cupcakes … and a surprise!!

Yesterday was national cupcake day … a fundraiser for the SPCAs/Humane Societies. Lara set herself a $500 goal, so I told her I’d have a cupcake day at the office and donate the proceeds.

In hindsight, I should probably have just donated a big chunk of money because I probably spent more than I raised!

Since it was her fundraiser, I asked Lara to send me her recipes and those would be what I made and sold. Of course, we’re dealing with a ‘professional’, so her recipes weren’t quite what I’m used to.

150 grams of egg? How many eggs is that?

5 grams of vanilla extract?? Is that a tsp??

I thought I might be able to convert the recipes to my usual measurements, but ultimately ended up buying a scale … and more cupcake tins … and a mini cupcake tin … and some fancy cupcake cups … and butter. Lots and lots of butter!

I was very surprised when boss texted to suggest he come over to help me bake. I don’t like having people at my house, but I couldn’t very well say ‘no’ … so, we arranged for him to arrive around 1 and we’d get at it.

He was actually pretty competent in the kitchen, which surprised me. Don’t forget – I speak with his wife (or whatever she is) a lot, and she doesn’t hesitate to complain about him and how he doesn’t do anything around the house.

He stayed for around 3 hours … and in that time we made: vanilla, braised pineapple, cherry pie, chocolate and rolo cupcakes.

Unfortunately, not only were the recipes written in measurements I’m not used to, but the instructions weren’t quite as detailed as a non-professional needed. Well, not as detailed as I needed.

They turned out okay … but not great.

So, after Boss left, I remade all of them.

The vanilla was a pound cake. LOTS of butter. mmmmm

The braised pineapple was a mixture of pineapple, brown sugar, water and rum (cooked) added to some of the pound cake batter.

The cherry pie was easy – a spoon of pound cake batter in the bottom of the cups … a goober of cherry pie filling in the centre … covered by more cake batter.

The chocolate was, well, chocolate cake batter

The rolo was caramel ice cream topping squeezed into the centre of a cooked chocolate cupcake.

The 1st try at the pound cake batter wasn’t great. I hadn’t whipped the butter/sugar enough … and then I added the egg too quickly … so the texture of the cake was pretty grainy.

2nd try was much better … but if I make it again, I will whip it up for even longer!

The pineapple cupcakes were wonderful! My favourite by far!!

The cherry pie was pretty good too, but quite piddly so I didn’t do very many of them.

The chocolate cake is a wonderful recipe and I will make it again! Light and fluffy and not too sweet.

I didn’t like the rolo at all, and was very disappointed. The cake just absorbed the caramel topping and didn’t really have the effect that I expected.

… on to the buttercream icing.

I must say, I was pretty intimidated when I saw the recipe. Sugar cooked to 117 degrees, added to egg whites that have been whipped to just the right consistency, then the butter dropped in bit by bit by bit. I was very intimidated by the recipe, but Lara suggested I go on youtube and watch a video … which really helped and made me feel quite competent.

So, I made Italian Meringue Buttercream icing … and it turned out really well!

Yes, I am proud of myself!

* * * * *

Now for the surprise –

You all know how I’m up and down about my job. I do complain quite a bit, frequently check the job listings, apply for new jobs, get frustrated by Boss and his wife (or whatever she is) …

Yes. I do sometimes struggle with that job.

Well, today I was told I was being promoted to ‘General Manager’. What exactly that means, I’m not quite sure. It will be an expansion on what I already do – ‘more responsibility’ I was told. I will be ‘over’ the people who are currently my peers.

That means I’ll be answering for pretty much everything that goes on in the company … or, more specifically everything that goes WRONG in the company.

I wasn’t really ‘offered’ the promotion. I don’t know if I can say “ummm … no. Thanks. I’d prefer to just maintain the status quo.”

But, honestly, you know I wouldn’t do that. I like being in charge. I’m actually very excited at the prospect. It is pretty daunting because I know they will expect more from me and I’m already maxed out … so I’ll have to delegate some stuff and I don’t have that many people I trust who will do the work to suit me.

Hopefully this won’t backfire.

The good thing is that since my review, Boss and I have been communicating more. Talking with him gives me a much better balance about the place. His wife (or whatever she is) is pretty emotional and extreme and if she is the only one I’m talking to, I start to lose my perspective. I have to remember how important it is that I keep a connection with Boss. Two sides of the coin. Yin and Yang.

She told me we’d review how things are going in 3 months and then I’ll get a raise.

I wonder how much.

Whatever it is, I will have the full amount directed into an RRSP. I really have to start saving money for retirement and what better way than to just ignore a raise and put it into the bank.

So.

Yay me.

* * * * *

Moodie had her teeth cleaned today …

And her annual check-up …

And her anals expressed …

And she was microchipped …

And we had her blood work done.

$600.

That was actually the low end of the estimate – could have run around $1,000 if she had needed extractions or fillings.

I’m going to start brushing her teeth now. I don’t want to have to put this much money out every three years.

* * * * *

It’s storming again.

It might be a snow day tomorrow. I’ve already booked it off as vacation so I’ll be losing a holiday … and I brought home the laptop because I’ve just got too much to do and we’re already at month end. Not much of a day off – I just wanted to be home in case Moodie wasn’t doing well.

She’s still pretty mopey and hasn’t done much but sleep since we got home this evening.

Poor little girl.

* I WISH YOU WELL! *