Fabulously Faint : January 2014

1.31.2014

Beauty Bag Pairs Announced

Here we go ladies these are the pairs that were randomly selected by the sophisticated method of throwing names in a bag and pulling out two at a time . Please contact your partner by Monday to introduce yourself and swap contact info. Please let me know if you have not heard from your partner by Monday. Remember all swaps should include 3-5 items and should be shipped by Feb 15 th at the very latest. Thank you all so much for signing up and joining Kayla and I on our very first Beauty Bag Adventure! The group is small but oh so sweet !!!!!When you receive your Beauty Bag please post and link up to show off your goodies :)

Shadia & Michelle

Kayla & Tessa

Vanessa & Kelly

Brittany & Linzi

Beauty Bag Swap: New Year,New Nails -Last day to sign up!

Today is the last day to join in on the fun!!!!!I have decided to host my first Beauty Bag Goodie Swap with my co-host Kayla @ Boy Oh {Mamas} Boys! Our first swap is all about pretty nails, because what girl doesn't love getting new pretty polishes! We are so excited to host our first swap and meet new bloggers and score some new fun nail polishes!

The Rules:

Follow Brittany & Kayla on Bloglovin'
Follow Brittany and Kayla on Goggle Friend Connect
You must be an active blogger and post at least once a week
This Beauty Bag Swap is all about pretty nails! Bags must include 3-5 items such as nail polish and/or other nail accessories.A fun note or letter is also encouraged!
Sign up by adding your link in a comment on this post by Jan 31st
On Feb 1st I will post a list of who is swapping with who
Once you have your partner we encourage you to check out their blog and get to know each other so you can fix up the perfect beauty bags for each other
All beauty bags should be mailed out by Feb 15
When you receive your bag post a photo of your goodies and link up on The Beauty Bag Swap.Help us spread the word and have a successful swap by sharing this link on your blog !

and before you leave help yourself to some booty poppin' music from my friend Queen Bey.Even if her hair did look like a wet dog at the Grammys she is still my main bitch!

Foodie Friday: Chicken Pot Pie Casserole, Lemon Meringue Cookies

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

What screams rich,creamy, delicious comfort food more than Chicken Pot Pie? This recipe is for a casserole style pot pie, throw it together , add the crust, pop it in the over and voila chicken pot pie on the fly! This meal tasted as good as I imagined.I recommend making a second batch of plain crescent rolls to eat along side the casserole so you can have something to dip in your saucy mixture

Ingredients

2 cans (10.75 ounces) cream of chicken soup
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2-3 large breasts worth of cooked shredded or diced chicken
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables I used the mix with corn ,peas,and carrots-defrosted so your mix doesn't get watered down
2 cups southern style cubed frozen hash browns -defrosted to avoid a watery mixture
1 can (8 ounces) crescent rolls (I bought a second can to cook on the side just for extra bread to dip in my pot pie casserole )

Instructions
1.Preheat oven to 350 .In a bowl whisk together soup, milk, sour cream,chicken stock, black pepper, parsley and thyme.

2. Stir in chicken, veggies and potatoes. Spray a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish and pour mixture into dish

3.Unroll your crescent rolls (pinch perforations together so that it's seamless) Use a pizza cutter to cut 1/2 strips.Lay them in a lattice pattern on top of your mixture

4. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

Lemon Meringue Cookies

Have you ever tried a meringue cookie and loved it but you were too intimidated to try making them? Ya, that was me.The just look so pretty and complicated but I finally gave it a shot and they were pretty simple .I used fresh lemons that needed to be used up but you could use any flavor that you like . I am slightly ashamed yet impressed that my family ate this whole batch in one day haha

Ingredients

4 egg whites at room temperature

1/8 tsp sea salt

1 cup sugar

2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Zest of 1 large lemon

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

2.Beat room temp egg whites and salt for 2 minutes until they are frothy. If your using a Kitchenaid ,use the whisk attachment. If not beat with an electric mixer

3.Add sugar in one tablespoon at a time while mixer is on med -high

4.Add lemon juice and vanilla extract

5.Turn up the mixer to high and beat for about 7 minutes until mixture holds stiff peaks.

