victory!
Victory is mine! I finished my first sewing project. So determined by this project was I that I stayed up way past my bedtime on Friday night to finish it (rocking Friday night, yes I know). It has flaws, and it is not perfect, but I made it and I feel quite proud. See photos below. (Andrew, note the not-browness of it!!)
It even has pockets!
For our friends’ super bowl party today, I contributed some cupcakes. Quite delicious if I do say so myself. The recipe came from Martha Stewart’s cupcake book, which Leigh got me for Christmas. I discovered the secret to Reese’s peanut butter – sugar and butter added to the peanut butter. Of course!
I attempted the chocolate peanut-butter filled cupcake, and the recipe and photo are below. 
Preheat oven to 325. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners. Whisk together 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside. Put 1/2 cup butter (cut into small pieces), 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (coarsely chopped), and 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (coarsely chopped) in a heat proof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water; stir until melted. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Whisk 3/4 cup granulated sugar into cooled chocolate mixture. Add 3 eggs and whisk until mixture is smooth. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Add flour mixture, stir until well incorporated. In a separate bowl, make the peanut butter filling. Stir together 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
Spoon 2 tablespoons chocolate batter into each lined cup, followed by 1 tablespoon peanut butter filling. Repeat with another tablespoon of batter, and top with 1 teaspoon peanut butter filling. Swirl top of cupcake with a toothpick. Bake, rotating halfway through, until a cake tested inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached (about 40 minutes). Transfer to wire rack before removing cupcakes. Makes 12.
Matt just came home from being away at a ski race at Bend. I missed him, and am looking forward to seeing some more of this.
