Monthly Munch: May

Spring is definitely here, and our boys are growing as fast as the plants.  We managed outings to a medieval market, a vintage car show, and an art festival, and celebrated Graham's birthday.

Toby

- is reading more and more.  He made a good attempt at Dr Seuss' Great Day for UP! from the library, and read a short thank you note that I'd written to some friends.  He amused us one time we were out by picking up one of my books, dragging a chair into a playhouse, and sitting down to read.

- says his favourite colours are purple and red, his favourite food is noodles, and his favourite toy is an "odd-stickle" (obstacle) course.

- loves running around in the rain with the laundry basket on his head.

- also enjoys it when we open all the windows in the car.

- went to a birthday party in a Superman costume, but hasn't quite mastered the Superman pose.

Like this?

Or this?

How about this?

- ate "the biggest strawberry in the world"

Quotes:
"Dad's forty-one now, and on Tuesday he's going to be forty-blinking-two!"

On seeing a particularly long-legged dog: "That's bigger than a giraffe!"

To me: "You're a little girl."
Me: "I used to be a little girl, but I'm not any more."
Toby: "Did you die?"

Theo
- still has big blue eyes, and has developed a sweet smile (not shown!)

- weighed 14 lb 10 oz at his latest weigh-in (6.65 kg if you prefer metric).

- finds his big brother most entertaining.

- reckons he could stand up if only Mum would let go of him

Thankful for:
- a lot of laughs with my church small group

- sunny days in the garden

- more than £1 a day to buy food (one of my friends did the Live Below the Line challenge this month)

Recipe of the Month

I seem to have got into making regular cakes into cupcakes - and my mum has just given me some beautiful cupcake cases, so there will be more to come!  I adapted this carrot cake recipe long ago, and as far as I know it's still delighting customers at Cairns Cafe.  If you want a large cake, bake in a lined 8" x 12" pan.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

8 oz plain (all-purpose) flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
12 oz sugar
8 oz grated carrot
3 eggs
10 fl oz vegetable oil

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
Fill cupcake cases 2/3 full.  Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20-25 minutes until springy.
Ice with cream cheese icing.

Cream cheese icing
3 oz softened butter
3 oz full-fat cream cheese
12 oz icing (confectioner's) sugar
1 tsp lemon juice

Beat well until fluffy and creamy.  Pipe onto the cupcakes using a large star tube.  If you want to add carrots to your cupcakes, tint a few spoonfuls orange and a few spoonfuls green.  Use a no. 10 writing nozzle for the carrot and a leaf nozzle for the tops.

I got 12 rather well-filled cupcakes (the deep American kind, not the shallow fairy cake size) plus a mini loaf cake.  I reckon it would stretch to 15 not-quite-so-over-filled ones if you wanted.