6.Gently fold in lemon zest until combined.

7.Spoon meringue mixture into pastry bag with a large star tip and pipe meringues onto a parchment lined baking sheet.TIP: DO NOT FILL BAG TO THE TOP! The meringue is full of air and when you squeeze the piping bag the mixture will expand and spill out of the top, I learned this the hard way ....duh Brittany!

8. Bake for 2 hours at 200 .At the end of the 2 hours turn the oven off and let the cookies sit for about 15 min in the oven until the meringues are dried out and have reached the perfect crispy texture

You can find these recipes and other great blog posts on The Freedom Fridays Link Up

1.29.2014

Crafting with an insomniac

It is 5 am and i have yet to go to sleep , thank you chest pain and heart palpitations for reuniting me with my ~~good friend~~ insomnia! Instead of wowing you with a 5 am selfie starring my lions mane and golf ball sized eyes I figured I'd spare you all and share a tutorial for my fav DIY gift: personalized wreaths

What you'll need:

twig wreath

artificial flowers 3 large or 2 large and 2-4 small

wooden letter or word of your choice

acrylic paint

wire

burlap ribbon

glue gun

Step 1: Cut down flowers so that the stems are long enough to pierce through the wreath and leave about 1/2 inch sticking out

Step 2: Paint your letter or word with a color that pairs well with your flower choices. A neutral tan is a good choice because it goes well with most color schemes and keeps that rustic feel

Step 3: While your painted letter is drying start assembling your wreath with the flowers. Stick the stems through the twigs in an arrangement that is visually appealing. The stems of fake flowers will be secured by the twigs so there is no need for glue of anything for this step

Step 4: Glue small pieces of fabric (I use pieces of burlap ribbon) and wire together then glue to fabric wrapped wire to the back of your letter or word

Step 5: thread wires through the twigs of your wreath and twist in the back to secure your letter to the wreath

Step 6: create a bow if you'd like and thread wire through the back of the bow and twist into twigs just like you did with the letter

and there you have it , the perfect gift for any occasion and a quick project to beautify your front door:)What crafty projects have you been working on lately?

While your here check out the Beauty Bag Swap Kayla and I are hosting! Its a fun way to meet new bloggers and score some new polishes ! Help us make our first swap successful by sharing our button on your blog :)

1.27.2014

Take Over Tuesday : Linzi

I finally get the chance to share one of my favorites with you all! Her name is Linzi and she is the writer of Little Gem, a blog all about her two little ladies and all things girly! Go check her out , you won't be disappointed! Make-up tutorials -check ( I mean seriously..how perfect are her brows?) Recipes-check Sweetness- Check Realness-Check . Head over to her blog you will love it!

What's your name? Linzi Scarsella

Where are you from? I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Washington

What's your favorite quote? "When someone else's happiness is your happiness, that's love"- Lana Del Rey

What's your blog name? Little Gem

Why did you start blogging? I started blogging with the encouragement of family and friends. I had been reading blogs for about one year prior.

How'd you pick your blog name? I choose Little Gem because that is how I think of my girls. I wanted to include them in the name since a lot of my blogging was going to be about them.

What's your favorite part of blogging?My favorite part about blogging is being able to connect with other ladies. I have made some great friends through this process.

Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts? I find inspo in my everyday life, whether it be my girls and growing pains. Or cooking something yummy and wanting to share. I also love makeup, especially the affordable kind.

Do you have any special weekly posts?I don't have any special weekly posts but I try to do at least one recipe a week I think my friends would like to re-create!

Three fav blogs to read and why ? I love and follow quite a few blogs! The ones that I started reading in the beginning were Little Baby Garvin and The Honeybee.

Why do you read Fabulously Faint?I read Fabulously Faint because I love Britt! She is beautiful, cheerful, and creative! I love her recipes and her candidness about her POTS. When I found out she was a dancer with D.K. I was obsessed!

5 Random Facts about you:
1. I love cake and cupcakes, I cannot pass them up, ever!
2. I am in love with the Twilight series! I think Bella and Edward are so romantic.
3. I'm totally blind without contacts or glasses. I started wearing glasses in 3rd grade.
4. I've never met my dads side of the family from Cambodia.
5. I have my oldest daughters named tattooed on my arm, I still need to get my youngest name. I feel horrible about it too, she is 2 now!

