I love baking cups!

I love finding new cute baking items.

Surprise, surprise!

Okay, not surprising at all.

I've been eyeing these cups for awhile,

 but I found them to be a bit spendy for my fundraising. 

I like to keep expenses low so that I can donate more money.

My favorite baking cups were from Simply Baked

$6.95 for 20 baking cups.

http://www.simplybaked.us/product/baking-cups-large/

Not only are they designs simple,

but the cups were sturdy enough to handle my butter cake recipe 

and not have butter splotches leaking through.

And yes, that can be a problem.

My butter cake is light,

but it also has butter, so it can be greasy on the edges.

With a cake, I trim that off,

that's not an option for a cupcake.

So I always use thick cups.

Is $6.95 worth it?

Urg! 

Not really...

Until I found them at Home Goods for $2.95! 

Man, I love Home Goods.

What?! Over half off the original price,

and cute designs

Happy Girl Dancing!

So not only could my cupcakes taste amazing,

but they're even more adorable. :)

Check out these lemon-blueberry cupcakes...

No muffin tins needed, just place them on a cookie sheet.

You can really fit a lot in one batch this way...it's amazing!

Yummmmm!

Add vanilla buttercream and sugar crystals, 

and they are pretty perfect.

Don't you think?

So if you want cute baking cups, but are nervous about the price,

just check out your local Home Goods Store.

Maybe you'll be lucky like me and find them for a great price.

Happy Baking! 

Gluten-Free Miracle Flour

Gluten-free baking has always been my nemesis.

Normally, I use recipes as a guideline and then add my own twist to it,

but not when baking gluten-free.

I follow it line for line...

which is really difficult for me.

I've had so many baking disasters with gluten-free treats, even when I follow the directions! 

It's temperamental.

But those days may be over!

Thanks to the fabulous Bob's Red Mill products.

Again, I'm sooooo fortunate to live close to the baking and grain mecca that is Bob's Red Mill. 

I'm not sure how other people get their questions answered, 

or pick up the BEST baking supplies in the world! 

(Okay, I'm sure they just email someone...)

When I have a question, especially with gluten-free, 

I just go see one of the knowledgable employees at The Mill. 

Seriously, they're amazing! 

Bob employs the best people! 

(Thank you Bob!) 

Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour

(http://www.bobsredmill.com/Gluten-Free-1-to-1-Baking-Flour.html)

And now I really want to hug Bob, 

because this flour is MAGIC!!

No, really...it really is a miracle.

I've made a lot of gluten-free treats, 

using combinations of flours and other so-called 1-to-1 baking flours...

Nothing compares to this! 

A-MAZ-ING!

Just look at these beautiful cookies!

Gluten-free little beauties.

Crispy edges, chewy center...perfection!

I see more beautiful gluten-free choices in my future and maybe yours too. :) 

Want to try this baking flour for yourself?

If your in Portland then you probably know where it's located,

but if not...

Bob's Red Mill 

(http://www.bobsredmill.com/)

Whole Grain Store, Restaurant and Bakery

5000 SE International Way

Milwaukie, OR 97222

tel:503-607-6455

When you go, bring containers or prepare to fill yours up 

when you get home because the bulk section is the best.  

In fact, I'll probably be there too. ;) 

Cheers to less frequent gluten-free baking disasters! 

Perfect Hard Boiled Egg

Baked Eggs

There is something that I don't tell people.
You see, I pride myself on being able to make most things in the kitchen well.
Ingredients are like my friendly dance partners in the kitchen.
We prance around creating magical treats that bring people joy.

But there is one thing that I just do wrong...every. time.
And it's really embarrassing.
I feel really stupid and cringe as I write this...
I can't boil an egg.

Don't laugh!!!
It's really frustrating.
How would you like it if every time you
tried to make hard boiled eggs,
they come out all wrong!
Shells won't peel.
Yolk isn't all the way cooked.
It's just a mushy mess.
Stop laughing! 
I know!
It's ridiculous and I hang my head in shame.
You see, eggs are my go to comfort food.
I'm eating less meat, but haven't been able to make the Vegan meal stick because of this devotion to the egg.
But hard-boiled eggs have eluded me all these years, until now.

But I have found a cure for affliction.
Baking the eggs-
Tada! 
I can bake and I do it very well.
Thank you Pinterest.
Now, I can hold my head up high
and make a splendid egg salad.
Or Cobb Salad, or Deviled Eggs or ?
Whoop! Whoop!
Perfection.

Now, if you're like me...and I know that there must be some of you out there...hiding.
No need to hang your head anymore.
You can do it!
It's so easy that you're going to cringe
and you don't have to boil a pot!
Here it is...are you ready?!

Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
The BEST way to make hard-boiled eggs is in the OVEN!

(I don't know where this recipe originated, but it's fabulous and definitely not mine.)
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Place the eggs into a muffin pan, so that they don't move around.
3. Pop in for about 25-30 minutes and remove!
4. Place the eggs in a ice water bath until cooled.
5. Peel.

Now, wasn't that easy?  Not scary at all.
Not only are they tastier,
but they also are much easier to peel.
You must try this.
Seriously...it's as easy as boiling an egg!
Ha!  That's the biggest lie ever...
Baking is much better.
Trust me and,
enjoy the perfect egg.

I dabble

Some people have a special talent or skill...not me.
I dabble.
I like to try different things.
Cool jewelry...I think, "I can make that!"
Oooo, that's a fun painting, but so expensive..."I can paint that!"
Bake, cook, knit, crochet, sew, garden, tile...if its a home idea or new craft, I've probably tried it.
"Hi, my name is Lori, and I'm a dabbler."
Some people might find this type of crafting life frustrating, but to me it's a challenge and an adventure.
I've had epic, expensive failures...which I will not share. (Today that is.)
But, I've also discovered that there are hidden talents that I never knew that I had.
Like I said, my world is an adventure.
This weekend, was an adventure in trying new things.
I had a pile of fabric laying around. It felt wasteful to have do many beautiful patterns with their lives unfulfilled. It was my job to find their purpose, and hopefully bring myself and others joy in the process.
So here it is...
A look into my dabbling world of crafting over one weekend.

 I needed to practice frosting and filling shapes,

so why not try to make a chocolate cream cheese cookie? 

The frosting was fabulous...the cookie...oh, it was okay.

On to the the next dabble...pillows and pillowcases!

My bedroom needed a little update and I had a stack of fabric,

so just a little stitching and BOOM...update!

 

  

I had a little fabric left over so I kept right on stitching and made a few pillowcases for the Beaverton Clothes Closet too! I hope that these bright, fun colors will bring someone a little joy.  

After all of the "hard" work I definitely deserved a little deliciousness.

So I heated up my beloved pie maker, gathered supplies, and made some quiche.

Yumma!

Now I feel better.

I have dabbled in sewing, baking, savory pie making.

In my world, that all equals up to a fabulous weekend.

I might be a dabbler, but that's okay. I don't plan in changing a thing! :0)

Maybe someday I can crown myself the Sparkle Dabble Queen! (The Shiny crown is a must.)

Cheers and happiness in your dabbles this weekend,

Lori