Menu Monday: Skinny Cupcakes

I've made two fabulous types of cupcakes lately - and both are skinny! Major props to Hungry Girl for creating these. You can find the original e-mail, along with a third cupcake recipe here.

I tried the Boston Cream Cupcakes first, and these were Mr. Jones' favorite!

Boston Cream Cupcakes

114 calories

Ingredients:
Half of an 18.25-oz. box (about 1 3/4 cups) moist-style yellow cake mix
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
3 tbsp. chocolate frosting, room temperature
2 tbsp. light chocolate syrup
One 60-calorie sugar-free or no-sugar-added vanilla pudding snack
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 no-calorie sweetener packet

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups and/or spray with nonstick spray; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, egg substitute, and 1/2 cup water. Whisk thoroughly. Evenly distribute mixture among the cups of the muffin pan.

Bake in the oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 - 22 minutes.

Allow cupcakes to completely cool. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine chocolate frosting with chocolate syrup and mix well. Cover and refrigerate.

Once cupcakes have cooled, use a knife or narrow spoon handle to create a small centered hole through the top of each cupcake, stopping about midway through the cupcakes. Set aside.

Open pudding cup and stir in vanilla extract and sweetener. Place pudding in one of the bottom corners of a sealable plastic bag. Remove air and seal. Snip off a small part of that corner with scissors.

Gently squeeze the bag and evenly pipe pudding through the hole in the bag's corner and into the holes in the cupcakes.

Evenly spread frosting-syrup mixture over the cupcakes. 

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The second version of skinny cupcake loveliness was the Coconut Cream Fluffcake. Yes, you heard me right. Fluffcake.

Coconut Cream Fluffcakes

105 calories

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Cool Whip Free, thawed
1/4 cup Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme, room temperature
1 drop coconut extract
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, divided
Half of a 16-oz. box (about 1 1/2 cups) angel food cake mix

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups. (You MUST use baking cups for this recipe.) Do not spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine Cool Whip, marshmallow creme, and coconut extract. Mix thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate.

Roughly chop 1/4 cup shredded coconut and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix with 5 oz. (1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp.) water. Using an electric mixer, beat at low speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium, and beat for 1 minute. Add the roughly chopped coconut, and beat for another 30 seconds.

Allow cake mixture to rest for 2 minutes. Then evenly distribute it among the baking cups. Bake in the oven until tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes.Set aside to slightly cool.

Evenly spread frosting mixture among cupcakes and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup shredded coconut.

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I hope you enjoy these! The Coconut Cream Fluffcakes are the easier of the two recipes, but it just depends on what kind of mood you're in I guess!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Ideas just keep on coming...

A friend sent me this picture. Halloween for Eve Belle anyone? I died laughing. She would hate it. But I would love, love, love the pictures and fun it would be....

Mr. Jones didn't like my idea for our costumes last night. I want to be a Starbucks cup and make him go as my Starbucks Gold Card. He did NOT find it to be amusing.... maybe he'd find going as Ron and me going as Hermione with EB stealing the show as Harry Potter to be more his style.... We haven't dressed up in a few years and I think we need to this year! 

Happy Friday everyone,

Mrs. Jones

Wishful Wednesday: Starbucks Love

We all know I'm a Starbucks girl, but my sweet tumbler needs replacing/a back-up, so I 've been looking at the new version...

A New Cold Cup

$14.95

Replacement Straws

$3.95

Such lovely simple things. Are you a Starbucks lover too?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Menu Monday: "White" Pizza

It was "cook what you have" night one day, and I had already chopped up chicken, cheese and a pizza crust in the fridge.

When Mr. Jones didn't want a normal pizza, I thought "Hmmm, why not use alfredo sauce, onions and make it white?!" He agreed. But then he was stunned when I showed him the uncooked version. He didn't realize it would look all white.

I added a few diced tomatoes for good measure to give us a few more veggies, and it looked a little better then. :-)

To make the pizza, I used Pillsbury pizza crust (refrigerated dough - it's the best - love it!) and smothered low-cal alfredo sauce on it, added mozzarella cheese and a tiny bit of parmesan, diced onions and tomatoes.  Pretty simple if you ask me!

Do any of you love to make your own pizzas?

Happy Monday - hope everyone else survived their Monday! I barely did...

Mrs. Jones

Garden fresh...

So, with the lovely plants Mr. Jones and I have been growing this summer has also come some seriously yummy times. I may have to stop at Whole Foods again on our way back in to town tomorrow because I want more of this awesome crostini.

This is what I did for a "light dinner" a few weeks ago. I want it again. Now. Badly. Diced tomatoes, salt, garlic and a little feta on top of crostini. Can I call that my version of bruschetta? Because I think I will!

I love knowing this came right from our backyard. It's heavenly!

Happy Saturday everyone! We're off to see some family today! Back soon!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

How does your garden grow?

One of our experiments this summer has been growing our own tomatoes out of a tomato planter my grandmother sent us. It has been amazing - up until about last week when the heat finally SCORCHED our plants. I think I'll be yanking them out and replanting more next week since we still have so much warm weather ahead. 

But here is what things have looked like so far! I've enjoyed the fresh tomatoes, but not as much as sweet Mr. Jones has! We haven't bought tomatoes in a few months. It's been nice. 

We also have a baby tomato plant that hasn't done as well. We'll try again with one next year. But I've loved this little experiment - that feeds us no less!

Anyone else garden a little?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

The good life...

We joined a country club this week. It's our splurge. I'm excited. Mr. Jones is excited. It's beautiful and he'll be playing golf a lot again. I'll be enjoying the pools. And maybe learning to play golf. 

