Jasmine Raspberry Cupcakes with Honey Frosting

Jasmine Raspberry Cupcakes with Honey Frosting
Originally uploaded by kel h

I made these cupcakes for my friend Julia's Birthday party last night: (I got the idea from The Cupcake Project)

Jasmine Rasberry Cupcakes with Honey Frosting

Cupcakes
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
5 jasmine teabags
2 tbsp raspberry vinegar

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a saucepan scald milk and steep teabags in milk. The longer you steep the better. I did 15 minutes, but it could have been longer

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl; add to sugar mixture alternately with milk and vinegar, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat a medium-low speed just until blended after each addition. (batter will be thick)

Honey Frosting
cream 2 sticks butter at 2/3 c honey. Add 4-5 cups powdered sugar. Add 1-2 tbsp milk depending on consistency you desire.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with craisins and pecans

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with craisins and pecans
Originally uploaded by kel h

so, when I'm stressed...I bake. And it's been a rough couple of weeks (minus the awesome birthday party that was awesome). Today I had chocolate chip craisin cookies at a training, and decided i wanted to take them up a notch.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
zest of 1/2 orange
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 c quick oats uncooked
1 c chocolate chips
1/2 c craisins
1/2 c chopped pecans

Directions
preheat oven to 350
Cream butter and sugar together
stir in eggs and vanilla
add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and orange zest. Mix well
stir in oats, craisins and chocolate chips
drop rounded tbsp on to cookie sheet.
Bake for 10-12 min (til golden brown)

My awesome early birthday present from the skylazers

My awesome early birthday present from the skylazers
Originally uploaded by kel h

for years I've beens saying i wanted to buy a strawberry pot and grow herbs in it. Krysta, Julie and I were at home depot buying things for Julie's garden, when I saw this. Krysta wound up getting it for me for my birthday (which is in a week). It has mint, sage, rosemary, parsley, thyme, oregano, and basil. It also has a recipe for caprese salad, which kind of cracked me up.