













Eat all the cupcakes.

No! she cried out. No! Get away from me.

You want them all. You know you do. They’re in the kitchen…

No, I don’t. Stay back. STAY BACK.

They want to be eaten, all the cupcakes.

I can’t!

Eat all the cupcakes!

NO!

They’re so delicious, Faith. Eat them. EAT THEM ALL!

NOOOOOO!

She pitched forward and up from the bed, arms flailing. Beside her, Milo let out a soft breath and opened one eye. “Brownie dream again?”

“No.” She waited until her heart rate had slowed back down to normal and wiped the sweat from her eyes. “Cupcakes. It was the cupcakes.”

Mile sighed. “I really wish you’d stop baking right before bed.”















Re: the above story- definitely a plus of having a job- pawning all the treats you make, you can force on the people you work with. It’s almost sad really- one cupcake for me (okay, maybe two) and the rest get sent away, to live on farms with good families (farms equaling other people’s thighs and hips that are not mine.)

They get cupcakes, I get to pretend like they never existed and that kale is delicious. Everybody wins!















I hope it’s chilly where you are this morning. Nicole and I don’t have to worry about that since Chicago and Maine see September coming and immediately whip up 45 degree mornings. It warms up in the afternoon but the mornings are perfect, in my opinion. Anything that puts you in a sweater and points you in the direction of a certain coffee chain and their certain fall specialty hot beverage, can only be good news. It’s just one of the reasons that fall is amazing, that tasty pumpkiny beverage.

Other reasons: the bugs disappear, the birds HIJACK IT OUT OF TOWN (I hate them so much), we all get to cover our arms with sleeves again (I love you sleeves!), apple picking, leftover Halloween candy, pretty leaves that crunch under your feet, kids waiting for the school bus on the corner and you don’t have to go to school! Because you’re an ADULT! tights! TV is back! Chicken pot pie!

Plus we get to add maple to everything! With impunity! Maple, maple everything! Buddy the Elf for the win! Fall for the win!















More pumpkin recipes from SKS: Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Topping and Maple Glaze | Pumpkin Pie French Toast

Pumpkin Maple Cupcakes

Source: Your Cup of Cake | Makes: 24 Cupcakes | Print Recipe

Ingredients

Pumpkin Cupcake:

1 Box of yellow cake mix

3 Eggs

1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin puree

1/2 Cup of oil or applesauce

1/3 Cup of milk

2 Teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice (make your own: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves)

Topping:

8 Ounces of cream cheese, softened

1/2 Cup of butter, softened

1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 Teaspoon of maple flavoring

3-4 Cup of powdered sugar

1/2 Teaspoon of cinnamon

Directions

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F and line pan with cupcake liners.

2. In small bowl, sift cake mix and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix eggs with pumpkin puree, oil, milk and vanilla extract.

4. Stir cake mix into egg mixture, with pumpkin pie spice, until smooth.

5. Fill liners 3/4 full and bake for 17 to 22 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Let cool.

6. Make topping: Beat cream cheese and butter for 2 minutes. Add vanilla extract and maple flavoring.

7. Slowly add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (more if you want a kick.)

8. Frost cooled cupcakes and enjoy.