Cupcakes and Baseball

Easter Weekend we traveled to a baseball tournament in the central valley.  The Muckdogs represented well -winning both the 9U and 10U divisions.   We camped with good friends, swam, rode bikes, hunted easter eggs and enjoyed yummy cupcakes baked by my close friend and partner in crime when it comes to all things buttercream.  The weather was near 70 degrees which after the winter we've had in Truckee feels downright tropical.  Great weekend. 

Celebrating Another Fab 40 with Friends

Vanilla and Chocolate Cake Pops.

A table full of sweets worthy of a Big Four-Oh Celebration.

A crowd pleasing favorite, grilled pizzas.

This is the year to turn 40!  For my friends and I anyway.  This past weekend a few close friends gathered together to celebrate another Fab 40.  A girls day out, lunch and cocktails at a local favorite Bar of America - recommend the Ahi Tuna Salad and Fish Tacos, then a stop at Truth Tattoo and dinner party featuring appetizers, grilled pizzas, Extreme Vanilla Bean cupcakes and cake pops.  What a weekend.  Happy 40th K.  Really glad to be a part of the celebration.

Sweet Saturday

Carrot cake cupcakes with vanilla frosting.  I am practicing my big swirly rose technique.  Need more practice and a little stiffer frosting.  Back to the mixing bowl.  Still pretty and yummy.

Via Mexico

A couple of years ago we were lucky enough to spend several days with a few close friends at an amazing house north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in a little town on the ocean called Punta de Burro.  I was running through some photos and thought I would share these.  About this time of year and 300 inches of snow later I really wish we were there again.  Someday.

Snow Day #4

This will be the fourth snow day this week.  It just will not stop snowing here in Truckee.  The kids will be going to school until July 4th at this rate and Little League has little hope of starting anytime soon. Such is life at 6000'.  It does make for some warm and cozy nights thumbing through food magazines and watching movies.  I recommend Secretariat and Temple Grandin. 

First Day of Spring = Snow Day

 No matter what the calendar might say it has not turned to spring here in Truckee.  600 inches of snow to date this season on the summit translates into about 300 inches at our elevation and means that green grass and spring blooms are still way off in the distance.  Another 3 foot of snow over the weekend and a school snow day today!  Not kidding.  I am only dreaming when thumbing through the garden and seed catalogs.  Thank you Mister Mailman for battling your way through the snow to deliver those catalogs. Finding our mailbox is a bit of a "where's Waldo proposition right now.  It is in there I promise.  Can someone promise that spring really is on the way?  I hope so.

Runza's for St Paddy's Day Dinner

Easy to make and delicious.  Why don't I remember to make these more often.

2 lbs Ground Beef - browned and seasoned
1/2 yellow onion - diced
1/2 red onion - diced
1 head of cabbage - diced
1 pkg of 24 freezer rolls - thawed
Melted butter

Add ground beef to a large skillet, brown and season.  Drain as needed.  Remove ground beef from pan and add onion and cook until it begins to sweat. Add cabbage and cook until begins to soften.  Add ground beef and combine, cook together for a few minutes.  Taste and season as needed.

Roll each roll out to make a disc.  Add about a 1/2 cup of beef and cabbage mixture, fold over, pinch edges forming a stuffed pocket like shape and place on baking sheet.  Baste each pocket with a little melted butter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until golden on top.