Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Taste a rainbow or Punch a leprechaun?

 

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When Alivia was having her magazine fundraiser last fall, I stupidly ordered the “Family Fun” magazine.  If you are a Mom (or a Dad) and you don’t already get this magazine, do. not. order. it. 

Maybe I should rephrase that.  Don’t order it unless you are super crafty and have lots of time on your hands.  I’m just sayin’.

A couple weeks ago when Lainey had the croup (I purposely called it “the croup” because that makes it sound more like the plague, which is what it was) we got the March issue in the mail, and of course we scoured every. single. page.

On the very last page was the recipe of the month:  “Rainbow Cupcakes”, which were cheerfully proclaiming “Taste a Rainbow!”  I tried to close the magazine before she saw it, but I think kids can see things like cupcakes and rainbows from a mile away.

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“Mama, Mama!  Can we make those?  Please?  Please?”  “Yeah honey, we’ll make them,” I said.  “When?  When can we make them?”  Do I really need to give a date and time?  Finally I came up with “How about we make them the next time it’s your turn to bring snack at preschool!”  Somehow, she was satisfied with that.

Well, what do you know?  The snack schedule came out the very next day she was at school, and we had to bring snack the next Friday.  Crap.  Are you kidding me?  If you think she forgot, you’re wrong.  4 year olds don’t forget, especially when it comes to cupcakes.

The day before we had to bring the cupcakes, I actually had the day off.  Lainey wasn’t home though, so being the great mommy that I am, I waited until she got home to make them.  Huge mistake, as by the time we started it was 8 pm.

She was able to help me mix up the cake mix, and mix the food coloring in, but that was the extent of what a child could do.  To say this recipe was not “kid friendly” is an understatement.

In theory, the steps were quite simple.  Make cake mix per package directions:  check.  Divide cake batter evenly into six separate bowls:  check.  Add food coloring as directed:  check.  Evenly distribute the batter among the cups, gently spreading out each color to cover the previous color…WTF? 

That’s where it got ugly people.  You have no idea how time consuming this was.  It took me a minimum of an hour and a half to complete the last step.  After I had been at it for an hour Shawn came down and said “Do you really have to spread each color out?”  Oh. No. He. Didn’t.

I said (and I quote) “If you don’t shut your mouth and walk away right now you’re going to be struck dead by a Leprechaun and all the gold at the end of the rainbow will be mine.”

It was nothing short of a miracle, but Shawn lived, and I finished the cupcakes.  And they were amazing.  I even frosted them with Rainbow Chip frosting.  Don’t act like you’re not impressed. 

The next day at preschool I told Lainey’s teacher they were my “greatest achievement ever.”  Are you ready?

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And here’s the center, just to prove that you truly are tasting a rainbow:

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Just in case anyone is crazy enough to make these, you can find the recipe here.  But, don’t say I didn’t warn you!

29 comments:

d.a.r. said...

Oh holy hell in a handbasket...you have got to be kidding me.

Super mom points for you x 10,000!!

Emily said...

I second the comment above. No way in hell I would do that.

Unknown said...

I saw that. I turned the page. But props to you for being a super mom. Show-off. :)

Hillary said...

Okay, so I know a good cupcake when I see one. The cake consistency looks perfectly moist, the layers even, and the frosting perfect. Overall a good job. Now...how are you going to top it for next snack sharing time?

Jane said...

Yeesh, you are a better mother than me. My daughter knows better than to ask me to 'make' things. Mine would have turned out kinda turd brown.

Kelsey Claire said...

Mom of the year here you come. Couldn't you have lied or cheated your way out of that?

Meghan said...

Oh my gosh, I would have died!!! Your patience is amazing.

Leah said...

Hahaha! You are super incredible... you are a superhero Tami. xoxo

Danielle said...

So glad my child isn't in Lainey's class...no way I could ever compete with that! You rock!

Natalie said...

I've actually been considering making some. I saw them on another blog & thought they were adorable. Whoever made them for her kid's tye-dye themed birthday party...
My friend made them for her son's class at school too. She said it was a pain, but they turned out awesome.

Taylor said...

Those are awesome! I've seen the cake before but never the cupcakes. It takes me FOREVER just to do regular cupcakes from a box though, so I don't think I'll be attempting these!

~Bekah said...

o m g u r insane... lol... what's funny is that i work at our local university and some students JUST yesterday started a GLS student-led group (Gay, Lesbian & Straight; straight b/c they cant discriminate) and when i saw these i IMMEDIATELY thought, "Hmm, the lesbians WOULD LOVE this!" lol..sorry...just my initial thought! there's NO WAY IN HECK I'D DO THIS...WELL, i'm lyin i probably will if shelby sees this idea ever. lol very cute though and GREAT JOB MOMMA!

Laura and Ryan said...

Oh my. Super mom points for you my dear! I would have tried to buy them somewhere! LOL

Llama said...

WHoooooooo----S U P E R MOM! You are insane! Haha! Those look so great...you are amazing!
Next time the girls ask for those...I nominate Shawn!

Mrs. Pick said...

Wow, Super Mom! Way to Go! These are awesome!

Heather (One Take On Life) said...

They turned out amazing if it means anything. I get that magazine, but I don't attempt to do things that I think are insane, such as that one. But I also do not ever let Hayden see that magazine. I only present ideas I can handle:) You are a better mom than me.
Here where we live, even with preschool you have to bring store bought treats or snacks. Nothing homemade, guess that gets me off the hook!

Blair @ Reasonably Swanky said...

The cupcakes turned out perfect...you GO GIRL!

Cara Smith said...

You are a bigger person than I.

I had trouble even trying to get a cake to look like a flip flop for my daughters last birthday.

Sara McCarty said...

Holy shit! Those look fantastic! I thought the end of this story was going to be some horror of epic proportions about failed cupcake disaster and crying disappointed 4 year olds, but NO. You're super mom!

Sara McCarty said...

P.S. My capcha word to submit my last comment was "fooked" and that totally cracked me up.

Unknown said...

Um, you are SUPERMOM. The closest I've come to this is making my own frosting. Would never deal with all the separate bowls. OMG. You deserve a medal!!!

Amy said...

Holy Crap, Tami! That looks freaking magically delicious! I bet all the kids in Lainey's class wheT home and asked their mommy's to make these!

BWAWAWAWAWAWAW!!!

Christine said...

That is amazing!!!

Yankee Girl said...

You should really get a mommy/crafter of the year award!

You did an awesome job!

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Kristi B said...

Kudos to you for making those and being a good mom by keeping your promise!! They are soo cute!!! If I feel ambitious enough to make them, I think I'm just gonna do 3 colors :-)

Love,
Kristina Darling ;-)

~Niki~ said...

wow! you sure have patience! lol. or your sanity, or both ha ha. Yes, I've seen that mag and I feel the same way...just like I do when i pick up a Martha STewart mag! blech! who lives like that? who cooks like that? a chef maybe lol. mac n cheese mama here lmbo.
love your blog! just found u, and i'm adding you to my side bar :)
hugs from HE** Arizona lol
~niki

Anonymous said...

Thanks, I read this late last night, and immediately found the website to order this magazine. While looking at the "free with your payment for magazine digital copy", my very soon toi be 6 year old son spotted the cupcakes! Now, he wants a full size cake with the rainbow stripes! YIKES!!!!!

Tracie said...

I'm glad you took photos. One day when you aren't living up to her expectations you can whip out the evidence of your sacrifices.

(I used to get that mag and felt inadequate everytime I read it.)