I Have A New Home.

The Burrow

While I still may blog here from time to time - I have a new home.  I hope you will update me in your address book and follow me here.

Chocolate Pomegranate Cupcakes... Wonderful!

Chocolate covered pomegranates is one of my weaknesses.  Every now and again they have dark chocolate coverage pomegranate and they get me almost every time! So of course when I came across this recipe I had to try it! To sum this one up:  WONDERFUL!

POM Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Makes 24 cupcakes
 1 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup water, heated to boiling
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar (not wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon vanilla

Pomegranate Chocolate FrostingJuice from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranate,* or 1/2 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
6 tablespoons butter
1 6-oz. package chocolate chips (about 1 cup)1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
12 tablespoons whole milk (I didn't use this)

1. Preheat oven to 350F with rack in the center.
2. Place a paper baking cup in each of 24 regular sized muffin cups.
3. Whisk together the dry ingredients to combine well.
4. In a large measuring cup, combine pomegranate juice and boiling water.
5. Add oil, vinegar and vanilla to the pomegranate juice mixture.
6. Add to the flour mixture all at once and whisk to combine (batter will be lumpy).
7. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups (about half full).
8. Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and free of crumbs .(Mine were done around 20 minutes)
9. Let cool. Frost with pomegranate chocolate frosting and drizzle with glazeFrosting:
1. In a saucepan, bring pomegranate juice and butter to a boil.
2. Remove from heat; blend in chocolate chips.
3. Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until frosting is of spreading consistency. If frosting is too stiff, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk to thin. ( I used 1/2 cup more powdered sugar)
(For the glaze, mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar with about 2 capfuls of POM. It should be thick. Drizzle it on top with a whisk or put it into a ziploc bag and cut the corner to use it as a piping bag.)

RECIPE FROM http://www.howtoeatacupcake.net/

Red Velvet Bliss

Happy Birthday to the members of the Matta Family  born in November! The Tin Palace wishes you a birthday full of Red Velvet Bliss! Cheers!

These Red Velvets are so delicious, the kiddo begged to have one for breakfast, good thing there were extras.  Hey- cupcakes are the new pancakes ..... right???  Don't worry I made him have a banana with the cupcake.  :)

The recipe I used for these was from Martha Stewart, though I didn't use her cream cheese frosting recipe, any cream cheese frosting recipe will compliment the cupcake nicely.

Living life one cupcake at a time! :)

Spooky Circa the 1980's

SPOOOOKY!! The Watcher In The Woods!! When I was a kid this movie CREEPED my out! It creeped me out so much that I rented it numerous times. I think at one point my Mom finally had to tell me I couldn't rent it anymore, not sure if that is true, but in my memory it is... Mom do you remember?

This time of year when it is rainy and cold Matt and I have a lot of movie nights. It is especially fun during October cause we watch a lot of creepy, weird movies. Most of the time it is something from the Goosebumps arena, Matt loves anything book or movie that R.L. Stine does.

Tonight when I was at Target I found The Watcher In The Woods in the kids Halloween movies. I couldn't leave it there! It had to be part of our Halloween movie catalog. So tonight's movie selection.... you guessed it! The Watcher In The Woods.

Matt gives this movie 4 STARS!

"This movie is creepy! It's an awesome movie, you have to see it. The weird old lady scared me the most!" - Matt's movie review.

Even as an adult I still enjoyed this movie. I couldn't believe I still remembered it, but I guess if you watch it so many times that you've worn out the copy at the local family video store then you never forget!

Happy Spooking!

Halloween Spirit...... Cupcake Style!

Tonight was going to just be a mellow night.  The plan... to cuddle up on the coach with the kiddo and watch some t.v.  One of our favorite shows to watch together is Food Network Challenge, any of them that are Extreme cake challenges are the ones we enjoy the most. So we were all set to start our relaxing evening the show starts and 5 minutes in..... I am in the kitchen baking cupcakes.  For some reason I am not able to watch a baking show and not be baking at the same time.  I know it's a sickness!

So tonight, since it was to be a mellow night - I just stuck to Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream, with a little Halloween flare.

Gotta have Halloween Cupcake wrappers!  These are from Martha Stewarts Halloween Collection.  She always has great Halloween themed wrappers and ideas.

You can't make a vanilla cupcake in October without some orange food gel! I thought I may have used too much - but I wish I would have used MORE!

No Bones about it- I love these cupcakes!  Now off to watch Top Chef Just Desserts.   Hopefully it won't make me run into the kitchen and bake the night away!

Back to School!

Well it has been over a month since I last posted..... things have been busy busy busy around the Tin Palace.

                                      SCHOOL HAS STARTED!

Matt stylin' on the first day of 3rd grade!

SOCCER HAS STARTED

Even with all that is going on in our busy schedule, I still had time to catch one of the Tin Palaces frequent visitors in the act.

Woody Woodpecker in the tree outside by the porch of the Tin Palace.

Lots to do and a soccer game too!  Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Home Sweet Home.

Today I woke up and took a walk outside in the morning sun. In my eyes the Tin Palace looks the most beautiful in the morning hours when the sun is coming up.  It is the most calm time around the grounds.  The birds are still quiet, the rabbits haven't ventured out yet, It is just so peaceful.

I found myself standing for the longest time just staring out across the front part of the orchard.  The picture does not do it justice, but it was so amazing to be standing among the trees.  It was then that I realized just how lucky I am.  I am so blessed to have such a beautiful piece of land to call home. 


I also wanted to share with you my TOMATOES!!  I am thrilled that they are growing.  With the crazy weather we have had this Spring and Summer- I am so happy that anything is growing in my container garden.

I have 8 tomatoes right now!  Along with the tomatoes I also have:

GREEN BEANS!!  These babies put a smile on my face! This year I was thinking I would get nothing out of my garden and I have tomatoes and green beans.

I am anxiously awaiting for some zucchini and butternut squash to grow. I have a feeling that they will not be arriving on my dinner table via my garden this year- but the blossoms look awesome!

It was a blissful morning roaming the land of the Tin Palace!

Home Sweet Home!