We're going to enjoy this next adventure for sure! You might not recognize us in a few months we plan on getting so active! What is everyone up to this week?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

I ❤ mail days...

I've come home to lots of mail this past week! I think I was most excited about winning Pureology! They are decent sized samples for sure! 

The Cascade and wipes were Wal-Mart freebies, but I figured I'd include them here. Nothing more I love than doing my dishes for free! :-)

Have any of you gotten cool mail lately?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

The Wine Chronicles: Kendall-Jackson Riesling

The wine experimenting has continued. And I have a new favorite currently. A big new favorite, all thanks to a friend of my mother-in-law! This wine was at the in-laws' house when we went to visit and we drank it playing Mexican train dominoes one night. I haven't purchased a bottle yet, but I will be correcting that this week. Because oh my goodness I want some!

I love Riesling when it's warm outside. It's just so crisp and fruity and delicious! So, all you white wine and Riesling fans, go get some! Let me know if you love it as much as I do!

I've loved sharing what I'm trying, because I keep finding myself checking out new brands or new types (Moscato coming soon...) and I love it! I love being a little more adventurous in the small things. It makes life a little bit more fun.

XOXO and happy weekend lovelies!

Mrs. Jones 

Georgia dreams...

We had a fabulous time visiting Mr. Jones' parents a few weeks ago. I'm dreaming of going back already! Isn't it beautiful? I love the pool and workout facility in their neighborhood!

Sweet Eve Belle loves her trips to Georgia too. Can't you tell? She gets spoiled rotten, but that's nothing new.

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Shop till you drop...

I hit up New York and Company on Saturday afternoon with a friend, and found a few of the new work pieces I needed. I LOVE the ruffled two-in-one sweater. I want it in EVERY color. I'm wear a large in this, just FYI.

Isn't it awesome?

Ruffled Two-in-one Sweater

I have a few breast cancer awareness events on my calendar for the year already, and I got this precious tank to go under my favorite grey and black cardigans for work and the events. Love?

Chiffon Ombre Tank

I also snagged an elbow-length pinky red cardigan (notice a color theme? because it was so not intentional) and a pair of black canvas wedges. All told, I only spent $60! I was sooooo very excited.

Just had to share! Happy Tuesday,
XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

It's Monday, Mama. Go'way.

Happy Monday everyone. My little girl is ready for a break..... she's tuckered out from all the playing and attention this weekend.

Have a wonderful day!

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Menu Monday: Blue Belles

Yeah, talk about delicious. These are Blue Belles, and they are heavenly for breakfast or any other time of the day. I think I need to have them for a snack with tea sometime too. Because they look cool like that.

So, here's the how to courtesy of Martha Stewart

Blueberry-Lemon Tea Cakes

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, plus more for pans

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

salt

2 large eggs

6 ounces blueberries (1 1/4 cups)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter nine 2 1/2 by 4 inch baking pans and dust with flour.

2. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and syrup is thickened, about 4 minutes. Let stand while making cakes.

3. Meanwhile, combine heavy cream, remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1/4 tsp salt in another bowl.

4. Beat butter, lemon zest and remaining cup of sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Gently fold in blueberries with a rubber spatula.

5. Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

6. Transfer pans to wire racks and brush tops of cakes with lemon syrup. Let stand for 15 minutes. Turn out cakes from pans and brush all over with remaining syrup. Let cool completely on wire racks.

I hope you enjoy! These even freeze well to have later. I can't wait to bake another batch!

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Time marches on...

It's been more than 100 days since April 27. That's hard to believe. I hope you all will indulge me. I don't mean to return so often to tornado topics. But I shot a picture of this view on my way to Starbucks the other morning. The sky is fluffy. The grass is a beautiful green. But it's wrong.

The beautiful grass covers up what is broken. This was one of the hardest hit areas, close to a main street. The grass is green because the destruction of homes (you're looking at what was basically a rental neighborhood) was so bad, they just had to raze it all. A few structures are still left near the road.

It's odd to see the rebuilding and the growth next to destruction that still hasn't been touched. You can tell where insurance battles and indecision rage easily.

It's easy to forget as things slowly begin to look more normal. But I know there is still so much to be done. I'm anxious for our sweet city to continue to heal, to rebuild and to grow. Football season will certainly bring more eyes to see what is needed and hands to help.

Thanks for reading lovely. Sometimes you just feel better when you write it out.

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

Wishful Wednesday: Birthday Beauty Love

My birthday is rapidly approaching. Just over a month and it will be here! So, I've been plotting what I'd love to get as a gift or just treat myself to. I'm beyond out of perfume, so that's huge on my list. And I can always use a few little makeup finds!

Here's what I'm loving!

Stila "Living the Life in Laguna" Palette

$14

Vera Wang Princess Rollerball Perfume

$18

Vera Wang Bouquet Perfume

$92

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Rare Find

$20

Happy Wednesday lovelies! What are you guys crushing on?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

I ❤ kitchen gadgets...

Yep. I love kitchen gadgets. Especially nice ones that my grandma gives me. And double especially when they save me money on food! Like my vacuum sealer!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Pupcake planning....

A dear friend sent me an email today. And let's just say, even Mr. Jones is flipping out a little plotting for EB's birthday now. We share September birthdays just a few days a part.

So what do you guys think about this cake?

For this pup?

Tweak the coloring and add Disney ears, and I think we're good to go. 

{Cake by Publix}

XOXO - and let the birthday plotting begin!
Mrs. Jones