50 years and cupcakes

My parents recently celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss...or at least 50 years dealing with children and family life.  I have to say a big "Congratulations!" to them.  Fifty years is hard, especially in this day and age.  It's rare to come across marriages that last that long.  Did you know that the average life span of a marriage is 8 years anymore.*

Anyway, to celebrate this feat, all 8  of the children that my parents raised, as well as their children (and children's children) threw a party...well, two...but let's not split hairs.

I could go on for hours...days...about the qualities that keep marriages together or strategies that work...but I'll spare you (I am, after all, single myself).  My goal is just to point out the incredible job my niece did on cupcakes!  In the far back, we have strawberry lemonade, next to them is strawberry-blueberry chocolate, and in the front we have cappuccino with chocolate buttercream frosting.  They were gorgeous! (And tasty, too!)

Don't you think she should open a business?  I do.


*Or so I've heard from my father.  I haven't bothered to look that statistic up.

Birthday treats

The manfriend has a birthday fast approaching.  So being the devoted girlfriend that I am, I have begun to scour the internet for treat ideas.  He really likes the cheesecake, but recently decided to not indulge in it anymore.  Something about cholesterol levels and weight... a travesty.  I'll just have to dutifully eat his portion for him (but that won't do for his birthday).

Cupcakes!  Truffles!  Pies!  Tarts!  Frozen concoctions!  I'm up to my mouth in ooey gooey heavenly creations.  I...can't...decide... I mean, look at these tasty options and tell me you can resist their pull?

We have something cute to start off...Banana Split Mini Bites!  Cute birthday fun!  But it sounds so easy?  Check out the recipe here.

Banana Split Mini Bites (bakersroyale.com)

Next up we have something a little more decadent...you just can't go wrong with dark chocolate and peanut butter.  It doesn't scream out fun, but it screams eat me!  Check out the recipe here.

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Mousse Frosting (bakersroyale.com)

Yet another version of chocolate and peanut butter... have I mentioned that the manfriend loves Reese's peanut butter cups?  This one makes me think more fun and birthday cake-y.  Check out the recipe here.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcake (bakersroyale.com)

I recently found out how much the manfriend is into tiramisu...and I can alter a recipe to make it mini in a  mug.  Honestly, doesn't it look delicious?  Check out the recipe here.

Tiramisu (bakersroyale.com)

So help!  What dessert makes you salivate?  Help me figure out what to bake next by voting below.