Ain't winter a hoot?

Not really. Because just yesterday, it was spring! So what's a girl and her little girl to do when the weather turns on a dime? Bake. Cupcakes. That kind-of, sort-of, look like owls.
And you know I like owls. I think they're a hoot! [somebody stop me -- see what cabin fever does to your sense of humor?]

Tipsy Tuesday: Moldy Margaritas!

Here's a retro-meets-metro cocktail that'll make your insides wiggle:Molded Margaritas

2 pkgs [3oz] lime gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1/2 c thawed margarita mix
1/2 c [or more, to, um, taste] tequlia

In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in margarita mix & tequlia. Pour into four margarita glasses. Refrigerate for 4 hours until set [better mix 'em up in the morning, unless you prefer the curdled jell-o shot texture].

O'-friggin-le!

Tipsy Tuesday : Oui! Oui!

Here's a swanky cocktail that'll put some ooh in your la la!
French 75

Ice
1 1/2oz cognac
1/2oz simple syrup
1/2oz fresh lemon juice
Sparkling wine

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the cognac, simple syrup and lemon juice. Light a cigarette. French inhale [c'mon, you've seen Grease, right?]. Shake well. Strain into a hip martini glass, top with sparkling wine. Lean in for a French kiss...or giggle 'til you oui oui.

Happy Valentine's Day [& a retro ultimatum]

I hope your day is going better than this -May your sweet day be sealed with a sloppy kiss!

Spring Tease

It's going to be warm enough for this soon, as soon as this week:
So braid your hair and bring on the beans & franks & hamburger rolls! And your favorite pair of high-waisted slacks.

Speaking of slacks, by the look on little Suzy's face, I'm wondering if dad's fly is down...squint & see for yourself.

WTF?!? Friday Night Fright

We're having a few of our nearest & dearest over tomorrow night for a 2nd annual Valentine's Love-In. Instead of going out on an expensive, baby-sitter necessary, 2-hour-wait-for-a-table date, we pin on our Paul & Julia Child-inspired heart-shaped paper corsages and enjoy a potluck of things we love.

I tried to get a head start tonight on the cherry pie I had planned for. First I tackled the crust [2-layer, per Better Homes & Gardens (c)'67] and fumbled when it fell apart, offering one helluva rustic look. A crumb topping is in my immediate future.

But it was when I cut & placed the [coined by my Gramie] "stragglebritches" on the parchment and asked Ben & Margie to dust them with sugar & cinnamon [that's coat in their book] that all went horribly wrong. Burnt globs of the sweet & cinnamon-y-ness made for one undesirable mound of wasted pastry:These straggleBITCHES are gonna make me cry.