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FOODIE ALERT!: Steelers Logo Cupcakes, Whole Wheat Bread, and Tuscan White Bean Soup
Posted by Cory , Saturday, February 5, 2011 7:01 PM
When the Steelers and the Seahawks met up at the Super Bowl in 2006, I was mostly indifferent, save for the fact that I was a native Washingtonian living smack in the middle of Steeler Country while attending Baron U. This year, the Steelers have once again made it to the big SB. Don't get me wrong, I'm still indifferent, but even before the playoffs, I was invited to spend Super Bowl Sunday with the Beaver's family at their annual get-together. This added a whole new level of pressure; after all, these are the potential future in-laws we're talking about, here, so I figured I'd take the opportunity to break in my new muffin tins that I got from my wonderful brother and sister-in-law for Christmas and make cupcakes. When it ended up that Pittsburgh would be playing yet again, I decided to step up my game and really pander to Beaver's stepmom, who is originally from that area (I'm shameless, I know).
The software.
The hardware. I absolutely love my mixer. It belonged to my grandmother, who moved into an assisted living facility a few years ago. When that happened, my dad traveled to Montana to help some of his siblings clean out her house so it could be sold. On his way back home, he stopped in at my place in Godforsaken Idaho with a few things he had saved for me, one of which was this mixer. So cute, so retro. Love.
The beginnings of buttercream frosting. My original plan had consisted of canned frosting, but as I thought more about the project, I figured I might as well go big or go home. Side note: how adorable are my measuring cups?
I had originally wanted to decorate these cupcakes with frosting alone, but when I called my mom with a cake question while at the store this morning, she suggested using candies instead to save myself some stress. Best. Idea. Ever. Thanks, mom.
Halfway there.
Beaver refuses to root for the Steelers; as a Seattle fan, he's still bitter about the 2006 game. Figured I'd throw him a bone and make a little homage to Green Bay.
Not to be outdone by... myself, I guess, I decided to go full-on domestic today and make some bread, too.
And, since a girl's got to eat (and since Beaver was busy serving a wedding this afternoon), I went ahead and made some tasty soup. This recipe is from Giada deLaurentiis' cookbook "Giada's Kitchen". Tuscan White Bean and Garlic soup has been one of my favorites for a few years, now; I love the texture that pureeing the white beans gives to the soup.
It goes really well with bread.
Also, red wine (not pictured, but delicious).
Ahhhh - baking to impress the future in laws. ((worked for me)) good luck!!