counting down

four more days till A-Kon. One of my costumes requires a facial tattoo. So I drew it up I'm going to be these guys.

Well not both of them, I'm being just the girl of course. But I drew up my facial tattoos. I think I'm being to bold tho, My tats are complicated and will take some time to draw on myself. It was suggested that I cut the pattern out of some thin plastic and use it as a template. Then I could just sponge the makeup on my face.I'll have to find some plastic and a knife to cut the plastic with. In the end I think that it will look good.

A-Kon

I've been getting ready for A-Kon. It's next weekend and I'm very excited. I plan on actually going to panels this year. And doing stuff! Other then buying crap I don't need. I'm not going to have that much money so I really can't buy a whole lot of stuff anyway. I'm after japanese erasers. Those cute little erasers that are shaped like things, I just started collecting them. So far I have six lucky cats and a hamster. They are so cute!

I can't wait to get more!

five more days and counting!

Cheesecake Brownie Bites

Ingredients

For the brownie batter:

4 large eggs

1¼ cups baking cocoa

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder, mixed with 2 teaspoons water

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2¼ cups sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, melted

1½ cups all-purpose flour

For the cheesecake filling:

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg yolk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, baking cocoa, salt, baking powder, espresso mixed with water, and vanilla until well combined. Stir in the sugar and melted butter until well combined, then stir in flour. Set brownie batter aside.

In a separate bowl, prepare the cheesecake filling by stirring together the cream cheese, sugar and egg yolk until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag or plastic bag.

Grease a non-stick mini-muffin pan with cooking spray or butter then spoon a tablespoon of brownie batter into the greased cups. Pipe a generous amount of cheesecake filling atop the brownie batter, and then top off each cup with and additional teaspoon of brownie batter.

Bake for 12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the brownie bites cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then transfer them to the refrigerator to continue cooling, or enjoy warm!

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 large mashed banana
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Mix together the quick cooking oats, light brown sugar, baking powder, kosher salt and ground cinnamon.

Add in the vanilla extract, milk and egg. Mix the ingredients together.

Then add in the mashed banana and peanut butter. Combine all of the ingredients.

Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 8 by 8 inch metal baking pan. Bake at 350 F degrees for 20 minutes.

Cut into squares and enjoy!

Five minute chocolate avocado pudding

Ingredients: 

• 1 ripe small or medium avocado
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup raw agave nectar
• 1/4 cup nonfat milk

directions:

1. Blend all ingredients into a blender until smooth and creamy. You may need to add more agave nectar depending on the size of your avocado. It’s ready to eat immediately or you can also refrigerate.

Pretzel Turtles

Ingredients

• 20 small mini pretzels
• 20 chocolate covered caramel candies
• 20 pecan halves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Place one chocolate covered caramel candy on each pretzel.
3. Bake for 4 minutes. While the candy is warm, press a pecan half onto each candy covered pretzel. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

updates

I ate my fill of cupcakes today. The sad thing is, i'm still hungry. I need some real food. But I'm too lazy to gook anything. Today is another weight loss wed. And I honestly have no idea how I'm doing, the scale is still broke. Well it's not broke it just needs batteries. I'll be going to get said batteries Friday.

Tomorrow I'll be working on my cosplay costumes for A-Kon. Still need to buy a mask and paint it. I tried to paint one today but it didn't come out right, so I have to try again.

they're cupcakes damnit!

Muffins everywhere! My roommate is on a muffin making frenzy. I'm doing my best not to eat them all. Lucky for me, she frosted them with chocolate so that helps me to not want them. Yes, I don't care for chocolate. But if the next ones she makes has vanilla frosting I'll be harder to not be all over them. I must stay strong! I do not need the cupcakes. (They're cupcakes don't know why I keep calling them muffins.)

Key Lime Pie

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
• 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup key lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lime zest

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime rind. Mix well and pour into graham cracker crust.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until tiny pinhole bubbles burst on the surface of pie. DO NOT BROWN! Chill pie thoroughly before serving. Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream if desired.

White Almond Wedding Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 egg whites

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour an 11x13 inch cake pan.
2. Stir together the white cake mix, flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until well mixed. Pour in the water, sour cream, vegetable oil, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg whites, and beat with an electric mix on low until all the ingredients are mixed and moistened but some lumps still remain, 4 minutes.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake in the preheated oven until the top is a light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.

Wedding Cake Icing

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons clear imitation vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Mix shortening, water, vanilla, almond extract, and half of the powdered sugar with a mixer for 5-10 minutes. (it's very important to mix this long)
2. Add the rest of the powdered sugar and beat just enough to mix in.
3. Add additional water for desired consistency.

One Bowl Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two nine inch round pans.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Calories: 157 | Total Fat: 5.7g

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Calories: 122 | Total Fat: 6.5g

Flowers

I took some pics of some flowers! ^.^