Similarity

So there's this store in Bridgeport. It's called The Egg Store. I don't really know why. I mean. They do sell eggs. But it's a tiny store. And eggs are a tiny part of the tiny store. It's mainly produce which gives it its lovely ripe odor.

In any case it's very close to The Cops' house. So I go all the time. Often for eggs. A few weeks ago when I went? I saw some poppy seeds. And I'm sure lots of places sell poppy seeds. But if they do they're in obscure sections of big chain groceries in which I often find myself.

Now I don't know a lot of use for poppy seeds really. No matter what I tell myself, I'm not actually a culinary master. BUT. I'm all the time buying those little just-add-water packages of lemon poppy seed muffins. Because lemon poppy seed muffins are exceedingly tasty. But seriously. Who has poppy seeds? I've certainly never had poppy seeds layin around.

I decided to join the ranks of those weird people who have poppy seeds layin around. For the sole purpose of making my own lemon poppy seed muffins.

But then I stuck them in a drawer and proceeded to make all kinds of other baked goods for the next two weeks.

Until Wednesday. Wednesday I had a weird handful of time before class that was just perfect for the use of those lovely seeds. So I opened the drawer and pulled out some seeds.

And made the batter in mere minutes. Because I am such a professional.

Then I loaded up my tiny cupcake pan, popped them in the oven, and began to clean up. Which involves licking batter, obviously. Mmm love those crunchy seeds.

Man. Poppy seeds not from a just-add-water package have a weird aftertaste. Hm. It is actually a very unpleasant aftertaste.

Wait...

So you know how I said I'd never owned a package of poppy seeds before? Yeah I guess I wasn't used to just how tiny those things actually are.

Also not used to cooking with seeds in general. Because apparently there exists more than one variety of small, black seeds. Go figure.

So there I was with tiny lemon mustard seed muffins in the oven and a bowl full of batter left to bake.

Luckily tiny muffins don't take long, so I was able to taste them before class. And they weren't bad, really. They just weren't good really either.

So I had to break out the big guns.

And turn them into tiny lemon mustard cupcakes with cream cheese icing.

Because I may not be a culinary master, but my cream cheese icing rocks. I say my cream cheese icing as if the recipe stays the same every time. Which is not true at all. I have no idea what all is in this stuff. But it sure is good.

Whatever is in that icing definitely saved those tiny muffin/cupcakes.

Made em much prettier too.

Aaand I figured since I had the colors, I may as well try and make actual sheep cupcakes instead of bears on clouds trying their hardest to be sheep like last time.

Little better right? I thought so.

Someday I'll make actual lemon poppy seed muffins from scratch. Until then, I'm studying up on the differences:

Mustard Seeds-BIG
Poppy Seeds- tiny

Ooor I guess I could just turn it over and read the label...

But seriously, who does that?

Capitalism Cupcakes

So I took this trip. To a craft store. This is really never a good idea. I wander through the aisles visualizing myself spending excessive amounts of time combining all products offered into ridiculously crafty superfluities. I usually end up talking myself down from most of it but only after wasting a good number of precious minutes.

I had a specific purchase in mind. Because I keep making cupcakes. And I knew somewhere out there existed a product to house them.

TA DA!

Pretty nice huh?

This is what I went for. And I almost didn't get it. Due to the fact that should I not own a cupcake storage unit I am still able to make cupcakes. I am just forced to put them on plates. How boring.

But I knew if I bought this, it would make waiting for the bus a happier experience. Because I would be waiting for the bus as the proud owner of a vessel that exists solely for the purpose of holding my cupcakes!

Except for this device had options. Options people. It can hold regular sized-cupcakes. Or you can take out the cupcake holder and it can hold sheet cakes. Or you can turn the holder over and hold a million tiny cupcakes!

Tiny cupcakes, people. With tiny cupcakes there is twice the decorating with the same amount of batter. This is important.

But here's the thing. I didn't have anything with which to make tiny cupcakes. And I really just can't own a tiny cupcake holder without the ability to make tiny cupcakes.

So I also bought myself this ability. Look how pretty:

Much prettier than say.... this thing:

Which is still lovely and useful for making slightly less fun, regular-sized cupcakes. But really. No contest.

And with these fabulous new purchases, you know what I found?

I make even more cupcakes.

It might be detrimental.

But it's so calming. Pouring in the batter so methodically.

Knowing in twenty minutes the properties of heat will have transformed that beautiful liquid...

...Into a delicious solid.

Mixing colors into icing and the welcomed similarities the stuff has with paint.

Spreading and piping the icing-paint. It's my favorite part. I can't do it without smiling. It's a remarkably tranquil task.

The thing about iced cupcakes though? Very difficult to share with people in different states. So I super-glued them into boxes.

I hear results were iffy but delicious.

Easter!

Okay so, mostly, the holiday didn't affect me. Well it affected me the way most holidays do in that some of them get you time off of school, and sometimes people all around you do weird things. But often these weird things are enjoyable especially when they are accompanied by food. And all holidays are accompanied by food if you want them to be.

I wanted Easter to be.

Cupcakes!
Shirking reading for most of Saturday in favor of baking and icing-making turned out to be a fabulous idea. Seestors and brothers helped.

Seestor Molly disguised some of the cupcakes as chicks.

Brother Garrett did the baskets of eggs.
(Except for okay, I did this one up front)

Aaaand I did the bears on clouds that were supposed to be cute sheep. But everyone thinks they're bears. On mysterious white stuff. Possibly clouds. BUT THEY'RE NOT.

They're sheep.
Delicious sheep.

With cream cheese icing that I winged by mixing all this nonsense together with a delightful electric mixer.

16 oz. cream cheese
1 c shortening
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk
1 lb bag powdered sugar

And bunches of food coloring of course!

Mmmmm Holiday.

A Birthday

So Monday was this girl's birthday.

She wanted to go out. Except for... it was Monday. Which means the next day is Tuesday. Tuesday isn't really Saturday. Tuesday isn't really Thursday either which, for me, is kind of like a Saturday. Nope. Her birthday was Monday.


So my roommate made her cupcakes which I decided to disguise as fat baby chicks. You know... so that people wouldn't eat them before we gave them to her.

There are a lot of vegetarians and vegans here at Shimer. Cupcakes? They might be inclined to commandeer cupcakes. Cute baby chicks? Not so much.

BUT. The poor thing didn't get to go out. Luckily the day after Friday is Saturday. So we went out Friday.
How, you ask, can a college student afford to take a friend out to dinner for her birthday? Or maybe you would ask how a babysitter could afford that. Or maybe you would really hit me hard and ask how an artist could. You would probably throw in 'starving' as a cute little adjective. And though you would be completely uncreative by throwing in the cliched adjective, I would answer you.

The Answer:

What is Groupon? The Groupon fairies explain it best:

Groupon is a deal a day site for Chicago. We find the unbeatable deals on fun stuff to do and buy in and around Chicago. But here’s the catch - you only get the deal if a certain number of people join. That’s why businesses offer us these prices, because we can guarantee them volume.

Groupon = “Group” + “Coupon”

So the other day the groupon was to pay five dollars for fifteen dollars worth of food at a Mediterranean restaurant.

I am not stupid. I bought the Groupon.

and proceeded to the Sultan's Market by bus.

and brought friends.

including the birthday girl who ate this:

Compliments of Groupon, of course.

And what do you know, Groupon picked a winner. Good food. It was open late...

It was pretty:

And. Most importantly...

It had a sea horse. Winner!