"Everything's better with bacon!"

...at least that's what Ben says. I am not a bacon fan, but because I love my little bacon bit so gosh darn much, I had to make him Paula Deen's Wilbur Cupcakes for his birthday treat. If you like the salty/sweet combo, or if you are just a die hard lover of bacon, like Ben...you will enjoy these little guys.




Ingredients:
Chocolate Cupcakes
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

Bacon Chocolate Frosting
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
4 slices bacon cooked crisp and cut into 1/2” pieces for garnish

Directions
Chocolate Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk; beat well after each addition. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. When cool, frost with Bacon Chocolate Frosting.

Bacon Chocolate Frosting:

In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat margarine and cocoa together until combined. Add milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until desired consistency is achieved. Adjust with more milk or confectioners’ sugar if necessary. Fold in chopped bacon. Frost chocolate cupcakes and top with a piece of crisp bacon for garnish.

Servings: 16
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Difficulty: Moderate

July 17, 1977

Happy Birthday to the man who keeps me smiling, to my favorite vacation companion, my walking buddy, my personal cheerleader, my golf caddy, my shoulder to cry on, my best friend, the love of my life



Ben, sometimes I think your birthday is more fun for me than it is for you! I love spending the day together. Eating breakfast at the club house, walking around Gateway and talking about fun memories and dreaming of our future.
I love you and I'm so glad you're mine!

Ashlee

Be Forever Strong: Girls Camp 2010

Girls Camp was such a ball. It was so gorgeous! I had such a great time with the cute girls in my ward. Every one of them was just so funny and cute and kept me laughing, crying and laughing again. I had to remind myself that I was a leader and not just one of the girls. The girls just made it so fun for me! And even though I was so happy to see Ben when I got home, I already was missing my girls.
I'm so glad that I had the experience and I'm already looking forward to next year.
Farmington 7th ward Girls

Lizzie, me and Jana (Beehive Advisor), on our 10 mile hike!

Summer's here!

This time of the year is a busy one for me and Ben. You can be sure to find us in the yard getting things back into shape. We have been busy planting our annuals and sprucing up the perennials.

This fuzzy guy was hard at work too...

How do you possibly choose a favorite flower?





I have to share with you one of my all time favorite books that I discovered a couple years ago...

This adorable, little book is filled with tons of great ideas and tips for your garden! I love sitting on my patio and reading it. Makes for a major feel good
moment.
Monday was the first day of Summer...yeah! It was also the longest day of the year which I really didn't mind since it was a beautiful day. Sunny and 80 degrees...can't beat that in my book! Ben and I worked in the yard all evening until the sun went down. It was such a beautiful evening. So beautiful that I didn't even mind the stubborn dirt under my fingernails.
Pause on the gardening...I'm off to Girls Camp with my cute Laurels and I have a feeling I'm about to receive payback for being such a spaz in my youth!

xoxo

Learning Something New

A sister can do anything. She can cook an artichoke to perfection. She can sew a skirt cuter than any of the ones you'll see at Downeast! She can plan a Young Women's Girls Camp of impeccable taste, and actually enjoy the planning. She can assist in a newborns delivery at 3 a.m. and then come home just in time to drive car pool. She can MAYBE catch a quick shower before she heads out the door to help Lois. She can do all of this and still teach her little sister how to sew. Thank you, Paige!

Spring Cleaning

I decided it was time. Actually, way past time...to organize my dreaded master closet. Nooooooo! I have been hanging onto clothing that I wore even before I met Ben...11 years ago. My Spring project is to clean and organize all my closets...linen, bedroom closets, etc. This can be quite a chore when you and your spouse tend to hold onto anything with a trace of sentimental value.
While cleaning out things, I came across these little treasures...

Seriously...what was I thinking when I asked for these for I think it was my 22nd birthday. Oh brother...


After a few laughs and several trips to the D.I., I finally finished my project.



Our life on shelves...Ben's golf pants and T-shirts. My Levis and scrubs.



Spring/Summer clothes in, Fall/Winter clothes gone to the other closet!

When Ben got home from work, I showed him the finished product. We just sat on the closet floor and soaked it all in! ;) Nothing better than an organized, clean closet.

What is your Spring project?

Easter, Spring and Snow??

Well, I just kind of forgot to take pics on Easter. Maybe it was the fact that every time I am with my family, I am immediately sucked in by my 14 nieces and nephews and every thing else takes the back seat. But for whatever excuse I may have, this is the only picture I got of Easter day.
Two of my favorite Easter Peeps...Olivia and Spencer. I love these two goof balls.

I wasn't very happy when Mother Nature decided to dump snow on us this week! We got a good 6-8 inches!


Where was the snow in January???
But it was a beautiful weekend. Even the horses were happy to have the sunshine. I caught them "laying out"!

We spent Saturday working in the yard. I saw my first honey bee, got my first mosquito bite, and ate the best BBQ hot dog! So it begins...Spring!

XOXO