My first Blog-versary, Cupcakes, and a Give-away!

This calls for some serious celebrating, don't you think?

First, we need cupcakes! I'm going to share with you the best cupcake recipe EVER. It's gluten-free and it is delicious beyond belief. You can leave out the ground almonds if you like. Once you have your cupcakes done come back, there's more.

Ultimate Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 oz) bittersweet chocolate chips

1 cup (2 sticks) sweet butter

4 eggs

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup superfine sugar

2 tbsp. Dutch-rocess cocoa powder, sifted

2 tbsp. ground almonds

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).  Place 12 paper baking cups in a muffin pan.  Put the chocolate and butter in a double boiler, or medium bowl over a pan of simmering water, and stir until completely melted.  Set aside to cool.  In a large bowl, cream the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and thick. Gently fold in the melted chocolate and remaining ingredients.  

Spoon the batter into the cups.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove pan from the oven and cool for 5 minutes.  Then remove the cupcakes and cool on a rack.  Frost if you must, but these are delicious just the way they are!  

Aren't they divine? One of my co-workers made this recipe for my birthday last year. And she was kind enough to share the recipe. Lucky me!

Okay, sew now that we have cupcakes we can get down to some serious celebrating. Of course, that would mean a give-away.

There are four Vogue patterns up for this pattern give-away. Brand-spanking new with factory folds. From left to right: Vogue 7280, A-line or flared skirt; Vogue 7829, Semi-fitted blouse; Vogue 7743, Fitted and flared pullover top; Vogue 7720, pullover top.

I will draw for it 8:00 p.m. Winnipeg time in one week on Saturday, March 24th. I don't mind shipping internationally. I just ask that you do not sell it, but rather use it, share it, and give it a good home. Good luck to everyone who enters!

Can you believe that it has been a year already? I can't, I have to tell you that it has been fun encountering new sewing sites, blogs and people. Since starting the blog you have gave me pointers on how to sew the perfect invisible zipper, inspired me to refashion some of my existing wardrobe and tackle my pile of scraps for charity blankets. Oh and yes!, offered a place to participate in some fun sew-a-longs and challenges. And most of all, it has been wonderful to find a community of people who share a passion for sewing. 

Happy Sewing, and thanks for helping me to celebrate the blog-versary!