walking in a winter wonderland.

Greetings from New Jersey, dahlings!

I figured I would bore you lovely non-pareils with with random snaps taken over the course of a day; of yes, a single day. I had originally intended on taking a picture of the eighteen inches of snow we got over this past weekend as cold  – no pun intended – evidence of our first snow-storm-borderline-blizzard since 2003 that put all other measly two inch snow falls deeply to shame. And yes, if you must know, I did do a little dance of excitement upon the first “I spy a snowflake!!” cry, and I unabashedly admit to prancing around in the snow the next morning like a wee baby experiencing her first snow. Until my cheeks and nose were an unhealthy shade of red and dearest mother dragged me to defrost in the comfort of my toasty house.

But I digress; I meant to take picture of the height of the snow, but was rather distracted by this sight. The last icicles I spotted were years ago, but now a tree bush-ful of them? Quite breathtaking. If only there were bits of glitter scattered throughout – then it would have been a tree-bush worthy to become a part of the Snow Queen‘s icy castle or of Narnia at the lamppost deep within the wardrobe. Or, even, backdrop for the Sugarplum fairy’s dance. Now, if I were in my younger years and unaware of the environmental concerns, I would physically sprinkle the bush-tree with silver glitter. I’m quite tempted.

Onto my far more interesting baking extravaganza.

{pastel colored cupcake liners; completely inappropriate for Christmas, I’m well aware}

{the finished product on their tray/carrier; decorated with a sprinkling of more crushed peppermint and peppermint candies}

{cupcake decorations from batch no. 1}

{cupcake decorations from batch no. 2}

Batch no. 1 consisted of dark chocolate fudge cupcakes, iced with vanilla (store-bought, I admit) frosting, and sprinkled with a dusting of finely ground peppermint candies and a few more coarsely hammered pieces of leftover candies for decoration. I find that anything involving hammering/grinding of sorts is quite amusing. Batch no. 2 consisted of yellow butter cake cupcakes with the same store-bought vanilla frosting, but this time decorated with find peppermint candy dust (ooh, like fairy dust!) and whole peppermints for added festivity.

I do love the unexpected tingle of minty flavor – strong but not overbearing – with a cupcake; it makes the cupcake much more Christmas-appropriate! Not to mention, the sprinkling of color is a lovely but sophisticated touch. I must also add that finely ground/hammered peppermint candies produces this glittering dust that has the reflective quality of sanding sugars, but finer in texture. And I’ll be pleased to add that my cupcakes did sell out almost immediately!

♥

bisous,

La C.