According to my Facebook timeline, a lot of people were born today. Popular day for births. Luckily for me -- and for everyone whose meal choices are dictated by a sweet tooth -- my mom is among those. 

If you're like me, when you've got the blues you crave something sugary to set your day back on track. Yeah, yeah. I'm all about the health food band-wagon, and I'm usually on that train.  But sometimes we need a brownie. Or a cookie. Or a damned cupcake. To me, it makes complete sense that a woman who brings joy to every person she encounters would be so very good at the delicacy of creating sweet treats that do the same when you eat them,  immediately brightening your day. 

Unlike cooking, baking is a science. It's why most chefs dread the word "pastry." The best bakers, however, are still able to experiment; it's why most of us average folk can't replicate their genius. Well, my mom is a master of the art: tiers of bacon bourbon chocolate and almond roca cookies, blueberry and apple pies, even throwing in the ever-and-again curveball (she’s been known to take requests, and the gluten free apple cider doughnuts she made for me were pretty delectable). 

My mouth is watering already ... and we haven't even gotten to where she really shines: the ever-trendy cupcake. Anyone who’s tasted one of these babies knows the meaning of “mouthgasm.” (Amirite, Joyce?!) We live in a world where the cupcake has become commonplace and - dare I say it? - monotonous. A mountain of frosting, a so-so cake. Lots of people try and spice it up with wild, out-there ingredients to separate themselves from the pack. Completely not necessary.

Just like in most aspects of her life, my mom shows us the beauty of simplicity. We don't even have time to delve into the wonder of her gluten free cupcakes. I haven't found one professional bake shop that could hold a candle to her goods. For a future post, my friends; this one is meant to focus on the one area where nearly every cupcake maker fails: the frosting. 

Frostings pictured above, from left to right: cherry buttercream, cream cheese lemon curd, salted caramel buttercream.

Ingredients:
--> 1/2 cup pasture butter (room temperature, NOT melted ... VERY IMPORTANT)
--> 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons raw honey (high quality honey recommended)
--> 2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract
--> Pinch of sea salt

[Insider Tip: Taste your honey before using. Every honey has a unique flavor and will bring something different to your frosting, so make sure it's what you want before you go all in!]

You'll also need:
--> Standing mixer & bowl or a good hand mixer
--> Spatula

Your instructions:

1. Fit the mixer (if standing mixer) with a flat beater & bowl. No standing mixer? No problem. Sub out a hand mixer. [Insider Tip: Mom says she 'whips until her arm is about to fall off'; it gives the frosting a fabulous texture. If you're feeling like a workout, screw the new-fangled mixer and go old-school].

2. Add your butter, honey, pinch of sea salt and vanilla to the mixing bowl and mix on a low speed until your butter begins to soften. Crank up your speed and whip frosting until creamed and light white in color (about a minute). Turn off your mixer, scrape your frosting with a spatula and voila!

3. Refrigerate for at least twenty-thirty minutes before piping onto your cupcakes.

Writer's Note: I promise I'll add a photo when I make cupcakes this week with this frosting in honor of such a fabulous day. Thanks for being born, Mama. 

I'm a self-proclaimed Daddy's girl, and I am lucky enough to have the Dad to trump all dads. Not only is he generous, loving and insane amounts of fun, he's pretty famous in my hometown for his throw-down, knock-out skills in the kitchen. 

Well, today's the day of his birth (which is a great day for all of you -- without it, you wouldn't be reading this!) and I feel it's only appropriate to share with all of you his signature dish.

The last time I posted a photo of Big Dave's Oysters Rockefeller, I was inundated with angry responses from my sister and her friends.
"WHAAAT?!" "NOOO FAIR!" "ALAINA'S HAVING HIM MAKE THEM AND WE'RE ALL COMING OVER. IMMEDIATELY."

Duh. Of course I had him make them when they weren't around. More for me. Let's be real.

While I've never made this dish myself, I've played sous chef to my pops. (Which, with him, means stand back and pretend to be helpful while he maneuvers magically around the kitchen).

It's a relatively painless recipe - unless you're shucking your own oysters, but with hard work comes glory - and one that will wow the ones you're feeding. So read. Eat. Be amazed.

Go buy:
--> 1 box Kosher salt
--> 2 dozen oysters in shell (they should eventually be shucked and sitting in the half shell, or you can buy a pint of pre-shucked oysters, but you will also need shells to put them in. My pops keeps shells on hand. If only I could find those in central Texas...)
--> 1/4 lb pancetta, diced
--> 9 oz baby spinach
--> 6 large garlic gloves
--> 8 oz Farmer's cheese, grated
--> 4 tablespoons olive oil

You will also need:
--> Large baking pan
--> Box grater
--> Cast iron skillet or medium saute pan
--> Chef's knife

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your large baking pan with the salt. It's to stabilize the oysters. Arrange the shucked oysters in half shells on your pan. Using a large box grater, grate your Farmers cheese. Pieces should be about the size of shredded carrots. Dice your pancetta and render in 1 tablespoon olive oil.Mince your garlic and set aside. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in your pan and add spinach. Once your spinach begins to wilt, add your garlic. Cook until soft. 

Prep work done! 

Now, layer the oysters with spinach, then cheese and top with your diced and rendered pancetta. Bake those suckers at 350 degrees until the cheese begins to brown -- 10 to 12 minutes.

[Note: You can substitute bacon for pancetta and Havarti for Farmers' cheese, but you're cheating yourself. Just saying.]

Serve and experience euphoria.

In the aftermath of your pleasure, thank your lucky stars that my dad was born.