luscious.lemon.cupcakes.

L2 (luscious lemon) is where it’s at…

crazy tasty

 

First off, I just want to say Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World cupcake book is ridiculous. These cupcakes taste bangin’ and it’s not because I made them.

 

Recipe for Lemon Vegan Cupcakes

Adapted from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

Ingredients:

1 c coconut milk

1 t apple cider vinegar

1 1/4 c AP flour

2 T cornstarch

3/4 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/2 c Earth Balance buttery spread

3/4 c sugar

2 t vanilla extract

1 1/2 t lemon extract

1 T lemon zest –  this makes it so rich in flavor

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. Mix coconut milk and vinegar together and let sit.
3. Sift dry ingredients together.
4. In separate bowl use a mixer and cream together buttery spread and sugar till light and fluffy.
5. Add vanilla and lemon extract.
6. Alternate with the milk mixture and the dry ingredients mixture into the sugar/buttery spread bowl.
7. Beat all ingredients together until smooth; use spatula to scrap down the sides of the bowl.
8. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes.
9. Transfer to wire rack and cool before frosting.

Lemon Buttercream

Ingredients:

1/4 c non hydrogenated shortening

1/4 c Earth Balance buttery spread

1 1/2 c confectioners’ sugar

2 T fresh lemon juice

2 t lemon zest

1 t vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In small bowl, cream together shortening and margarine until well combined.
2. Add confectioners’ sugar together in small increments, continue to beat with hand mixer.
3. Add in lemon juice and vanilla extract.
4. Lastly, add zest and give one final whirl.
5. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

photo shopping

I’ve never done photo shopping before, and many of you might think, “Wow! You are quite ol’ school.” Well, today I have learned something new and no longer will I be ol’ school. I have hit the twenty-first century with full speed and you can consider me new school. Realistically, I won’t put the cart before the horse, so we will take things gradually. I will say, “New school here I come.”

More pics:

 

 

saying thank you

When I left my long-term substitute position a few weeks ago, I wrote each student a personal thank you note. I think there is something so powerful about a hand written note/letter. In today’s fast-paced world, emails seem to be the most used form of communication. It is a nice change of pace to read the fancy writing from someone instead of the block-ish Times New Roman font. Hopefully today you might decide to write a note to your father or a father-like figure who you appreciate.

I would like to send a Happy Father’s Day wish out to one person in particular. I was lucky enough to have a 2-in-1 deal with my mother being both the mom and the dad! I told her this morning that my brother and I were lucky to be blessed with this type of deal.

So, thank you MOM for being not only a great mother but also a spectacular father and Happy Father’s Day to you, too.