Birthdays and Andes Mint Cupcakes

As many of you know today is father's day but today is also a special birthday.  Today is Rob's 31st birthday. You read that right my husband is 31! He's really getting up there. It's about time to trade him in for a newer model. Not really though because it doesn't get much better than him.

Yesterday I took him out for a fancy meal at one of our favorite places called Wink. We decided to try a few new things including rabbit and sweetbreads. If you don't know what sweetbreads are Google it. They sound weird but are DELICIOUS! We of course got our favorite beef tartar. Which I thought it may be my last tartar for a while since you cannot eat raw meat when pregnant. No, I'm not pregnant yet but it could happen any day now. 

Today I decided to make his favorite dessert....cupcakes! Which are my favorite to make. I decided to make Andes Mint cupcakes since it's one of his favorite candy/mints to eat. I've been wanting to try this recipe for a while and finally had the chance. The recipe looks difficult but is actually pretty simple.

Andes Mint Cupcakes

Cake:
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
Devils food cake mix

Chocolate mint ganache:
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons Heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/3 cup powdered sugar

Mint Buttercream:
8 oz cream cheese
6 tablespoons butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons peppermint extract ( you can add more if you want a more minty flavor)
A few drops of green food coloring. 

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Wisk together sour cream, oil and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. 
Add cake mix and liquids alternating between the two.
Fill cupcake liners a little over half full
Bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

For the chocolate mint ganache melt chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream on the stove top.( I use the double boiler method) Stir in peppermint extract and powdered sugar. Place in squeeze bottle. When cupcakes come out of the oven use squeeze bottle to fill center of cupcakes.

Sorry for the mess

For mint buttercream Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream and peppermint extract. Finally add green food coloring. 

Rob loved his birthday cupcakes. Along with his birthday dinner I cooked for him. We are going to spend the rest of the evening watching movies and relaxing. Hope everyone had a great father's day! 

The Big Move

So if you haven't heard I have a little sister. Well she's not so little since she is WAY taller than me but she's still my little sister. I'm not sure if I have ever talked about how awesome of a dancer she is. She is extremely talented.   Well she got accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Yes, NEW YORK! So after a trip there and some convincing of my parents my little sister is moving. Though she is still a teenager she gets to have this amazing experience. It's an awesome opportunity for her to focus on her dance. I am so proud of her. Watch out New York DJ Sexy Jerk (my nickname for her) is coming through!

It runs in the family

This reminds me of my first big move. Though I was a little older it was still a big thing. I was only 21 when I moved to California with Rob. At first he was hesitant to move. I told him if we don't take this chance we may never get another one. So off we went. Though it was hard to leave family and friends we had to give it a shot. I think it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only did I get to experience a whole new state with so much culture. I also had a chance to grow up and I mean REALLY grow up. At 21 I left my family and friends behind. So when I had a problem or issue I couldn't just drive to my mom's house. I was thousands of miles away from everyone. I always thought of myself as an independent person, but this move really brought it out in me. I feel like it helped mold me into what I am today. 

the "grown up" me

So I am excited for my sister to move. Also, I can't wait to go to NYC. I've never been there. Maybe we can be a extra on Law and Order: SVU (that's my sister's favorite show). I feel like this move may bring us even closer, even though we are super close already. Just knowing that she could come to me if she is having problems with being away since I have experienced it first hand.  So sometime in September I will be New York bound for a little while. That's right be jealous!