Cupcakes anyone?

I know I've said it before, but I must say it again.

Lilly Jane's cupcakes ROCK.

I took a few friends in there on Saturday during a scrapbook retreat. To try the Hannahbelle. I met Hannah that day. I'd seen her before (several times) but didn't know what her name was. In fact there was only one girl there I HADN'T seen before... Anyway...

You have just a few days left. Hannahbelle is the flavor of the month for May. In simpler terms, it is a raspberry pink champagne cupcake with a raspberry cream cheese frosting. YUM!

So, their website has all the details: http://www.lillyjanescupcakes.com/

But in their store is where the truth is: It said, "you can almost taste the bubbles"

Now, I have never had champagne. I have had wine, and occasionally I still cook with it. But never had champagne. But I have to say that this cupcake is to DIE for. Seriously.

I have always been a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting kind of gal. Especially when LJ's came out with their "hot chocolate"frosting. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. It's actually a whipped Italian butter cream made with a simple syrup base, as opposed to the heavy butter cream that adorns a lot of their creations. So, you know how every once in a while you will get that PERFECT cup of cocoa that has the whipped cream that's kind of melted into it and cooled it down a little while making it even creamier tasting? Well, imagine that in a frosting form on top of a moist, delicious, chocolate cupcake. Good, huh?

I am not typically a fruit on cake person. Don't like fruit in ice cream or shakes either. I love fruit, so don't get me wrong, here. I just don't usually like it on cake, or in cake. Or ice cream. But anyway, I went into LJ's because I was on my way to pick up a card swap from a friend who was in Eagle. And pick up a stereo from her for another friend who was moving. So, I decided since I was going to be driving right by, it would be the perfect time to stop. I went in and bought two cupcakes. I was planning on buying one, but when I saw these Hannahbelles, I was VERY intrigued. Mostly I was intrigued by the description about you being almost able to taste the bubbles. And I thought, "you know, I love raspberries, and my understanding about champagne is that it's not too sweet, and I definitely love it in the Teuscher truffles my dh brings me when he is near a shop, so... I am going to try these!"

So, I bought one. Now, I also bought a caramel apple cupcake, which I've had before and is also one of my favorites... It has also been voted one of America's best cupcakes by AOL. So, I started with the Hannahbelle, because I was worried I may not like it, and wanted to have the yummy caramel apple to fall back on.

Silly SILLY W! I practically shrieked with delight over this delicious (and STILL WARM) cupcake. I am pretty sure that I'm going to hell for the lusty thoughts I've had over this perfectly portioned piece of heaven. The funniest piece of irony here is that I actually was disappointed to have to have the caramel apple cupcake after this. Because THAT was the one I'd bought to console myself had there been disappointment over the Hannahbelle. So, the following week when I had to go in to Eagle (ok, I didn't HAVE to go, but I wanted to) I stopped again. And I bought 6 of the Hannahbelles. I ate 3 of them. I had to give the rest to my friend Frank to save me from myself or I'd have eaten the whole half dozen. I was planning on giving her one anyway.

I WAS! Anyway, GO! GO TO LILLY JANE'S. You can special order them, but otherwise, they will be gone after the 31st of May. Who knows when they will be back??? GO TRY ONE! TODAY!

And, enjoy it. But please, enjoy it responsibly. Don't eat it while driving in your vehicle. You may eat while riding in someone else's vehicle, but until you know how you will respond to the Hannahbelle, it is recommended that you use caution when driving or operating heavy machinery.

My life as a cake whore...

OK, so I must say that I LOVE cake. And not only do I love cake, I have found a place close to my house that serves it in individual size portions. OK, so it's not that close to my house, but whatever. I am speaking of course, of the cupcake. Cupcakes are delicious, moist and portion controlled. Are ya with me? OK, well, let me show you what I mean....


www.lillyjanescupcakes.com

GO there. LOOK. And then DRIVE there and taste. If you can't drive there, I am SO sorry... I can't ship them. Because that would mean the 40 minute drive to the store to purchase them, and, let's be honest... If I go and buy them, they are going to end up glued to my backside in the most unflattering form of cellulite ever. Trust me. I ate two of these today already. So.. funny story about this.

I had to go back this afternoon, after going this morning, because my first attempt was messed up by my near dropping of the half dozen box. That would have been ok, except then when I had put them all back in their respective places with just a little bit of frosting lost (ok, one lost all the frosting, but I digress), I then reached back to hand one to Jane. She was home sick and had a doctor appointment a little later that morning. SO, I gave her one. And before I gave it to her, I asked her, "Jane, can you unwrap it, or do you need me to?" And mistake number one was giving her the option in the first place... But mistake number two was giving her the option while I was pulling out of the parking lot.

