it’s been one of those weeks
i know it must be June..
because there are all sort of end-of-the-year events to attend
and life gets a little crazy
and i’ve learned a few lessons this week that i’d like to share with you..
♥
i’ve discovered that rushing out and leaving baking in the oven
never did a lemon bar any good
♥
i’ve learned that making dinner and deliveries to your door can be incredibly distracting
and once chocolate and butter is
accidentally boiled the results can
seize up a brownie in no time… er.. flat
and that lavender flow icing shouldn’t be doubled, icing cupfuls miscounted
sieving step averted,
then dumped over when rushing out the door
even if it is for the Best Boxwood lunch with the Birthday Girl
and a newly Engaged Friend
sickly little things..
♥
yes.. baking requires
flow
just as
life
requires flow
♥
it requires sufficient time to move with
thoughtful intention
from one activity to the next
or one just might forget
what’s really important
♥
without flow
life doesn’t have the chance
to work out the way we plan
♥
flow
is a thoughtful process of movement
as though moving through yoga poses
it’s in the details of stillness
and the mindful meditative
flow
of life
♥
I wouldn’t recommend making these when you’re in a rush *wink*. But I would recommend them for a spring party. These pretty wee lavender cakelets look like “petit fours” in their little silvery cups. I found a few different Martha Stewart cupcakes recipes and maneuvered them around a bit.
I picked up the lavender candies at The Cookbook Company. Martha’s candied edible flowers would have been pretty too.. but I clearly didn’t have the time. And I used a high quality Caffeine Free Chamomile and Lavender “Yellow and Blue” Tea Blend from Harney & Sons (Waves Cafe in Calgary).
The tops of the cupcakes had to be sliced flat with a sharp knife.. so the icing could flow smoothly overtop. The texture of the icing shouldn’t be too thin and it does need to be strained to get the lumps out. You’ll know you’ve got the right texture/thickness when it almost leaves a thick “track” at first that then disappears as you go round. Put some in a small pitcher with a sharp spout and pour in a circular motion from the outside in. Use the flat tip of a spoon to coax the icing where it’s stubbornly not flowing. Use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles that arise.
After you’ve popped your little candy on top, try not to move the cakes so you don’t get cracks in the icing before it sets.
These were lovely as tiny cakes but would be a bit easier, I think, done up in a full sized cupcake.. probably quicker too if you’re heading out the door… again!
♥
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by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
You’re so right, Smidge – everything requires time and flow even when we don’t have enough to give! But those mini-cakes looks like little lovely gifts, so colorful and festive.
It’s clear you really HAVE learned a lot this week, Flo! And boy oh boy do you ever make some sweet little sweets! You’re a true marvel you are and I doff my hat to you (again)! xoxo
Get out your sweet tooth – yummers! Have a Wonderful Weekend:)
What a week!! But worth it all for the valuable lesson
Your mini-cakes are simply beautiful and they sound so good too. I love this recipe! Thank you for sharing my dear.
But they all still look yummy
Those are just sooooo precious!
What a beautiful post. Everything from the pretty lilac cakes .. the writing in lilac – your details are amazing. Yes, life needs a flow – but for too many of us it doesn’t and sometimes it’s hard to understand the flow … how is it divided between us all. How come has some us the ability to get a flow into the life and some can’t.
Good to know I am not the only one who has days like this, although yours all still look fabulous!
Mandy xo
Have a super weekend Smidge.
Yep, June is known as crazy time around here, too! And there have definitely been some, um, mishaps as well. Glad to know I’m not the only one.
Love the lavender color…
I love how your beautiful little cupcakes reflect such a wonderful attitude
Lovely!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I love that you kept on baking even when your flow was off! I hope it helped you get your flow back
And I love these phrases: “thoughtful process of movement” and “the details of stillness”…
Yummy! You are right about rushing. It never pays and I am so easily distracted! Beautiful poem and photos! Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a relaxing weekend!
