Friday:) Friends, Firemen, and a Few of My Other Peeps

“Help others without any reason and give without the expectation of receiving anything in return.”

― Roy T. Bennett

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Friday’s are always fun. Today, I took the dog for a long walk, went to Zumba, and met some friends for an impromptu lunch. The neat part is, I thought I was meeting just one friend, but she texted a couple other girls, and they were free, so they surprised me. Fun!

I had stopped at Fire Station 5 on the way to lunch, but they were all out on a call. Fortunately, they were back after lunch. I was up to my usual crazy baking frenzy, so I thought I’d share my cupcakes and brownies with my local fire fighters. They always appreciate a visit from Miss Toni.

A few Peeps for my special peeps.

When I got home, another long walk with Bella. Then, I dropped her off back home, then walked a few blocks to Mr. Larry’s and Miss Sandy’s. Yep, they were sitting in the garage. Time for a Blue Moon beer and some neighborhood gossip.

It was starting to get dark, so I scurried home, with just enough time to visit a couple more neighbors with my famous Peep cupcakes.

Enough sharing for today. It’s Black Russian Friday.

Sunday Service and Some More of My Peeps

“Easter is a time where we are reminded that conclusions in man’s mind are beginnings in God’s plan.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough, Flecks of Gold on a Path of Stone: Simple Truths for Profound Living

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My Easter started by greeting for 9 o’clock Mass. I arrived before 8, anticipating a crowded service, and I was right. Church was full before 8:30 and the overflow were seated in chairs in the vestibule, and the rest sent across to the community center. It was great to see so many celebrating this special day.

  
When Mass finished around 10:20, people were already streaming in for the 11 o’clock service. No one was greeting at the door, so I stayed to greet for the next Mass. I didn’t have anywhere to rush off to. 

I decided to stop at McDonald’s and treat myself to some pancakes for breakfast. I’m finally eating a little soft solid food. I was the only one in there the entire hour or so that I was eating. The whole place to myself.

  
When I got home, it was time to finish frosting and putting peeps on more cupcakes. I still had a few neighbor’s and two fire stations to deliver to.

Some more PEEPS for my PEEPS.

   
    
   
Then, of course my PEEPS at the fire stations.

   
Station 2- a little blurry. They were trying to take a bite while I was trying to take a picture. 

 
Station 1

After deliveries, my friend Kelle had invited me for dinner. She made two delicious homemade soups in sympathy for my sore mouth and missing tooth. Then, we went over to the Celt Pub on the square to listen to some music. The sun had come out, and it turned out to be a pretty nice day.

  

A little classical music for a classy Sunday evening. 

Then, a perfect end to a lovely Easter Sunday, a call from both of my sons. 

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY PEEPS PUT THERE!

Saturday:) Bunny Baking Bonanza For My Peeps

“If you are kind to your peeps, your peeps will be kind to you.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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My “peeps” are the greatest. I usually call them my friends, but around Easter time, I call them my peeps. I bake up a storm during Easter weekend, making these cute bunny peep cupcakes and sharing them with neighbors and friends. I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

  
  
Step 1: Bake a zillion mini cupcakes. Some chocolate with a cherry, others with marshmallow and chocolate chips. The yellow cake mix cup cakes have a small piece of peach.

  
Step 2: Frost 1/2 a zillion cupcakes, add a peep to the middle with a mini marshmallow tail and a jelly bean in front. (The other 1/2 zillion for tomorrow)

  

Step 3: Start delivering the peeps to your peeps. 

  
 
Fire Station 5 peeps. I always appreciate my local fire fighters. Station 2 went out on a call just as I was pulling in. I’ll have to catch them tomorrow. I still have the other 1/2 zillion cup cakes for tomorrow. 

Hoppy Easter to all my PEEPS out there. Love you guys!

 

Wednesday Words of Wisdom:Firemen Love Cupcakes Too

Don’t wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. 

~Lora Brody

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Yesterday, Mom and I stopped by McKinney Fire Station #5 with a dozen bunny Peep cupcakes and some brownies. I thought Mom would get a kick out of having her picture taken with a cute fireman. Well, turns out that they were having a training session with several stations. One of the visiting firemen from station #7 said, “Let me just grab one of these before they’re all gone.”

I just wanted a quick picture, but he insisted we go back to meet the other firemen and get a photo with the new shiny red fire engine in the back. They were so kind to Mom, even helping her walk down the long hall, then later one gentleman helped her into my car. We have the nicest firemen!

