365-96 Diva-licious cupcakes

A couple of weeks ago I saw a notice for a cupcake class at a fancy kitchen store. It was just for the afternoon and cost more than what i would normally pay but the cupcakes sounded divine! Boston Cream, Banana with caramel frosting and one-bowl chocolate (yum!) cupcakes. And i thought maybe the price would include a cool gadget or something.
So i signed up. There were about 6 people there and we each got to particpate in making the cupcakes - either by stirring the batter, adding flour, eggs, etc. Then while they baked we were invited to shop with our special 10% discount.
Afterwards when the cupcakes were ready we got to frost and put together. The Boston Cream cupcakes were easy. Just slice the cupcake in half. Add whip cream to the center and cover with the top half that is dipped in chocolate ganache/frosting just prior to topping. The Caramel frosting for the Banana cupcakes started to separate (the butter from the sugar/caramel) because it was a little warm. Per our teacher it should remain very cold up until time to use/eat. They were all quite yummy and we got to bring home copies of the recipes and instructions. With the money i paid for the class i could have bought 2 cookbooks and a couple of cool kitchen gadgets but would i have gone and made the cupcakes and had the fun i had on my own? no -- so it was all good. And we did get to bring a few of the cupcakes home also.

365-95 stormy weather

Friday afternoon we had some needed rain and some awesome looking clouds.

365-94 Autumn color

For most parts of Texas this is about as good as it gets for fall color - i'll take it

365-93 Purple!

365-92 Flower bunch in black & white

And wedding bells will ring……

This past weekend, my oldest daughter’s boyfriend came to our house with his mother and his uncle (standing in for his deceased father) to ask for her hand in marriage. Wait – are we back in the 1800s? No but the pedida de mano or asking of the brides’ hand is still an honored tradition in many Mexican households. Probably more so in the cities vs. rural areas and not so much as before but I appreciate that both my daughter and her boyfriend respect and honor this tradition.

Back when my husband asked my parents for my hand in marriage, he came all by himself as he had no family here in the states. My dad busted out the tequila to toast to our happiness and my mom ran to her bedroom crying. I was the oldest and first to leave the nest.

When my dad went to my grandpa’s house to ask for my mom’s hand in marriage he took the local priest as his dad was no longer living. Grandpa ran them off with a shotgun.

So I think we have progressed quite nicely to a more civilized and happier version of it this time around. We cleaned all day and my daughter and husband cooked a wonderful dinner of fish, rice, roasted potatoes, mushrooms and salad. Her future mother-in-law brought dessert – homemade cherry cheesecake.

We talked and got to know each more and marveled at what a small world it is. Turns out the BF’s uncle and I had an English class together in high school. And we’ve known his family since he was 10 – who would have thought these two would have met many years later to become boyfriend and girlfriend and now by this time next year – husband and wife.

We were all so into the conversation that night we forgot to take pictures! His official proposal to her (along with a ring) will come at a special event he is planning – pictures of the ring to come then!

365-91 Daisy Way