Blue Cupcakes

Its time for a New Recipe!
Blue Cupcakes. Different.  Very fun.  Definitely something to talk about. : )

My mom was responsible for cupcakes for a little boy's baby shower. The theme was various shades of blue polka dots.  Easy since none of the blues needed to match!  At first I was afraid this theme was overly simple or boring, but it came together so well!  Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of the shower or the cupcakes...  But I thought I would pass on the recipe... I will be making them again!  They were so good and the color was so rich!  I got the idea here. I've heard of blue velvet cupcakes instead of red velvet.  But we weren't wanting a chocolate cake.  So, my mom looked in her book "The Cake Mix Doctor..." by Anne Byrn.  The recipe is: Mom's Layer Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting.

Here is my version of that recipe:

Blue Cupcakes

yields: 15 cupcakes (when using an ice cream scoop)

baking time: 18 minutes (toothpick clean test)

1 package plain white cake mix

1 cup whole milk

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 container Royal Icing color by Wilson

Mix all the above ingredients except the blue color.  Mix on low for 1 minute, scrape the sides clean, add the icing color (don't be scared, it works fine in a cake mix!) Then mix on medium for 2 minutes and all the batter is the same color blue.  I added 2 drops of black color to make sure the batter didn't lighten up too much when it baked.  I honestly wish I would have left it alone.  It didn't hurt the color it just toned it down and added a little grey tint.

Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack completely.  Then you can frost them.  I used my own buttercream frosting and left the it white.  There was plenty of color from the cake itself, the frosting did not need to add any more!  

Mmmmmmm......  SO delicious! The real butter in them is so much better than a butter cake mix.

New Recipe Day!

Today I woke up and decided it was the day to try a new recipe.  Like most people I have tons of recipes saved on Pinterest, waiting for me to try them...  most of them are only saved on my Board because of the perfect picture! :) They say a picture is worth a thousand words... well, today was the day to find out if the recipe I saved for Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting, were as scrumptious as the picture made them appear!  This recipe came from LifeSimpleMeasures, who tweaked it just slightly.

The Brown Butter Frosting is what makes these bars special.  They stand out to your taste buds all because of the brown butter flavor which is rich, almost like a homemade caramel or brown sugar taste... mmmm.... the banana bread bar is dense and perfect in my opinion.  I will say that my frosting hardened quickly.  Like, I wasn't sure I would be able to spread it on the bars.  But with a nice spatula and sticking them back in the oven to help melt the frosting... ta da!!  Here are my Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting:




Banana Bread Bars+Brown Butter Frosting
What you will need:

1-1/2 c. sugar

1 c. sour cream

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed (I used 4)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

a special little helper (see picture to follow)

Brown Butter Frosting:

1/2 c. butter

4 c. powdered sugar

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. milk

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 375F.  Grease and flour 15x10-inch jelly roll pan--I used a cookie sheet (same thing?)

I fold a paper towel and swipe it through my Crisco, then spread! No slimy hands.

 In a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy.  Blend in bananas and vanilla extract.  Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute.  Stir in walnuts (I skipped this step).

Posing with my bananas...

This seriously grossed me out.

2.  Spread batter evenly into pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

3.  Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling.  Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately. Well, this was my first time to ever "brown" butter...so, I got nervous, removed it from the heat a little too early, then stuck it back over the burner to get darker...  this may be why my frosting hardened so quickly?  I don't know!

my frosting in the saucepan. It really thickened and hardened FAST.

Just frosted.

Ta-Da!!!  And, do you see that adorable baby in the background? : )

Just know--these are not good to make if you are starting a diet.  Also, try not to eat too many before bed... you may wake up in the night with a tummy ache... not that I would know.
We would love to know how you like this recipe. So, if you try these delicious bars let us know how you like them!!!

Lookin For Junk In All The Right Places...

…have we ever told you how much we truly love junk? I mean, really. There is something about walking up to a thrift store, or a barn sale, or a flea market- that absolutely makes our hearts sing. The chippier, the dirtier, the more junky- the better. Jules and I have been gearing up talking about participating in Denison’s annual Fall Festival this year (that’s right ladies and gents- be on the lookout, re-fabulous comin to a town near you!), so since I was off work today we decided it would be the perfect day to do a little of what I like to call  junkin’. Now folks, this wasn’t just some ordinary junk barn. Oh no. This was the real deal. We set out lookin for the perfect projects, and honey, we FOUND THEM. Gems… DIAMONDS, just sittin in the Texas dirt, waiting for us to come pick them up and love them. After about three hours of walking around literally praying for good deals, floating on cloud nine, and just about dying of dehydration in this heat- we went up front, totaled our haul, loaded the jeep up and had to go back to get the truck so we could take two loads home. Days like these are just good for the soul. Enough talk- lets get to the pictures.

 

This is what true love looks like.

 

Headin home with our goodies.. let the fun begin!

-Dani :)

Full Size Bed

This bed was fiery red.

Now it is cream colored with a tobacco glaze.  

Bed: $120 Full Size

Happily Ever After.  : )  

Table with Enamel/Plastic Top

Julie found this table at a thrift store.  It is a great size for an apartment dining or in a craft room.  Add the leaf and you can seat even more!  The top is particle board with an enamel/plastic top.  Ugly.  Cheap.  But- you wouldn't know it now!! She put 3 coats of polyurethane on the top so it can handle whatever is spilled on it.

Take a look.  WE LOVE THIS TABLE.

Don't mind the little girl with wind-blown hair! 

Distressed legs.

It's a beauty!

Desk

Dani found this lovely desk for a steal.  It just needed someone to love it and bring it back to life!

For Sale $120 Blue and Cream Shabby Desk

Spring Sale

This past weekend we had our FIRST ever Re-Fabulous Sale!  We had fun getting to show our things to new customers.  We learned a lot and came home to clean garages!  We did not take as many photos as we should have, we were too busy!

Here are some pictures from our Spring Sale.

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Table is still for Sale: $120

Cream Shabby Distressed Full size bed: $120

Blue and White Desk $150

We have to thank the guys for loading, unloading and re-arranging while we pointed our little fingers... we couldn't have done it without you or your trucks!!  Dani kept our tummys full with chicken biscuits and sandwiches.  And even little Noah hung out with us most of the weekend!

If you stopped by our sale, THANK YOU.  It was wonderful to see familiar faces there to show support.