  

I’m always telling my mom about my many trips with cupcakes, brownies, or cookies to the fire station. Now, she got to see firsthand why I do this. Firemen and police officers are willing to risk their lives every day for us, the least I can to is bake a few cupcakes. Everyone likes to be appreciated.

  

   

 

  

Saturday: Some More of My Peeps

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”
― Ruth Reichl
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A beautiful day here in McKinney. I went to the 9:30 Zumba class, and went for a walk when I got home. Then…time to finish decorating the rest of the cupcakes that I didn’t have time to finish yesterday. If you recall, I couldn’t find anymore bunny Peeps, so I bought the yellow chicks. Here ya go…

Then, all my peeps and I delivered a few more cupcakes to neighbors, friends and of course, the firemen.

Firefighter Eddington at Station #5. (My local station. They were on a call yesterday when I stopped by)
Then, off to Station #8. Captain Chandler came to the door with a big smile.

He was joined by a hungry companion.

I did tell the firefighters that I ran out of bunnies, but seeing as they were “chick magnets,” that they could appreciate the humor.
After my deliveries, I enjoyed the sunny afternoon having lunch and visiting with friends on the Square. A good day with all my “peeps.”

Friday Friends, Firemen and Funny Peeps

“You never forget a beautiful thing that you have made,’ [Chef Bugnard] said. ‘Even after you eat it, it stays with you – always.”
― Julia Child, My Life in France
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I had all the ingredients set out last night so I could get up early and start my baking frenzy. As I opened the fridge to take out the eggs, oh no, only two eggs. So, off to the store I went. Foolish me, I thought I’d have time to make frosting, bake and decorate ten dozen cupcakes in the morning, take a long walk, and be out of the house by two. Ha! But, I did manage to post my progress hourly on my Facebook page. Here’s the progress.

Set out ingredients, then go to the store for the eggs I forgot.

Make a funny face with the cake mix and eggs.

Make two batches of cream cheese frosting. Vanilla and chocolate.

The chocolate cupcakes had a dollop of cherry pie filling, the yellow had a peach slice.

Frost and decorate a zillion cupcakes and mini cupcakes…then share with friends.

Justin and Karri…my good friends at Papa Murphy’s Pizza. Hi guys!

Firefighter Taylor over at Station #1. He looks pretty pleased.

The firemen at Station #2 invited me inside. On my way out, I found a lucky penny next to the fire truck. ( a very lucky sign. Someone up there saying, “Good job!”)

My senior friends at Towne creek loved the cute cupcakes, too. I took a few over to my friend Lynne’s house, and took a few over for the triplets next door. BUT… I ran out of peeps. Oh no. I had more cupcakes to decorate for tomorrow. I went to three stores tonight and everyone was out of the bunny peeps. So, I ended up having to buy some yellow chick peeps at Walgreens. I have a few more firehouses to get to tomorrow. (I was disappointed at first, but then I thought…huh, those cute firemen are “chick magnets,” so it will be quite appropriate.)
So, here’s to all my “PEEPS” out there.

A Good Friday

It was a good Good Friday. How was your day? I got up at the crack of dawn. Well, there really wasn’t a crack, as much as a full-fledged right smack in your face sunshine pouring in the windows morning. My plan for the day was to get up early and start baking a zillion cute cupcakes with the marshmallow Peep bunnies on top. Everybody loves them.

It was a massive production. While the mixer was blazing with the first batch of yellow cake mix, the oven was reaching 350 degrees. I put paper cupcake liners in 2 pans of a dozen, and started pouring in batter, adding a teaspoon of cherry pie filling in the center. While the cupcakes were baking, I started mixing up the cream cheese frosting, adding a little green food coloring. Then another batch of chocolate cupcakes.

Several hours and 48 cupcakes later, I placed pink and yellow Peeps on top of each one, using a pretzel stick instead of a toothpick to secure the bunny. Then I put a dab of frosting on a mini marshmallow for a bunny tail.

The first dozen went over to Fire Station 5. I took a couple over to Kerri and Justin at Papa Murphy’s when I picked up my pizza for dinner later. Six more went next door to the triplets and the family. Then, it was 2 pm and time for my senior art group. They enjoyed the special bunny treats. Who wouldn’t?

There are a few more unfrosted cupcakes left, but I’ll frost them fresh in the morning and find a few more folks to share them with.” Nothin’ says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven.”

Oh yes! I always like to make a funny face with the mixes. What do you think?