Flow…yes..so important as you work on anything…was planting my little raised veggie beds today and about 8 hydrangae bushes…all went well until I turned on the sprinkler and sprinkled my iPhone…grabbed it before it was too late…
How absolutely gorgeous.. and i know all about flow! c
WOW! These are so beautiful and so romantic… so romantic… Thank you dear Barbara, have a nice weekend, with my love, nia
I’ve had baking experiences like yours Smidge. It’s the distractions and the interruptions when you least need them. I love the look of these mini-cupcakes, they are such a pretty colour. I’ll have to work out where I can buy lavender flowers. That icing does sound a tad tricky though xx
Eesh, what a week – we’ve all had them – you managed to make a good save though – they ended up looking great!
Such a week you had, Barb! Yet, in spite of everything, you went back into that kitchen, did battle, and returned, victorious, with these beautiful little cakes. BRAVA! You’re my hero. I would have quit after the brownies and reached for a cocktail. I certainly hope things have settled a bit for you now. And about that cocktail? Do help yourself. You’ve earned it. Have a great weekend!
Can I come to tea? I’d love to have Lavender Flow Icing Mini-Cakes. Beautiful!
I loveee lavender in baked goods. I especially love it in ice cream. This recipe sounds amazing.
Can’t do lavender in food, but I love the color and the cute little candies.
Beautiful color! The cupcakes would be very special for their dainty appearance! Speaking of appearance, I appreciate the photos of the failed results! They do represent the failed flow of things, and that happens to us all! Sometimes baking is a god way to MAKE me slow down! Have a good weekend, and if possible, find some S-L-O-W somewhere
Debra
You have such lucky friends! They look soooo beautiful. Can I say even your “mistakes” look good
I love lavender: the colour, the plant and the scent. Your lavender flow mini cakes look very pretty.
Thanks sharing your culinary trial and tribulations. We all have been there done that. However your lavender flow mini cakes sure make up for it. I hope things start to settle down for you soon. Take care, BAM
Oh goodness – hang in – we all have those days (errr…weeks). Love the lavender and the beautiful color in the end result!
Thanks for taking the time to share all the baking. I’ll bet you have people around who are “kind” enough to eat the less than perfect recipes. In case you didn’t have enough on your plate, I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger’s Award. You can check the details on my blog: timetobeinspired.wordpress.com We should talk some time when things settle down. I understand you have a great liver pate recipe… Terri
It just shows how perseverance pays, that and not trying to juggle TOO MANY things at once. Th elavender flow cupcakes look fabulous party treats delicate and pretty. You really are so inventive. I must getround to trying to cook more with lavender, I have plenty on my allotment, but I do share it with the bees
hope you have a super weekend!
I love your fails – the photography seems to make them…not such a fail!
Love the color!
Such perseverance – a good lesson for life! And look how beautiful everything turned out in the end
Smidge, sometimes reading your posts is like a few moments of meditation…thank you. I feel quite restored.
I think the lavender frosting is gorgeous! And I must say, your brownies that fell? Looks to me like it was purposeful. A nice little dip to hold a scoop of ice cream or flavored whipped cream!
Such wonderful flavors and soft pastel lavender! Yum!
Barb, I can sooooo relate to your post. Today was the birthday party for ponytail #1 and next Saturday is the party for ponytail #2. Then there are four other parties this week — I just RSVPed to one and referenced the wrong date…but there in fact is another party on the date I referenced. Anyway…….June is always like that. I almost added asparagus to my cupcakes yesterday, so I totally get what you are saying. Here’s to putting our feet up in July!
Oh the truth in this post! I do best baking when I’ve got the house to myself. I spent hours on cinnamon rolls last week, but got the milk to hot while talking to dear husband. I killed the yeast! The were like hockey pucks. Beautifully rolled, sugary hockey pucks. Sigh.
How cute are those cakes!? And a great reminder about taking your time with things, not rushing. I usually need to be reminded of that, so thank you
Love the color coordination, too!
I love this recipe! I know how you feel about not rushing when baking. The other day I left the baking powder out of my recipe
They are so pretty, Smidge! A really pretty colour and size
Fabulous, such a beautiful post! (as always!
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Very delicate and pretty! Great writing – as always!
