A Reason to Celebrate

Today our guest blogger, Rebecca from the Book Department, would like to recommend a very special book:

I have been telling everyone for weeks that my husband and I "don't do Valentine's Day." This Valentine's Day, though, my husband woke up with a look of utter exhaustion. "I need a mental health day," he said, "but I can't take one this week." He sighed and got up to move on into the traveling stressball that is his job. Well, V-Day or not, I had to do something to bring joy back. And what, I thought, is happier than a cupcake?

Recently we got in a new cookbook at the store, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. They had me at "vegan." I'd been flipping through the book for a couple of weeks, looking at the lovely photographs and enjoying the ultra-hip commentary on vegan baking. Finally, a vegan cookbook that didn't preach or make me feel guilty for squishing spiders. And now, a perfect reason to take the plunge and make some cupcakes.

So, I took my new cookbook home, put on some Cyndi Lauper and got to cookin'. (Vintage Cyndi Lauper and cupcakes = Joy!) I made Chai Tea Latte Cupcakes and, because the picture was so soothing, Coconut Lime Cupcakes. The directions were easy to follow, the results sublime. The combination of spices in the Chai Cupcake made it a 21st century spice cake and the tang in the Coconut Lime Cupcake gave a grown-up edge to the sweet treat. I didn't need the bag of back-up cookies I got at the store. It took some effort, but I managed to leave most of the finished product alone until my husband got home, exhausted and gray.

Then he smelled the cupcakes. Maybe it was the blend of warming spices in the Chai Cupcakes, or the sight of coconut flakes on the Coconut Lime Cupcakes, but he got a nice pink glow on his cheeks. He waited until after dinner, then dived in with one of each. And I finally got the smile I haven't seen for weeks. Happy Valentine's Day to me.

Now, which cupcakes to make for the next holiday we "don't do. . ."? S'Mores Cupcakes for President's Day? Crimson Velveteen Cupcakes for Mardi Gras? Vegan cupcakes take over my kitchen!