Balloon Power

Someone had a birthday - and this is just a belated little *wink* and nod at the whole event. You know who you are and you know you are loved .

Mug of Flowers and Birthday Wishes

Mug o' Flowers $5

This beauty was just one of a pair that Deb at Girlfriend's Gifts, Antiques and Floral whipped up for me for the birthday girl today. It came with a lovely balloon in purple attached as well - just to lighten things up a bit.
Deb has a wonder of things in her store and the best floral arrangements in town. You can call ahead and work out exactly what you need - or just drop in and ask her for a "Deb Special".

920 South Third Street
(425)687-2778/(206)261-2802

Birthday Greetings

As some of you may have noticed, I consider Mike Moscowitz of the newly opened Liberty Cafe at the top of South Third Street to be a good friend - and if you have ever met him yourself, you would recognize as well that he is just good people. SO, Happy Birthday, Mike! from all of us that have the pleasure of knowing you.

My cupcake ritual...

Cupcakes are the best of all cake matter - small, fit into the palm of your hand, frosting covered morsels that come wrapped in their own gift paper. I love to make them and my posse luvs to eat them. It's hard to wait until a proper occasion comes up to get out the travel cupcake baking tin. Ahhhh - today was just such a day - a dear friend's, wise beyond her years, 19th birthday. Pink cupcakes were in order - her favorite color - and the request came for my near-famous coconut frosting. Yum! I like to cheat in the cupcake department and I am not afraid to admit it - the boxed cakes mixes in flavors like Cherry Chip, Confetti and Strawberry have become something of a de rigor in my crowd. And when you can hit a sale and pick up a box for a buck, well, just damn economical. But when it comes to the frosting, I am all about the prime ingredients -butter, cream cheese - that makes up for any indiscretion I might have made for not having baked from scratch, which I also do, and have the cake flour to prove it!
So, today in honor of this birthday celebration, I am going to willingly spill the beans on my favorite little creation - the Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. Come on you bakers out there - make me proud!

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

2 sticks of butter, room temperature
1 8oz container of cream cheese
1 lb. of powdered sugar
2 tsp of coconut flavoring
1 tsp of vanilla
shredded coconut

Whip the butter and cream cheese together until smooth, add in the powdered sugar, vanilla and coconut. When finished, stir in as much shredded coconut as you wish - about 1/2 cup should do. Frost cupcakes, adding a dash to coconut to the top, or sprinkles if you like, to give them the festive attire that they so well deserve. Then, eat 'em!