Monday, November 12, 2012

Blueberry Cupcakes, school room hijacked, blindfolds, and other birthday surprises!


Shhh, I {great big heart} surprises


October is my favorite month of the year because the weather is made-to-order-gorgeous. It also happens to be the month that started our little family five.  I've written about it here: Cameron's birthday, the Beginning of a Family.   I've also shared my personal story here: Secrets of a Teen Mom.  

This year was Cameron's GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!  He turned 12 on the 12th.  
To celebrate the golden birthday, I left a pouch of gold chocolate coins and gold confetti at his breakfast place setting.  


We do a few handfuls of other birthday traditions too that I don't have pictured this time.  Every year, we decorate the stairs with balloons, a banner, and streamers for them to walk out to.  I put birthday window clings on the bathroom mirror for them to discover when they brush their teeth, etc, etc, etc.  I've shared some of these ideas on this past post here: 5 minute birthday traditions.  

This year, Cameron had school on his birthday.  Boring.  Aren't birthday holidays?  To keep it fun, I snuck into his school locker and stashed some of his favorite snacks with a quick birthday note.  (Again, no pictures).  

I also planned a surprise visit to his math class.  I found a science tutor who performs math and science experiments at exhibits, etc. and hired her to show up at the school and surprise the students with something more exciting than their normal math class for the day.  I didn't want Cameron's birthday to feel too ordinary since he was stuck at school all day.  I met the science tutor in the school parking lot and we hijacked Cameron's math class a few minutes into it!  She took over from there and entertained the students with science experiments for the hour.  



This 12 year old boy really has my heart. a lot.  


This experiment below was a flop. ;)  But, I double love this photo because I arranged for Titus and Kotah to sneak away from their classes when the science tutor arrived and join in the fun.  Titus is the little guy in the very middle of all the big guys looking TOO ADORABLE.


After a brief lesson in physics and science, the surprise tutor left, and school went on as usual.  I brought some blueberry cupcakes that I baked to share with the class before I left.  I'll share more on those in a bit.  When the school day was over, I picked Cameron up and blindfolded him, put money in his hand (he had to guess how much...and he guessed it right!! Grrr lol)


I then drove him to the LEGO store to pick out whatever he wanted.  Remember the LEGO party I threw for his 10th?  Well...he still loves those things.   It was his lucky day.  Don't worry.  He could breathe.  Barely.



Okay!  About those cupcakes...

Deliciously perfect.  Martha Stewart has it right, like always.  I found these beauties in my Martha Stewart Living magazine.  


You could find them now too right here from me to you:

Blueberry Cupcakes
  • Ingredients

    For The Topping

    • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 1/4 cup dark-brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • For The Cupcakes

    • 1 2/3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
    • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
    • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 3/4 cup sour cream
    • 6 ounces blueberries (1 1/4 cups)
  • For The Icing

    • 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
    • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
    • 1/4 cup high-quality blueberry jam, such as Hero, strained (3 tablespoons)

Directions  

  1. Make the topping: Mix together granulated and brown sugars and cinnamon.
  2. Make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in upper third of oven. Line cups of a standard muffin tin with baking cups. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then beat in vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to low, and beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour. Fold in blueberries.
  3. Divide batter among baking cups. Add topping, pressing to adhere to batter. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 20 to 21 minutes. Remove cupcakes from tin, and let cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Make the icing: Beat together butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and gradually beat in vanilla and confectioners' sugar. Raise speed to medium-high, and beat 1 minute. Spoon jam on top of icing, and without stirring, spoon icing into a disposable pastry bag. Snip off a 3/4-inch opening in tip, and pipe swirled mounds of icing on top of each cupcake. Although best if eaten immediately, cupcakes can be refrigerated up to 6 hours and brought to room temperature 45 minutes before serving.

ta da!


photo via my new Instagram account!


Topped with brown sugar and cinnamon first!  Then finished with cream cheese and blueberry jam mixed frosting.  








Take the classic blueberry muffin, turn it into a lovely white cupcake with the freshest blue blueberries, top with cinnamon sugar streusel, bake at the 350!, Swirl on blueberry jam and cream cheese frosting, and that equals just about perfect all within one cupcake liner loves! 




 Whirled in blueberry jam swirled in with creamy frosting






 Cameron had a memorable 12th golden birthday!  Later this week I'm going to share photos of his actual birthday PARTY that we celebrated with family this year.  The theme was IDEAL for him and also IDEAL for the autumn season! I can't wait to show and share it all with you soon.

Making memories with moments,

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8 comments:

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

I just love all the wonderful things you do for your boys! Creating so many cherished memories for them.
Their wives are going to have a lot to live up to. ha!

Vanessa said...

Hi, Lisa

How fun and the cupcakes look so yummy! Seem like your son had a great birthday.

Vanessa

joyh82 said...

Those cupcakes look wonderful. Hope he had a great bday!

Anonymous said...

These cupcakes look soooo good that I even looked up the recipe BUT it was just too many steps for me at the moment.... maybe some day! Loved this birthday, I think its one of my favorites!

Jenn said...

I love how these look and I bet they taste amazing.

Sugar Swings said...

wow you are a way cool mom, and blueberry cupcakes too??! nice!

Unknown said...

Oh man! Those things look amazing. Blueberry is my favorite. We just had blueberry muffins for breakfast yesterday. The frosting came out perfect. I would love for you to share these amazing things at Mom's Library http://www.trueaimeducation.com/2012/11/handmade-christmas-gift-ideas-and-moms.html

Adorned From Above said...

These cupcakes look amazing. I would love to have you share this with this weeks Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop. The link to the party is
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/11/washi-tape-idea-book-and-wednesdays.html#
I hope to see you there.
Have a great week.
Debi @ Adorned From Above