Pinned It Made It Monday Week 19

Good Morning! The weather is so crazy here! The past week we moved our youngest home from college and on that day our oldest was getting 8" of snow. Then two the next day we headed to the other side of the state to attend our oldest's Honor Program and College graduation the next day. Got some sun while having a picnic on the porch, but had to come home a day early as another snowstorm was coming in. The kids got caught in it a bit Sunday morning, but are all home safe. NOW it's suppose to snow here today! I had all my winter clothes packed away and had to pull a few out yesterday.

Okay, on to something a bit more sunny....I made these adorable bee cupcakes for our April Ladies' Night Out group. We had a bee theme and everyone one loved these. They were so much fun to make!

I used THIS pin for the inspiration to make the bees on the cupcakes (but not the recipe). Then I made THESE honey cupcakes, THIS recipe for honey meringue, and THIS recipe for salted caramel drizzle (I thought drizzling honey might be too over-powering and the caramel was the perfect complement to the honey!).

The cupcakes were super yummy! Definitely a keeper. I used almond slices for the bees and a sunflower seed for its stinger which you can barely see in the photo above. Then melted chocolate to make the eyes and stripes on the bee. To make the bees see recipe below.

My friend had picked up a tiny bear at a garage sale and showed it to me and asked if I could possibly find some. I did some googling and found these cute little bears. Typed out the Bible verse, covered it with clear contact paper and adhered them all to the front. 

I also found these adorable bee stickers by JoLee on Amazon to add to the top. These are the favors that all the ladies rec'd. 

HONEY CUPCAKES
a recipe by Lauren Kapeluck
{makes 1 dozen cupcakes}
For the cake:
1 stick butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 12 cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In medium bowl mix together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
3. In small bowl mix together wet ingredients: buttermilk, honey and vanilla, set aside.
4. In bowl of stand mixer cream butter and sugar on medium speed until combined.
5. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
6. Gradually add the dry and wet ingredients, alternating starting and ending with dry ingredients and mix until combined.
7. Using ice cream scoop fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
8. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
9. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.
10. Once cupcakes are completely cool, ice.

{courtesy of thecakeblog}

Simple Meringue Frosting Recipe

• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 egg whites, eggs at room temperature will be easier to separate
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional) **I used real vanilla Aaron brought me from Haiti

Simple Meringue Frosting Directions

This recipe takes less than 10 minutes, but it does have to be done all at once. The honey must be poured into the egg whites while it is still hot or it will solidify.  The hot honey also cooks the egg whites.

1. Heat honey in a saucepan over medium heat 5-10 minutes; until mixture bubbles and darkens.
2. Meanwhile, separate two eggs, being very careful to avoid getting any yolk in with the whites.
3. Add the salt to the egg whites.
4. Put two whites in a stand mixer with a whip attachment, or use a hand held mixer and a bowl held steady by a helper.
5. Mix starting on medium.
6. As the eggs start to froth, turn the mixer up to high.
7. At the same time you turn the mixer up to high, start pouring the honey in with a thin steady stream, taking about 1 minute to pour in the hot honey.
8. Continue mixing on high as the frosting fluffs and thickens and is cool enough to touch, 2-3 minutes.
9. Add the optional vanilla while mixing.
10. Use a spatula or butter knife to frost cupcakes, or spoon into a piping bag and pipe onto cupcakes for a more decorative look.  The icing goes on the cupcakes or cake easiest if used within a couple hours of making. 

{courtesy of healthhomehappy}

HOMEMADE CARAMEL SAUCE:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tbls water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract

1.  COOK:  In a small saucepan, briefly stir together sugar and water and bring to a boil.  Continue cooking on medium-high heat, without stirring, until the mixture turns DARK amber in color.  About 7-8 minutes.

2.  ADD:  Remove sugar and water mixture from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla.  Stir with a wooden spoon until mixture is completely smooth.  Then set aside until it is cool to the touch.  About 30 min.

{courtesy of fishstitch}

HONEY BEES

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup dried milk

mix together and refrigerate, then form into bees

this recipe I came up with after viewing several and working out a ratio to make it simple and work for my bees