Easter Flower Cupcake Bouquet

I added fake flowers as accents throughout bouquet to give it more of a real flower feel... if that makes sense.

                                           
I saw the awesome Sandra Lee ( she's so great!) on the cover of a magazine last year with an amazing cupcake flower arrangement and knew I had to replicate it. I perused several articles, blogs, magazines and so on and came to one I felt was perfectly written and explained the process simply. I varied the actual recipes for the cupcake batter and frosting a little... mainly because I prefer fresh cream to frosting and my family is the same. The thing with decorative cupcakes is its to LOOK beautiful... I am still trying to master beautiful meets tasty without all the 'make your teeth hurt sugar' but I'm not quite there yet.  The key is to have frosting that is playable but sturdy, well you know what that means! ITS GOING TO YOUR HIPS SISTER! The reason frosting is sturdy is because its pure sugar & shortening.

Anyway, I did this cupcake flower bouquet as the centerpiece for my Easter Party and everyone loved it. My niece really thought they were flowers. The link to the blog I got the information from is below.... enjoy!!!!

http://baabaacupcake.blogspot.com/2009/09/cupcake-bouquet.html

Nom. Nom. Nom.

~Laura~

April is Grilled Cheese Month. Really???? YES, Seriously!!!!

What do you call cheese that isn't yours????  Give Up?  Nacho Cheese.... BA HA HA. You all knew that one, I know. But I couldn't resist.

Don't worry, my blog wasn't hacked, it's still me. I just figured that I would share this interesting little tidbit about April being " Grilled Cheese Month" because I know most of you are cheese lovers and I am the weirdo for not liking cheese. That being said..... who comes up with this stuff?!?!  Can I make July the official "Take Laura To Awesome Travel Destinations Month"? Who do I discuss this with?

"That Cheese may be Gouda but this one is Feta."  ( sss sss sss, I crack myself up)

I have compiled some of the best rated Grilled Cheese recipes in the L.A. area for you to try, buy, re-create and enjoy. If you do try one please be sure to let me know how it was in the blog comment section. Also if you have any recipes, Grilled Cheese or otherwise,  please feel free to email them to me so I can share them on my blog.

Knock Knock
Who's There?                                  
Cheese!
Cheese Who?
Cheese a jolly good fellow  

Ba ha ha ha ha..... ok I'm done I promise.


Here are my top picks for Grilled Cheese. Based on friends opinions, http://www.yelp.com/ , and reviews.

The Grilled Cheese Truck : http://www.thegrilledcheesetruck.com/ check out their Grilled Cheese best seller The Cheesy Mac' N' Rib Melt : http://www.yumsugar.com/How-Make-Grilled-Cheese-Trucks-Cheesy-Mac-Rib-Melt-15530216 ( Shayna's pick)

The Foundry {On Melrose in West Hollywood}  :  The Grilled Cheese with Taleggio :  http://www.thefoundryonmelrose.com/menu.html

Granville Cafe {San Fernando Road in Burbank} : The Gourmet Grilled Cheese Dipper : http://www.granvillecafe.com/

The Blue Palms :  { Hollywood & Gower in Los Angeles} Grilled Cheese Monday's. Customize your own Grilled Cheese : http://www.bluepalmsbrewhouse.com/pages/events.html ( Vanessa's pick)

Artisan Cheese Gallery : { Ventura Blvd. in Studio City} The Classic grilled Cheese : http://www.artisancheesegallery.com/

In- N'- Out :  Grilled Cheese from their Secret Menu. Check out their secret menu items here: http://www.badmouth.net/in-n-outs-secret-menu/    ( My sister Sinead's pick)

Campanile :  { South La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles} Campanile claims to have started the Grilled Cheese Night with their evolving Grilled Cheese menu http://www.campanilerestaurant.com/

So there you have it Cheese Lovers.......  Eat up!

Nom. Nom. Nom.

~Laura~

Food. Wine. More Food. More Wine. Oh, and Me... Laura.

It's true. I love food so much I sometimes dream about it. When I'm craving something, I'm like a wild animal or a pregnant woman ( not to confuse the 2 ) I MUST have it NOW! Unlike some, who can be satisfied with a hot pocket or some Mac n' Cheese, (damn you awesome, might just be causing cancer, but ever so convenient microwave) I have been known to travel the distance at odd hours to enjoy some of my favorite dishes ( Mmmm Cinnabon!).

Before reading my blog you should know one thing: I am extremely picky. Brace yourself, what I am about to tell you will shock you... I. (gulp)  Don't. Eat. CHEESE!!! PHEW! I said it! I am Laura, a foodie, who doesn't like cheese. There is an addendum/exception to this weird dislike of mine though...I really like Parmesan Cheese, which is odd because unlike Mozzarella or Swiss it's pretty robust. I add too much pepper to most dishes and am a carboholic as well. I cook with wine, and sometimes even add it to the food too. Aside from that I do my very best to eat healthy, but despite my best efforts I eat what I feel like when I feel like it. My thighs discourage it, but my taste buds usually win.

I am no professional by any means but I do love to cook, bake, concoct, and EAT! I thoroughly enjoy feeding my friends and family and am passionate about food.

My blog is made up of my favorite things. Restaurants, Recipes, My Must Haves, and More. I'll be taking you through my upcoming Supper Club, Fork N' Cork- with not only my recipes but those who participate in the Supper Club.  There may be some documented disasters, attempts, & debauchery too.  I hope you enjoy!

~Laura~