Maple Bacon Cupcakes

These cupcakes marked the end of a journey for my old boss at Cincinnati Magazine - where my journey will soon be coming to an end as well. 

Cupcakes have really become one of my favorite things to make when baking. I'm not sure why - I used to hate cake in all its forms, and now I suddenly enjoy it. Weird, isn't it? They are just so cute, fun. and festive - they are perfect for any occasion. 

I think I had mentioned before that Cincinnati Magazine really likes cupcakes and we often have them at work. Well, Jonah (my old boss, who now works for Outside Magazine in Santa Fe) just happens to like cupcakes, so Tess (the other intern) and I decided to make him some. Upon Tess's request, I whipped up these little beauties. We also made him trail mix - another of his favorites - for his trip to Santa Fe. Aren't we the greatest interns you've ever met? 

It's bittersweet, really. I honestly feel like I just started working here a few days ago, because time has flown so quickly. It's been a wonderful experience. My last day is next Friday - November 30, I believe. I was supposed to stay on until sometime in May 2013, but I truly feel that God is calling me to do other things. I think He is going to use me in big ways next semester in the lives of some people on Navigators on campus. If I wanted to focus my time and efforts on the people in Navs, I knew Cincinnati Magazine would have to go. I love it and I will miss working there, but better things are ahead of me.

So go ahead - have a cupcake for me. I apologize this isn't the most original of recipes - I'm basically telling you to use another pumpkin cupcake recipe and then just add pecans and bacon. Still, these are good. You could even make them with a box mix, if you wanted. To make the maple icing easier, you can use a can of icing and add maple extract or maple syrup. Even better - this recipe is perfect for the guys in your life because it contains bacon. Bacon. And yes, they are delicious!

Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 recipe pumpkin cupcakes (I recommend this recipe from Food Network)
1 recipe maple icing (the recipe above has one!)
Chopped pecans
Bacon, thinly sliced

Directions: 
1. Make cupcakes as directed. Let cool.
2. Make icing as directed. Spread on top of cupcakes.
3. Sprinkle chopped pecans and bacon on top.
4. Enjoy!

Product Review & Giveaway: Lucy's Gluten Free Cookies

I think it's time for another giveaway, don't you? :)

When I heard about Dr. Lucy's new line of gluten free/vegan cookies, I knew I had to try them. I had tried the chocolate chip cookies once from Starbucks and thought they were delicious, so I knew I was bound to love the new Maple Bliss, Chocolate, and Ginger Snap varieties! Lucy's was very generous, and sent me six boxes of the new flavors to review - 2 of each flavor! Isn't the packaging adorable?

Maple Bliss
This was my favorite flavor. Reminiscent of pancakes, the maple is strong but not overpowering, and the cookies (much like all of Lucy's flavors) are very crunchy and satisfying. Nice and sugary. It also reminds me of eating maple sugar candies, the maple sugar shaped like acorns? Does anyone know what I am talking about? Delicious. You would have no idea this cookie was gluten free!

Ginger Snap
I also have a soft spot for gingersnap cookies, so these were great. I loved that there were whole pieces of crystallized ginger in the cookies; they added an extra punch that I was not expecting. I loved the strong ginger flavor, and the added ginger pieces made these a better alternative to your typical gingersnap cookie.

Chocolate
How can you go wrong with chocolate? These cookies have a solid chocolate flavor and seemed to be the favorite among my friends. Not much more I can say about these. They were yummy!

Overall: The regular cookie connoisseur would have no idea these are gluten free. In fact, my friends couldn't tell; I took a box of each flavor to my staff meeting on Monday, and my team loved them! One RA even said "tell those people they get a 10/10, because these are really good!" They get a thumbs up from everyone here in Ohio :) They are very crunchy, and even though I'm a half-baked cookie kinda girl, I really liked these. I also like that you can eat three cookies for 120 calories - it makes me feel like less of a fatty when I eat multiple!

The wonderful people at Lucy's is offering YOU the chance to win one box of each of their new flavors! One lucky PD reader will win, and here is how you can enter (leave a comment for each entry!):

1. MANDATORY- Tell me what your favorite Lucy's cookie is, or which flavor you want to try the most! 

Want more ways to win? 

2. Follow Lucy's and Passing Daisies on Twitter 

3. Subscribe to Passing Daisies by email

4. Follow Passing Daisies on GFC/Blogger

5. Follow me on Pinterest & repin something from the board "Passing Daisies" 

6. Like Passing Daisies on Facebook

7. Like and stumble through Passing Daisies on StumbleUpon 

8. Tweet about this giveaway and tag @cityxlights13 as well as linking to the giveaway (can do this once per day for bonus entries)

9. Pin this post on Pinterest

There you go! Giveaway ends on SUNDAY, MARCH 18TH at 11:00PM and the winner will be announce the next day (Monday, March 19). Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be chosen. Please leave a valid email address with your first entry. 

Thanks guys! Have a lovely day! 

Much love,