Birthday Week!

This Friday is my 23rd Birthday. This week I have big plans. Thursday night work friends are meeting me at a salsa club for a night salsa dancing! I'm so excited! Friday night my friends and my boyfriend are going out to dinner somewhere. Not sure where yet, but I need to decide soon so I can make reservations. Here are some places I am thinking about going.

1. Miso (sushi bar - I went here last year for my birthday, so I am not sure if I want to go there again..)

2. Copia (Urban Winery & Market - I have been there twice and their food is so delicious! $10-$33)

3. Mosaic (Tapas / Small Plates, Fusion / Eclectic, $31-$51)

4. BARcelona Tapas Restaurant (Tapas / Small Plates, Spanish, $30 and under)


Hopefully I can figure out where I want to go! Tomorrow night is Stitch 'n Bitch! I think I am going to make some yummy Banana Muffins with Mascarpone Cream Frosting! I got the recipe from Giada's Everday Italian on Food Network.

Muffins:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas, peeled and coarsely mashed
Frosting:
3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted


Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl to blend. Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the banana. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended.

Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake the muffins on the middle rack until the tops are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out with no crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a rack and cool slightly. The muffins may be eaten warm or cooled completely and frosted.

To frost the cupcakes: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the mascarpone cheese and then beat in the honey. Spread the frosting over the muffins. Sprinkle with the walnuts.

I am almost finished with the Totally Tubular Skirt. It has taken me longer than I expected to knit this one because I have been working on other projects, like my Dad's birthday snow hat that I had to get done for his birthday. The hat looked well on him.