Life of Larisa or LOL

Movies and fashion make a great combination-- like peanut butter and jelly, Starbucks and Borders , Keanu and me... I love magazines. Isom can attest to it...they have invaded the house like my books (and now my cupcakes). There are baskets of Marie Claire , Glamour , Elle , and Vogue all around the house. Sometimes I'm smart enough to get a subscription (I almost wrote prescription...Freudian slip) and sometimes I buy them at the store like everyone else. Every September I anxiously await the thickest of the thick... the September issue of Vogue magazine. I'm no super model, and at this age, never will be...but a girl can dream right? Flipping through the artfully designed pages of the world's top designers is fun. You get the chance to see your favorite (and not so favorite) movie stars, the newest trends in fashion, and soak in a completely different world than your own. So, when I heard there would be a movie, I was excited. Not only would I be able to soak

I love poppy seed. I love lemon. I love my poppy seed and lemon cupcakes. I am currently hoarding peanut butter cupcakes and poppy seed cupcakes at my house. I'm not particularly enthused about sharing them...although I know I should. I'm beginning to feel like all these little cupcakes are my babies. I'm producing perfect little cakes...nothing I do is perfect----so you can understand the satisfaction I feel with each cupcake I pull out of the oven. It is a very rewarding feeling...almost as good as the taste of these poppy seed cupcakes! Today, while others around Oahu were supremely worried about being washed away in the Tsunami that wasn't, I was happily baking my troubles away in my kitchen. If you're gonna get washed away, might as well be with a cupcake in hand---or better yet, in your mouth! I do hope that all the residents in Samoa are doing well after today's earthquake. I'm not heartless...just slightly self absorbed and obsessed...wit

My grandma is in town visiting me, Isom , and Gabe. Since she arrived last Thursday, I think she has eaten more cupcakes than she might have eaten in the past year or so. My plan to fatten up the world one person at a time is working! Last night we enjoyed a leisurely evening. I made pasta for dinner and we enjoyed Apple and Cinnamon cupcakes as dessert (so what if it was before dinner). It was a group effort so I can't take all the credit. Isom is my baking errand boy---running to the store at all times of the day and night for extra butter, flour, or eggs. And Gabe is always ready to crack an egg, stir the ingredients, and of course lick the bowl. Grandma has helped by keeping Gabe occupied (thank you---no more asking every minute if the cupcakes are ready) sifting sugar, and had the genius idea to transform left over frosting into fudge ! The apple and cinnamon cupcakes were a hit and pretty...like little apple pies---all they need now is a scoop of vanilla ice cre

And I thought labor and delivery of an 11.2 pound child was hard. I can now easily say that I have put my body through three major traumas. The first was giving birth to who was affectionately called "The Monster Baby" at the hospital. The second was completing my half marathon in which not one, but two...then three of my toe nails fell off---completely. The third was hiking Koko Head last weekend. It was one long, pitocin induced contraction---there just wasn't any recovery time...one step, two step, dying of exhaustion, can't beathe, when will it be over? It was horrendous---and that is putting it mildly. I am only now recovering (6 days later). I figured I better jot a few thoughts down before the memory gets pushed deep in the crevices of my mind...next to the other excruciating pain moments of my life that have gotten buried; only to resurface when I am experiencing something equally as bad. The part that was even harder than climbing large, dusty, broke

Everyone likes chocolate...cupcakes. Everyone except me. But I made these anyway. Sometimes you don't figure things out about yourself until you're 33...or you bake chocolate cupcakes. I think I like the concept of chocolate cupcakes but the reality is somehow different. I whipped up my batter as usual (with the exception of my Grandma being present this time). I did start my music a little late---today's selection Pearl Jam's new album " Backspacer " . I would hate to think that one of my all time favorite bands "jinxed" my cupcakes today, but...well, there just wasn't any oomph to them. The texture was right. They looked right. They smelled right. They just didn't taste right (to me). Could it be that I am cupcaked out? Could I have somehow forgotten to add the sugar? The butter? What was off with this recipe? Then it occurred to me...nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing was wrong...I just don't like chocolate cupc

Everything is relative. Taste is relative. Baking...ingredients. This week, I made Cherry Cupcakes, Very Cherry Cupcakes to be exact. They are definitely the prettiest of the cupcakes made so far. The title in the recipe book led me to believe however, that I would be experiencing a Cherry flavor explosion with every bite... very cherry denotes lots of cherries right? No. And especially if you are lacking in the very cherry ingredient of kirsch . Two lessons were learned in the making of these very cherry cupcakes. Lesson number one: kirsch is a cherry flavored liqueur. I did not know this. Lesson number two: kirsch is nowhere to be found on this island. Oh, and wait, there is a third lesson. Lesson number three: confectioners sugar and super fine granulated sugar are NOT to be substituted. They simply are not the same. You pro bakers out there may be chuckling to yourselves, whispering "silly novice" to your computer screen, but these were not obvious thing

