Whole30 Craving Post: Vending Machine Cupcakes

Today's post is pretty exciting.  And by exciting, I mean cravings-inducing, all out, satisfying in every horrible and wonderful way possible for a human being.  It just so happens that today I'm feeling like I could raid a vending machine.  I won't, but really, I think I could.

After a soccer game yesterday and a pretty meager lunch today, I'd trade my right arm for a Diet Mountain Dew, a Twix and a handful of Pretzel M&Ms.  Don't worry, my Whole30 support system won't actually let me do this, but a girl can dream, can't she??

That's right.  Today, I bring you the dreams stuff is made of: Vending Machine Cupcakes.  Think of every possible craving you could have, and imagine it rolled into one beautiful cupcake!  It packs a big punch, starting with 3 types of candy bars crushed and folded into a fluffy vanilla batter, and ending with a dollop of tangy, Mountain Dew frosting.  And if that wasn't enough for you, I topped it all off with a few sprinkles of crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos.

Don't act like you aren't salivating...

I made these for one of my best friends' birthday last year, and my boyfriend watched me bake in awe, fear, and a little disgust.  Turns out, this guy right here (happy boyfriend, pictured below), was in heaven!  Despite his initial apprehension, he will try just about anything at least once.  And lucky for him, he did.  They were delicious!  And truth be told, I stole a few bites of his cupcake because they were THAT GOOD.

Happy, "healthy" cravings to all on this ever-so beautiful Monday evening!

Cookies, Meet VoicePlay!

If you give a bass singer a cookie, he'll probably ask for a cup of coffee.  

This weekend, I was visited by the amazing a cappella group VoicePlay, who is currently on tour traveling and performing all across the Southeast.   These five, wonderful guys are Eli, Geoff (pictured right), Earl, Tony and Layne, and they stopped by Nashville to hang out, eat cookies, and play with my dog (pictured left), Bo.

So lucky for them, when I have guests, I bake. This time, I had some truly talented taste testers! They got to enjoy the cookies fresh out of the oven while relaxing at my apartment, drinking coffee, and nursing a burger coma after visiting Burger Up for lunch.  They liked the cookies so much, even Earl couldn't resist a picture on the road!

If you like cookies, stay tuned for exciting news to follow in an upcoming post.  If you like music, check out VoicePlay's hit mash-up with Nashville's very own Rachel Potter!

Whole30 Craving Post: Sushi Dreams

Today, I'm craving sushi. That's right. It's a full on Volcano Roll with pickled ginger and spicy mayo dipped in soy sauce kind of craving.  And yet, I ate my roasted veggie salad instead and enjoyed every bite of it. Fortunately for me, this Whole30 adventure has made me really appreciate all foods, and has given me the energy I need to look past my cravings. Even the ones that show up in my dreams.  Yes, I even dreamt about sushi last night.  But each bite I tried to take just never made it into my mouth. Evil brain won't even let me dream about it properly!

So today's post is an Ode to Sushi.  And no, what you see before you is not your average sushi!  This is my coconut-almond cupcakes topped with sweetened coconut flakes, a Mike & Ike's and a Swedish Fish.  Looks just like sushi, right?  Too bad I can't have these either!

These mini cupcakes were a huge hit last time I made them, and are definitely the perfect post for today's full on, dream-inducing craving!  Enjoy!

Praying for Boston

Today, my heart is heavy.  For those who were affected by yesterday's unthinkable acts, my heart goes out to all of you in Boston.  The Boston Marathon is supposed to be inspiring and energetic, and yesterday, it was surrounded by terror and sadness.

I received a text message from a very close friend who lives in Boston and witnessed the entire thing from the John Hancock building just a few blocks away.  All it said was "Something happened. There was an explosion at the marathon finish line."  My heart sank.  My eyes welled with tears as I opened CNN reports, the New York Times reports, and watched the story unfold.  The fear and destruction was awful.

For those of you who don't know, my boyfriend, Justin, is a marathon runner, and very well could've been out there.  At 4:45pm on the dot, I raced home and hugged him, not letting go for what felt like forever.  I hope everyone hugged their loved ones a little tighter last night.  As for Justin, he went running.

I know that we all have busy lives, but Boston, today we are all praying for you!

Whole30 Craving Post: Fall, Shmall, I Want Pumpkin!

