hi lj.
i've been using you quite a bit lately.

so, i have a new idea for paintings.
i don't want to say too much but it'll be my first go at oils. pascale was kind enough to give me a bunch so i wont be out too much anything if this doesn't work

oh, and completely unrelated does anyone have any of those big wooded landscape paintings that they're looking to get rid of? ima hit up some thrift stores tomorrow. if any of you come across any at yard sales or whatever please let me know. 613.263.9775

thanks!

so, i thought i would post it here for all of the people who also want to make them.
which, btw, i did and they were awesome! they were even better the next day! once they condense they taste like fudge. next time i'd like to add some cardamom or all spice and a touch of almond extract to the batter and some cherry extract to the icing. oh! and i want silver cupcake papers! i think that would be really pretty.

i warn you, they're a bit of a pain in the ass to make but totally worth it.

(copied and pasted with a bit of editing)


Dr Pepper Chocolate Cupcakes!

Makes about 30 cupcakes

Equipment:
* electric mixer (for icing)
* pyrex bowl (for icing. i don't have one, or any other heat safe bowls so i had to use the insert for my rice cooker, heh.)
* whisk (for batter)
* toothpicks (to test if the cupcakes are ready)
* 2 muffin trays (3"cups with 12 in each)
* measuring spoons
* tin foil
* rubber spatula
* scale (for the icing sugar)
* a large ziplock (or piping bag if you have one)
* a cute apron
* a friend to keep you company and hold things now and again

Ingredients
* 2 ¼ cups of Dr. Pepper
* 2 cups of sugar
* 2 ½ cups of cake flour
* 2 eggs
* 4 ounces of unsweetened chocolate
* ½ cup of maraschino cherry syrup (about 2½ 375ml jars of cherries)
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup of unsalted butter
* pinch of salt
* 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon
* ½ teaspoons of vanilla
* ¼ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 325º. In a medium size sauce pan bring Dr. Pepper & cherry syrup to a boil. Place chocolate and butter into a bowl and pour hot Dr. Pepper over, cover with tin foil and let sit for 10 minutes. Whisk mixture till smooth. Stir in sugar, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, and sour cream. Add flour in 2 parts alternating with the eggs and whisk till smooth (don't bother using the electric beater. it doesn't take long). The mixture will be runny… but tasty. Fill cupcakes cups and bake approximately 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

Cherry Frosting: (i ended up with way more than i needed so you might want to cut this in half. and add some cherry extract if you have it) (on that note, do any of you want some cherry icing?)
* 4 egg whites
* ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
* 2/3 cup of maraschino cherry syrup (you may need more)
* 2lbs confectioners sugar
* ¼ teaspoon salt

Throw everything except cherry syrup into a Pyrex bowl. Start with ½ the syrup and beat with a hand held electric mixer for 1 minute . Place bowl over a pot of boiling water (be sure not to let the water touch the bottom of the bowl, you only need the steam) and beat on high for 7 minutes adding more cherry syrup as needed to obtain desired consistency. Be sure that as you are beating you are also scraping down the sides of the bowl. DO NOT let the mixture set over the bowl because your frosting will harden on the sides and turn into a large meringue cookie. it's pretty easy but keep in mind that the icing will just about double or even triple in size so make sure that the bowl you use is big enough or you'll end up having to take out half of it and do it in two sets like i did...
put the icing in a large ziplock bag and cut off a small corner unless, of course, you have a piping bag. pipe some icing onto each cup-a-cake and top with a cherry or two or three since you now have 3 friggin jars of maraschino cherries.

make em and lemme know what you think.
i was even thinking of adding chopped up cherries to the mix or one right in the centre.

O HAI

tomorrow is my birthday and i'm going to the dom (where else?)
i'll be there from 6pm on. (early, but that way i get to see anna)
i'd like to see you there, if possible.
:)

this weeks plan
- job hunt (i'm actually looking forward to it)
- go to wallacks to pick up a projector
- pick up more light switch covers (i only have a few left. i've sold most of them!)
- prep for the art show on october 17th (wanna come?)
- hang out with anna
- help lysandra paint her office
- get groceries

i totally forgot to update this thing a couple saturdays ago...
better late than never.

MY SISTER GOT MARRIED

it went off without a hitch (at least, i didn't notice anything going wrong)
it was threatening to rain all day but it didn't!
we don't have all of the pictures yet but i've put some of what we do have under the cut.
my sister looked really cute and her hair was done in some awesome fingerwaves. her dress was only 60 some dollars from http://www.twpeacock.com
my hair was done into a 60s/70s bouffant. unfortunately it was pretty warm and i was "glistening" so the hair spray kind of melted away. i found my dress for $69 at le chateau. i was surprised by how well the colour suited me

on to the pictures!

( peekture heavy )

k, see ya!

going out with my mom this saturday and i'm actually really looking forward to it.
i really hope this works out. usually when i'm excited to go out with her one of us will end up cranky and the whole thing becomes a really frustrating day (and kind of a let down).
i really want to hit up these places
- value village (it's already halloween there!)
- winners (i heard there were really cute dresses but i think i might have waited too long to go. i'm worried that they might be sold out. :s)
- bulk barn (for obvious and delicious reasons)
- dollarama (i'm a dollarama junkie. i LOOOOOVE going there! they have really cool stuff in their home decor section like cute dishes, glasses, and neat old style wooden signs. i need more light switch plates anyhow. heh)

i think we're going to sears too. i can't remember why but she somehow got an $80 gift card or something so she offered to get me some new jeans, since my only pair are on their last legs (no pun intended). i'm pretty sure i can find a pair for around $25

so, i know i haven't really used this thing in forever but for the first time in forever i feel like i have a few things to say.

i've been painting a lot lately. nothing epic.
just some light switch plates, as you facebookers might know.
i painted leopard print and cherry covers and made 2 with the misfits skulls.
anyhow i brought them to the dom last night and sold all of them :D
( check em out )
the colours are more like the plate on the right. i had forgotten to seal the one on the right before scanning it which makes it look a little dull.
i just started some with zebra print!

anyhow ima grab something to eat. see ya

the newest painting.
sorry to everyone who has to see these twice
(they're posted on fb too)

Heart Cherries on Leopard Print
Acrylic on Canvas
12"x10"
For Sale

High Heel
Acrylic on Canvas
10"X12"
$85

( more )

commissioned cupcake