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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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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Genovese Basil

Posted on July 8th, 2008 by Monique, under Cooking, Food, Gardening, Nature, Photography, Plants, Vegetarian.

This year I am growing several types of basil. This includes Genovese basil. It smells wonderful, and its big leaves are quite lovely. I have a bunch of small plants that are doing very well and look so pretty, I had to take some pictures.

One day, these lush green plants will be making my spaghetti sauce extra tasty.

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Corn Harvest Time

Posted on July 8th, 2008 by Monique, under Food, Gardening, Photography.

So we grew some corn this year, it was our first time and we learned. I think I planted them way too close together, I did not want to damage the young sprouts so I did not thin them out, and this resulted in little small ears of corn. They were delicious, even so.

This was a white corn from burpee seeds, SugarPearl Hybrid Sweet Corn. It grew so fast, and we can’t wait to grow more again next year. But spaced out properly so we get big fat ears. The corn also makes a wonderful habitat for the baby anole lizards.

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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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The Mystery Plant

Posted on June 23rd, 2008 by Monique, under Daily Life, Gardening, Photography, Plants.

So there was a spot on the chain link fence where the blackberry vines grow that was bare from the dog shoving his head in the leaves to peek at the dogs next door. Yes my dog Max is like a nosy old man. An entire yard to play in, and he wants to know what the dogs next door are doing instead. What are the dogs next door doing? Laying in the sun, sleeping, enjoying themselves and oblivious to my peeping tom dog. SO… there was a bare spot on the fence, so I placed a large potted tomato plant that was dying in front of it. Months later, it appeared. It was the mystery plant.

I needed the pot, the tomato was long dead and winter was coming to an end. However, I noticed this interesting little plant springing up, and I did not want to kill it thinking it might be something cool. So I planted some provence lavender in the pot, and left this thing.

Months later, it is completely out of control. Does anyone know what this thing is? Its pretty crazy!

The wind will not knock it over, nothing seems to phase this funky looking thing. It hasn’t flowered or anything, and it does not seem to be a harmful plant.

I would be ever so gracious to anyone who knows what this plant is called. We are in South Louisiana, so its native to here.

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Pictures I took while I was really high

Posted on June 8th, 2008 by Monique, under Daily Life, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Travel, Weblog.

…in the air that is.

I took some lovely pictures while on a flight to and from MSY and LAX. I flew non-stop United “TED” and had a great experience. The pictures came out much better than I thought they would! Click the image for more full sized pics.

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Broken Heart Velvet Purse

Posted on June 8th, 2008 by Monique, under Art, Design, Fabric, Fashion, Photography, Purses, Sewing, Shopping, Textiles, Weblog.

So here is a recent attempt I made at a velvet purse. It didn’t take me very long, I used a simple pattern I bought at the sewing shop. I dyed all the fabric and drew the broken heart design by hand, it was fun. I have about a dozen more designed in my head, now all I need is the time to make them all! Click the picture for full sized image:

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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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