THE RESOLUTION: Cook/bake
CHALLENGE ACCOMPLISHMENT # 2
THE RESOLUTION: Random Kindness
CHALLENGE ACCOMPLISHMENT # 5
This St. Patricks day story will sound nothing like what you would expect to hear on this particular alcohol infused mayhem creating holiday. This year my contribution will extend beyond embellishing myself on overpriced alcohol and the potentially embarrassing behaviour that accompanies that condition. In fact, this two part resolution is quite a bit sweeter, definitely more memorable and immortalized in a pair of short films now featured on my YouTube Channel: KN Extraordinary Life. (Click the links at the end of this entry.)
Part I
Early in the afternoon after another Sunday swimming session, I laid out all the kitchen tools and ingredients required by the recipe in preparation for my first cupcake making attempt. My trusty partner in crime, April, would not only be supervising (cooking + Karina = danger) but also documenting the endeavor. Thankfully, these cupcakes were a much simpler undertaking to the full turkey dinner I prepared in the first cooking challenge. After mixing all the ingredients and using a beater to get the batter creamy smooth, all I had to do was pour into the colourful little paper molds and stick in the oven. Of course I had to go and complicate things by getting these bite-sized molds instead of the regular sized ones that fit comfortable in the muffin pan. I was worried about the sensitive little paper flaps simple folding down (I would end up with more of a pancake than cupcake) so I places two mini cupcakes per muffin tray hole. In retrospect, I truly do have no clue what I’m doing when it comes to cooking. I clearly overfilled each paper mold and when it expanded in the oven, each pair of cupcakes completely fused together at the top. I tried really hard to turn that into some kind of new and ingenious invention on the video. . . not sure it’s going to catch though. :P
Switching tactics (on April’s advice) I finally stood facing more than 50 bitsy, fluffly, warm, and absolutely delicious cupcakes on the baking sheets. Decorating allowed to me get little creative and I went with the theme of the day, designing four leaf clovers with green tinted icing and topped them all with crunchy green sprinkles. (Though I still managed to complete screw up one of the batches by applying the decorative frosting before allowing the cupcakes to cool. The frosting melted off of the cupcakes and on to the sheet. :{)
Part II
Once we were decked out in our green gear, April (with the video camera in hand) and I (with the dozens of of freshly baked cupcakes) all set out for a night of random and delicious kindnesses. Slainte’s Pub in Hamilton is famous for its all-day celebrations and even sets up an enormous outdoor tent section in the large parking lot next door during the day. This year was no disappointment either. The sun was barely setting over downtown but hundreds of revelers were already gathered inside and out of the establishment. Some had clearly been there much longer than others.
With my tray in hand, I easily made my way past the bouncers and into the crowd filling the two story pub. There was a couple of possibilities now: I could get mobbed by hungry drunks or I would be looked at as ‘that crazy lady carrying a tray-full of cupcakes’. I’d have to say that first impressions sadly pointed to the second option. I began offering them to anyone who took interest but they were still wary. The number one query I received by far question what kind of drugs I had laced the cupcakes with! Funny, it never occurred to me that someone might have that reaction, but then again, I guess I’ve never been offered random food in a bar before. I wish I had been more prepared for questions like “Do I have to do anything to get one?” The video could have been much more interesting. Finally though, the tale of free cupcakes picked up and all kinds of personalities approached. We even managed to get some actually Irish guys on film . . . though we are still not sure what they said.
All in all the challenge was an absolute success. Praise for my kindness and the actual cupcakes came from everyone from the partiers to the bouncers, from the DJ and bartenders to even the cops guarding the organized chaos. I even got to be honorary DJ and got free beer.
Happy St. Patricks’ Day!
*An enormous thank you goes out to April Beresford for filming and producing these short videos!Video is not up loading directly to blog so click on this link to go directly to the YouTube account and watch the video.
http://youtu.be/IAL-5NQFeYw
Part II - Kindness
One woman. One year. 46 down. 123 to go.
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