Where I've been...

So FTW, WTF? Where have you been? You've been gone for about a week and you just recently posted a recipe for Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pizza and Mother's Day but what about the other days? Super Mario Galaxy cupcakes and that was all she wrote?

Well, yes and no. It's called, it's-graduation-season for those of us with big families. I've been gone to visit my clan and bake graduation cupcakes for my sister Anzie's college graduation. It was a blast to be stuck in the kitchen with all that goody good sweets both hot and cold just waiting for me and my sister Sam to create something worth seeing and eating on her celebration night.

We looked at our time and all our options around town and ended up using Hello, Cupcake!'s idea for graduation deliciousness. Of course, their cupcakes are amazingly gorgeous. But we came close. Yeah, close enough to look like grad caps.

This is what we did:

• For the mortar board (the top of the graduation hat...didn't realise it was called a mortar board) we used wheat thins and dipped them in melted chocolate bark. I stayed up till 2 a.m. making those babies for the next day. Let them dry on wax paper.

• For the bottom of the hat we delved into mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. And the tassel was used with Twizzler's Pull 'N Peels.

• For glueing the grad hat together we used chocolate frosting.

• For the tiny diplomas, my sister Sam kneaded, rolled and cut out gum paste and finished them with a licorice tie. My sister Sam is good with details and never afraid to try anything. This woman can CREATE!

It was such a wonderful time of celebration for my sister. We had great food, courtesy of my Mom. We enjoyed many laughs with my little niece as the star of the show. And without the help of each of my family members, we wouldn't be able to pull off such a fun, filling and overflowing graduation party for my sister.

Anzie, I am so proud of you and I wish you best for your future. There is nothing you can't do and can do that will ever change how much we, your family love you and support you.  I also wish this for you, Nolen (will post your pic when I get them). You have a wonderful life ahead of you and we are so glad to be a part it. Love you both and congratulations again!