Let the good times roll! As we approach Mardi Gras, that’s the cry that millions of party goers will be yelling in the streets of New Orleans. The parades, the King Cakes and the beads.

Everyone I know has a “story” about the time they visited New Orleans and most of them include Bourbon Street, an alligator, a BAB (Big Ass Beer), a hooker and Pat O’Brien’s. I’ve got a few stories too. I spent Y2K New Year’s Eve in the Big Easy and let me tell you there was nothing easy about that night! But that’s night time.

Catch NOLA in the daytime and the city is very romantic and oozing with history. One of my favorite traditions is visiting Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter at Jackson Square. Lines wrap around this outdoor coffee stand for days with patrons waiting for a Cafe Au Lait and a Beignet.

A can of Cafe Du Monde chicory coffee has been in my pantry for months. I brewed up a pot awhile back, not remembering how strong the flavor of chicory is/was.

The strong flavor of the chicory I thought would be perfect in a chocolate cupcake with a subtle vanilla buttercream frosting to help the cake not be too overwhelming. What makes this cupcake extra special is the fresh powered sugar covered beignet on top.

Besides the mess from frying the beignet, I think I worked out a great cheat.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez Cupcakes
Original recipe from PrissyCook!

For the cupcake:
Take one box of Devil’s food cake mix and substitute one cup of strongly brewed Cafe Du Monde coffee. Bake according to the directions.

For the frosting:
Take one container of vanilla buttercream prepared frosting and add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix well.

For the beignet:
Fry according to the directions on the box. I prepared a 1/4 of the recipe and more than enough to top each cupcake.

Cupcake Hero January: Coffee

I’m from Texas. I didn’t realize how much people from Texas talk about Texas until I moved out of the state. People, I’m sorry.

Not sorry that I’m from Texas, but I need you to know that we’re just raised that way. We talk about Lone Star this, Big that. We can’t help it.

I blame my parents.

AND to add to lots of generalizations and stereotypes about Texas I present you with Chicken Fried Bacon. From a restaurant fifteen minutes from where I grew up. You need to look at this YouTube video.

Life can move too fast. So when it was time for the family summer beach vacation, my mind immediately went to all the things I needed to do at work and how would I fit in a vacation around my schedule.

I know I need to sit back and appreciate my family and my life. I hope you can take a second to do the same thing.

Garden gate in my parents back yard.

Orange Canna Lily

Texas Pink Crate Myrtle

Purple Wisteria

14. What’s more fun than being around a 16 year old? Mixing in a few 14 year olds. I have two cousins who are 14. They’re freshmen.

My mom is a high school history teacher. She’s been teaching the subject for the last 25 years. Let’s just say she knows the whole Texas curriculum for each grade, what should be taught each year and what you should leave each grade knowing. This is important information for the dinner conversation my mom had with cousin Chris.

Scene: Cajun seafood restaurant in Galveston.

Chris- What are they saying in this song? I don’t understand it?

Mom- It’s in French.

Chris- Why in the world is there a French song on in a Cajun restaurant?

Mom- (looks wide-eyed at Chris)

Chris- What? I don’t understand.

Mom- Who did we purchase Louisiana from?

Chris- Ummmmm.

Mom- You’re a freshman, right? You had to have learned this.

Chris- I don’t know, my teacher is Canadian.

This is very important if you ever lose your car in Los Angeles. Follow these rules exactly or it may not work.

1. Take your key fob in your right hand.
2. Press the unlock button.

What? Did I hear you say you’re too far away for it to signal the car? Keep reading.

1. Open your mouth.
2. Place key fob under your chin.
3. Press the unlock button and walk around.

That was one topic of discussion from my weekend trip visiting Devin. He was very serious. That was only one experiment. The next was to see if our friend Carey picked up the phone when Devin called or when I called (she didn’t know I went to LA). Ummm, Carey was busted, here’s Devin talking to her from my phone. That’s why I’m the BFF Devin!

Oh, we can’t end any trip to LA with out a DOUBLE DOUBLE!

In my family, we have a weekend where there are five birthdays in something like 8 days, it’s crazy and a lot of fun. So, I’m back in Caldwell, visiting and catching up with everyone (FYI, Caldwell is about 70 miles from Austin and 35 miles from College Station)

Caldwell, Texas

This weekend is also “fair weekend” in Caldwell, which means that since it’s also an election year for my dad, we’re out hugging babies and pressing the flesh, it’s really fun; Small town politics. So, let me give you a brief glimpse into my day:

8:00 AM- Walk over at my grandma’s (MooMoo) house to have a little breakfast and visit.

9:30 AM- Take her Buick over to the court house to see my dad in court (can you believe I’ve never seen him in action)

11:00 AM- Call Pizza Hut to place an order for lunch with Mom and Liz, talk to Sidney (her sister and I were buddies in high school)

11:30 AM- Meet Mom and Liz at high school cafeteria and have pizza, run into old teachers who retell their favorite Keesha in school story

12:00 PM- Go to local Historical (hysterical) Society meeting with Dad to have mini sandwiches and iced tea

1:30 PM- Go to ford dealership to find Hubby’s grandmother, she’s at Patsy’s, but they call Merriam to find her, who walks over to Pasty’s because she isn’t answering the phone, and it won’t be a bother.

