horror party themed treats (from Courtney at You Will Won't You)

I asked my awesome pal Courtney to share a little something for the Fall/October/Halloween month long party and she was sweet enough to share this incredible receipe. Vegan, themed cupcakes! Um....delish! Thanks Courtney!!! :)
-kel
***************************************************



Horror Party Themed Treats: Puncture Wound Cupcakes

Last year there were three Friday the 13ths during the year. Well, one of them was in March just days after my birthday and I hosted a horror themed party. Decoration and treats all followed this theme. That lead me to whip up a couple of batches of cupcakes. Everyone is familiar with the standard chocolate cupcakes with ʻdirtʼ frosting but I have discovered ʻPuncture Woundʼ cupcakes! They are so delicious and really easy to make. These cupcakes are based off of the Jelly Doughnut Cupcake from the Veganomicon.

Here is what you will need:
1 C Soy Milk
1 t Apple Cider Vinegar
2 T Cornstarch
1.5 C Flour
3/4 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1/2 t Ground Nutmeg (fresh is best!)
1/2 t Salt
1/3 C Canola Oil
3/4 C plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 t Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup Strawberry Jelly-the cheaper the better! Honest!

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 and place twelve cupcake wrappers in a cupcake tin / sheet.

First, add the soy milk, cornstarch and vinegar to a small cup or bowl and mix until the cornstarch is dissolved and the mixture gets bubbly and looks like it has thickened a bit.

Then, in your standard mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt. Create a little well in the middle of the dry ingredients to pour your wet mixture into.

Before pouring the wet mixture into the dry give it another quick mix and add it to the well in the flour mix. Now mix it all together until just combined (meaning a few lumps are ok.)

Now add the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Mix everything together once again.

To prepare the cupcakes fill the liners 3/4ths of the way with the batter.

Drop spoonfuls of jelly in the middle.

Pop them in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. You canʼt really do a test to see if they are cooked but you can pretty much tell by looking at them.

NOTE: If you wanted to make genuine Jelly Doughnut Cupcakes you can push the jelly into the batter and spread some of the batter over it. That way it will form a complete dome on the top of a cupcake. The puncture wound is derived because the batter doesnʼt form a complete dome looking like a stab wound.

I hope that you enjoy these delicious (vegan!) cupcakes that can maybe kinda act as a quick brunch breakfast with a delicious cup of coffee.

-Courtney

inspiration thursday (with Courtney from you will wont you)

Today I'm happy, happy happy to share a gal that is greatly inspirational to me! Courtney!! I'm sure many of you have read her blog, but you haven't you should. She's honest, creative, and fun. She has inspired me to try new things, motivated me in blogging (Wednesday Wishes was HER idea!!) and did I mention that she made my blog buttons for me too??? She's just one of the coolest gals out there.

And Court, thanks again for participating, you're the greatest! :) Now we just have to work on meeting each other in RL!!! :)


Name: Courtney Bruesch

Where can we find you?
Blog: You Will, Won't You?
Flickr: Courtney Bruesch Photography

Tell us a little bit about you!
Hi lovelies! My name is Courtney (or Court) and I am a 27 year old professional commercial Photographer and Graphic Designer. I have been an artist my whole life and graduated high school early so that I could move on to Art School. I am a Pisces, I adore horror movies and love my kitty cats very very much.


Favorite craft or hobby?
Since photography is my career I don't really count that as my favorite hobby, I think it is obvious that I LOVE photography! So when I am not making photographs I LOVE to scrapbook and make mini-albums and my favorite hobby is playing the piano. I am trying really hard to write my first song but there was a ten year gap in practicing the piano so that isn't happening anytime soon. I am also dying to learn to sew! I have so many ideas in my head (and my sketchbook) for things to sew but I don't have that skill down yet. Soon though- I promise!


What's next for you?
I am currently working on relocating to California but as time moves on it is getting more and more difficult for it to become a reality. In the commercial photography field you kinda have to have connections to get your foot in the door in a studio. I also don't want to loose my Chicago clients.
I am also looking into finding a great print shop that will print postcards, stationary/cards and 1" buttons for me to stock my in progress Etsy shop. I'm working on it but it is really scary since there are sooo many amazing photographers that already started selling their work online.


5 things that make you happy!
This answer will change monthly, weekly, even daily! Right now the things that are making me the happiest is new work with new clients, new-to-me craft supplies that are inspiring, 'window open warm' days and of course my camera and coffee. Those two will always be in my top five favorite happiness makers!


Where do you find inspiration?
I think that I find a lot of my inspiration internally. I like to come up with ideas, jot them down in my sketch book and then let them stew. When I come back to them later I am ready to work on multiple variations of that original idea. It's so fun and interesting to see where I go with ideas.
I am also inspired by old books, namely on the topic of horror/sci-fi or comics that I find at thrift shops. The images and colors are so lovely and interesting. They really get me thinking about composition and scale too. Plus- who doesn't love looking at colorful art books?! Also- I really LOVE looking at Hel-Looks.com. Those guys are crazy inspirational! The fashion is to die for even if I wouldn't wear half of the looks.


How do you get and stay motivated?
Personally, I am always fairly self motivated. When I am working on a project I am thinking about the next one already! I really hate to say it (but I am NOT going to lie!) but money is a pretty good motivator too! Since I work for myself if I am not busy working on photographing clients products or finding my next client then I am not going to eat or be able to pay my bills. I learned a long time ago that setting little goals (and reaching them!) goes a long way.

Where fo you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years I would love to see myself a little more settled (I move around a lot!) and have a steadier footing in my field. I'd love to say married but honestly, I just don't care all that much to be married in the next five years! I know that I am 27 but I still feel like I am 23. As long as I am happy and still making a career with my art then I know that I will be alright. Isn't that really all that matter anyways?

Give us 1 random or funny or interesting fact/tidbit about YOU!!!
Easy Pieasy! Did you know that every other letter of Courtney is Cute?! Haha! That's my default random fact that I have been telling people for over 10 years.

:::Courtney

*********************

If you want to be a part of this weekly feature, please email me at kellz0505@gmail.com so I can send you the info.!!! Don't be shy :)

lovelove,

kels