New Orleans Cupcake Craze has arrived

Posted on January 16th, 2009 by Monique, under Cooking, Daily Life, Kitchen, Louisiana, New Orleans, Photography, Vegetarian, Weblog.

Who doesn’t love cupcakes?!?! I personally enjoy cupcakes, from searching for new recipes to eating them with loved ones. They are like a little special cake, just a serving and just enough. The fun thing about cupcakes are you can make them especially decadent and they disappear! Its much different from baking an entire large cake in that fashion. I know some people can huff down a chunk of chocolate cake by inhaling, but some of us like to be a little more reserved in our cupcake chowing.

In the last ten years, there has been a growing trend nation wide of cupcake specialty bakeries opening up. At a couple dollars a piece, in today’s economy almost anyone can get some change together and for less than $5 have a coffee and sweet little cupcake treat. So it is not surprising that this trend has finally hit New Orleans, who embraces such things with open arms.

I myself am a vegetarian, so when I make cupcakes I substitute all the animal products such as eggs and dairy butter and make vegetarian cupcakes. The result is still a wonderful sweet delightful treat, as seen in my cute cupcake pic below:

I was so glad to come across this article about the New Orleans cupcake craze this morning.

Zoey Devall is still pinching herself. A few months ago, she was working as vice president of external affairs for the economic development organization Greater New Orleans Inc. Today, she spends her days inside an Uptown storefront, churning out cupcakes by the hundreds.

“It’s just been an amazing response,” Devall said of customers’ reaction to her boutique cupcake bakery, Bee Sweet Cupcakes, at 5706 Magazine St.

The 375-square-foot store, with sugar sweet turquoise walls, flowery accessories and a display case filled with all varieties of cupcakes selling for $2.75 a piece, opened the day after Thanksgiving. The debut came just months after Devall decided to pursue the idea, inspired by Monday night baking sessions with her 4-year-old son and frequent trips to New York.

“We had a line,” she recalled of opening day. “And it was raining.”

Okay, so its officially Mardi Gras Carnival Season, where’s the king cupcakes!?! I will have to find some, or make some… hmmm

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Happy New Year

Posted on January 14th, 2009 by Monique, under Daily Life, New Orleans, Weblog.

I almost feel like my brain is still stuck in December! The time has been flying by, and it is quite amazing.

I am barely getting back into the swing of things, like blogging, so check back for updates.

It is officially carnival season here too, as in Mardi Gras is coming!

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the final day of Carnival, which begins on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6. Also known as Kings’ Day or Twelfth Night, Jan. 6 celebrates the arrival of the three kings at Jesus’ birthplace, thus ending the Christmas season. And in New Orleans, simultaneously starting Carnival. This festival of fun finds its roots in various pagan celebrations of spring, dating back 5,000 years.

Tonight, another arctic cold front is supposed to be on its way here. Moderate freeze… bring your puppies and kitties inside if you are in SE Louisiana.

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Hurricane Gustav Evacuation

Posted on September 6th, 2008 by Monique, under Animals, Daily Life, Nature, New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography, Plants, Travel.

As I make this blog entry, I am still decompressing from the last week+ that I have been through dealing with my first hurricane, Gustav.

Having moved here in 2006 post Katrina-land, I really didn’t think I would ever have to go through anything like that. And I have not, because Katrina was a real bitch. Luckily, my experience was very watered down (no pun intended) compared to what they went through for Katrina. On the flip side, we didn’t get nice fema payments and red cross money like they did in 2005, but I wouldn’t want to go through anything like that so no big deal. Those things are for those in need.

I am rather pleased with my experience, it could have been ten times worse, and I hope that the next couple months while we prepare to move aren’t plagued with anymore “5 day cones.”

So as I attempted to make some lemonade with the sour fruit I was given, I decided to take some pictures and capture some images to bring my experiences to the internet, even as the dry nature of text and images lack to convey what it is really like. It’s the best I can do.

Here is where my camera started, snapping a picture of little 9 lb Penny the miniature pinscher as she prepared for an adventure. It was easily 100 degrees F, we had lots of water, and Penny was excited and well behaved as always. Tongue hanging out, ready for some fun, safe with her human friends.

On the highway we would see dozens of other dogs, all kinds of animal pets, even a ferret. I tried to take pics of them all, and in the craziness I got off a couple of shots. (more…)

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French Quarter Door

Posted on July 14th, 2008 by Monique, under New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography, Travel.

Driving through the french quarter is fun, I always bring my camera to catch the interesting sights.

I have no idea what goes on, behind that door…

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Night Owl on the Flagpole

Posted on July 2nd, 2008 by Monique, under Animals, Gardening, New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography.

So the other night we are coming home from New Orleans, and upon pulling in the driveway this animal thing caught my eye from above. It was an owl on the flagpole. He must have been hunting. Maybe he will get some of those digging rodents in the garden…

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Growing Cherry Tomatoes

Posted on May 20th, 2008 by Monique, under Daily Life, Food, Gardening, Nature, New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography, Vegetarian, Weblog.

We have about 10×30 feet in the backyard of fended off garden area, and are growing lots of tomatoes. Here is a picture of the cherry tomatoes. This plant has tripled in size and already making tomatoes within a month of planting it in the ground. It had a little bit of yellowing leaves at the base of the plant, but looks like it is taking off and should make us lots of salad tomatoes. Yum.

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McDonalds Caramel Sundaes on Sunday

Posted on May 18th, 2008 by Monique, under Daily Life, Food, Friends, Kitchen, New Orleans, Photography, Weblog.

On a beautiful springtime sunday in May, we went to McDonalds for sundaes. Caramel sundaes with apples pies on the side.

I want more just looking at the pics!

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Nissan Titan

Posted on May 18th, 2008 by Monique, under Daily Life, New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography, Travel, Weblog.

I see these Nissan Titan trucks all over the place! A truck is really an important vehicle to have here in South Louisiana, and there are lots of family people here. So these roomy luxury trucks are all over. They actually look pretty cool, here is a pic I snapped of one:

I like black nissan titans best. With silver rims!

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My female Miniature Pinscher Penny

Posted on May 13th, 2008 by Monique, under Animals, Daily Life, Friends, Nature, New Orleans, Outdoors, Videos, Weblog.

This is a quick video (no audio) that I took with the movie setting of my olympus digital camera.

Penny is my 2 year old miniature pinscher who loves to chase, bark, and play in the backyard. There is a glimpse of our male mini pin Max eating some greens on the side of the fish pond in the background. He grazes like a cow and watches the fish like the old dog he is.

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Morning Sunrise in South Louisiana

Posted on May 13th, 2008 by Monique, under Animals, Daily Life, Nature, New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography, Weblog.

This morning I found myself in my backyard being showered by sparkly sunbeams swirling in the sky. The sky in south Louisiana is beautiful. It was cool and the sunshine was plentiful.

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