Week 4 (Grapefruit Cupcake Recipe)

Highlights from our week:

• It was my momma's birthday this past week.  Happy Birthday Binks!
• We had a fun game night with another Seminary couple.  I won a game that I had never played before.  I'm pretty competitive and I like winning.  We ate a grapefruit cake with them.
• The eating of aforementioned cake sent my lovely husband on a mission.  Within 24 hours of eating the grapefruit cake, we were making grapefruit cupcakes with a grapefruit infused cream cheese frosting and garnished with fresh raspberries.  Yes, I have watched Cupcake Wars one too many times. Scroll down for the recipe.
• Ian finished his J-term class!  Wootwoot!  He did really well in the class!  Second semester starts Monday.  
• We (unexpectedly) got to see a friend from IL this weekend!  Thanks for hanging out with us Ben!  
• I am throwing around the idea of running a half marathon in mid-May.  I would need to start training in the near future (The half is 16 weeks from today).  There is also a 10 miler.  It seems like a unique race, so maybe I will do it as part of half marathon training for a different half.  

What I've been making:

Jonah 2:8 - now hanging in our pantry

What I've been running: Hills, hills, and more hills. 
What I've been listening to: Mars Hills' Esther series
What I've been enjoying: the longer sunlight hours.  It was 5:30pm the other night and it was not completely dark out!  Wootwoot!
What I've been smelling: sweet-scented candles (and grapefruit cupcakes) and it is in plan to make some pumpkin cinnamon woes this afternoon.
What I've been humming:

 

Are you still with me?  Here is the recipe. Knock yourself out.

Grapefruit Cupcakes (makes 30ish cupcakes)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1-3/4 cups sugar (I used 1.5 cups and they were still delicious)
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups cake flour (we used regular flour and it turned out just fine)
• 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon grated grapefruit peel
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

FROSTING:

• 4 ounces butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 (scant) cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 (scant) tablespoon grated grapefruit peel
• Optional: a splash of vanilla extract
• 30-60 fresh red raspberries

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Line your cupcake tins or grease them whichever floats your boat.  

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in peel and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with grapefruit juice. Beat just until combined. Stir in milk. 

Fill prepared muffin cups so they are about 1/2 full. Bake, rotating pans once, until cupcakes are just golden brown and spring back to the touch.  This took about 14 minutes, but we live 5,387 feet above sea level.  Basically when a toothpick goes in and comes out clean, you are good to go.  Repeat with any remaining batter. Let cool completely.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until smooth and creamy. Beat in the grapefruit juice and peel.  If you want to add vanilla extract, beat that in too.  Frost your cupcakes.  Top with a raspberry or two.  Enjoy!

Sources: Cake - Taste of Home   Frosting - Food Network

Week 3 (and one of the best quotes I have heard in awhile)

Hi!  I am still finding my rhythm with my New's Years Resolution of blogging once a week.  Exciting moments from our third week of 2013.

• I bought honey wheat bread (for the Chicken Salad Sandwiches) from Panera.  So good!  I don't know if I will ever be able to go back grocery store bread.  If you buy it and they give the option of slicing it thick or thin.  Pick thick!
• The Wee One that I nanny for (she will be 3 in March) comes up with some great quotes sometimes.  For example, this week, while strolling through Target in her purple princess puffy fufu dress (and light up Disney Princess snow boots), she had a fantastic quote.  We were walking past the CD sampler section (you know the aisle that plays the music).  There was some classical/elevator music playing.  She said, "Dat sounds like Cheesuz!"  (That sounds like Jesus).  I asked her what Jesus sounds like.  She told me, "Pweety"  (pretty).  Then launched into her own unique rendition of  "Cheesuz Lobes Me" mixed with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Wittle Star".   Pre-cious!
• We saw a hawk this week.  
•  I made Alfredo Sauce for the first time in my life this week (recipe).  It is not hard at all!  I will say that the first time the sauce was GREAT, but once we refrigerated it, we had a hard time reheating it without it separating.  My next idea is to ask My Amazing Husband to make homemade pizza and see how chicken alfredo pizza turns out.  Basically the story of my life is, "mmmm this taste great!  Can I make it into a pizza somehow?"  I just googled it - Chicken alfredo pizza DOES exist.  
• I am tired of moving.  I can not wait to be done.  I keep thinking we are almost done, and then I realize we have 20394820385 more carloads of stuff.  I feel like we have been moving since last June.
• We attended a seminar this weekend at church.  It was very informative!  I did not realize that there are places in America less than 1% Christian populations - mind-blowing!
• Ian only has 4 more days of Old Testament J-term to go!  Wootwoot!

