Things have changed.  I used to have the best job - I still have the best job actually but part of what made it the best job has changed.  I used to get to see my BFF (to coin my daughter's term) KT almost everyday at work.  She worked in the same place I did... until December 31st that is.  We used to get in a little giggle or a little bitch session for a couple of minutes or so pretty much everyday.  If I ran out of tokens for the subway (or I rode my bike to work and by the end of the day it's raining... let's say) we had a little stash that we shared so neither one of us would be stuck.  Often I would come in to work to find some little treat or 'give-away' on my desk... my BFF was just thinking of me.  If I made something that I knew she would love then I would bring it in and leave it on her desk - just enough to get her and her Big G through a couple of days.  It also provided me with some much needed adult taste testing.
Well, she left for early retirement (she's in her later thirties after all!) on December 31st.  I had some trouble saying goodbye because I'm not really saying 'goodbye' AND because I hate goodbye's.  Like, I mean HATE.  So, now that we are in the middle of January I am trying to adapt to all of those wonderful things mentioned above missing from my everyday work experience.  It's been two KT-less weeks at work and there is a big hole, I won't lie to you.  I've been trying to keep myself beyond busy whilst at work.  That seems to help.


She does live nearby though so we have been able to console ourselves with being able to meet for a quick coffee break or a lunch a couple of times a week.  We also meet up regularly for a little girls night or, as was the case this weekend, a girls shop.  In this case it really was 'girls' because we brought along kid #1 for some retail exposure.  Kid #1 seems to love fashion almost as much as KT and the two of them decided that Kid #1 needed to do a shop with the 'less adventurous' Mom/BFF in the background.  It made it much more fun for me (kid #1 and I didn't fight... not even once!) and we even got a middle of the afternoon 'snack' (snack for Kid #1, drinks for Wanda and KT).  A fantastic time was had by all and we are going to repeat it.  I also happened to mention that I would be making these little puppies today

Blue dots bought on our shopping excursion p.s.

and KT has generously accepted my request to taste test them for me.  We'll be meeting up to share the cupcakes and I'll be sneaking in a little friend time...
So, I still feel kinda sorry for myself - really happy for my now early retired BFF.  My desk is rather bleak and empty and I'm giggling to myself now at work but at least we can still share everything else... and I'll let you know what her feedback is on the Cupcakes.


Spice Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing
from The New York Times Thanksgiving thing
makes about 10 cupcakes

Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs

Icing
1 pkg (4 oz) Cream cheese
2 tbsp unsalted butter
dash of salt
3 cups (or so) icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 oz melted white chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare a cupcake tin with 10 - 12 liners (just in case)
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and salt.  Set aside.
In another bowl mix together the molasses and milk.  Set aside.
In a third bowl beat the butter until light and fluffy.  Add in the sugar and continue to beat together until well mixed.  Add in the eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.  Alternate adding the milk/molasses mixture and the flour, mixing well after each addition.  Begin and end with the flour.  Place a heaping spoonful of the batter into each muffin cup, filling to about 3/4 full.


Bake for about 20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
Cool completely before icing.

Icing
In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, butter and dash of salt until they are well mixed and creamy.  Add in the icing sugar until well incorporated.  Add in the vanilla and the melted chocolate.  Mix well.  Ice the cupcakes once they are completely cooled.  Maybe add a little blue ball on the top - or a silver one, or gold or purple or whatever...