These cupcakes have worked their way into my heart and...hopefully, exercise permitting, not my waistline. But they are loaded with butter and all good things, which I hear is great for your hair (yes...good for you...just ignore that voice in your head). Here is my recipe which I absolutely love and hope you will too if you ever need a sweet treat delicacy. BTW: The chocolate on top is made from Ghiradellis white and dark bittersweet chocolate, then molded with candy molds.

Ingredients for the cupcakes 3 c cake flour 2 c vanilla sugar 4 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 whole vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise 2 sticks plus 2 T unsalted butter, room temperature 1 1/3 c milk* 5 egg whites 1 T vanilla extract.

Instructions for the cupcakes

1. Adjust racks to upper and lower-middle postion and preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 muffin tins with cupcake wrappers.

2. Place flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Blend well on low speed. With the tip of a knife, scrape the vanilla seeds out of the bean and add to the flour mixture. Add the butter and 1 cup of the milk, mix on low to blend. Raise the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes (batter will be light and fluffy).

3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites, remaining milk, and vanilla extract. Add to batter in 3 additions, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Stop when the egg mixture is just incorporated into the batter.

4. Using an ice cream scoop or a liquid measuring cup, fill each muffin tin 3/4 of the way with the batter. Bake for 10 minutes, then switch the pans around on the racks. Bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until tops spring back lightly when touched. Cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then remove to wire cooling racks.

Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredients

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Snapshot Sunday

For no particular reason, I've decide to upload some pictures I've been snapping. Because it's Sunday, I bring you...beans. Well one actually. This is my first attempt at being a gardner and while I failed miserably in the radish department, these little haricot verts ended up in our belly last week.
On my plant, upon inspection with my macro lens, I found this amazing work of nature. A mother caring gently, for her delicate egg sac.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the flower pot... this thing crawls out. He's only a little moth- no bigger than my thumb nail, but up close he looks like a vision from a horror movie, or something dreaded that might go bump in the night (only on a windshield).
Lastly, my fascination with eagles continues. I learned so much from watching my eagle cam- did you know that eagles mate for life and live about 20-30 years? Native American Folklore considered the eagles the protector of all things. It was good luck to see one, because it meant that you would win in battle. The battles have changed a little today, but I still think it's amazing to see one. We have had several pairs at Rattlesnake Lake this summer.

The Wonderland Trail!

"Bob" came for a visit this afternoon....

Nice of Bob or Bobette to stop by for a stroll across our "back 9". Come on now Bob...don't be a bashful.

Atta kitty!

Mama and cubs!

Tonight about 45 minutes ago, a mama bear with 2 cubs was spotted in the neighborhood. This is not the first sighting- they've been here for about a week. When a car comes into sight, she runs away with the little ones at high speeds. That part is good. I normally am not fearful of bears, unless they have cubs and are close. The latest sighting had them right by the road where I walk Summit. I don't know how a mama bear cub would react with cubs seeing a 105 pound German Shepherd and it's owner walking near them. I guess I'll be singing loudly for the next little while and walking with my bear spray. Won't that be a sight!

"Michael row the boat ashore...Hallelujah..."

Mystery Solved!

I really wanted to find out what kind of bird we had encountered in the Olympics that put me into a high-stepping dance. I posted the photos and asked for help on the bird forum and found out that she is an American Pipit!

My bird book says that they lay 4 or 5 eggs in a cup of grass and twigs built on the ground in a shelter of rock. In North America the Pipit feeds on countless insects on the edge of tundra puddles, where as in alpine meadows it visits unmelted snowbanks. Warm air rising from the valley below transports many insects to high altitudes; many of these die and are frozen in snowbanks, providing food for the pipits.

Perfect- snowbanks around the area... meadows and a lake with several tarns around. Mystery solved!

Yesterday we said good-bye to a friend. It was the final good-bye.

Several weeks before his passing, he and I were at work and he was telling me about a jacket he had just ordered. "It's the best jacket ever," he said with a sunshine-filled smile. He proceeded to tell me what a value it was and how he couldn't wait to try it out in the rainy season. He looked away for a second, then with a big toothy grin said "YOU... should get one!" I explained that my life was complete without another jacket in it- but he insisted..."try mine on... you'll love it!". "Nate... your jacket wouldn't fit me!" I responded. But he continued with a goofy grin..."No...seriously, try it on...I'm telling you... you'll love it." Each time we saw one another after that he asked "have you tried it on yet?" Finally one day, I went in the breakroom and saw it hanging there. I put it on. The sleeves were hanging way past my hands, the shoulders droopy and the thing looked like a tent on me. I begrudgingly walked out to the sales floor. He looked up and laughed "Looks great on you!" We shared some silly giggles about the coat and he insisted I consider getting one... in my size. He really loved that jacket.

When you hear of death, all sorts of things go through your mind. Among other thoughts, oddly, was how he wouldn't get to see if his favorite jacket worked for our rainy season. The thought made me so sad. I wondered where his jacket would end up. Death is so final and you leave the pages of life just where you stopped....his facebook page is still up, clothes still in his closet, etc. They don't put luggage racks on tombstones.

The mood was quiet, there were lots of tears. His wonderful parents greeted each person as they entered the family area, where Nathan's body was resting. With each new person, were more tears and hugs. I couldn't wrap my head around how difficult that day was for them. They were burying their 27 year old son.

We stood in a line filled with friends and family and watched a slideshow of his life in pictures...memories of him smiling with his motorcycle, paddling on a lake with him Mom, at his brother's graduation, etc. Finally we got up close enough where we could look in and see Nathan resting. I burst out in tears...his family had chosen to lay him to rest.. in his favorite jacket. The hood was up, and tucked in with him, was a map of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. He looked perfect- just as I remember him-not like death had won. Through tears, I told his Mother how much he was loved and how perfect their choice of outfit for him was. We shared a teary-eyed smile about him making me try it on. He resembled his father so much that it was almost uncanny. His father embraced us and we shared some more tears. We walked over to beautiful, resting, Nate and said good-bye. I will never forget him- he brightened the lives of so many people. In life he brought us all together... he did the same in death.

Yesterday was a hard day. Today is better. I will live life to it's fullest and maybe...I'll even stop and consider ordering a new jacket.