Thank You for Joining us Linzi!!! Visit Little Gem to read Fabulously Faint's answers. Contact me to participate in a Take Over Tuesday!

1.24.2014

Foodie Friday : Texas Style Crockpot Chili , Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes

This Texas Style Chili is the perfect warm meal for those days when you have plans and know you won't get around to making dinner unless you start it early. I have made this a few times on my Infusion days because I can just throw it in the crock pot in the morning, open the crock-pot at 5 and BAM delicious dinner is served!Its very hearty since it has stew meat instead of ground beef.
Ingredients

2 lbs stew meat
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
1- 6 oz can tomato paste
2- 15oz can pinto beans drained
1-15 oz can chili beans drained
1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp paprika
1/2 Tbsp cumin
1/2 Tbsp oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup beef stock

Instructions

1.Combine all ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

2. Serve with sour cream and cheese

This California weather has been perfect for all the citrus trees. We have a ton of fresh oranges and lemons. It probably comes as no surprise that this means baking time for me :) Orange Dreamsicles are my absolute favorite summer ice cream treat so I figured I'd try to make the sweet treat into a cupcake. Check out last weeks Foodie Friday for Orange Creamsicle Cookies

Ingredients

Orange Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons orange juice
¾ cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk ( or 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tsp vinegar)

Orange Buttercream Frosting
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt until well blended. Set aside
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat eggs, orange zest, vanilla, and orange juice until blended. Beat in oil, then buttermilk, until blended.
On low speed, beat in flour mixture just until blended. fill muffin tins 3/4 of the way full
Bake 20 minutes until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:

1.Beat butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy
2. Add in powdered sugar gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) with the mixer on low speed, slowly increasing the speed until it's combined.
3.Add in vanilla extract, orange juice and zest, then beat on medium-high speed until thick and fluffy

( about 5 min)
4. mix orange food coloring with frosting and top with orange zest

1.23.2014

A little Thursday inspiration

Its been a rough ~~day~~ week to say the least.

I know I'm not the only one so here's a little inspiration on this Thursday morning

1.17.2014

Foodie Friday: Creamed Corn, Arroz Con Gandules,Orange Creamsicle Cookies

This weeks Foodie Friday is all about side dishes. Im a carb junkie and a side dish queen. If the sides are good enough chances are I will skip the main course.The first recipe on this weeks feature is for Creamed Corn...yum ! and to top off your excitement its a crock pot dish ---simple, comfort food!I know you are into it already,unless you are still on your "New Years Resolution" diet, if so sorry to entice you :( If not please join me in over indulging so I don't feel like I'm the only one haha

Creamed Corn

Ingredients:

3 cans whole kernel corn-drained
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dried parsley ( plus more for garnish)
8 ounces cream cheese cubed
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into thin slices

Instructions:

Place corn into a slow cooker with milk, sugar , pepper, and parsley . Stir to combine
Top the corn with butter and cream cheese but do not Stir
Cover and cook on high heat for 2-3 hours
Uncover and stir until butter and cream cheese are well combined
Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 15 minutes
Garnish with parsley

You've prob figured out by now that I LOVE mexican food, well not just mexican but any type of Latin food Spanish, Peruvian,Cuban, and especially Puerto Rican. I grew up with a very good friend who is Puerto Rican and I kinda weaseled my way into the family years ago and haven't left since. I mean who doesn't love big families and huge parties with tons of good food?!As I said before I am kinda obsessed with side dishes, especially carby ones.This is my absolute favorite Puerto Rican dish and luckily I am spoiled and Grandma makes it for me every time I visit! I have finally got it down and can make it for myself when I'm missing my Puerto Rican Fam so I thought I'd share it with you.You can get all the ingredients at your local Mexican market.

Arroz Con Gandules

Ingredients:

2 cups grain rice (rinsed)
4-5 cups beef broth
½ cup sofrito
16 ounce can of gandules
1 tablespoon capers

1 tablespoon green olives (sliced)
2 packets of Sazon with achiote
1 can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. In a largepot or deep pan add oil ,tomato sauce, sofrito, sazon, capers, and olives and cook on high heat for about 3-5 minutes2. Add rice, gandules, salt, pepper and enough beef broth to cover the rice about 1 inch over the rice line Bring to a boil and cook over high heat until most of the broth is absorbed ( about 10 min)3. Once the broth has been absorbed, stir gently from bottom to top - once or twice only( if you stir more it will get too mushy) .Some of the rice will be stuck to the bottom on the pan and will be a little crispy. Puerto Ricans call that Pegao its really flavorful so at this point scrape it off the bottom with your spoon and stir well
4. Turn heat to low ,cover, and cook for 30 minutes or until the rice is tender.

This weeks sweet treat ORANGE CREAMSICLE COOKIES was really good as is and didn't need any tweaking so here is the link to the original recipe on Six Sisters Stuff .Check them out they have some great recipes.

While you're here don't forget to check out the Beauty Bag Nail Polish Swap that Kayla from Boy oh Mamas Boys and I are hosting. Its going to be a fun swap and a great way to get to know some new bloggers! Help us spread the word by sharing our link

1.15.2014

Staying positive during tough times

So this crazy Pneumonia/Virus/Bronchitis deal is finally starting to clear up but this never ending fever is relentless. I gotta say I'm so done being sick, not my regular daily "sick" but this added virus shit is frustrating the hell outta this girl right here!No matter how sick and tired of being sick and tired I get , I try my very best to remain positive because I just think it makes life so much more fun and helps things go smoother.Having a chronic illness is difficult and there are times when I feel overwhelmed with discouragement and sadness.The reality is life doesn't always go our way and if I threw a cry-cry fit every time shit went bad I would be on the road to nowhere fast . I am by no means and expert on staying positive nor am I a psychologist or doctor but here are a few tips for staying positive during a difficult time.I really think that these apply to any one dealing with a hard situation, not just people dealing with illness.

1. Laugh Often: Ok this one may sound super cheesy but honestly it helps. No matter how hard you try to stay mad at someone it is ridiculously hard to do if they can make you laugh right? Right! My point exactly. Laugh everyday even if that means you need to you tube some Twerk Fail Videos like this one. See you just had your laugh of the day....Your Welcome

2. Surround yourself with positives:positive people, positive activities, things that make you feel like you have a purpose. Hanging out with Debbie Downers and people that don't encourage and support you does absolutely nothing for you. On the contrary , people that are willing to listen to you , learn about your illness, and still accept you and love you are people that you need to keep around. Participating in positive activities gives you a reason to get up and the motivation to keep fighting.

3. Replace losses with gains: A big struggle for me since getting sick is dealing with all of the losses that have come my way. If I didn't replace those losses with new things it would be a lot easier to dwell and a lot harder to stay positive. Crafting and cooking have always been things that I enjoy doing but I had little time to do them on a regular basis due to my busy work schedule. My job was a hard loss for me but I have replaced the time with crafting,cooking,blogging,and selling Scentsy. These enjoyable activities replace down time that I would otherwise have to sulk about all of the losses that I've dealt with this year.

Today is Hump Day and I'm linking up with some fabulous ladies thanks to Miss Jasmine!Visit her blog and check out the other ladies while you're there:)

1.14.2014

Take-Over Tuesday: Ady

Have you ever started reading a blog and realized that if you and the writer met you'd probably be instant friends?Well Ady is THAT blogger. Her blog title has the word Glitter in it, she loves hip-hop music, and her posts frequently feature sarcasm...win win win. Check her out !

What's your name? Ady

Where are you from? Atlanta, Ga

What's your favorite quote? Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead and leave a trail.

What's your blog name?

When In Doubt Just Add Glitter ... but I'm in the middle of a blog redesign! :)

Why did you start blogging? My friend Chelsea was a blogger and ended up creating me a blog to show me how awesome it was. I never thought I'd like blogging but I'm still going at it and I've really enjoyed it! Thanks Chelster for creating my bloggy blog!

How'd you pick your blog name? Let's just say I'm a fan of Glitter!

