New England Aquarium

I haven't been to the aquarium since I was a little munchkin. I remembered nothing. 

 pretty cool the brightness of colors in nature

sting rays look like they float through water. apparently their skin is like silk to touch.

 hahaha, this fish makes me giggle, and that lobster to the left looks a wee bit fancier than the maine lobbys i love to eat.

this was a seriously fat turtle; he looks slim here. he was not.

little penguins...such sass pants with their waddling

another gorgeous display or color in nature

Cardamom Doughnuts

 It's wonderful that doughnuts (basically cake) is considered a breakfast item.

 My favorite is to dunk my doughnuts in milk. 

 The result of me attempting to make a doughnut tower.

 Up close and personal with deliciousness. 

 No self control when it comes to treats. 

 All that powdered sugar...

 These babies are just begging to be eaten. 

Indulging in a few is okay; they are small after all.

Cardamom Doughnuts: Makes 1 dozen 

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups flour 
2. 3/4 cups sugar
3. 2 tsp baking powder
4. 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
5. 1/2 tsp cinnamon
6. 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
7. 1 tsp salt
8. 3/4 cup milk
9. 1 tsp vanilla
10. 2 eggs 
11. 2 tbsp melted butter

Coating Ingredients:

1. 1 cup powdered sugar
2. 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3. 1 tsp cardamom
4. 4-5 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Spray your doughnut pan with baking spray, coat with oil, crisco, or butter to grease your pan. 
3. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and salt. 
4. In a medium bowl beat together the two eggs. Add the vanilla, milk and melted butter. 
5. Mix ingredients until combined. The batter will be quite thick. Spoon intn doughnut cavities. 
6. Bake for 7-9 minutes. 
7. While the doughnuts bake get your coating ready. Melt the 4-5 tbsp of butter in a shallow bowl or a plate with a rim (a charger plate). 
8. Put the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom in a plastic bag (I used a gallon bag cause it's big and I always make a mess...) 
9. Once the doughnuts are done, flip them onto a cooling rack and as soon as you can dip each side in the melted butter and then place into the powdered sugar mix. Shake firmly but gently until that gorgeous thing is covered in powdered sugar. Place that treat back on the cooling rack and repeat this process with the remainder of the doughnuts. 
10. Dunk away!

Modified from Sweet Peas & Saffron

Mini Brownies

 Little treats...so easy to pop several in your mouth. 

 Perfect for a ladies tea; with a raspberry on top or a swirl of icing perhaps?

 I made one hundred for a friend's benefit dinner. 

Ouuu chocolate, such wonderful stuff. 

Mini Brownies: Makes 55-60 

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 cups flour
2. 3 tbsp cocoa powder
3. 1 cup butter
4. 1 cup chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
5. 3 cups sugar
6. 1 tsp vanilla
7. 6 eggs 
8. 3/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a mini muffin tin (I used a 48 cavity one by Wilton) with baking spray or line with mini muffin liners. I did both and found that it's much easier to use the liners. Less to clean. 
3. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Heat the butter and chocolate in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir constantly. Once thoroughly  melted, turn off heat and set to the side.
5. Whisk together all the eggs in a separate bowl and then add the butter/chocolate mixture while still whisking the mixture.
6. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and whisk until everything is combined. It will be thick.
7. Spoon into muffin liners and lift the muffin tin a few inches in the air and drop it a few times to even out the batter.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes. They will puff up. You can choose to leave them like this and simply sprinkle with a bit of powdered sugar or I took the bottom of my measuring tablespoon and created a crater by pressing the bottom into each brownie so that a topping like fruit or icing can later be put on them easier for decoration. ENJOY!