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Our Steamy Birthdays

Jason and I have birthdays relatively close to one another. Usually, he plans a birthday party for me and I organize a party for him. Juggling so many gatherings gets a bit cumbersome. So this year we decided to ditch cumbersomeness for awkwardness and arrange a joint birthday fandango for ourselves with a pirates and steampunks theme.

We held our party at historic Pioneer Hall, which was perfect given the theme.
We held our party at historic Pioneer Hall, which was perfect given the theme.
Robyn and I were going for a "Victorian gangster" vibe here.
Robyn and I were going for a “Victorian gangster” vibe here.

Since Jason and I are vintage dancing enthusiast, we opted to make the entertainment at our bash match the motif. We had our dance instructor teach the sweetest moves from the 1700s and 1800s to our guests. Although these steps were new to most attendees, our friends learned quickly. We had a few spills but they were all softened by laughter. Nicely done you scurvy blaggards!

The cake Robyn made for us featured riveted seams and vented steam.
The cake Robyn made for us featured riveted seams and vented steam.
Many of our friends showed up in attire befitting this affair.
Many of our friends showed up in attire befitting this affair.
Lucky Seven is an easy and energetic dance.
Lucky Seven is an easy and energetic dance.

The grub at our gig was much better than tack and jerky. We provided quiches, scones and tarts from Elizabeth’s English Bakery. Also, my friend Robyn made the most amazing cake for the affair. It actually vented steam.

Occasionally, a dancer fell flat but the dancing never did.
Occasionally, a dancer fell flat but the dancing never did.
Yes, I had some fun editing the pictures from the party.
Yes, I had some fun editing the pictures from the party.

It was a bang-up evening! Many thanks to the seadogs and odd sticks that joined us for this night of nautical, mechanical and edible delights.

Rachel August 17, 2015 No Comments

Cup Creations

It’s no secret that I like to play with my food. That comes with being a food scientist. Some of my latest edible experiments have involved those little morsels of frosted dessert that everyone loves. I’m talking about cupcakes of course. (The title of this post should have been a giveaway.)

These flowers did provide power in the form of a disaccharide known as sucrose.
These flowers did provide power in the form of a disaccharide known as sucrose.
We made these devil's food cupcakes with ganache frosting from scratch as a Father's Day treat.
We made these devil’s food cupcakes with ganache frosting from scratch as a Father’s Day treat.

I am often designated the dessert bringer at family dinners. Cupcakes are my sweet of choice for these functions when birthdays are concerned and sometimes my pick when they are not. For cupcakes can be dressed to fit any situation and are just enough of a treat to tempt even the most stalwart of health nuts. Sure, they are sweeter than Relief Society chicks on a Super Saturday but who could say no to just a touch of sugar saturation?

For Isabelle's and Abigail's birthdays, Jason and I made pink kitty cupcakes.
For Isabelle’s and Abigail’s birthdays, Jason and I made pink kitty cupcakes.
Since Andrew is a cheesecake fan, I made the cup version of raspberry marble cheesecake for his birthday celebration.
Since Andrew is a cheesecake fan, I made the cup version of raspberry marble cheesecake for his birthday celebration.

Incidentally, most of my recent recipe and decoration ideas have come from Martha Stewart’s cupcake book. I’ve found it an excellent resource for improving both the look and taste of my cup stuff. Her volume on shivs is outstanding too.

Rachel August 3, 2015 No Comments

Run Me Rad

Running is a highly unpredictable pastime. One never knows its outcome. Will you trip on your shoelaces and break your fall on a pillow of dog poop? Will you inhale enough gnats to produce polka dot snot? Will you drink too much Gatorade and vomit blue? Will you lose yourself in a garish powder fog? When you lace up your sneakers and head out onto the asphalt there’s no telling what mayhem awaits you.

Yes, we were rad.
Yes, we were rad.
This picture was taken before we blasted each other in earnest.
This picture was taken before we blasted each other in earnest.

This year we again participated in Color Me Rad, a 5K with shade. We’ve done this race for years with my brother and his wife but this time we added some smaller targets; our niece and nephew joined our familial rainbow.

I looked like a rainbow in a hairnet.
I looked like a rainbow in a hairnet.

Jadon took to being painted pretty well, even with oozy liquids. Isabelle, on the other hand, only appreciated pink hits. She was pretty mopey about every other hue. Still, a good time was had by some of us at all points and all of us at some point.

Jadon was okay with powder showers.
Jadon was okay with powder showers.
Isabelle only liked the pink parts of the race.
Isabelle only liked the pink parts of the race.

Color Me Rad is a cool mix of sprint and tint, one we will gladly radly run again.

Rachel June 15, 2015 No Comments
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