This was sitting super-close to our new apartment - crazy!

What I've been making: Chicken + Alfredo Sauce + Pasta, Meatballs, Chicken + Feta + Pecan + Craisins + Spinach, Chicken Salad Sandwich (We used my friend's Sara's recipe, but toasted a piece of bread, put on some Chicken Salad, topped it with a slice of cheese and broiled it.), Lasagna
What I've been reading: Esther and Ephesians 
What I've been wearing: T-shirst - who wears t-shirts in January!?!?!
What I've been enjoying: getting to know more people in church family
What I've been buying: we bought a microwave cart for the new apartment this week - best.choice.ever.  It makes us feel like we have a lot more counter space.

Week 2

Some highlights from the last week:

My mom gave us this amaryllis at Thanksgiving time...It actually bloomed.

• Playing tennis with my sister-in-law.  Oh my goodness gracious!  We laughed so much.   I think the "workout" was running after the ball more than actually playing.  There is a reason that I am a runner and not a tennis player. 
• We tried a new recipe this week {30-minute Buffalo Chicken French Bread} and it was great! It has been added to our rotation of meals.  Mom, if you try this, it might be a bit spicy for your tastes.
• I got to Skype with some dear friends from college!  It was so much fun to talk to all of them and catch up.
• Ian survived his first week of Old Testament.  Only 2 more weeks to go!
• I fixed our printer.  Don't ask me how.  Sidenote: if you are ever on the phone with a person in the Philippines and she says, "I as in Idaho, C as in Cedar...", she does not mean C, she is actually saying P as in Peter.
• I finally decided what my word will be for 2013.  Emmanuel :: God with US.

What I've been making: Nutella French Toast (Ian made it), Thai Chicken Pasta (actually Ian made this too), I did make the 30 minute buffalo chicken french bread mentioned above :), Grilled {Pepper-jack} Cheese and Tomato Soup, and BBQ Chicken in the crockpot
What I've been reading: I finished High Call, High Privilege  (by Gail MacDonald) this week.
What I've been wearing: Comfy jeans, hoodies, and wool socks
What I've been enjoying: It has been COLD here the last few days - perfect weather for snuggling up with blankets on the couch.  (I have not been enjoying the cold and snow while running, but once I have had a hot shower, I'm back to loving winter.)

Week 1

Okie-dokie, I made a New Year's Resolution to blog once a week (and to run my fastest half-marathon in 2013...get it? fastest 13 miler in 2013)

So here is a recap of our week (or at least what I can remember):

• We had family in town at the beginning of the week!  Yay!  We took them out to Korean - yum-o!  It was so fun to play Apples to Apples with these guys!
• I stayed up until about 9:17pm on New Year's Eve.  Yes, I am 79 years old on the inside.
• I am finishing up my 2 weeks off from running.  Goodness - I can't wait to jump on that treadmill tomorrow morning.
• Ian starts an intense 3 week Old Testament class tomorrow, so I tried to soak up all the "my husband is not studying" time I could this week!  
• I was introduced to the following youtube video this week.  I cried because I was laughing so hard.

What I'm making: BBQ Chicken, Omelets, Sloppy Joes, Chili, French Toast
What I'm buying: plane tickets to see some friends when they come to visit America in February
What I'm reading: Orthodoxy from G.K. Chesterton
What I'm watching:Biggest Loser is starting this week!