Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes/Chocolate Mocha Icing~The Gift~

“Life is a gift”~William Reynolds

I love the mysteries in life. I also love the magic that occurs when everything falls perfectly into place and the mystery is revealed and it is NEVER as I thought it would be.

At the end of November my sister C had a birthday.  Since she lives a long car drive away from my home, a card, a phone call or an email message is usually all I manage to acknowledge her special day. But this year, I noticed that her birthday fell on a Friday and this year, my oldest son Clark, who is going to University, has had Fridays off. With inspiration, I asked if he would be willing to care for the little girls so I could go up and surprise my sister on her birthday. He agreed. (Thanks Clark) What made it even better though, was my other sister J, who lives close to me, was also free and willing to drive us to C’s home. I thought it was wonderful how everything fell into place beautifully and we could share in our sister’s birthday celebration.

J called our brother in law, D and asked him to help us surprise C.  Making sure C was ready to go out to lunch on Friday when we arrived. D isn’t the best at keeping secrets from our sister, so the fact  he didn’t spill the beans and was able to come up with a plausible excuse for her to get up early on her birthday, was a feat unto itself. (Thanks D!)

The week leading up to my sister’s birthday was busy around our house. My husband David was going out of town on business, again, for another week and he was leaving the Thursday before C’s birthday. We try to get groceries in the house, gas in the cars, and the house cleaned, so things are smoother for me while he is away. I was just flying around trying to get everything done and also get a few little gifts put together for my sister.

At the last minute, I decided to make some cupcakes so we had something to put a candle on and sing Happy Birthday after lunch. Thankfully, I was able to find a healthy cupcake recipe at Lee’s “Fit Foodie Finds,” blog.  (Thanks Lee) I followed her cupcake recipe to a tee, except, I didn’t add the chocolate chips to the batter, wanting to make them even healthier. Although I can’t take any credit for the recipe, they turned out really great and I wanted to share them here with you.  I’ll put a link to the recipe below so you can try them out the next time you want to surprise someone. The chocolate mocha icing was light and fluffy and the perfect topper as well.

On Friday morning I raced around like crazy, driving our three school age children to their respective schools, and then I got the little girls ready so Clark could take them to their Kindermusik class later in the morning, complete with  bird costumes I had made earlier in the week. J showed up promptly and we were on our way, light with anticipation of our time with our sister.

As we were almost there, we got a call from D who asked where we were, as he couldn’t hold the surprise much longer. Thankfully, we were just down the road. When we arrived and our sister saw J’s car, she was bubbling over with joy. Her face was alight with happiness and she was thrilled we had come to take her out to lunch. Then later……

As we settled in at the restaurant, our time together floated on a cloud of bliss. It settled over me like a brilliant scarf and I felt connected to my sisters by a shimmering cord of silver. We had a lovely lunch, updating each other on our lives and then we sang Happy Birthday to C, who sat glowing radiantly. As she opened our gifts, she was full of delight and well being.

Happy Birthday C! Isn’t she radiant!

J, C and myself…..in bliss that we had a moment together

J and C….sisters are gifts

 

I think this picture captures the joy of the day

C’s soul energy is shining so brightly….it’s nice when you know you are LOVED

It was hard to part after lunch. A piece of me wanted to remain with her and keep celebrating but I knew the kids would be coming home from school and I needed to get back to my life. C had taken her car to the downtown restaurant, so after lunch she led us to the highway. As she started to take the turn to her home, she rolled down her window and waved a cheerful goodbye. I could feel the joy flowing towards us. I looked at J and said, “I think she enjoyed our surprise visit,” and J smilingly nodded, yes.

We drove home along the countryside and chatted about our visit and about sister things. When we came to an old house that I had marveled over on our drive out and said, I would love to take a picture of it, J hadn’t forgotten. As we approached the house, J slowed the car to a stop beside the highway, so I could get out and take a few photos. I walked along the dirty snow edged highway  and snapped a few pictures with the new camera David had given me for my birthday in November.

As I was perusing all the photographs later in the day, I realized I often don’t recognize the beauty of something, until the moment is gone. Or perhaps I do but I am so busy, living in the moment, that I don’t have a chance to savour how breathtaking it truly is.

This beautiful house in Westwold, B.C. was glowing in the late winter afternoon sun….reminded me of how glowing my sister was as we parted

Then later C graciously sent an email thanking me for the surprise visit and all the gifts. I responded to her that the biggest gift was one that she gave to J and I. Seeing her so happy and joy filled was the best part of the day and truly the best gift.

This morning as the day was lightening and our house hold was slowly waking up, Will was chatting to me as I poured his breakfast cereal and cut some fruit into his bowl. For some reason he comes up with the most profound thoughts early in the morning and this day was no exception. As I cut his bananas, he asked me, “mom, why am I here?” I knew exactly what he meant. I told him that only he knew the answer to that question and he would find the answer in his heart. He asked me why he didn’t remember it easily and I told him that if we all remembered why we had come to earth, we would do what we needed to do and then we would find a way to leave. He said, “you mean kill ourselves?” I said, “yes, we would want to return to our Source.” “Hmmm”, he said, but mom, “Life is a gift.”

I didn’t have time to really think about his words until later in the morning as I had a household to get rolling but now that I have my cup of tea by my side and the little girls are happily playing, I do recognize the wisdom in his words. The true gift is our life. We can choose to open it quickly and see what’s inside, or we can savour the moments of anticipation, of wonder, of joy, in being here surrounded by all the beauty of the earth. Celebrating our loved ones. As I sip my tea, I peer over my lap top and see a brilliantly wrapped present.

And now, since part of living a beautiful life means enjoying food, would you like a delicious AND healthy chocolate cupcake recipe?

Okay, get ready to be amazed!

 Chocolate Cupcakes and Chocolate Mocha Buttercream Icing

(This recipe came from Lee’s Fit Foodie Finds blog)

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners. Then, lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Whisk. In a medium size bowl, combine wet ingredients. Mix.
3. Gradually add wet ingredients to dry, combining with a mixer or wooden spoon, until all lumps are gone.
4. Fill each cupcake about ~3/4 of the way with the batter.
5. Bake for 18 minutes or until set. Test cupcape with a toothpick (it shouldn’t have anything on it). Let cool completely before applying the frosting. I suggest at least 30 minutes!

Chocolate Mocha Buttercream Icing

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
3 tbsps of cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsps of heated almond milk and then dissolve
1 tbsp of instant coffee in the milk

In a blender, cream butter and slowly add the icing sugar, cocoa powder, alternating with the wet ingredients, until you have a lovely whipped icing consistency. Spread on cooled cupcakes and top with a chunk of chocolate

The best things in life are topped with chocolate, don’t you think?

And before I close, I have to share something else with you….after C’s birthday and D was away on business, I watched a touching, inspirational movie on Netflix called, “Boychoir.” Check out the link to the trailer. I’m never surprised when life layers so many connections in a short time.

I think it’s a good ending to this blog post about gifts….if you need something to lift you up…check it out. and now for a link to the song from this movie, it’s Josh Groban singing, “The Mystery of your Gift.”          

And with a smile, I wave goodbye to you. Thank you for coming today.

Until we are together again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope