Beachy Birthday Cupcakes

For some reason, I just can't fall asleep tonight. So I guess I'm making up for all the non-blogging of last week. At least it will be short and super sweet. Wanted to share these beach cupcakes I made for my boss on her birthday. I organized a potluck and since every year she goes to the beach for her birthday, I decided there had to be a theme. I also made some pasta with cream pesto sauce. It made for a happy Tuesday in the office for sure. 

 

A close up. The "sand" is edible - it's graham cracker. 

My cupcake carrier is really more for storage and not travel.

I made a sharp turn on the road, they tumbled and I freaked out. 

Also, the intense June heat got to the frosting and as you can see made it kind of drippy. 

I've always loved making/decorating cupcakes, but I think I'm ready to step it up. I'm making some for our organizations open house. I want to incorporate a sun somehow since it resembles our logo. I'll have to make some practice batches this week. 

Colorful Cooking

Today was our staff appreciation day at work. We all met up at our director's house in Madera. In the haze of some long ago staff meeting I had agreed to bring a salad, a side dish, and dessert. Apparently I was feeling very ambitious that day, but more likely I was hungry and ready for lunch. I can make a few things well: scrambled eggs, pancakes, pupusas, sandwiches, spaghetti, etc., etc. You get the point. I can make things that are quick and easy. I put out a call on twitter and Facebook for recipes. Surprisingly (or not), most suggested going with pre-made stuff from the store. Considering I was coming to the end of a frazzled finals week where I'd been averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, that would have been the way to go. 

Anyway, this is what I came up with. Using materials already in the kitchen I got some pretty delicious (and colorful!) dishes to share. 

Fruit Salad

kiwi, Fuji apple, blackberries, strawberries, nectarine, and mango 

Shrimp and Veggies

Sautéed shrimp, zucchini, tomato, and onion. 

(used pomegranate vinegar wine and olive oil to cook) 

Cupcakes

Devil's food cupcakes decorated in our office colors.