing, as a clever article on the "cupcake debate" appeared in the NYTimes yesterday. Good ol' Texas defending the rights of small baked goods with an amendment! Now only if gays and lesbians could receive the same treatment there.

Avoiding a discussion of the so-called obesity epidemic for now, I myself am partial to the cupcake. Paralleling the trend mentioned in the article, I went for years--mainly 5th grade to graduate school--without ever considering the cupcake. But while living in NYC, I did visit the various cupcake bakeries--Cupcake Cafe makes beautiful floral creations in a tiny space near (or in?) Hell's Kitchen; Butterfly Bakery in Midtown has my favorite Lady Baltimore cupcakes. I haven't actually been to Magnolia, but I've drooled over the cookbook. And I have personally made several batches of cupcakes recently, often enlivening cake mix with my own ingredients.

So, in my quest to find the perfect birthday treat for my kids to take along when we go to parties, we made cupcakes today. Using a Gluten-Free Pantry old-fashioned cake and cookie mix, we whipped up a vanilla cake. I used real eggs and vegetable shortening so the texture of the cake came out pretty well.

And then we made frosting. Come to think of it, DD and DS have little concept of frosting. The only time they've been near something was the fondant on their 2nd birthday cake, which was not really a frosting. They loved watching my Kitchen Aid fluff the ingredients. Even more they liked adding colors--DD chose green and DS liked yellow. It was a trial to keep them from eating it all beforehand (and, so, shamefacedly I admit I gave them each a tiny bowl of frosting to sample)--they loved the super sweet stuff.

But they didn't want it on their cupcakes! When the time came (after shocking said cakes in the freezer to cool), I iced one green. But DD screeched and wouldn't have it near her so I handed it to DS, who gamely crumbled the cupcake but ate everything but the cake touching the frosting. DD did enjoy her plain cupcake, calling it a muffin. And then she asked for raisins to put in it!

The plain, unfrosted cupcakes are ready for tomorrow's party with a few in the freezer for the next event. And, well, DP and I polished off one each, but with strawberry jam and black currant jelly instead of green or yellow frosting, anglophiles that we are.

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Frosting Recipe

1 lb confectioner's sugar
1/3 cup shortening or margarine
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
rice milk as needed (used about 3 tablespoons)
food coloring (optional)

Mix sugar, shortening and vanilla together until blended. Add rice milk as needed to get the consistency right.