Tag Archives: 20 weeks pregnant

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

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Ryan and I found out on Wednesday afternoon that we’re having a little….

Oh wait! I can’t tell you until tomorrow! Ryan and I are announcing the exciting news to our family tonight, which means my BOY or GIRL post will have to be released tomorrow morning. So check back in for the good news. We couldn’t be more proud or excited.

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In the meantime, let me entice you with these lemon blueberry cupcakes. Moist and sweet, they serve well as mid-morning snacks with a cup of coffee or at dessert with a drizzle of white chocolate ganache. Cupcakes have been quite the rage for the past several years, and yet I still can’t get enough of everyone’s favorite treat. If you have a good base recipe, the possibilities for variety are endless! My dad eats blueberries every single day (he’s 72 years old and in amazing health) so his daily ritual inspired me to throw a few of those purple gems into my favorite vanilla batter.

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And if you happen to be the sort that watches football, these lemon blueberry muffins can also help you support your favorite team. Whether we have a little girl or a little boy, I know he or she will grow up watching football. Ryan’s family LOVES the Broncos, and although we’re still bitter about our post-season loss, it doesn’t mean we won’t choose a side to cheer for on Sunday.

Ryan and I lived in Baltimore a few years ago, and two of my favorite people, Ryan’s great-aunt Connie and great-uncle Frank, are HUGE Raven fans. So these cupcakes, covered in a black white chocolate ganache are in honor of the Ravens, Baltimore, and two of the coolest old people I know. McCormick generously sent me a package of food dye to help with this football project. They’re based in Baltimore too…so we all know who they will be cheering for on Sunday. Their website has several other fun Super Bowl eats, so be sure to check it out if you’re in need of inspiration.

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Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

1 2/3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup sour cream
6 ounces blueberries (1 1/4 cups)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 oz (ounce) white chocolate (good quality)
1.5 cup(s) whipping cream
Several drops of McCormick purple or black food coloring (if you happen to be partial to Baltimore)

1. Make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees farenheit. Line cups of a standard muffin tin with baking cups or grease with melted butter. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then add in vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to low, and fold in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour. Fold in blueberries.

2. Divide batter among baking cups. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 20 to 21 minutes. Remove cupcakes from tin, and let cool completely on a wire rack.

1. For ganache. Place the chocolate and cream in the top of a gently simmering double boiler (or just put one saucepan on top of another, this is what I usually do as I don’t own a double boiler). Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow to cool for one hour in refrigerator if you’d like to “frost” your cupcakes OR drizzle warm ganache over cooled cupcakes.

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Easy Wheat Crepes

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For the past two weeks, I’ve been eating crepes constantly. The obsession began when my sweet mom offered to make us a batch of her famous chicken and Gruyere crepes. I eagerly volunteered to help, and the two of us spent a Friday afternoon with a large bowl of crepe batter and two very hot skillets. The cheesy crepes were divine (I went back for seconds, maybe even thirds) but what I found supremely appetizing was a simple crepe–solitary and unadorned. I began to eat them straight from the refrigerator. Two weeks and four batches later, I’m still eating these crepes.

Crepes are one of those recipes everyone should master. The variation is endless. Dessert crepes, breakfast crepes, dinner crepes, and my favorite: snack crepes. Far easier than one might imagine, crepes never fail to impress company or children. You simply can’t go wrong. I also think crepes are an excellent choice for people who must eat gluten-free food. While this recipe isn’t gluten free, it’s relatively easy to find a replacement for the scant amount of flour in crepe batter.

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A few crepe tricks I’ve learned over the past four batches:

1. Let your batter sit, preferably overnight. This reduces the risk that your crepes will tear.

2. Use high-quality eggs. The fresher the better.

3. Invest in a crepe pan or a good non-stick skillet. Anything else will require a hefty amount of butter or oil to prevent sticking (which may not be a bad thing…)

4. Invite a friend to help. My mom and I made 30 crepes in 30 minutes. If you can get two skillets or crepe pans going, you’ll be far less tired at the end of the endeavor.

In other news, Ryan and I find out if we’re having a boy or a girl TOMORROW. We’re both supremely excited. Not only to find out the sex, but to see our baby again. Of course, I’ve received a wide variety of opinions about my child’s sex. I manage a small boutique here in Colorado, and I’ve had countless customers explain why I’m having a girl….followed by countless customers confident I’m having a boy.

So what do you think?

I’ll be sharing the news on Friday evening, shortly after we tell our family over giant bowls of pasta and a three layer berry cake. Here’s to week 20 of pregnancy! I’m half-way there!

Easy Wheat Crepes

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup whole milk

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. In a blender, combine flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and butter.

2. Puree until mixture is smooth and bubbles form on top, about 30 seconds. Let batter sit in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 1 day; whisk before using).

3. Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium. Lightly coat with butter. Add 1/4 cup batter and swirl to completely cover bottom of skillet. Cook until underside of crepe is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Loosen edge of crepe with a rubber spatula, then with your fingertips, quickly flip. Cook 1 minute more. Slide crepe out of skillet and repeat with remaining batter. (Coat pan with butter as needed.)

Yields: 12 crepes

Monet

Anecdotes and Apple Cores