Culinary Double Header

I really don't like to cook. I love to eat good food...sometimes, it's good for me, sometimes not. Today, I not only cooked, I baked! My sweet daughters birthday required some sort of sugary confection. Cupcakes were her choice.

Somehow, no matter now hard I try, the presence of children and food coloring in the same setting causes my nerves to go haywire. Am I the only one who has had those days? When you have tried, unsuccessfully, to clean red food coloring off of hands, clothes, towels and floors simultaneously? (I can hear my dear Frankie now, reminding me that if I stopped using food coloring, with it's nasty petroleum base, I wouldn't have this problem. Yes. You would be right Frankie dear. One day, I will take the plunge...but not this day. You are a braver woman than I.)

Thankfully, today was not one of those days!! The cupcake bonanza was a hit. Even the dog thought so, which is another subject for another day. We piled them high and deep and admired their white, pink and green frosting flourishes. We carried the shining silver platter through the living room for all to admire (read: Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle and our super seven kiddos).

I decided to capitalize on my baking success and take a crack at cooking spaghetti and meatballs for dinner- also my 3 year old daughters choice. Believe it or not, I pulled it off. And the kitchen is no worse for the war. Or wear. Don't know which I would say at this point....