Who knew so much fun could be had on hot asphalt? On Saturday the fam packed up and headed out to Hickam Air Force base . Destination: Thunderbird Air Show . I was pretty sure it would be a two thumbs up kind of day for Gabe---anything military, camouflage, or vehicle inspired is a winner in his book. Unfortunately, these are so uninteresting to me. The sacrifices we make for our kids! We got to the base shortly after the gates opened. Prime parking, Blue-Bird shuttle ride, a little terrorist screening, a quick scam, I mean raffle, with GEICO , and we were finally through the front gates. Planes, planes, and more planes! Everywhere we looked there were planes. To be expected right? In addition to the planes there were helicopters, police vehicles, fire trucks, bounce houses, live bands, a tent of junk food (and for the adults, a beer tent). We just stepped into every six year old boys DREAM. And of course we forgot the sunscreen. Purchase number one: $9 bottle of sunscree

Just as I am not a fan of cooked raisins, I am also (not usually, anyway) a fan of carrot cake. I was always of the "what's the point of that?!" mentality. I was pretty much making these cupcakes because 1) Isom loves carrot cake (as does Sarah) and 2) I committed to baking all the recipes in my book (regardless of their taste appeal to me ). So, I found myself mixing together the unthinkable---carrots, walnuts, and raisins. My poor, perfect sugar, butter, and egg mixture! It seemed so totally wrong to destroy the glutton in a bowl with fruit and veggies! Bleck . Like the dutiful little cupcake baker I am, I proceeded (with caution) with the recipe. Twenty minutes later--- mmm , mmm , mmm ! As the "healthy" cupcake baked, I whipped up cream cheese frosting (still with the sad, bent whisk). I frosted and garnished with walnuts, each of the 18 carrot treats. Although Isom didn't polish off three in one sitting (as he did with the Gingerbread cup

If it weren't for an 8 year olds slumber party birthday, we would never eat at a real restaurant! While Gabe was off with several friends pizzaing, ice creaming, and staying up way too late---Isom and I enjoyed Du Vin and Indigo . We went to Du Vin for pupus and wine--- Riesling for the lady and Pinot Noir for the gentleman. Throw in a cutting board filled with some of the world's best cheese (my limited taste of the world anyway), and the night was off to a good start. We savored the cute outdoor courtyard and indulged in...could it be? Adult conversation! The wine, cheese, and bread wet our appetites and we decided to walk across the street to Indigo's to continue the feast. We lucked out with a secluded corner table. The atmosphere was quiet and perfect. After a day of watching and hearing the world's loudest planes ( The Thunderbird Air Show at Hickam ), the calm mood of Indigo was a welcome change. I moved on to an evening cocktail while Isom stuck with his red wi

Muse . Defined as the source of an artist's inspiration. Or English Alternative Rock Band. I first discovered Muse in the back of Stephanie Meyer's blockbuster book "New Moon" from the "Twilight" series. I had read the book in what seemed like record time and wanted more. I was pouring over every last page. Every last sentence. Every last period and comma. At the back of my book I found acknowledgements---a part of a book I usually don't find interesting. There it was, at the bottom---thanking the musicians for their inspiration and role in her writing. Her many muses. And even better that one of the bands was actually named Muse. I had to check them out. "Showbiz" was the first CD I purchased followed by "Origins of Symmetry" and just today, "The Resistance" . I love all three. It's not just bad things that come in threes. I am thrilled that I not only found a great series of books but some great mu

To quote the always stylish fictional writer Carrie Bradshaw "Every once in awhile, a girl has to indulge herself." Okay, I may have taken this quote to the extreme. Since beginning my bake-o-rama, I have been indulging in a cupcake every day. I usually indulge in t.v. daily too. I certainly indulge by living in Hawaii, and yes, by the title of the other blog I contribute to, I'm sure you would agree that I indulge in Starbucks. Yesterday, it was shoes. Since, like purses, they are the one thing that always fits (no matter how many cupcakes or Starbucks you might have consumed), I always feel it's worth it...and you walk EVERY SINGLE DAY. So, I decided to give you all a break from all the cupcake (well, sorta) photos and banter and share my cool find from yesterday. They're comfortable, cute, and cheap ($18.99 at Payless ). They make you wanna dance.

