You know you want to try these

Several months ago we joked with one of my co-workers that we were going to find him a cake with bacon for his birthday. A couple of months after that his birthday rolled around and we were on the hunt for something including bacon to bring in for him. We found a bakery near our office that made a bacon maple cupcake. They were expensive but we thought we'd get a couple just for kicks. One of my other co-workers made the brilliant suggestion that we should just make bacon maple cupcakes instead of buying them. I'm not one to shy away from a baking challenge so when she found a recipe for the cupcakes online I promptly volunteered to make them.
The process began with cooking up about a pound of bacon so that I could save the drippings and then chop up the bacon. Both would go into the cupcakes.
This is how the cupcakes begin. Two sticks of butter and two tablespoons of hardened bacon drippings. This is going to be good!

Once the butter and bacon drippings are whipped together, you add other standard cupcake batter ingredients and some good quality maple syrup. The more I think about it, if you take out the bacon drippings, this batter would be a really good basic cupcake. Once the ingredients are all mixed together you add in all the bacon bits and stir together.

Once you bake the cupcakes you end up with these.

Hands down the best part of these was the frosting! Butter, powdered sugar and good quality maple syrup. Amazing! I'll be keeping the frosting recipe around for a long time. Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with a little sea salt and raw sugar.
Aren't they beautiful?

These were a huge hit at the office. I was almost afraid to even taste them but they were surprisingly good. The cake wasn't overly sweet (almost like a cornbread) and the bacon added a nice touch of savory. These were pretty dense and only a few people were able to eat an entire cupcake in one sitting. I made these back in July and people are still talking about them. They were declared to be the best birthday present my co-worker had ever gotten. They made people do little dances of joy. They made jaws drop in disbelief.

Oh Julia

I got to see Julie and Julia last night. It was cute, but I'm glad that I saw it for free. It's a good renter. Make a nice meal, have some friends over and then watch. Entertaining, but not the best movie ever. However, it is an undisputed fact that Meryl Streep is AMAZING! I want to be her.
I'm sure I won't be the only one who feels this way, but I was actually almost inspired to pick a cookbook and cook my way through it after last night. I don't have the follow-thru to actually do it, but the thought did cross my mind. I'll just have to settle for having my friends over occasionally and trying out a new dish or two.

On another note, I'm off to treat myself to a mani/pedi and then this evening I will be making mini cupcakes for a benefit tomorrow night for a friend who just had brain surgery. Perhaps I will also blog about all those other things I keep saying I'll blog about.

In the meantime, check out www.helpfebepainfree.com

P.S.

Earlier this week our offices moved to a new floor in our building. So, instead of sitting by the guy I never talk to (story to come later about running into him at a street fair last weekend) I have to sit right in front of my boss (who will be out for the next month because his wife had a baby yesterday, Westley Beckett, so cute!). The point of this little story is that in the little office right by me sits an older gentleman who talks to loud and still uses a TYPE WRITER!!! What? I didn't know they were even still around. I heard it for the first time yesterday and I just about died of laughter.

Stay Tuned

My internet is being installed at my apartment tomorrow. So, if all goes well, I'll be able to update you all on my new place, the making of bacon cupcakes and all other boring details of my life over the past couple of months. I know that you have been dying to read all about it!

FINALLY!!

I have moved into my very own apartment! My stuff is out of storage and slowly being put in it's place. I'm no longer in limbo about where I might or might not be living. It feels good! As soon as I get internet set up at my place and get things cleaned up a bit, I'll take you all on a little tour.

So Sorry

My apologies to the few of you who stop by here every once in awhile to stalk me. I've been rather absent. Truth be told, I'm exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. I've thought about posting something a few times. I just haven't had the energy.
I'll be back, but for now I'm laying low.

Another recap of my exciting life

When I was asked by a friend this morning what was going on in my life, I realized that I have been very bad about keeping my fans up to date with what is happening in my life. And, so, to make your lives a little bit richer this morning, here is a recap of the last two weeks of my life.

• As previously stated, we finally found approved subletters for our apartment. That search only took an eternity! It also left us just over one week to vacate our apartment and figure out where to live.
• I found a new place to live that I love but can't move in until July 1.
• I loaded all my junk into a storage room (with the help of some fabulous friends who will be the first guests to dinner in my new place) and I am living at the White House for the month of June (have I mentioned that I have amazing friends?)
• Friday and Saturday of this last weekend I was in Hyde Park working at our huge Alumni Weekend event. I met some very lovely people (and some very cranky people who need to find a better hobby than complaining).
• I enjoyed a lot of laughs with co-workers. When we are all beyond tired, everything is funny.
• Sunday I went to the aquarium with every child in the Greater Chicago area. Thanks to an old friend from my short-lived grad school days, we had free tickets to see everything. Most importantly, the birthday girl had a great time!
• I did not bring my camera to any of these events. Whoops!
• I had to say farewell to some dear friends who have moved their little family to PA. Great opportunities for them, saddness for us.
• I now have a reason to visit PA! Roadtrip time!
• My coffee and Diet Coke habit has gotten completely out of control.
• I'm sure that I am forgetting something but my brain hasn't turned on yet so I don't know what it is.

Tonight I am trying out a new recipe for my lovely hosts this month. Perhaps I'll take some pictures of it and post the results tomorrow. Perhaps not. Happy Monday!