1:34 PM- Visit with Hubby’s grandma (Nanny)

2:30 PM- Go back to MooMoo’s to return the car and visit with her and Charley before he has to go to a board meeting for the Cemetery

3:30 PM- Mom and Liz are back from school and Liz (driver’s permit in hand) drives us to Wal-Mart to get more Dr.Pepper and Diet Coke

5:30 PM- Eat dinner and talk about how my dad doesn’t like asparagus

6:00 PM- Drive out to the fair for the free Gospel Music show sponsored by the SPJST

So, where in the world does the 80 year old lady with a harmonica come into the picture? One of the performers was this 80 year old lady who’s been playing the harmonica since she was eight. Let me tell ya, it’s kinda inspiring to see something like that. Bless her heart, I wish I have enough air to play a harmonica when I’m 80!

BTW, do y’al know that Hubby and I grew up together right? I know I always say that our family’s are neighbors, here’ s an idea, that’s close in a town of 3500 people!

Hubby and Keesha

I remember going to the grocery store with my Mamaw when I was younger and a radio DJ said, “Honk if you hate the Redskins!” Next thing, I hear tons of cars honking, including my grandmother. It was so fun, visiting her in Dallas, watching football games on Sunday; Go Cowboys! I really don’t consider myself a “sports” fan, but I do love the ceremony that goes along with it. Having friends over, snacking, willing your team to win from the couch, I love it. Over 20 years later, every time the Cowboys play the Redskins, I remember that car ride.

We haven’t really stopped since our trip to San Francisco last weekend, so this weekend I’m purposely trying to take it slow. Friday we met Mel, RJ and crew at Postino’s for a late birthday celebration and had a night cap at Chelsea Kitchen. Saturday, Hubby had golfing and I booked a manicure at the Wigwam. A Red Door Spa just opened there and I have a preferred membership, so I get nice discounts and stuff. It was a drive, over 35 miles. I got there about 4 hours before my appointment to layout by their pool, use the gym, get hydrated in the steam room. That night we met Vic and Bec out for dinner at the Rookery (sp?). The front dining room is under construction, but they’re still serving full dinners downstairs. If you have a loved one addicted to their mobile, this is the place to go, no cell coverage in the basement. Today, I went to the Orange Table in Old Town for breakfast (more on that later, it’s so good) and I’ve been cooking and nesting around the house the rest of the day. Oh to the right here is a picture of Bica, he looked just too cute here. She’s very photogenic, like her mama.

The crew came over for the game and I cooked a Mexican Roast Beef from a recipe I found in this month’s Better Homes & Garden (see I can be productive at the spa). In the beef broth just mix in equal portions of coffee grounds, cocoa, cumin, and chili powder. I added some potatoes and onions, turned on the crock and 6 hours later, we had a fantastic dinner.

While cruizing the Internet, I found some articles on Donna Hay or guess you’re supposed to say Hay Hay Donna Hay Day when you make one of her recipes. I found her magazine later while at the grocery store, so I thought, why not? I picked up Volume 27 which was the Cupcake Couture issue- ooh-la-la! I decided to make her vanilla bean mini cupcakes with a divinity icing I’ve made before.

Hope y’all have a great week!

From my last post, if you guessed San Francisco (in your head because nobody posted a comment), then you are correct.

Hubby was a good boy last weekend, he surprised me on Wednesday with tickets to San Francisco. I’ve never been. I was really excited and actually had trip jitters; Isn’t that great!

I arrived in San Jose and Hubby picked me up (he was already there on business) and we hit California traffic right at 5:30 PM. Our trip to the city was fun, we saw headquarters for Google, eBay and Oracle (which is important if you’re a computer geek).

As a first time tourist to San Francisco, I had a few must sees and a few if we make it, it would be nice. Can I just say, that I think we were able to see most of the biggies. As tourist, generally, we can site see quite quickly. We don’t have to, sit, contemplate, photograph and discuss. We look, take a picture and move on.

Look at all the places we got in on Saturday (and the zig-zag around the city we made):

1. Leave hotel at Union Station (walk to)
2. Dim Sum for Brunch at Chinatown
3. Walk around Chinatown (taxi to)
4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (taxi to)
5. Pier 39 (wipe bird poo off Hubby and taxi to)
6. Citizen Cake (taxi to)
7. Hotel for massage (walk to)
8. H&M (taxi to)
9. Little Italy for Brazilian Independence Day (taxi to)
10. Hotel

Did I mention that we TAXIED EVERYWHERE? We couldn’t figure out how to jump on one of those freakin Trolleys and I didn’t see one with Rice-a-Roni on the side. Very disappointing.

On Sunday, we had our rental car, so we were able to be a bit for efficient, we made it to:

1. Haight Ashbury for breakfast at The French Cafe
2. Lombard for the curvy street
3. The Golden Gate bridge
4. Ghiradelli and Del Monte Squares

So, I don’t mean to make this a look at me pictorial of our trip, it’s just that most pictures of Hubby ended up like this:

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