Three batches of cupcakes in three days. It's a record---for me, anyway. Today I made rum and raisin cupcakes. I'm not a fan of cooked raisins but I am a fan of rum (and cupcakes...clearly), so I decided not to write this recipe off just yet. All was well in the baking of these cupcakes, save one tired arm (I've been doing all this baking without an electric mixer) and one seriously bent whisk. Bent whisk plus hurt arm equals "Larisa's Electric Mixer". Despite these minor setbacks, things are coming along nicely. I may even have changed my mind on the whole cooked raisin issue...these cupcakes are scrumptuous. I am still salivating over the warm butter taste in my mouth. I better not have another...can't be that mom who has rum on her breath in the middle of the afternoon. It's the cupcakes, I promise. Anyway, the fridge is filling up with trays of cupcakes. I'm guessing cupcakes for dinner is not a good plan. Isn't anyone having an event I ca

Maybe I let things go to my head. Maybe I didn't have my Pandora Internet Radio tuned to the right station of 90s grunge band rock (every cupcake needs a muse). Maybe I should stick to one cupcake a week instead of one a day. The above photo demonstrates perfection, or how the cupcake should look. Below we have Larisa's version. Looking okay (more like a cookie, but hey, that's a baked good too). The next photo is what happened after they cooled. Try to control your laughter. No, these are not cupcake BOWLS! Lesson: don't overfill. Luckily all was not lost, I had extra batter. Phew. The second batch (in my new cupcake baking tin, by the way) turned out better. These lemon cupcakes were the first of my 500 that have had actual, real live frosting---made from scratch too. Talk about sweet. I started baking last night after Gabe went to bed and had to stay up until past midnight...why? Guilty. Licking the bowl. Tasting the "destroyed" cupcakes fro

They say music is good for the soul. I agree. Music is also good to bake to. And gingerbread cupcakes are good for the soul too. So I guess, yesterday was soulful Sunday. Who needs church when you've got a kitchen and an iPod?! The third cupcake of my 500 cupcakes to be made, turned out successfully. To quote Isom "I'd like you to make these for my birthday." And to quote Gabe "Make these for my birthday too momma!". I'll take that as two thumbs up. Isom , the man who doesn't "do" sweets...consumed three. I'm patting myself on the back. The boys went for a hike while I busied myself baking in the kitchen. I'm thinking this is a great Sunday ritual to have. By the time the boys arrived back home, I was half way through the first season of " Californication " and waiting for the second batch of cupcakes to cool before I could add the lemon drizzle...which by the way takes the plain gingerbread cupcake from a 5 to a 10.

My Uncle Mike and his girlfriend Arlene were in town this past week. Mike used to live here once upon a time and this was Arlene's first trip to the islands. So, we took them to one of our favorite spots...North Shore. We drove up in style---their P.T. Cruiser rental car! We stopped into Pizza Bob's for a late lunch. White Pizza, Kona Longboard Lager , and a rowdy six year old! We enjoyed old cars cruising by on Saturday drives, the "aggressive" geckos , and the thought of shave ice around the corner. When I finally finished nursing my second beer, we walked down the road to Matsumoto's ...we each ordered our own sugar coated cup of ice bliss and proceeded to the benches outside to continue our sugar high. A refreshing snack on a hot day, a super cheap way to enjoy Hawaii, a sticky delicious mess! We drove through Haleiwa , stuffed and content we headed back to M-town before saying good-bye to our California family.

So this isn't the pizza we ordered, but doesn't it look delicious? Tonight we went to town to visit our friends Lehua and Chris who just had their baby girl, Dahlia, on Tuesday. What a cutie! Everyone loves a baby. And everyone loves pizza...or they should. After trekking to town during rush hour, we weren't keen on hopping in the car only to sit in more traffic. Besides, we were hungry. Isom had mentioned a "new" pizza place he had heard about from a co-worker, so we decided to try it. Zpizza , located in Ward Center (a few spots down from Kua Aina) was what I'll describe as a hip, Californiaesque pizzeria. In fact, it had a very Starbucky vibe to it---the colors on the walls, the food topping art, etc. We couldn't decide which combination of organic toppings to get, so we went with half Mediterranean and half Moroccan. All I can say is it's way better than Pizza Hut. Too bad it is so far from our house! It is in a great location for townees, and if

I can't believe it's been almost a week since my fun, late night out in honor of my walking buddy, old roommate , and friend Pua . As we sat around the table at Duke's at sunset, recounting old tales of younger days, we realized we had known each other for twelve years. In that time we've shared drinks, graduation, The Big Burrito, beach outings in the old Volvo, mopeds, marriage, kids, weight loss (and sometimes gain) journeys... After all that, I was honored to be able to stay behind a day from the family Big Island trip and attend a beautiful wedding at Turtle Bay . The Wednesday before the big day, the girls went out for pupus and cocktails at Duke's Waikiki. Beach, bar, and babes! Jayme and I were each others date...sharing in nachos, driving, and the late night. Saturday afternoon Jayme was my date again for the wedding. We coordinated outfits, and had a fun time as "sit in" registration helpers, outside the ballroom where the reception took place