BANANA CUPCAKES

BANANA CUPCAKES

photo and recipe via Bakerella

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large ripe banana (or almost 1 cup)
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake tray with 12 baking cups.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Cream butter and sugar in a mixer for about four minutes. Add banana and mix until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Add the flour in three additions alternating with milk in two additions. Scrape down the sides with each addition. 

Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until done. *I  made mini cupcakes (made about 40) and baked them for ten minutes at 350 degrees.

Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
Buttercup yellow icing color (optional)

Cream butter and cream cheese in mixer until thoroughly combined. Add vanilla. Then add sugar in small batches until combined and creamy. Add a small amount of buttercup yellow icing color to frosting and mix. *I made half a batch of the frosting and it was more than enough for my 40 mini cupcakes.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

Well, if I have learned anything about living in Colorado, it must be, to ALWAYS have your tennis shoes (and a jacket) on hand! Coming home from the Evergreen Rodeo, we decided to stop at Lookout Mountain, which overlooks Golden, CO (home of Coors beer...woohoo...Coors shout-out). At 7,581 feet, the views are phenomenal! 

Lookout Mountain is also home to Buffalo Bill's gravesite and the Boettcher Mansion (summer home of Denver entrepreneur, Charles Boettcher, built in 1917).

Oh yes, I have learned one other thing...I may be the biggest worrier of all time. Pretty much anywhere we stop, Drew hears a lecture similar to this (Soph is so crazy, we just hold her!): 

"Drew, no running or silliness. Are you listening to me? Drew, seriously now, you are thousands of feet up. Please don't give your Mother a heart attack. Hold my hand Drew. I mean it Drew. Okay, be careful." 

Oh, my poor, worried heart...but if it wasn't the mountains, it would be something else! ;-)

WREATHS

I am not sure my "crafty side" exists, but I like to think I am capable of a few, simple DIY projects. These wreath ideas are certainly tempting me to venture into the world of craftiness. They look easy enough right?

Images via The Painted Hive (starburst twig wreath), Fudge Ripple (peppermint wreath),  Etsy (rag wreath), Good Housekeeping (ornament wreath), Just A Girl (pinecone wreath), See Kate Sew (acorn wreath)

TEACHER'S GIFT

This post is really late, or really early depending how you look at it. But this idea was too cute not to show off! Unfortunately I am not as creative as I think I am, so I copied the idea from here. Think mine looks pretty good though...if I do say so myself. 

I used a reasonably priced cylinder glass vase, 48 #2 pencils (thought that was plenty but I could have used a few more), and a couple bouquets of sunflowers and held them in place with three rubber bands. And wahla, a beautiful gift for a special teacher!

JUST PUT IT IN A JAR

Filling jars with various lovelies seems to be all the rage this summer. Here are some super clever ideas I have seen on the blogs lately...

Putting ice cream in jars and keeping them on ice would be a really cute and time-saving idea when throwing a summer party.

If "cuteness" is the theme of your party, these little drinking jars would be perfect! They come with a hole in the lids, perfect for those ever-popular striped straws.

Have I run out of ideas for using jars you ask? Oh no! How about a gorgeous, simple flower arrangement.

Cheesecake in a jar...yes, please! Cake, cupcakes, you name it, you can pretty much serve it in a jar. Pretty cute! 

Photos via Pen'nPaperflowers, Acme Party Box Company, Tabitha Emma, and My Baking Addiction

FRUITY PEANUT BUTTER YOGURT DIP

Time to start figuring out what to do with the kiddos for the summer?!? Of course I would begin with food! This scrumptious little treat is easy, nutritious (mostly?), and fun for the kids. Sophie will eat anything if she can dip it in something!

FRUITY PEANUT BUTTER YOGURT DIP

photo & recipe adapted from The Wannabe Chef

1/2 cup fruit-flavored yogurt* (I used French Vanilla)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Fruit, veggies, pretzels (be creative) for dipping

*To customize the flavor, use 6 tablespoons of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of any fruit jam.