I love how you bring in the ‘right where you are’ to whatever you’re doing in the kitchen — a gift to your readers. This post resonated with me in lots of ways because of your honesty. You are a greater writer and baker, and to know you make some mistakes in the kitchen, too, frees me up!
The month of June was named after Juno, the Roman goddess who among other things was supposed to protect women.
I’ve never cooked with lavender before, but I do love the smell. I have, however, cooked in a rush before to very similar results. LOL.
There is something about June….it tends to just fly by too.
[...] More dried flower bouquets with lavenderLavender Flow Icing Mini-Cakes [...]
They turned out in the end, well, half of the batch did, lol!
No doffing needed, you are a cooking queen yourself, so I shall curtsy;)
You too!!!
Thanks Sarah.. I definitely learned that rushing shouldn’t be baked.. unless it is a recipe I know off by heart:) I hope you had a wonderful weekend?
Those are such good questions.. I know for me, most of the time it is just my own state of mind and my own perception of whether life is being fair or not? Sometimes.. I can wallow… and that’s tough on the spirit. xoxo
We must all have these baking/cooking mishaps for sure!
Wow.. we’ve had the same sort of week.. I’m sure you’re right, June is just crazy with everything winding up!
I think it helped only so I didn’t finish baking for the week on a negative note.. and also because I needed something to take to the party. Although, next time I might just buy!! (shhh)
I don’t think there is an answer – it’s what you said it’s all in our state of mind – we are all very good on creating our own ghosts and disturb our flow. And we all have them.
I feel your pain, Smidge, been there, done that. I know now to tether myself to the island when I’m baking. No distractions. Put the timer on, then put the timer on my iPhone on. I won’t even allow myself to go upstairs to get just one thing…it’s so easy to get distracted these days.
The lavender cups look wonderful and so summery. I had a conversation with a chef and there are different types of lavender for culinary purposes, although he did say that normal lavender is also edible. I have two varieties in my front garden (they adore sunshine and that’s the only place they can get it in our urban garden).
Although the product in the photos may not look perfect, they are quite likely very edible. The lemon bars can easily be transformed into a crumb, used to make a crust for a lemon pie, perhaps? The brownies look delicious enough to chop roughly and make a trifle out of them with gobs of whipped cream. I have no solution for the lavender flow mini cakes…perhaps just turning down the lights, closing your eyes and popping them like there was no tomorrow is the solution…so as not to waste food. It’s all for the environment, you see!
Hope the rest of your June goes a little smoother.
PS you mentioned Lilac Flow icing, but I think you meant lavender.
Your creations look to good to eat!
I use the wrong “too”! Sorry…
And I meant to type “used”! What’s wrong with me today?
It’s nice to know we all have trials in baking and in the kitchen and thanks for sharing yours. You are so productive and all of your food and images looks so beautiful and perfect, I’d never have guessed…but what a week you had. Still, the lavender flo cupcakes turned out beautifully in the end. It makes me feel calm just to look at them!
Very creative and eco freindly…
These are gorgeous! I am pinning them:]] xo Pita
Loving your lavender cakes. I too have had similar problems especially when rushing… but it all tastes good just the same
I have always been intrigued with using lavender in my baking, so thanks for sharing!
These look so dainty, oh so delightful! Have a great week S!
Loved your thoughts on flow … You have been nominated for my NEW Food Stories Award for Excellence in Storytelling. You can check out the details at my site … http://foodstoriesblog.com/food-stories-award/ … Have a great foodie day!
Your posts are always so colorful, sweet and beautiful! Lavender is one of my favorite colors and scent! I bet the cup-cakes taste heavenly!
You are absolutely right Smidge, life, baking and sanity requires flow but sometimes your to do list gets to be too long and rushing to make ends meet leaves no place for flow
Those cakes are just to-die-for…they look so beautiful! I used to put an ear of lavender into my pocket when I went to work, just to smell it during the stressful day
I’m just relieved to know that you’re human in the kitchen!! Love this.
Sweet cakes and wise words.
You have no idea how reassuring it is when one of my most-admired avatars of gracious living admits to being fallible. Still, every bit of this looks beautiful and utterly delicious, no matter how imperfect it seemed by your standards!
xo