What's your favorite part of blogging? I love meeting and connecting with new people and having "blog friends". I also love keeping track of and sharing my life and getting it all out. It's a central place I can go for ME and I love that!

Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts? Everyday life.... things that I think would inspire or help others in some way.

Do you have any special weekly posts? I used to do a Throwback Thursday post weekly but that kind of died down. I'd love to start a "bitch it out" linkup once a month like Cosmo does if anyone is interested in joining in on that one msg me!

Three fav blogs to read and why ? There are so many! I have 14 favorites I keep handy on my sidebar... girls that'd I'd be friends with in real life. You can find them on my sidebar! I like genuine honest funny blogs where I'm either learning something and/or taking something away from it. People that are "different". That's why I love them! I also only really love reading blogs where the blogger communicates with me and I really feel like we're "blog friends".

Why do you read fabulously faint? Well I just started so I'm excited to get to know Brittany! I already can't wait to read some of those recipes!

5 Random Facts about you:
1. Im a Taurus
2.I have the cutest puppy in the whole wide world
3.My real name isn't Ady it's Ashley Ann...long story
4.I love reading fashion blogs and shoes but a 3" heel is my max...so anyone out there knows of some good low heeled shoes holla atcha girl
5.ROLL TIDE

For FabulouslyFaint's answers visit Ady's Blog and start following her while your at it !

1.08.2014

Destruction vs. Defeat

Here I am again stuck in bed with yet another infection and another POTS flare up.I know that I have a chronic illness that will never go away and logically I know that I am prone to illness and infection but I still think about the possibility that some day my body will no longer be this vulnerable. I started getting a little cough and chest cold on Friday and by Monday it had turned into Pneumonia . I just can't help but think when will this ever end ? Days like this I feel absolutely defeated . Like no matter what I do things will never get better. Whenever I feel like giving up I read through the journal that I started while I was in the Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab Center recovering from my stroke. Re-reading it always provides me with the strength to keep going and reminds me of just how far I've come. I have realized that my fragile body and delicate immune system may face destruction on a regular basis but it has not been defeated. Destruction is a physical act but defeat can not happen unless you allow it to. As long as you continue to fight you can never be defeated. I'm going to try my very best to look at future challenges in this way. Thank ya'll for allowing me to share my story and for continuing to read :)

1.07.2014

Take-Over Tuesday: Shadia

Its Tuesday and you know what that means! Time for a Take-over with Shadia from Baby Button Brown. I love DIY ideas and seeing the way other people craft and decorate their homes. Shadia's Christmas projects caught my eye and I've been reading ever since. Not to mention her photos of her little man are always too cute to handle! Head over to her blog and check her out!

What's your name? Shadia

Where are you from? Texas! Where we hardly ever get snow so send some over if you have it! :)

A quote that you love or that describes you: “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” - Dr Wayne Dyer

What's your blog name? Baby Button Brown

Why did you start blogging? When I became a mother in 2013, I was dying to find a way to be able to document my experience as a mom and wife. I had created an account a long time ago because I love writing but never got around to it until then!

How'd you pick your blog name? We call our son Button (read story here), and decided this blog was mostly about him and to document his little life so why not name it after him but the blog is about that and more!

What's your favorite part of blogging? It's sort of a release for all my thoughts and feelings and being able to put it into words feels good! Aside from the fact that one day my son can look back and read it. I also love all the people I have met through blogging, I love reading their stories.

Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts? My son, being a wife, a working mama, my love for cooking, everything!

Do you have any special weekly posts and/or favorites? I love writing but sometimes it's a little hard with work and a baby but I try to do a love list and monthly baby update.

What are your three favorite blogs to read and why?

Little Baby Garvin- Jessica is seriously the most creative, coolest mama ever! I get a lot of inspiration for everything from her.

Wifessionals- Kaitlyn always has the best advice! Her posts are always so deep and thoughtful. I love this blog.

First Comes Love- Jen is such a cool mom and her photography is beautiful!! I love reading about her beautiful daughter, her DIY's among other awesome things she writes about.

