Gluten-FREE Chocolate Peanut Butter Reeses Cupcakes

I know I promised you guys a cupcake website, but until that’s up and running, I couldn’t wait to share and absolutely amazing cupcake recipe … make with BLACK BEANS of all things.  However, if someone were to have given this cupcake without telling me what was in it, I never would have guessed it was gluten-free and made with black beans.  The chocolate and peanut butter are totally the stars of these cupcakes.  For all you poor college students out there who can’t afford fancy mixers or other equipment, but still want to make cupcakes from scratch, I promise these are super easy to make.  All you need (special tools-wise) is a blender and a semi-strong arm.

This is my first cupcake post, so please forgive all the amateur photos and excitement :D.  For all you peanut butter and chocolate lovers out there, this is probably one of the best cupcakes I’ve ever eaten!!  And then to think I MADE them!  …. craziness.

Credit for the recipe goes to Chocolate and Carrots.  View her page for the really awesome photos and other recipes :).

Oh, and btw …. the a delicious little surprise for you inside the cupcake ;P

Chocolate Peanut Butter Black Bean Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 (15.5 oz) can of reduced sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, or coconut oil
• 3/4 cup cane sugar
• 5 tablespoons special dark cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 12 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped

How-To

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line a 12 cup muffin pan and spray with cooking spray.
3. Blend the beans, 2 eggs, vanilla and sugar in the food processor (or blender) on high until completely blended.
4. In a small bowl combine the cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda.
5. In a large bowl, beat the butter/coconut oil until fluffy.
6. Add the remaining two eggs and beat well after each egg.
7. Beat in the bean mixture.
8. Beat in the dry ingredients.
9. Beat for 1-2 minutes.
10. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place a Reese’s cup on the top.
11. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the cupcakes are cooked completely.
12. Allow them to cool completely before icing.

Peanut Butter Frosting (one of the easiest and YUMMIEST homemade frostings everrrr!!)

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 – 2/3 cup whipping cream (heavy cream)
• 12 miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

How-To

1. Beat the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar until combined.
2. Add in the whipping cream and beat until light and fluffy.
3. Put in a ziplock bag, cut a hole, and decorate the cupcakes OR use a piping bag with your favorite decorating tip and decorate the cupcakes OR use a knife and spread to decorate the cupcakes.
4. Decorate with a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

.

Atlanta Food Trucks

The food truck craze is here!!  While not necessarily new to Atlanta, this is a new phenomenon for me.  Love it!  Below is a list of all the food truck stops I’ve come across so far.  Have fun food-trucking friends!

Tuesdays
The Howell Mill Food Park is the only food trucks event I know of that is active for dinner.  It is located behind Willy’s at 1920 Howell Mill Rd from 5:00p – 10:00p.
http://clatl.com/omnivore/archives/2011/05/27/howell-mill-food-park-comes-to-atlanta

Wednesdays
Wednesday food truck lunches are hosted by The Stove Works in Inman Park from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Thursdays
On Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Atlanta’s food trucks take a drive into Midtown.
Parked at the Woodruff Arts Center will be: Westside Creamery, Yumbii, Good Food Truck, Yum Yum Cupcakes, King of Pops, Rattletrap Coffee, The Pup Truck, Sweet Auburn Barbecue and Tex’s Tacos.
At the corner of 10th and Peachtree streets: The Pickle, Tamale Queen, Bake Shop Pop-Up, Haven Pop-Up and King of Pops.
At 999 Peachtree: Pop-Up Chef Series will welcome Steven Herman of HAVEN.
http://midtown.patch.com/articles/street-food-thursdays-this-is-awesome

Fridays
Food Truck Fridays will take place every Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The trucks park along 17th 1/2 Street in Atlantic Station. http://midtown.patch.com/articles/atlantic-station-hosts-food-truck-fridays

 

The Best Cupcake Blog Ever! … Coming Soon

Some friends and I want to start a cupcake blog … bake cupcakes, eat cupcakes, share cupcake recipes and tell the world what we think about them … how is this not an awesome idea??  ;P Besides, you know how I just loooove to design and build fun websites ^_^

Below is my preliminary cupcake website design.  I’m thinking of maybe switching out the banner cupcakes one by one interchangeably with random two by two or one by two etc … as we get more and more cupcakes.  I may need to start going to the gym more often, lol, but I am definitely excited for this project ;P

Brand New Samsung Washer and Dryer

I’m graduated I’m graduated I’m graduated!! … oh, hi there real world.  I do believe we’ve met before once or twice.  It’s nice to see you again too … you want me to spend money on WHAT?  HOW much you say?  =.=

http://www.samsung.com/us/appliances/washers-dryers/DV330AEB/XAA

Don’t get me wrong; I am SUPER excited!  I’m just really glad we’re able to jump into buying new appliances slowly (piece by piece … the apartment comes with some appliances) so we can get top quality stuff and we shouldn’t have to replace them for a long time.  New exciting life, new exciting apartment … brand spankin’ new washer and dryer … O.o

Thank You Georgia Tech, For Preparing Me

As a Computational Media alumna of Georgia Tech (that just feels so GOOD to say!), it’s sometimes striking how well Tech actually did prepare me for the real world.  I may not have realized it before.  I mean, let’s face it, some of the assignments and classes seemed downright pointless!  However, it may not be until after the fact that you really appreciate the value of all of those frustrating projects, the picky professors, having to work with the most obnoxious and back-stabbing type of people, the bad grades you didn’t think you deserved, all those times you were forced to pull all-nighters, each time so you wouldn’t FAIL the class because of that one assignment.

