arabella_topaz's blog post

So, I'm perusing cupcake recipes, trying to figure out what kind to try next. Right now, I'm seeing some delectable looking lemon ones...but I was thinking about these apple-bananna ones I saw last week. I also saw some sweet potato ones somewhere (with toasted marshmallow topping) and my oldest just LOVES sweet potato pie. (I don't know how anyone couldn't; it's way better than pumpkin.) The vanilla ones I made last week used baking soda (as opposed to baking powder) and you could really taste it. So I'm now making sure I don't use any recipes that call for baking soda. (The chocolate ones were the same, it just wasn't as noticeable.) The chocolate-mint flavor was awesome, though. My oldest was funny, though. She was all worried about the presentation of the cupcakes. I explained to her that I would be trying many recipes. So that's hundreds of cupcakes. Probably more like thousands. And no, I'm not doing those perfect. And when it comes time to make them for her wedding, I'll be using cake flour. And of course, I'll measure out the batter for every single cupcake. But right now, I'm more concerned with the way they taste.

Her best friend from kindergarten was over earlier this week. My daughter figured out the complete order of her line-up. They talked about songs for the wedding, including a mother-daughter song. I like The Spice Girls "Mama" but she wants a song I don't like. Some people like to tease that it's traditional for the bride's family to pay for the wedding. That would not be happening. (Her father has never financially provided support and I can't afford to pay for the wedding they want.) But that's not traditional with everyone. For example, in my adoptive family, my youngest brother married a hmong girl. Not only did he have to pay a bride price to her family (5 grand) but my adoptive mother paid for pretty much everything else. Well, my daughter and her fiance are saving. (They have a special account set up for it.) And his family is helping out (which they can afford to do.) His mother is way more excited about stuff than I am. Partly cause I'm usually a laid-back person who doesn't plan much of anything even the day of and does a lot of things last minute. And also, I can't sustain that level of excitability for 8-9 months. Although here I am, looking at cupcake recipes and browsing mother-of-the-bride dresses (and bridal gowns and bridesmaid dress.)

Jeez, now I'm making myself hungry, all this look and talk of cupcakes. (Food is my second favorite thing in the world and it never tells me no. Or ignores me.)