Why do you read Fabulously Faint? Brittany is such an inspiration. Besides, being an Oncology nurse is so cool! Her recipes are mouth watering and I just love her outlook on life. I'm so glad I met her!!

5 random facts about you that you think readers would enjoy hearing:

1. I am a graphic designer but I work in a company where I help people with disabilities. Total 180 in careers but I love it.

2. I really, really, really wanted to be a fashion or interior designer. I still hope to be that one day.

3. I used to be a party animal, if you saw me now, you would never think that haha.

4. Being a mother made me an entirely new person. All my friends and people around me always talked about this and I never knew the feeling until I had Elliot. It's the most rewarding experience of my life!

5. I love Target. It's more of an obsession. They have the best stuff for every part of the house as well as cute clothes for baby and me! I love, love, love that store. Terrible. ;)

Thank you Brittany for letting me participate! Don't forget to follow be on Bloglovin' and Instagram! (@shadiabrown).

To see Fabulously Faint's answers visit Shadia's Blog . If you are interested in participating in a Takeover Tuesday and/or meeting the previous Take-Over Tuesday participants click here !

1.03.2014

Foodie Friday: Rainbow Cupcakes , Dark Chocolate Merlot Cupcakes

My Christmas present this year was my gorgeous boysenberry colored Kitchenaid Mixer which means lots and lots of upcoming baking .I've never been the New Years resolution type and especially not the "eat healthier in the new year" type . I'm a dessert junkie and that's just the way it is ;)

Needless to say,this Foodie Friday includes two delicious cupcake recipes that I whipped up for New Years Eve with the help of my trusty Sous Chef.She helped me bake up a batch of Rainbow cupcakes for the kids to eat and I mixed up some special cupcakes for the adults. The "grown up cupcakes " were dark chocolate & Merlot ..... It's ok to drool, they were as good as they sound!

The base for the rainbow cupcakes is a basic vanilla cupcake.Once the batter is made up distribute evenly into 6 bowls . I have ramekins that are the perfect size so that's what I used. Add food coloring to each bowl of batter to make one bowl of each color of the rainbow: red,orange,yellow,green,blue,purple. Use cupcake liners in your cupcake pan and spoon small amounts of each colored batter into each cupcake liner. We started backwards (purple first and red last) so that when they baked up they would follow the colors of the rainbow. If you want even layers of each color I suggest using a piping bag to ensure uniformity. We went with the easy way and when we didn't get them perfect they turned into "tie-dye" cupcakes :) Here is the Vanilla cake recipe that we used.

Dark Chocolate Merlot Cupcakes

Ingredients:

cupcakes

1 1/8 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup milk (2% or higher)
3 tablespoons merlot
8 ounces of high-quality dark chocolate chips

frosting

1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

7 tablespoons merlot

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

melted chocolate for drizzle

chocolate sprinkles for topping

Instructions:

cupcakes
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, powder and salt. Set aside. Line a cupcake tin with liners.
3.In a bowl, whisk egg, oil and sugar until together until smooth and no lumps remain.
4. Add melted butter, merlot and vanilla and mix until combined.
5. Add half of the dry ingredients, stirring to combine.
6. Add the milk then the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until batter until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.
7.Fill cupcake tins 3/4 of the way full and bake for 15-18 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

frosting
1.Beat butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy
2. Add in powdered sugar gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) with the mixer on low speed, slowly increasing the speed until it's combined.
3.Add in vanilla extract and merlot, then beat on medium-high speed until thick and fluffy ( about 5 min)
4. Frost cupcakes and finish with chocolate sprinkles.

The flavor of the Merlot is delicious but not too strong so you could indulge in a glass of Merlot while enjoying your cupcakes ;)

Thank you for checking out this week's Foodie Friday post. If you try any of these recipes be sure to leave me a comment and let me know how you like it:)

Pages

1.31.2014

The Rules:

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Lemon Meringue Cookies

1.29.2014

What you'll need:

1.27.2014

1.24.2014

Instructions

cupcakes:

Frosting:

1.23.2014

1.17.2014

Creamed Corn

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Arroz Con Gandules

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1.15.2014

1.14.2014

1.08.2014

1.07.2014

1.03.2014

Ingredients:

cupcakes