August 2020 - Carefree Mermaid

Black Forest Cupcakes

Black Forest Cake is a sweet combination of Chocolate and Cherry, a classic cake choice. Making it in a handheld cupcake form only seems right! These moist, chocolate cupcakes are topped with a creamy, cherry frosting and filled with the sweet cherry cream! Read on for the full recipe to make these Black Forest Cupcakes!

Black Forest Cupcakes

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a pan.

In a large bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Gradually add in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and butter. Mix well until there are no lumps.

Fill the cupcake liners leaving about an inch from the top.

Place in oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let them cool completely.

Once they’re cool you can use a cupcake corer (or a knife) to remove a small circle out of the middle of each cupcake.

To prepare the frosting you’ll need cool whip, frozen cherries, and brown sugar. Mix them together in the food processor. Once it’s thoroughly mixed you can spoon some into the middle of the cupcke.

This frosting is so yummy, try not to eat it all before you get it on the cupcakes! Use the rest to cover the top!

This frosting is a little thin, but it really does stick to the top (kind of like the frosting on hostess cupcakes). It’s perfect because it pairs so well with the chocolate!

Finally, Garnish them with a cherry. Refrigerate for about twenty minutes before serving!

Black Forest Cupcakes
Print Recipe
Serves: 24

Ingredients

Cupcakes

1/2 Cup Butter (softened)

3 Eggs

Buttermilk

1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Flour

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp Cinnamon

6 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/4 Tsp Salt

Frosting

1 Cup of Cherries (Frozen or Fresh pitted)

1 Tub Cool Whip

4 Tbsp Brown Sugar

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners!

2

In a large bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.

3

Gradually add in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and butter. Mix well until there are no lumps.

4

Fill the cupcake liners leaving about an inch from the top.

5

Place in oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

6

Let them cool completely.

7

Once they're cool use a cupcake corer (or a knife) to remove a small circle out of the middle of each cupcake.

8

Prepare the frosting you'll need cool whip, frozen cherries, and brown sugar. Mix them together in the food processor. Once it's thoroughly mixed you can spoon some into the middle of the cupcake.

9

Then cover the top and garnish them with a cherry.

10

Refrigerate for twenty minutes or more!

August 31, 2020

Cocktails/ Culinary Tales

Pina Colada Sangria

Pina Colada Sangria is the Summer Drink you didn’t even know you needed! Mix up one of these and sit back & relax!

Coconut, Pineapple, and Cherry rounded out with Riesling and some other tropical flavors. This summer cocktail is refreshingly satisfying !

Pina Colada Sangria

You’ll need Malibu Rum, Banana Liqeuer, Grenadine, Roscato, Pineapple Juice, Cherries, Shredded Coconut, & Pineapple Chunks.

First, get ready to rim your glass. Pour a little bit of the shredded coconut on to a plate. Using a pineapple slice run it along the top of your glass’s rim. Dip the rim into the shredded coconut. It should stick to the rim.

Next, add the grenadine, cherries, and pineapple juice to the glass. Muddle the fruit, using a muddler or a spoon!

Add ice to the glass. Pour in the Malibu Rum, Banana Liqueur, and Pineapple Juice.

Stir well. Fill the rest of the way with Roscato.

Garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry!

Pina Colada Sangria
Print Recipe
Serves: 1 Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 oz. Coconut Rum

1/2 oz Banana Liquer

1 Cup Roscato

1/2 Cup Pineapple Juice

Splash Grenadine

2 Cherries (one for garnish)

3 Pineapple Slices (one for garnish)

Shredded Coconut for garnish

Instructions

1

Rim glass. Pour a little bit of the shredded coconut on to a plate. Using a pineapple slice run it along the top of your glass's rim. Dip the rim into the shredded coconut. It should stick to the rim.

2

Add the grenadine, cherries, and pineapple juice to the glass.

3

Muddle the fruit, using a muddler or a spoon!

4

Add ice to the glass. Pour in the Malibu Rum, Banana Liqueur, and Pineapple Juice.

5

Stir well. Fill the rest of the way with Roscato.

6

Garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry!

Tip

Going camping or to the beach? Make the sangria ahead of time rightt in a mason jar. Simply pack it in your cooler and stick a straw right on in or pour into a cup over ice from the cooler!

August 26, 2020

Homeschooling/ Life, DIY, & Decor

20 Breathtaking Virtual Field Trips For Kids

Whether you’re homeschooling this year or just trying to find something fun to do with the kids on a rainy weekend, these 20 Breathtaking Virtual Field Trips For Kids will keep your curious little ones entertained and yearning to learn more!

National Aquarium in Baltimore

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is host to an array of sea creatures for your child to explore and learn more about! From Sharks to Jellies go floor to floor learning more about these fascinating things.

You can have another fun aquarium experience by visiting the Georgia Aquarium Webcams . Here your children can watch live footage of the Whale Sharks. The Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium in America that houses these beautiful creatures!

Marine Discovery Center

After checking out the aquariums head on over to the Marine Discovery Center located in New Smryna Beach, Florida! From sea turtle videos to bird walks, Here you can learn a little more about everything: animals, plants, conservation, science research, invasive species, and beyond!

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

Next, head right around the corner to check out the fascinating history of this beautiful lighthouse located on the Ponce Inlet. You can read up on, and visit the inside, as well as take in the gorgeous view from this stunning lighthouse!

San Diego Zoo

Giraffes, Tigers, & Elephants oh my! Visit the San Diego virtually by checking out each of their web cams, view the animals and learn a little bit more about each one as you go! The Zoo is a protected haven where they believe caring for endangered species can help protect against extinction! They have released over 44 species back into the wild.

You can also check out the Zoocams at the Omaha Zoo! Check out the many different species, interactive videos, and activities you can do with the whole family. Bring the zoo to you!

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

You can take room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas. From Dinosaur Fossils to unique botanical species and human origins the Smithsonian is filled with wonder. You can go exhibit by exhibit viewing and reading all about these ancient artifacts.

Glacier National Park

Visit Glacier National Park and even take a virtual hike!

International Space Station

Go to space on a virtual field trip! Check out how the astronauts live in this really cool footage at the International Space Station. Watch how having no gravity effects everything from brushing their teeth to exercising, how they sleep, use the bathroom, what they eat, and even the view of Earth from space!

Not only are these videos enlightening but, they are extremely entertaining as well! Not only did my son love these, but I really found it fascinating as well!

You can also check out NASA Glenn Virtual Tours to see some really awesome footage of this research center, control room, and innovative technology where they strive to advance NASA’s missions in aeronautics and space exploration!

In The Sky Planetarium

Now, that you’ve seen how the astronauts live, let’s check out the planets & stars right in your own backyard. You can see exactly what’s above you in the sky, in real time by visiting the In The Sky Online Planetarium! Or even Take a Virtual Walk on Mars and learn a little more about Asteroids and Comets !