New Two Part Blog…STAY TUNED.

Katie and I are conjuring up a two part blog to recap Chanda Weekend 2008. Stay tuned. It will be a good one. We’re going to try to include some video as well, but for now here’s a picture from the annual photo shoot. 🙂

 

Sixth Annual Chanda Reunion

Double Feature Cupcakes with Mexican Hot Chocolate Frosting

I have tried and tried to figure out a way that I could count one (or two) of these cupcakes as a serving of vegetables, but I just can’t justify it. Darn. They do, however, work wonderfully as a frivolous snack. 

I, along with my sous chef Chad Vaughan, made these delectable cupcakes a couple of weeks ago. In our effort to continue revolutionizing the blog world through two-part blogs, I will provide you with the cupcake recipe and Chad will provide you with the icing recipe. Of course, you could skip both of our blogs and get the recipe here, but that wouldn’t be as fun!

Also, please excuse our poor attempts at cooking photography. We really wanted to be like The Pioneer Woman and Kathleen, but it’s hard! Baking and taking pictures at the same time takes WAAAAAY too much effort! 🙂

Double Feature Cupcakes with Mexican Hot Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips 
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1 cup sugar 
3 large eggs 
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1/8 teaspoon salt 
12 peanut butter cups

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a standard cupcake pan with liners.
2. In a large heat resistant bowl, combine the chocolate and butter over a pot of simmering water, without letting the bottom touch the water. Stir gently until melted and well combined.
3. Remove chocolate from heat and stir in the vanilla. Add the sugar. Beat with a handheld electric mixture until smooth and combined, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing for 20 seconds between each egg to incorporate.
5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
6. Mix until well blended. 
7. Using ladle or small measuring cup, fill the cupcake cups 2/3 of the way full.
8. Place a peanut butter cup in the center of each cup and press down slightly.
9. Bake until the cupcakes are firm to the touch about 20 minutes.

Check out Chad’s blog for the icing recipe. If it’s not there yet, keep bugging him until he posts it.

Apathetic about Blogging

in response to Bob’s kind comment about allegedly missing my blog posts, here i am. i have to admit, i’m feeling kind of apathetic about blogging. it’s been a weird couple of weeks, and i’m attempting to process.

and, trust me, you don’t want to hear the drama.

trust me.

also, i have my portion of a two-part blog, that is awaiting Chad’s portion  of the two-parter, so all of you need to go comment on his blog in hopes that we can get a move on that one.

Top Ten South Floridian Summer Secrets

Saturday, while enjoying many of the Top Ten South Floridian Summer Secrets, fellow blogger Chad (whom I’ve also been fortunate to meet in real life) and I dreamt up something new to help spice up the blogging world. We call it the “two-part blog” or “tag-team blog” or “I’m-too-lazy-to-write-the-entire-blog blog.”

Anyhow, all that to say…if you are reading this and you haven’t yet ventured to Chad’s blog for part one, then STOP READING and go there now! This is a David Letterman style Top Ten list, so for items 10 through 6, you must check out Chad’s blog. Once you do that, feel free to come back here and top off the list with numbers 5 through 1.

And for those of you who have already read Chad’s blog, welcome! Please continue with the second half of the Top Ten South Floridian Summer Secrets.

5. Freeze your water bottle. We must say this is one of our favorite secrets. Here’s the deal: The night before your next trip to the beach or pool, be earth-friendly (or “green”) and find an empty water bottle…preferably one you were drinking from. Fill it up half-way with water and then stick it in the freezer so that it’s laying on its side. When you are ready for fun in the sun, take the water bottle out of the freezer and fill it up the rest of the way with cold or room temperature water. As you soak up the rays, your water will stay ice cold! Love it!

4. Bring an iPod or boombox. Great summer tunes always make a day in the sun better. Imagine sitting by the pool while listening to the likes of Justin, Jack, John, Will, Britney and friends. If you’re really clever, create a summer playlist for your iPod and astound all your buddies with your great musical selections.

3. Angle your chair or towel for maximum sun. This is key. Really, what’s the point of sweating like crazy if you won’t have a sweet tan to show for it. The best way to be sure you are getting the most sun possible is to check out the shadows around you. Be sure there is nothing obstructing the UV rays!

2. Choose the pool with the least number of kids. Now, don’t get us wrong, we love kids, so maybe it would be best to say “Choose the pool with the most well-behaved kids” or “Choose the pool with the kids who are most likely to be properly monitored by their parents.” Nobody wants their double layered towels or iPod/boombox destroyed from unruly kids throwing footballs in the water just close enough to the edge to splash you. How annoying is that?! Kids are fun. Summer is fun. Just be sure you know what you are getting yourself into, or be prepared to play along with their silly games by hiding a water gun in your bag. That’ll show ’em!

And, finally, the #1 South Florida Summer Secret…

1. Bring as many family and friends as possible to the pool/beach. All South Floridians know that friends and family make everything more fun! Find your favorite corner of the pool or section at the beach and take it over for endless amounts of fun in the sun! That’s what summer’s all about…fun with friends…fun with family…good food…great sun…awesome times. Get outside and have a great South Florida summer!