The biggest thing I think Tech taught me was not necessarily the material itself (because yes, I DO still believe some of it was COMPLETELY pointless).  Tech’s biggest lesson was forcing me to grow up, teaching me to be a hard-working professional, prodding me to work with others and use my time wisely, showing me how to excel in the competitive work world and be the best I can truely be.

So I guess yes Georgia Tech.  Thank you for pushing me and poking me and sometimes shoving me through doors I had never noticed existed before.  I see now that like a good parent, you were just doing what you thought was best for me to develop.  My college diploma is not just a piece of paper signifying that I got out.  It symbolizes the fact that I had an experience.  It shows that I am prepared for whatever comes my way.  It’s a big world out there and because of you, I feel ready and confident to take it on.

World, meet Eeshie. Eeshie, meet World

Alowesious “Eeshie” Tate, formally known as Scorpio at the Atlanta Humane Society, is mine and John’s new baby and Zippo’s new big brother :P.

We had gone into the shelter with our hearts set on an adorable little kitten to be Zippo’s new little bother, but we got there and it was being adopted by someone else right then … but then we decided to look around some more … just because … and we kind of fell in love with this old guy.  He is definitely the nicest cat I’ve ever met, and Zippo has already become quite fond of him and licks his head whenever he can.  Eeshie is six years old and only has one eye and a half mustache, which can be slightly intimidating, but I couldn’t imagine a sweeter cat.  He loves to run around and play with Zippo, sit in our laps and purr for no real reason, and sometimes even has meowing conversations with me ;P.  He loves to be in the same room as John and I … sometimes going out of his way to just be within view.  It’s like he’s afraid we’re going to leave him … but as far as we’re concerned, we’ll be here for him for as long as he wants us =^.^=.  It’s amazing how we hadn’t planned on getting an older cat at all, but I’m really glad we now have Eeshie … it’s funny how sometimes life works out that way.

Geogia Tech GRADUATE Baby!! :D

I’m am now OFFICIALLY..  A Georgia Tech Alumna.  Life is good ❤

Coca-Cola Celebrates 125 years with a Giant Spectacular Projection

I took my family to the GA Aquarium today, but on our way, we were more than surprised to see all kinds of crazy celebrations going on over at the World of Coke, and amongst other things, the entire Coke HQ building covered on a huge white sheet! We had no idea what was going on. Later that night, we found out it was something amazing.

Check it out!

Congratulations Coka-Cola on a successful 125 years!

Georgia Tech CM Senior Design Project – Mini Mages

I can only WISH I could be this awesome. 😛 …. created by some friends/ classmates of mine for their senior design project … SO AMAZING!

Credits:
Ali Wallick – Lead Designer
Rose Peng – Art Director
Robert Spessard – Lead Programmer
Joe Maliksi – Liaison / Lead Engineer
Wes Anderson – Project Manager

Georgia Tech Institue for Computing Education Summer Camps

The most amazing thing happened today.  … well, I guess for this story to really make sense, I need to go back a few years. …..

Back when I was younger (:P jk, I’m not that old!) … 2008-2009, I was a student instructor and programs assistant for the Georgia Tech Institute for Computer Education Summer Camps, led by Barb Ericson and her team in the College of Computing.  Their website:  http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/ice-gt/1080.

The Institue for Computing Education (ICE) has been offering summer computing camps at Georgia Tech since 2004. Each camp is one week long with at least one recreational activity during the week and a parent show on the last day. The kids who participate range from 5th to 12th grade (kids attend the camps by age groups; the older the kids, the more advanced the materials). They do a variety of activities with the students including CS Unplugged, PicoCrickets, Scratch, Alice, LEGO NXT robots, IPRE robots, and Media Computation.

As an aspiring young college student, this was definitely one of my favorite “real” jobs.  I got hang out with the most amazing and talented kids, see some of the craziest and most innovative projects (especially when you consider they were done by young kids!), and make a difference by bringing computer science to younger generations.

In any case, fast forward.  Today, I was walking around the library looking for an outlet for my computer, and a girl stops me to ask if my name was Candis.  I had no idea who she was at the time, but was soon thrilled to find out that she was one of the girls in the summer camps from three years ago!  I can’t believe she recognized me!!  … from three years ago!!!!  She is now a freshman at Georgia Tech and I honestly couldn’t be happier for her.  I guess it was just one of those moments where you realize that some of the things you may have done really did impact and make a difference in the lives of the people around you.

Some photos from those good ole days ^_^

There really were a happy group of kids, I promise!  lol … right before this pic, they insisted they were too cool to smile 😛

This was during the end-of-program parent show where the kids got to demo various project they had worked on throughout the camp.  The one shown here is from the Lego NXT robot dance competition.  Kids built the robots, programed dance routines, and then dressed up their robots to play the part.

Me and one of the other “camp counselors” … back when my hair was super long and I was slightly crazier 😛