Res Ipsa Loquitur Muffins

Because I'm studying for torts and don't want to talk about it. "It" being my compulsion to bake. These muffins will have to mostly speak for themselves as I should really be doing other things.
From this recipe for apple muffins, but with more cinnamon and a granny smith apple.


Hoping these get me through my contracts take-home that I'm taking tomorrow. I was supposed to take it today but given the crazy blizzard, we were allowed to take it tomorrow if we wanted.

Coconut Cupcakes

I made these beauties a month or two ago for one of the bake sales that one of the organizations I'm a part of had. International Law Society, maybe? I can't recall...

Anyway, the recipe is from Simply Recipes but made by Vanilla Garlic. Got it? Vanilla Garlic has a rather extensive cupcakes phase a while ago and has some really interesting and off-beat recipes. Check it out if you enjoy the cupcake medium as I do!

These cupcakes turned out very pretty and I loved the cake. I think I have a stronger sweet tooth than the recipe-writer, so if I made them again, I think I'd go with a different and sweeter cream cheese frosting. All in all, delicious.

Sugar Cookies!

I'd never made real sugar cookies before, and these were my first attempt. Not the prettiest, but delicious!

Mint Cupcakes

I made these delectable cupcakes for the Phi Alpha Delta bake sale to benefit a family the fraternity is sponsoring for the holidays. I made extra to take to my last day of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research. Lots of cupcakes...

The cupcake base is an aaammaaazzzinngg devils food recipe from Our Best Bites. It's easily my favorite food blog right now.

The frosting is also from them. Be warned...it's probably the most temperamental thing I've ever made. I've gotten three batches out of six tries, and my learning curve is not really improving. Be sure you've got extra supplies as you'll probably mess up the first time around. I swear, it is worth the pain and suffering. I added mint extract and green gel color to get a nice green minty look and taste.

I piped the frosting on the cupcakes with my Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator. I swear, I'm not being paid by Pampered Chef and actually, the only two PC things I own are this and my fluted stone pan. But seriously, I love this decorator. I've used it 5 times and I've had it for less than 2 weeks.

I topped the cupcakes off with Andes mints chopped in half. Adorable and delicious!

Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Citrus Glaze

Admittedly, this is a giant version on the below recipe. I made it for Thanksgiving and I've made it a couple of times for various parties and in cupcake form. It always turns out well! Even M can make it!

Cake:
Yellow Cake Mix
Half of a large can of pumpkin pie filling (plain pumpkin works too) - I think this is 14oz
3 Eggs
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

Glaze
1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 Cup Orange Juice (It's best if it doesn't have pulp)

1. Mix everything together. Coat your cake pan with non-stick cooking spray - I like Pam for Baking. Pour cake mix in and bake for the recommended time at 350 degrees.
2. Let cool.
3. Add orange juice to powdered sugar a bit at a time until you reach a consistency of glaze you like. Pour glaze over the top of cake.

I like to make this in my stoneware Pampered Chef fluted pan. Don't judge me - it loves me back AND I bought it at a garage sale.

Love It

Pumpkin Donuts

Fall made me pumpkin crazy. I made far too many pumpkin recipes. One of the best, however, were these pumpkin donuts with citrus glaze.

I adapted the recipe from the Neely's Maple Glazed Donuts.

To make these beauties, you'll need:

3 and 3/4 Cups of All-purpose flour
1 and 1/4 Cups of granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder (Make sure it's fresh!)
1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon of Nutmeg
1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon of Clove
(You can substitute Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Clove with Pumpkin Pie Spice - 1.5 Teaspoons!)
1 Teaspoon of Salt
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup of Buttermilk (You can also substitute milk and vinegar or lemon juice - look here for how!)
3/4 Cup of Canned Pumpkin
3 Tablespoons of Melted Butter
1/2 Teaspoon of Almond Extract
1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
Oil for Frying

1. Start oil heating over medium heat - you're aiming of 375 degrees
2. Mix together dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another. Mix wet and dry together until fully combined.
3. Turn dough out onto floured service and roll out to 1/2" thick. Cut out donuts with a round cookie cutter or the bottom of a glass. Cut out the center with a small cookie cutter or a soda bottles cleaned lid. Works wonderfully! Be sure to cut the center out as it helps for even frying.
4. Fry the donuts and let them dry on a wrack on a cookie sheet with paper towel underneath to absorb the oil.

Orange Glaze
1 Cup of Powdered Sugar
1-3 Tablespoons of Orange Juice (pulp free is best)

1. Stir sugar and orange juice together adding more orange juice until is a smooth consistency.
2. Pour glaze into a bowl and dip tops of the donuts one at a time and then let the glaze dry over the tops.

Enjoy while watching a new episode of 30 Rock with your favorite law school classmates and their significant others.

Introduction

I go to law school. I bake things. Sometimes I bake things for law school.