You Want Fries w/ That?!

Contrary to somewhat popular belief, I do NOT spend all my time baking in the kitchen.  Yes, this woman remains without full-time employment.  However, I've been subbing like mad, which makes good cash.  Alas, I think I'll have to give in and work somewhere less desirable for a college grad for the summer before I have to start paying for Graduate School. As long as I don't have to say, "You want fries with that?," I'll live.

Sidenote:  Do fast-food joints REALLY ask that anymore?  They always attack me with happiness and offers right from the get-go, but... "Hi!  Welcome to Carl's JR!!!  Would you like to try a new Turkey Burger?!"  Yep.  No fry offer presented.

Back to the kitchen...

I admit I have become quite the passionate lil' baker since my return to the states... I think I just enjoy cooking in English again.  It's nice to know which spices I'm using each evening.  I've become specifically passionate about unique salads (stealing inspiration from Cheesecake Factory, Chilies, etc) and... cupcakes at this moment.  All around the states people will go into cute, themed shops and pay $5-8 for a cupcake covered in a large dollop of frosting, sprinkled cookie crumbs, and a mini-flag sticking out the top.  This made me curious... and competitive.

I got to thinking, "I could do that!"  One lovely morning I headed to Lindon to meet my bestie, Sam, for two-for-one massage day (aka: Heaven by Hands for CHEAP!) and some Kneader's French Toast (aka: Heaven for Mouth for... not expensive).  We kinda love that stuff... Well, I saw some of their "amazingly unique" cupcakes in the display window and scoffed.  I could create the same thing... and was determined to do so, but better.

I'm not saying I'm amazing, but I'm getting better and better at it!  Remember how I created my own cupcake batter recipe from SCRATCH?!  Yea.  That was a good moment.  I felt rather triumphant... Also, do you recall the cookie monster cupcakes, or the bumble bees?  I'm getting more and more creative... or better at stealing ideas off of google, then  implementing them into my designs.  Either way, today I created the following masterpieces (giving credit for the idea to Bridget Smith):

Awesome, right!?  I know...  Hamburger cupcakes!  That picture at the beginning is NOT a hamburger, but a cleverly disguised cupcake!  Cleverly disguised by yours truly...

 

I was impressed that they turned out so cute the first time... Someday, when I have kids, I'm going to make my kids pretty bomb cakes for their birthday.  Haha!  OR, right now I can make anyone's birthday cake/cupcakes...?  Haha!  Below are pictures of the steps to create them in case you wanna do the same:

Above: Bake yellow cupcakes till golden - like a bun!  Below: Dye some coconut green (for lettuce), make some red frosting (for the tomato affect) and make rice krispy treats adding a Tbsp of cocoa into the marshmallow/butter mix (to get the hamburger color/look goin'...).

Above:  Cut the cupcakes in half (obviously) horizontally.  Below:  Put the "pattie" on the "bun," squeeze some red frosting around the outside and in the middle of the "pattie" to create a "tomato."  Add some of the green coconut on top the "tomato" for "lettuce", and put the top "bun" back onto the "burger!"  Seal on with more frosting if needed...
Sidenote:  That was way too many quotations...

 Now, take pictures of your ridiculously, cute creations and... EAT!  Mmm Mmm Good... Now, I just have to figure out how to make fake fries to go with them!  Hm... I smell a challenge - literally.

The best part of making these?  Nope, not eating them.... Giving them away!  I wrapped them, took them out to my VT girls and friends, and just visited with different people for awhile - AKA:  It took m five hours to deliver nine cupcakes to seven homes within a five-six mile radius.  It was pretty great...

*muah*

Song of the Day:  This song, "Thought of You" by The Weepies is fantastic!  However, the video that this animator created is also AMAZING!  I can not believe how much time this must have taken - it's beautiful... Watch it.  Listen.  Love it.  Enjoy!