Cupcake Wars

 The kids were out of school last Thursday as it was the end of term.  We thought it would be a good day for friends over, but it just wasn't working out.  What to do?  We looked at the calendar and happened to notice that it was Tanner and Ashlyn's half birthday.  Huzzah!  We needed to celebrate.  We also had a neighbor friend who had just had a surgery and has a birthday two days after the twins, he needed some cheering and celebration too... thus Cupcake Wars was born.  Each twin had to decide on a flavor of cupcake and frosting.  They had to look up a recipe and follow it.  And then also think of a cute way to decorate their cupcakes.

Here is Ashlyn's entry:

It was a chocolate cupcake with mint frosting.  She crumbled up chocolate chips to give it a mint chocolate chip look and then melted some chocolate chips, put the melted chocolate in a baggie and snipped the end.  She piped chocolate in the shape of hearts and put them in the fridge to set and then used them as cupcake toppers.

Tanner's Entry: 

Tanner decided to go mini-cupcakes, which became a bit of a problem because they were harder to get out.  I didn't plan ahead and didn't have cupcake wrappers and his fell a bit apart.  He decided to go red velvet.  And his were quite a bit fluffier than Ashlyn's.  Her's were more of a dense brownie like consistency.  Tanner decided to go with a basketball theme as he is in the middle of basketball and we made some simple marshmallow fondant, which he then rolled flat, cut out with a circle shape and then made the lines of the ball.

Everyone tried one of each and we all came out winners because we got to eat some delicious cupcakes and the day was spent productively learning to bake.  No one was bored and the kitchen was one huge fabulous mess!  Best of all, we were able to visit our buddy down the lane and brighten his day.

Win.