We're all going to hell.

You know the one thing that will and IS tearing this world apart?

Religion.

The one thing that we are all so free to choose. How many arguments, fights, disputes, WARS have occurred because of this form of living? Like last night, for example. Yeah ... there were way too many beers that contributed to the argument, but either way, this topic just sets people off. It's the one thing that no one is ever going to agree with .. ever. Beliefs upon beliefs, religion will never come to peace with anybody, no matter how much you think it is.

I'm going to put my word here. What I believe.

There is something out there. There has to be. Our bodies are full of running veins, a heart that gives us life, a brain that pretty much makes us who we are. No human being could have ever create something like this. Something like us. So what is it? What is out there? We will never know. No one was around to tell us. So how the fuck do people follow religion with no form of proof? With so much assurance? For hope, I'm assuming. Hope that one wont just disappear out of existence after our clock stops ticking.

I was raised a catholic girl. Went to church and everything as a little girl. But that was then. Whatever mom told me, it had to be true. I'm not stupid anymore. So don't try to put shit in my head. I'm going to believe what I'm going to believe. You don't have the responsibility to make me think what you think.

Yikes!

Well, well. I came back to this.
I was actually using word press, but the piece of shit doesn't really let me costumize it the way I want it without paying. Fuck that, whatever.

Ohhh how lovely, my food. I haven't baked OR cooked anything in a while. When I do, I usually don't take pictures anymore.

Well... my life has been full of adventures. Or however the way you want to see it. I will update on basically everything later. Gotta go to work! Ugh.

Oh yeah .... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Spice Cupcakes

These are some Spice Cupcakes I made yesterday with a caramel frosting, topped off with some hazelnuts.

Mocha Cupcakes and Tres Leches Cake With Strawberries

Mocha Cupcakes with buttercream frosting









Tres Leches Cake with Strawberry Syrup

Hectic!

I have been extremely busy these past couple of weeks. And I apologize for desserting this place. There has been a lot going on my life right. One is finally done and over with. My ATA (Arts Technology Academy) Portfolio Review was today. It was very tiring. I was one of the leaders of the a group. I basically had to lead a group around to our designated student display area. The group would review their work and rate and give constructive criticism. I, obviously, didn't get the group that reviewed my work. But I didn't have to leave my group to go to my area and give a 3 minute speech and a quick overview of my work before they reviewed it. After I was done, I went straight back to my group. My goodness, some of these people were harsh. We did want your honest opinion but this isn't a professional art critique for Christ's sake! We are just high school students trying to develop a decent amount of skills! I had a quick chance to look at my sheet, and I was pretty happy. I guess they liked my work. The highest overall grade was a 4 and that's exactly what I got. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of my display area, but I will tomorrow. That is if it's still up! Poor Keith. His video got spat on. He was unlucky to have an old lady. His video had a lot of violence so there was no way it was going to go pass her!

Another reason why I have been gone was due to the amount of work that is getting piled up on us these last two weeks. Graduation is just around the corner, and all this last minute stuff is getting up to my neck. I have 2 projects to complete by next week and I'm not even 1/4 way done. Procrastination? Yes. I am also no longer working on the weekends. Amanda quit, so I got her night shift during the week. So my days go from school, home for about 3o mins, then work. Its kind of good in a way because I finally have my weekends to go out. There are so many things I wanted to do. And hang out with people I haven't kicked it with in a while. It should be good, and especially now that summer is just in two weeks. I can not wait until graduation!

A couple of days ago, my art teacher had to go into surgery. I had made her a get well soon card but it just wasn't coming out right. So instead I did what I did best. Baked! I baked her these sweet Mocha cupcakes. I will post pictures of those soon! And the recipe of course.

Mocha Twists

I'm pretty sure all of you coffee drinkers don't just drink coffee by itself. I mean, you have to have something with it, right? Wether it might be some toast, cake, or light cookies. Well in this cake, I have some cookies. With a twist.

They came out to be the perfect tool for dipping in coffee. Or, if you're not a coffee drinker, some milk! Doesn't matter. I also made a sweet cocoa glaze that for the cookies to be dipped in, and set as a glaze. It all goes with the flow. This recipe was pretty easy, and everyone seemed to like them. Unfortunatly, I didn't make enough, due to the cause that I ran out of sugar. Yes, isn't that a nightmare?! No sugar!! Thank goodness a supermarket is always nearby!

• 1 cup of butter, softened


• 2/3 sugar


• 3 tbps. unsweetened cocoa powder


• 1 tsp. instant coffee crystals


• 3/4 tsp. baking powder


• 1/4 tsp. salt


• 1 egg


• 1 tsp. vanilla


• 2 1/4 cups of AP flour


• 1 recipe of Cocoa Glaze (recipe in directions)

1. In a mixing bowl, beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, cocoa powder, coffee crystals, baking powder, and salt; beat until combined. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Using wooden spoon, sitr in remaining flour. Divide dough in half; wrap. Freeze for about 40 mins or until easy to handle.

2. Preheat oven to 375F. Dicide each dough half into 24 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each dough piece in 6-inch ropes. Twist two ropes together; pinch end to seal. Place ropes 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake about 8 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes. Transefer to wire racks and cool.

3. Dip one end of each twist in Cocoa Glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper until set.

Cocoa Glaze: In a bowl combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, and enough milke (about 3 tbsp.) to make glaze consistency. Makes about 3/4 cup. Cookies make about 24 twists.

Lemon Cream Cake - take 2

I did end up baking this cake (again) for my friend's 20th birthday. I did not have any time to research and look up good cake recipes, so I just went ahead and went with what everyone told me about it. The people loved it, so I guess it was it.

I'm really lucky enough to have a lemon tree next door. I'm even luckier to have my grandparent's living next door. When I go to their house, my usual greeting would be something in the lines of, "Going to the back for some lemons. Ooooo, cookies! Hi grandma!". Don't you just love your grandparents? I seriously don't know what I would do with out them.

So the cake was faster process coming in the second time. Mostly due to the fact that I had all the ingredients ready from my previous try. I still ended up baking it a day before (Friday), which was just me trying to be cautious. On Saturday, right after work, I went straight to the fridge to see if my cake was still there. I had gotten a note card and written in with big red letters, "DO NOT EAT", and tapped it on the container. You never know with my brothers around the kitchen. They don't care who's it is, or what it is. If they're hungry, they'll eat it. Fortunately, my cake was still in the spot where I had left it before. I took it out and sprinkled it with a little powdered sugar for a nice decoration.

I left to my friend's house a couple of minutes after. I couldn't stay long (had some visitors at my place), so I just had time to give her the cake, a hug, and a little chat. I haven't had the chance to ask her if she liked it or not. She better have though. The recipe is in the previous entry.

Going to the great Hometown Buffet with Eunice on Thursday. I can not wait!