Sadly, Fall and Winter foods are no longer in season. Now if only the weather would just intuitively know this and STAY warm! Fortunately for me, I stocked up on cans of pumpkin. A lot. Of. Pumpkin. Today's craving IS pumpkin, and fortunately for me, I can have that! Just not in it's most delectable form, which is mixed in with cream cheese frosting, slapped between two fluffy, chewy cookies, and rolled around in mini chocolate chips.  I suppose I can make something else with my many cans of pumpkin sitting wistfully in the pantry, but in the meantime, at least I can oogle this beaut in photos!

Anyone else's mouth watering yet?

pumpkin chocolate chip cookie-which

Whole30 Craving Post: The Rabid Cookie Monster

homemade chewy chocolate chip cookies

I made these chocolate chip cookies late at night last weekend. I mean, literally, in the dark. Hence, the nighttime cookie picture you see above you.  They were for post-race enjoyment for my boyfriend, Justin, and wonderful friend, Charlotte, once they crossed the finish line of the Oak Barrel Half Marathon in Lynchburg, TN. And they each PR'd! I'd like to give a warm, chewy shout out to my cookies, which I truly believe contributed to their big finishes.

Okay, maybe not.  But they were delicious! And I think these might be my biggest Day 3 craving, especially after just playing soccer.  In fact, my inner cookie monster [quite the ferocious beast] just growled at me.  Better go feed her something wholesome!

Whole30 Craving Post: Peanut...Peanut Butter & Chocolate!

homemade peanut butter cups

That's Not a Cookie!

I know, I know! You're probably wondering what all of this is you see in this picture.  It's my lunch.  That's right. I'm cleansing Whole30 style.  This book has changed my mind on how I want to think about food, and honestly, I needed that change.  Due to my hectic schedule, and my love of Kraft Singles, I have been relying on processed foods my entire life.  For me to shift my reliance to all natural foods is a great lifestyle change for me, so that the treats I offer can always be held up on the highest pedestal.  Before I can begin preparing for all of you, I'm going to prepare MYSELF!

So I will be on a baking hiatus for the next 30 days, and I will be working on the business side of things instead.  I'm gearing up to hopefully work with some incredibly food-conscious people to offer you a great product...and soon!  In fact, it could be as soon as July that you could be receiving Littlest Love's first baked item.  What item will that be?  Hmm, any guesses out there?

In honor of the Whole30, I am going to post a picture a day (hopefully!) of a delicious treat that has gone down in my baking history.

Stay tuned!

(Cadbury) Eggs for Breakfast

How do you like your eggs in the morning?  I prefer mine in Cadbury creme form, in the center of a cupcake.   This was my treat after spending an entire week scarfing down carb-free fare in the name of Passover and its glorious pound-dropping diet.  It's also a real treat to be baking cupcakes again!  I took a hiatus to perfect the chocolate chip cookie - a task that will probably never end.  Anybody interested in being my taste tester?  You could be discovering all of the cookies and brownies that Littlest Love has to offer!  If so, I may have exciting news on that front very shortly!  

In the meantime, happy post-Easter/post-Passover breakfast!

vanilla cake, chocolate frosting, CADBURY center

Ready? Set? Bake!

The shotgun fires and we are off to the races!

I'm finally ready and excited to embark on my adventure to open my very own bakery. Life has handed me some lemons, but it's also handed me flour, sugar, salt, eggs and butter, so I'm making lemon squares! Are you with me? No? Okay well then here is a little story time for you.

 I am 29 years old, and the realization that I'm not getting any younger hasn't really hit me yet. But what has hit me is that I've been tip toeing my way through life. Whether it be fear of failure or just fear in general, I've been crawling through life working for other people and hoping that one day I would find my passion in life. Something that makes me want to wake up early and go to bed late.

I've been unbelievably blessed with a boyfriend who embodies all of the things I want in a person, and has taught me to try everything, whether it be a weird food, or jumping off a cliff, or trying out for a reality television show. He teaches me how to seek more out of life. And not in a small way, where you seek hobbies, but in a much bigger way that turns a hobby into a passion into a career. He pushes himself to his limits, has the willpower of a superhero, and most importantly, he pushes me to reach my goals no matter how scary or unattainable they may seem.

Through his undying faith in me, and the incredible, unwavering support of my family and friends, I've decided to just go for it! I will start with an e-commerce site by this summer, and hope to open a retail bakery store front in the next year. I will use this blog to discuss obstacles and opportunities alike. Hopefully I'll throw in a few delicious treats for readers - which I guess doesn't count for much until the scratch-and-sniff computer screens are invented.

In any case, I'll be posting sporadically, and hope everyone will visit Littlest Love when it opens!