Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes (or Car Crash Cupcakes)

A kitchen decoration of my dog chows down on a cupcake!

I was sentimental and decided for a family gathering I would make Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. If you never had these as a kid, you missed out! In making these, I discovered many pros and cons about making them - something I would have never known as a kid.

You need: cake mix, ice cream cones and icing. Candy is good too.

Take your batter and pour it into your cone below the lip. In fact, I would even pour it lower than the batter in this image.

I found that loaf pans work very well to hold the cones. Make sure the cones are level otherwise you will get this or this: (especially if you overfill your cones!)

Thankfully you can pick some of this cake residue off and eat it!

FIRST MESS UP: I made these ahead of time and put them into a plastic container. Overnight the cones became soft from the moisture of the cake. Not cool.

I also made the icing ahead of time (a simple buttercream) and put it into a large plastic bag to pipe onto the cupcakes.

Early morning sunlight casts it's rays onto my icing and cupcakes.

SECOND MESS UP: It was a hot morning and the buttercream quickly became soft. It was not cooperative and soon I had icing everywhere. (Is that really a bad thing?) Top your icing with some candy. I used sour atomic balls.

If you have empty space in your plastic traveling container, fill it out with a ball of wax paper.

Cupcake for breakfast? Okay!

THIRD MESS UP: (Probably the biggest one to avoid): On route to the gathering we got in a car crash by being rear ended by another car and pushing us into the one in front of us. This will topple your cupcakes and make a big mess. At this point, you are allowed to eat any or all of the cupcakes to feel better.

Now if you remember these from your childhood, you will remember that the cone part is not the yummiest from baking. My boyfriend called it "stringy." I would describe it more as stale. I actually like the combo of the cake and cone but it is up to you to decide.

Cute Top...

Had to show you this cute top I picked up at a sidewalk sale....

EEK! Scottie Dogs!!!

A Tour of Luminato's Encampment

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have a look at "The Encampment," a large scale art installation at Fort York that is part of Toronto's Luminato and the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. I have never taken in any of the Luminato events, which never really appeal to me, and seem to consist mainly of dance and music.

Just taking in the website, I notice an artist I like (Dan Bergeron) was involved in an activity under the Visual Arts tab while "The Encampment" is not even listed. Very, very confusing.

The tents with the condo buildings behind. Old vs. New.

Each tent had an installation based on an individual who had lived through the 1812, whether they were a soldier, a wife, a business owner, a Native etc. Some were touching, others verged on paranoia, others promoted the successes of their subject. It was really quite neat and each artist used a variety of materials including trees, furs, furniture, burnt wood, flags - very inspiring!

I had a few friends take part and now I wish I had! Some of the installations were wonderful, while others were, well...not good....but the redeeming quality was, no one was turned away and it truly was a public art project. And with 200 tents, it was impossible to see everything without spending hours.

To learn more about the artists who conceived the project, check out here or to see some of the installations look here.

Oh and I love the blow up 1812 sign. It cracks me up. Seems wrong to have bouncy letters for a war.

Art and Clothing and Consumption and Blogs

I was fortunate to visit the McMichael Art Gallery in Kleinburg recently and had the opportunity to see Fashionality, an exhibition of contemporary Canadian artists who used clothing as inspiration. Despite how the topic can be kitsch, it was a really great show. I admire "process" in the creation of work. In other words, I like to see how the art took time, and patience, and tears, and strength to achieve the final product. I'm sick this way! I wanna see effort!

Day 121 This is a good picture to see all of the work Natalie has put into
her outfit: shoes, grey socks, blue stockings, dress and apron.

For this reason I was impressed by Natalie Purschwitz's Makeshift project. The poor woman undertook the incredible task of making all of the clothing she would wear, everyday, for the course of the year (2009). Everything had to be made by her. 

That is over 365 items of clothing people! Underwear and socks! Shooooooes ---EVERYTHING!

And like "Julie and Julia," she put it all on her blog.

The 2011 installation at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The nice thing about the McMichael show is a television screen that displays her changing outfits, every second, so you can admire amount of clothing she created. She did reuse some clothing on some days (ie, shoes, socks) but give the girl a break - there must have been smoke rising from the machine. Along side of the television is a long rail with a selection of the clothing, so you can look through her creations.

Day 79

She continues to work in Vancouver and design in Vancouver under the label Hunter and Gatherer. Check out that website here.

Dorothy Parker

Over at Brain Pickings today, they have a small article featuring Dorothy Parker's obituary. It doesn't really say much about her, mostly it admires her wit. I have been a fan of Dorothy Parker poems since the movie, "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle."

It's not the best movie ever, but if you love the jazz age, it is a must see. There are loads of celebrities in it, most making quick cameos (Stanley Tucci, Cindy Lauper, Gwen Paltrow) so it is interesting to see who pops up. It offers insight into rise of The New Yorker magazine, the Algonquin Round Table and various goings on at the time.

It would be difficult to make a movie about Dorothy Parker. She is not a likable figure and Jennifer Jason Leigh probably makes her more sexy than what she was. You can see a preview over at IMDB. Oh and check out Parker's poetry too (they are short, sometimes sad and sometimes rather fun). Avoid the short stories though. gah.

Royal Jubilee Love

I loved the Royal Jubilee celebrations of the past weekend. Perhaps it is because I am Canadian and we simply lack pride in ourselves. We lack knowledge of our history, don't fund our museums, sadly lack in the promotion of our culture. We suffer from low self esteem. Parts of me like the fact that we don't wave our flag in the faces of others. Plus I am really happy that we don't have those plastic eagles that are on many an American garage.

I am a monarchist with reservations. I am sentimental too. Remember the British street parties? I love the idea. Nowadays we have a lack of community. How sad Canadians consider a gathering to be around a BBQ and a bottle of beer.

I love how the Brits revived the tradition for the Jubilee! There is something classy about bunting too!

From the Telegraph - an attempt at the longest street party!

BUT THE BOATS! How awesome was that?!?! Did you see this with the Royals? Check out from 1.33 on. You will how they bop along with the music. How could you not LOVE THIS?

NOW ARE YOU READY TO EXPLODE IN DELIGHT? In searching for this video on Youtube, I found this absolutely charming video of a community in Little Aston, England. They decided to have a Boat Pageant despite how the village does not have a river. They also recreated the vintage flair, having teas, street parties and concerts.

Now get ready to squeal! My favourites are the little boats, the portholes with the royals faces and the undertakers!!! LOL!!!

Yup its official. I want to move to Little Aston!

Pretty Packs for Plants

This year I was going to invest in a garden allotment here in town. Unfortunately, due to my employment status and the price ($75!!! then you have to plant too!!!), I am looking at plants and gardens from a distance.

Now look at the packaging on these lovelies (and there are SO MANY more from the Hudson Valley Seed Library. Wonder if we can get these seeds in Canada? Can seeds cross the border?

This is my favourite! Commie Tomato Seeds!!! LOL!!!

I mean, seriously, how CUTE is this? And what the heck is a Cheese Pumpkin?!?!

Trout Lettuce. Who knew?

Makes you curious doesn't it?