Fab Food Friday: Coconut Lime cupcakes & more

Hello! Happy Friday to all! This is by far my favorite day of the week simply because it means we get the hubbs home with us allllll weekend! Today we couldn't wait to see him though, so the kids and I went to visit him for lunch. It's a special treat for our oldest to get to see his dad at work.

I have a tendency to send baked goods with the hubbs to work and some were requested today so Caden and I made these Lemon brownies to take. They turned out different than I thought, but the glaze really made the brownie(except as my oldest pointed out, "They aren't brown, Mom."). I like that I can appreciate something other than chocolate :) and everyone loved them, so they are worth a try!

Along with the "dessert appreciation that isn't chocolate" theme, I wanted to share these recipes with you...

The first is what I created really quick before our church small group one night. We were hosting small group and my son wanted jello for dessert (he likes it in individual cups) so we made it. A couple hours before small group I realized that Jello may not be as welcomed by the adults as they would all our pre-schoolers. After looking in our cupboard I came up with an EASY recipe for Mini Coconut cupcakes with lime glaze....

Coconut Cupcakes

--Makes 48 mini cupcakes--

1 box yellow cake mix (made according to package)

1 1/2 Tbs. Coconut Extract

1) Mix yellow cake mix according to package (I always substitute part of the oil for applesauce) and mix in the Coconut extract

2) Grease mini muffin tin and fill with cake batter

3) Bake 12-14 minutes

4) Let cool 3 minutes then add the lime glaze (below)

Lime Glaze

2 Tb Key Lime Juice

2 Tb Milk

1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

(This is my favorite Key Lime Juice to use)

1) Whisk together ingredients till smooth

2) Drizzle over hot cupcakes (Still in pan) till they are covered (the glaze will soak in)

3) Let the cupcakes cool then pop them out of the pan

The verdict? These were gone...quickly. Also, in my opinion, they must be mini cupcakes to get the lime glaze/coconut cake ratio just right :) I think they are a perfect summer treat that isn't too "heavy" on the hot days.

Easy, right? Normally I would try to make the cake from scratch, but this ended up being just right and quick to boot!

Next, is the recipe for Coconut Buttercream icing I made to top these Pineapple Coconut cupcakes (Again, the pineapple cupcakes are from a box) for the baby shower I hosted last week.

Ingredients

1 Cup unsalted butter at room temperature

3 cups sifted powder sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 Tbs COCONUT extract

2 Tbs milk

(Yellow food coloring is optional)

1) Beat Butter for a few minutes on medium speed

2) Turn mixer on low and add the powdered sugar

3) With beater on medium add the salt, extract, milk, and yellow food coloring if you choose and beat for a few minutes

To top cupcakes with icing I use a decorating press (I will never go back to using a knife to top cupcakes!)

Another thing I will never go back to is icing from a can...buttercream is easy and SOOOO good! I discovered this after my sweet friend, Jessi, brought us Buttercream cupcakes to reveal the gender of their baby. One taste and I was done with the store bought icing!

Both of these recipes scream warm weather and summer to me. I hope you are able to make some soon so you can welcome Summer as well!

Happy Weekend to all!

Party like it's......

....a baby shower :)

I love having parties! Don't you?! I love the planning, decorating, the FOOD, and the great fellowship that is involved...The cleaning of the house on the other hand......well, luckily the good outweighs the necessary cleaning in the occasion.

Last week I, along with some wonderful ladies, had the privilege to host a baby shower for our dear friend, Meredith.

We decided to do a "Spring" theme which included flowers, eggs, and bird's nests. We did pastels and because we originally did not know the gender of the baby we had a lot of yellows and greens, BUT a couple days before we found out they were having a girl so we redirected a little bit to add PINK to the decor. Pink is so much fun to me, mainly because I don't get to use it often!

Ella Grace banner, shabby candle holders with candle, nest and bird, tulips, pictures of the Mom and Dad, and sign in

The AMAZING food table! Cupcakes, lemon iced cookies(a fav in these parts), fruit, Robin's Eggs, deviled eggs, PB bird's nests, and awesome oatmeal iced cookies

Lovely cookie tray accent!

Pineapple cupcakes with Coconut butter cream icing (AHH) in tulip wrappers...I will share this recipe tomorrow along with another tropical cupcake!

Citrus water and Pineapple sherbert punch...SO Yummy!

The beautiful Momma, Meredith, and her beautiful Momma, Dianne

I'm so excited for this girl!

With the help of so many wonderful and talented ladies this shower turned out beautiful and we had a lot of fun doing it!

We can't wait to meet Ella Grace in August!

Easter Eggstravaganza!

We recently got home from a fabulous weekend spending Easter with my husband's family in Texas. Easter didn't just start there, it began last week with one of 3 Easter egg hunts at our church...

The boys and their sweet friend, Keely, listening to instructions

Dad surprised us with the camera (a little too close...)

Sweet brothers

And the kids playing in the egg tub after the hunt :)

On Thursday Caden had his Easter egg hunt and picnic at his Preschool...

Caden with some of his little friends

Pryce loved climbing the steps :)

After the hunt we were able to stay and have a picnic with the kids and their families. It was really sweet to see Caden with friends!

Later that afternoon we colored some eggs with the boys...Since my husband is an artist he took advantage of this moment to teach Caden about primary and secondary colors. He was in his element...

The boys had a lot of fun playing(crushing) with their newly dyed eggs...we found out that they can withstand a throw onto the carpet, but not the contracting hand of a toddler...

Friday we woke up early and got on the road for the 12 hour trip to Midland, TX to spend the weekend with the Hubbs family. I kept forgetting to take pictures, but we had a GREAT time! Saturday The Hubbs entire extended family came over to his parents house for the day. We had a surprise party for his uncle's 60th birthday which included an incredible chuck wagon (cowboy) dinner cooked over the fire, an "Amazing Race" competition between couples, a huge egg hunt for the kids, and a lot of visiting.

Saturday was capped off by some games of gin rummy and then off to bed...we were SO tired!

*Easter* Sunday morning we went to church with the fam...

Bow ties made for the boys by my friend Krista at Boykee Boutique!

*Trying* to get a picture with Pop and G before church

The boys with Chance's Grandmother

Quick family picture before we head out

My sweet boy after church!

I'm glad we got pictures before church because during church Pryce hurt his mouth pretty bad...long story short: wobbly toddler...falling...no hands...face...two bottom teeth...blood...white shirt...bow tie...Poor kiddo!  He was in a lot of pain, so (and because of a lot of screaming) we left church a little early.

Later that day (after meds and naps for the boys) we got to visit with some friends who are about to have a little baby boy and Chance's sister and her family.

Such a fun weekend! Thanks to Patty and John for being such great hosts!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and were able to take a moment and remember the real "reason for the season" (Easter season that is...).

"Jesus loves me this I know....."