I know you're busy, but I just made a cup of cocoa and I needed to tell someone about my weekend... First things first, a "leading consumer magazine" rated this Hershey's Cocoa tops. Well, I agree and don't agree. It's good, but it's a strange taste. Sort of like mixing spiced tea with cocoa. Godiva and Ghiradelli are still my all-time favorites, unless it's the white hot chocolate made by Spot Coffee, a local treasure. That is amazing stuff. The cup is part of a set of 4 that I assembled from Ebay years ago when my Cadbury was just a puppy. Now, about my weekend...grab a hanky...it's a bit of a pity party...
On Friday I teamed up with another staffer to attempt to close one of the windows in my office. To say it sticks is an understatement...I felt my back pull, but hoped for the best. Saturday morning on the way to the massage therapist (nice treat from DH), my back really started to hurt. Today it REALLY hurts. Then, the Massage therapist found a bump that she wants me to get checked...all this as we are in the midst of another procedure that I can't really talk about (except to a few hundred of my nearest and dearest!). I have been limping around the house, feeling sorry for myself and thinking about my carefree life 36 hours ago...back pain can do that to a person! well, pour on the sympathy and virtual hugs. I'm ready. Meanwhile...
Here's the cupcake recipe from last week... Go make some. It'll make me feel better...
2 cups Flour
1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup half and half (half cream and half milk)
3 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of vanilla
3 eggs
Put all of the ingredients into a bowl together and mix at medium speed until combined and then high for 3 minutes. Fill the paper cups only 1/2 full and bake at 350 degrees for 19-21 minutes.
Icing
1 stick (1/4 pound) of butter, 3 tablespoons of heavy cream or half and half, 2 teaspoons of vanilla and 3 cups of confectioner's (powdered) sugar. Beat the butter, cream and vanilla together and add the sugar. Whip for a few minutes to dissolve the sugar fully.
No substitutions. Every calorie plays an important role!
Yummy vanilla-y easy cupcakes!
Lots of people have asked about the scotty fabric. I got it at JoAnns. Has anyone else noticed that JoAnn's is getting some better quality fabrics lately? I'll post a pretty new one that I found this weekend soon.
Pretty fabric always cheers me up. Well folks, thanks for listening. It's time to put a new heat wrap on...thanks for visiting hollyhocks!
Sorry to hear about your back - hope you are feeling better soon. I love all of those fabrics - they look so pretty, especially the scottie one!
I would love to have a hot chocolate and cupcake with you. If I have a spare few minutes I will try out the cake recipe - they are so great for cheering everyone up!
Cathy X
Posted by: pinkgreen | November 19, 2007 at 12:08 PM
i must try that cupcake recipe!
hey, what J's do you shop at?
i love that scotty fabric so much.
i hope the one by me has some left!
Posted by: melissa deakin | November 19, 2007 at 02:26 PM
I hope you feel better soon. Thank you for the recipe, I adore cupcakes. Your fabric is too cute. I used to be a fabric snob but like you, I am finding some really cute stuff at chains these days.
Posted by: Leigh | November 19, 2007 at 03:41 PM
Take it easy with your poor back. Hope you're feeling better soon! Thanks for the heads up on the fabric. I had kind of given up on Joanne's for anything other than utilitarian stuff.
Posted by: Mary Ellen D'Aurizio | November 19, 2007 at 05:07 PM
You know the Cadbury cup is probably worth money now? I do miss Cadbury chocolate, it reminds me of home!
The cupcakes look yummy, and very pretty!
Posted by: Bev | November 20, 2007 at 05:11 AM
Hope you are feeling better soon. The cupcakes sound yummy.
Posted by: Josie | November 20, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Hi Vicki, Sorry to hear that your back is hurting so much...
Did you know that the second lady that I am swapping with is having a bad back at this very moment too?. Mmmm, I don't hope it is my bad influence though. I love your fabrics and I am sure they will cheer you up AND I hope your postman will bring you a very little surprise one of these days, you deserve it! Wishing you the very best! Hugs L.
Posted by: LiLi M. | November 20, 2007 at 07:00 PM
I have a back ache too and I think it is from all the sewing I have been doing. Now, I'll just have to deal with it because I see a JoAnn's trip in my future. I'm going to try your cupcake recipe too. Sounds easy and yummy. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Betty @ She's Sew Pretty | November 21, 2007 at 02:27 AM
Oh, dear...I'm so sorry to hear about your back.
:( Take good care of yourself and happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Cece Marie | November 21, 2007 at 05:08 PM
This is torture. Scottie fabric that I cannot find!! I went to our local Joann's and, alas, after circling the fabric aisles like nine times, I had to give up. I'm an "anything" scottie collector. We use to have a real live scottish terrier, Marjorie and we plan on getting another this summer. Alas, I digress. I am sorry about your back. I sympathise as I suffer from the same thing. Sometimes the best thing to do is lay in a warm bed and read quilt magazines. Chocolate and muscle relaxants help, too. Take care.
Posted by: Jean | November 28, 2007 at 10:02 PM
I can't find the scotty fabric either. Boohoo! Wondering if it's with the holiday fabric or the everyday fabric...
Posted by: anita | December 07, 2007 at 12:36 AM