So, I pull onto Eagle Rd, which for those of you not familiar with this area, is a four lane highway. Two lanes in each direction with a speed limit of 55 mph. I think there is a center turn lane as well, except near the intersections, where it's a left turn only lane.. but there again, I find myself getting off topic. So, here I am, heading toward the opposite end of Eagle Rd, where my kid's appointment is. And I have a small stop to make on the way, which is the dental office where I interviewed last week, so I can drop off the cupcakes I just purchased with a hand made (by me) cupcake shaped card thanking him for interviewing me. And then written in invisible ink is the part where I tell him this job would be the answer to many prayers from both the dh and me. This is some seriously expensive ass kissing considering a dozen of these babies is $27.50. I could have bought them 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for $10 less than this. SO, this should tell you how much I want this job. Not only did I take them treats, I took them coveted treats. Treats I rarely afford myself... Dang.. I am losing focus. MUST be time for bed. But I will finish the telling of this story!

SO, from behind me in her booster seat, I hear my daughter say, "Mom, I can't open this."

Ok, did I mention that I am driving? And driving fast? Anyway, so I reach back with one hand while I white knuckle the steering wheel with the other. And she hands me her cupcake. Frosting side first... and while I am clutching the frosted top of this cupcake, it breaks in half. And drops the bottom part of the cup, still papered, into the rest of my small box of heaven. DAMMIT. And it's pretty well over. The only cupcakes to survive this mishap are the two coconut cupcakes, and the one strawberry one that the frosting had already slid off of because of my near dropping of the box. And mine, the one identical to this one, was underneath it. OH how mad do you think I was?

So, Because Jane's cupcake was obliterated, I offered her a choice of the strawberry one with no frosting, or a coconut. Well, she wanted the strawberry one with no frosting, which surprised me, because she typically will eat the frosting off of the cake, and nothing else. Well... again, shouldn't have given her the choice. Because she took half a bite, ok , more like half a nibble, and said, I don't like this. And was near tears, because she really wanted the chocolate one that had fallen to it's death and taken several hostages with it. So, I told her we would go back later. And this made her happy. And more so, it made me happy, because I knew I could get another chocolate cupcake with the hot chocolate "italian version of meringue" frosting.

So, we get her appointment overwith, and I head over to Craft Warehouse for some minor indiscretion, and to call my dh and ask him to have lunch with us. And then we go to lunch. And after lunch, we go back to Lilly Jane's.

And the gal working at the counter smiles at me and says, "Welcome to Lilly Jane's! Is this your first time in our store?" And I smile back sweetly and say, "Not only is it NOT my first time in the store, it's not my first time in the store TODAY" And I give her a cheesy grin. And the owner gets this delighted look on her face like I am her new best friend, and she says, "Now, that's what we like to hear!"

And the girl at the counter says, "Do you know what you'd like?"

UMMM, YEAH, a fireman feeding those hot chocolate frosting thingies to me off his chiseled pecs... oh wait.. sorry.. got lost for a minute... :D

"Yes, please. I'd like six of the chocolate with hot chocolate whatever it is frosting". And the owner smiles at me and says, "Isn't that frosting SO good?" and I'm like, uh YEAH, only so good that I am here moronically admitting to you that I was already in today to buy one and practically licked the first one off the cardboard since it didn't make the trip. And I said, "Yeah, I've decided you guys can't EVER stop making that. EVER." Because I totally have that air of authority.

Ok, pardon me now, while I pause to let my friends who know me well stop laughing.....


any time now guys...


OK, I am serious, not that funny....


OK, forget it, they are just going to laugh, so I will just forge ahead anyway...

SO, I make my purchase, and I am leaving, and the girl at the counter says, "Well, we'll see you a little later, then."

Yeah, FUNNY. "Um, no, I am actually not coming back today. I PROMISE"

And I meant it. But only because I had enough for today's snack, my late night snack (also known as a bed night snack by my youngest child) and breakfast, lunch and dinner for tomorrow. (Hey, it is Valentine's day, so I totally can eat cake for all three meals if I want) OH, and the calories don't count on valentine's day. Yeah... something like that...


Anyway... Order your cupcakes. But, I have a few tips and pointers for you.... :)

1. You can eat them at the store, and this would be advisable.
2. If you choose not to eat them at the store, eat them before you leave the parking lot.
3. If you forgot napkins and do not have a secret stash in your glove compartment, GO BACK AND GET NAPKINS.
4. If you drop them, DO not under any circumstances lick the cardboard insert to remove stray traces of frosting. You will cut your tongue. Those damn circles are sharp.
5. DO NOT eat them while driving 55 mph on ANY stretch of road.
6. Do not give a 5 year old child the option of unwrapping her own, especially if you are trying to drive.
7. Buy a milk or a water to wash them down. (Or coffee, if you're into that) They sell those. And other beverages, but I find drinking juice or soda with something sweet revolting.

And on that note, I am going to bed. Happy cupcaking. :)