Thursday, August 28, 2008

Episode 7- Thank you Barack Obama

"America, we are better than these last eight years."

Yes we are.

Episode 6- In which cupcakes support the arts

Now, anyone who is a friend or acquaintance of this cupcake knows how much I care about arts education. It is one of my biggest passions, and something I hold very close to my heart. The arts are for everyone. They should not be only for those who can afford expensive class fees or visits, or those who live in areas with a high density of arts offerings. No, the arts belong to all of us, and the younger we start the better it is. They round out a complete liberal education, and should not be cut just because schools are aiming to perform higher on standardized tests or because budgets are low. This could go on forever, so I'll just get to the point. Americans for the Arts, a great national arts advocacy organization, produced these incredible tv spots. Please watch. And laugh! Because children screaming Johannes Brahms! around the breakfast table is funny. Real funny.








Both are produced by Americans for the Arts and the Ad Council. Thank you Americans for the Arts.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Episode 5- Pastries cupcakes like

Let's talk about butter. Cupcakes love butter. And are often largely composed of it. But butter, our friend, also plays a part in many other lovely things in life. One of those is Kouign Amman.


Kouign Amman, a Breton specialty, is composed of butter, bread dough, butter, sugar and butter. Oh, and maybe some more butter. During the baking process the sugar caramelizes, making a chewy crunchy top. Some of us may or may not have eaten our weight in this during our recent trip to Bretagne. Good thing the same trip included a lot of walking. Kouign Amman is sort of like crack- it is addicting and a hard habit to break. I STILL HAVEN'T GIVEN YOU UP KOUIGN AMMAN. It would be an easier habit to keep up if cupcakes were better at making bread dough. But you know, we cope. We mostly cope by eating other things made out of butter. Like,


You know, butter, it's what's for breakfast. As it should be. (Side note- even though you may think it to be true, not every croissant in France is good. But they all have butter) Sometimes we liked to take croissants to yet another level and slather them in butter enriched with sea salt crystals. That's right, sea salt crystal butter. It's every bit as fantastic as it sounds. Is it available in America? This butter, delicious in its own right, also makes a mighty fine pie crust. Actually, it can be used for just about anything. Maybe even to put an end to war and pollution. Look into that Obama, please.

This would be a good place for a recipe, but this cupcake doesn't know how to make Kouign Amman or croissants. What am I supposed to do, put up a recipe for how to slather butter on bread? Actually...

Breakfast
Take one baguette. Still warm. Cut of piece of said baguette. Cut piece in half. Cover knife in sea salt crystal butter. Transfer butter to baguette. Transfer baguette to mouth. Enjoy.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Episode 4- A lovely French music video

Giant. Dancing. Appliances.

From last year. Not the 80s. Cupcakes support Yelle for President. Of France.

Episode 3- In which the cupcake makes Cosmos

Cupcakes, like most other people/pastries, enjoy a delicious cocktail. And seriously, the only thing better than a delicious cocktail is a delicious pink cocktail (see also: delicious purple lavender martinis only available in Portland, Oregon). The ur-cocktail of the pink lineage has to be a Cosmopolitan, made even more famous by its frequent guest-star roles on Sex and the City. Frankly (franchement), if this cupcake could bathe in cosmos, she would. France marked a dry-spell in the Cosmo department. And even if France has so many other things (wine, Chartreuse, Chambord, other things of the non-alcoholic variety), it does not really have that same fondness for Cosmos. And that, France, is why we are broken-up. Just kidding, I love you.

All this being said, one thing is evident: cupcake in US= obligatory consumption of cosmopolitans. How convenient that BevMo had even supplied the cupcake household with berry vodka. Nice Bevmo, nice. However the shaker gods/stars were not aligned, and the deliciousness had to be made in a make-shift shaker (not that shaking drinks in a glass with tin foil over the top is make-shift...) And they were still DELICIOUS.

Now you shall make your own....

Cupcake's Favorite Cosmos (from Shag's "Around the World in 80 Drinks")

1.5 ounces vodka (regular or "special", although this blog claims no responsibility for injuries incurred if you try chile vodka)
.5 ounces Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier (to be determined by budget)
1 ounce cranberry juice
.5 ounces lime juice (or just squeeze some into the shaker)

Add all elements to an ice-filled shaker. Shake. Strain into classy glass. Enjoy.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Episode 2- In which we muse about foie gras

Oh foie gras, how I love thee. I know that many many people think that you are inhumane, and that you have been illegal in places. But I'd like to put that all aside and talk about how much I love you. With pain d'epices. In ice cream form. On Christmas Eve. On special occasions. Anytime.
Due to recent relocation to America, I think that I'll be on a foie-gras-free diet for a while. Unless you have any...

Monday, August 18, 2008

Episode 1- An alcohol Haiku

Oh, America
And your microbreweries
I miss Carrefour wine