this is your 100th post.

It really is my 100th post. And I’m so overthinking it, that I haven’t been able to post anything for 3 days. I feel like it needs to be awesome – the awesomest post yet! But I can’t meet my own expectations. I’ve started this post about 20 times now – and subsequently deleted each one deeming it un-onehundred-worthy. Well, I give up. I’ll never write again at this rate, so I might as well just get through 100 and be done with it.

he can relate.

I thought about giving away a prize – but what? And how? I could give away a copy of the book…but to who – the 100th caller? That would mean I’d have to give out my phone number and actually have to talk to someone (other than my mom) on the phone, which is something I haven’t done in about 5 years. So that’s out.

I still could give away a prize…but what? I want to thank the people who made 100 posts possible by giving something back. What do you want, people? I got it! Suggest a prize. Leave a comment, and suggest what you’d like to win. I’ll pick a winner out of the comments, and give that person their dream prize. Remember, keeping the prize within reason = a higher probabality of you winning. I can’t make you a cupcake husband or anything. If I could do that, don’t you think I would have already?

So, in addition to the create-a-prize contest I just thought of,  how ’bout celebrating the blog itself with a top 5 posts list. The list was carefully selected, based entirely on whatever ones I liked the best.  I never claimed to be running a democracy here.

So, without further adieu, here are the Top 5 Small Indulgences posts, out of 100, starting with #5:

5.cupcakes in bloom. 

 

These were some of my favorite cupcakes to make, and this post got a lot of positive feedback – so this was actually more like a “reader’s choice.

 

4. It’s peanut butter apple time.

 

I was really proud of this cupcake invention – still one of my best (possibly THE best).

 

3. just shoot me.

I just want to again remind everyone to let their inner fabulous shine through. (this photo did not appear in the original post, but serves as a reminder that one can be fabulous at any age).

 

2. meet the cupcakes.

 

And in the end, the cupcakes you bake, are equal to the love you make. Or something like that..

And my number one post out of 100 is…….

1. All I Really Need to Know I Learned this Summer.

 

This just about sums up why I even started the blog to begin with: the joy baking, writing, and all of you have brought into my life can’t be expressed in words – but I had to try. 🙂

So thanks again for the memories. I think I’ll celebrate by making a cake.

And don’t forget to suggest your prize!!  You could be the lucky winner of whatever you want to win!

 

 

green is the new cupcake.

So I just had to make these green tea cupcakes again, for three reasons:

1. It was my friend’s birthday and I know he likes them.

2. I didn’t get to eat any the last time (at least any baked ones).

3.The vibrant green color naturally radiated by the cupcakes was eclipsed by the decorating – albeit undeniably gorgeous decorating – and the world really needs to be exposed to the true color of these bad boys.

So, I whipped up another batch (and enjoyed more batter than the recommended daily allowance again).

Here’s how they looked naked:

it's not easy being green.

A little matcha powder sure goes a long way. It turned my fingers and countertop green too. But look at that color! If the power ever went out, I could set up a cupcake trail as a guide and eat my way from room to room. 

And here’s the finished product:

cupcakes worth envying.

I used a plain buttercream frosting which complimented the matcha powder nicely, and accentuated the color of the cakes as well. I sprinkled them with a green dusting sugar and sent my little Frankensteins out into the world to do my bidding (insert evil laugh here).

cupcakes in bloom.

I was commissioned to do cupcakes for a Japanese-themed birthday party over the weekend. They requested “cherry blossom cupcakes” which I’d never done before, but was confident I could do without any problems. They were not sure what flavor they wanted though, so I suggested “green tea.” I had made green tea cupcakes a few years ago for a Japanese dinner party I was attending at a friend’s house. I remembered them being good, so I figured they were worth another shot. The customer liked the suggestion, and requested half of them green tea, the other half red velvet. So I got to work.

red velvet with red blossoms

I did the red velvet first since I knew how they would turn out, having made red velvet numerous times. I made the “blossoms” red to match (how ingenious of me).

green tea with pink blossoms

I then moved on to the green tea. I used pink blossoms for these, because, have you ever seen a green cherry blossom? I didn’t think so. (Side Note – have you ever seen a live owl? Randomly  last night, I was thinking that I have never seen a live owl and I’d like to. –End Side Note) Now, I mentioned that I remembered these being “good” when I made them two years ago. What I didn’t remember was them being absolutely freakin’ delicious. In fact, I left extra batter in the bowl, just so I could eat it – raw. I wished I had made extras.  But, alas, I guess I’ll just have to go back and make them again. 😉

even taste great raw.

PS – as far as icing goes, I used a regular old buttercream because I wanted something that worked with both flavors. But last time I made the green tea cakes, I made a matcha buttercream, which I also remember being “good.” I suppose I’ll have to make it again, just to be sure…