Not quite a huge baking feat, but I needed something to post! :-P

I am ashamed.  I will admit to you up front that the cupcakes that I made today were... (*gasp!*) made from a mix.  Hence my shame.  But my mom wanted me to use a mix she had in the cupboard, so I obliged.  The frosting is homemade vanilla buttercream, though. :)

I was also intrigued because it was a strawberry cake mix.  Didn't sound particularly appealing to me, but it was actually not bad.  Also, and more importantly, this gave me a chance to work on my piping skills.  YAY!

Piping didn't go as well as last time, actually.  After I frosted the first few, it was clear that the frosting was not thick enough because it wasn't holding the piping shape.  So I squeezed all of the frosting out of the bag, doctored it a bit, and then it worked fine.  The first time I piped (see previous entry), I didn't have this issue, but that was probably just beginner's luck, I think. :)  Anyway, I topped off these cupcakes with some of those wonderfully sugary cake decorations that melt in your mouth (yes, I'm a sugar-holic) in the shape of Christmas tree ornaments and presents.

So, I know what you're thinking... first this slacker doesn't post for over ten days and now she half-asses a post with cupcakes made from a (*gasp!*) MIX?!  Well, fear not, for I have been using this time wisely to plot some pretty delicious things for Christmas/New Year's.  My next posts will include incredibly easy to make baked brie (a recipe stolen from one of my TA buddies :)) and... drumroll please... are you ready for this?  Macarons.  No, not icky coconuty American macaroons.  Wonderfully light, melt-in-your-mouth, feels like you're eating a freaking cloud, FRENCH macarons.  You know... Pierre Hermé and Ladureé?  Well, if you're not sure what I'm talking about, Wikipedia knows everything.  I can't tell you how ridiculously excited I am about this.  For a long time I've been scared to even try them because I hear that they're pretty tricky, but I looked at myself in the mirror and said, "Robyn!  What would Rachael Ray do?  She wouldn't back down from the challenge!"  So lately I've become obsessed with making macarons and I've been scouring the internet for expert tips on how to not suck at making them.  My goal is to get enough experience that I can make them for my class next semester (if they're good... the class, not the macarons :-P) and to get to the point where I can make up all sorts of crazy macaron flavors of my own!  This is the source of my extreme excitement.

Anyway, there's the preview of what's coming up soon.  If you have any holiday recipe suggestions, please let me know!