Nacho Round Up

SUPER BOWL! The Super Bowl is just around the corner, y'all. Are you football food ready? If you're in need of upping your nacho game, you've come to the right place. I'm talking more nachos than you could ever dream of making - and they can all be made in a sheet pan in less than 10 minutes.

Buffalo Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

One of my favorites are these Buffalo Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos smothered with sharp cheddar and chunks of chicken, drizzled with spicy buffalo sauce and sour cream, and sprinkled with celery, green onions, fresh matoes, and crumbled blue cheese.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Sheet Pan Nachos

I also love this dip inspired version - Spinach & Artichoke Dip Sheet Pan Nachos topped with Mozzarella, Monterey jack, Cotija, and an easy peasy stove top spinach and artichoke dip. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor!

Matters of the Heart: Waiting in the Pain

Why can’t I just fix things? Why won’t my loneliness go away? Sometimes my loneliness feels so massive that it threatens to envelop me.

I was in a vortex the week between Christmas and New Year’s, with contributing factors including family drama, singleness, cancelled plans, and crazy hormones. In retrospect, these are considerable issues, but I never realize how much they impact me until I am sobbing with my friend about how much my life sucks (purely a hypothetical situation, of course).

Here’s what you need to know about me. I am single and moving towards the back half of my thirties. While I would love to be married, I enjoy living as fully as I can within my circumstances. I’m fine to go to movies on my own and generally try to not let my lack of a spouse stop me. I am coming out of a time of confusion over work, church, and my vocation. This experience has led me to seek and pray about every part of my life. It has led to some fun changes too, such as pursuing improv comedy. However, some areas of my life feel very much in process. I’m still figuring it out. (Note: I will never figure it all out on this side of life).

Chocolate Cupcake Bread Pudding

I hope all of you having a true winter are reveling in it. I'm so jealous. Over here in California life is pretty moderate. Even though it's gotten colder this last week, a light sweater will do during the day (sigh). Not my favorite, to say the least. But, carry on we must. I'm still cooking and baking up my favorite cold weather favorites in spite of the lack of a real winter. Maybe even in defiance to it.

Get your chocolate fix in a comforting bowl of Chocolate Cupcake Bread Pudding. So yum!

This Chocolate Cupcake Bread Pudding is comforting and satisfying whether you're enjoying a true winter or just pretending to, like me.

This Chocolate Cupcake Bread Pudding is the best way to use up leftover cupcakes.

I actually baked this pudding with grain free chocolate cupcakes that I made from a recipe over at Living Healthy with Chocolate, but any chocolate cupcakes will do. Just make sure they're unfrosted. If they are frosted, just push off the frosting (I'm wincing as I say that) and use the cake part only.




Start by breaking up 10 to 12 chocolate cupcakes into a buttered dish. Sprinkle on a handful of chocolate chips and pour your custard mixture over the top.

Just look at that chocolaty goodness swimming in a sea of luscious custard. Oh baby!

Be sure to push the goodies down into the custard.




Bake 45 to 55 minutes until center is set, but still jiggly. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before digging in.

I serve this Chocolate Cupcake Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate sprinkles.

I serve this pudding with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and chocolate sprinkles. It is a cupcake pudding after all. Nuts would be totally awesome, too. 😉

Chocolate Cupcake Bread Pudding

INGREDIENTS
butter for greasing your dish
10 to 12 unfrosted or de-frosted cupcakes
1/2 cup chocolate chips
4 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup granulated sugar
vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and chocolate sprinkles for serving

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 3 quart casserole dish.
2. Break the cupcakes up into your dish.
3. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips.
4. In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs.
5. Add the milk, vanilla, and sugar, and whisk to combine.
6. Pour over the cupcakes and push all of the goodies down into the custard mixture.
7. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes until the center is set, but still jiggly.
8. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before digging in.
9. Serve with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and chocolate sprinkles.

Matters of the Heart: Empty Nesting

Becoming an empty nester can be both an exciting and difficult life transition for many. I know for myself, I have moments of dreaming what it will be like when my kids are grown and out of the house and all my time and energy are my own. But, really, I can't even begin to imagine what an empty nest will look and feel like for me in the years to come. My friend and fellow blogger, Dottie Pickett, was willing to sit down with me (in the virtual setting of our blogging worlds, that is) and share some of her story and experience. Here's a bit of our conversation.

What was your experience of being a mom when the girls were in the house?

The minute you conceive you become a mom, which means I have been a mom for over 25 years.

I was in heaven being a mom from day one. My mom and I weren't close, so I'm told that I had an extra need to bond with my girls. As a Marriage and Family Therapist I only worked a couple of days a week, so I had lots and lots of time to nurture them, play with them, watch them participate in sports and musicals, and even get involved with their school projects, like being in charge of costumes for their school plays.

One of our favorite things was to do crafts together. For instance, one entire summer we made elaborate masquerade masks for Carly's 16th birthday! So fun!

What has the process of becoming an empty nester been like for you, what are some of the struggles you face, and what's been helpful to you during this transition?

When it began to hit me that my youngest was going off to college I went into a severe depression. I know that not everyone will have the same experience. I have learned that there is a major chemical component with me that others don’t have. With my depression there was a perfect storm: emotional enmeshment and empty nesting, biological/chemical issues and hormonal changes. Thankfully, I’m in a much better place now. Various things have been helpful in pulling me out of depression.

In order to lift yourself out of depression you have to address it from all angles. I began working out consistently, I got a lot of prayer and I prayed a lot, I started in-depth therapy, I got on antidepressants, I started volunteering at a fun organization, I made sure to plan quality time with my wonderful husband and good friends, and I started gardening and cooking more. Interestingly enough, starting my blog, Pickett’s Pearls, was the thing that has helped me the most. I have a strong need to be creative, and when the girls left I didn’t see how I was going to fulfill that part of me. My blog meets so many other needs, giving me something that is all my own and not connected with my girls.

Does your experience differ from your husband's? If so, how? If not, what is it like being empty nesters together? 

It has been hard on my husband as well because he and the girls are very close, but not nearly as hard as it has been on me. He has been unbelievably loving through this whole excruciating time. I really don’t know what I would have done without him.

Being empty nesters has been good for our marriage. We are looking more to each other to have our needs met. For example, I have really gotten into watching football and basketball with him. Of course he loves that! We've also really been enjoying getting into cooking.

What are you most proud of in what you have done to raise your daughters?

Our daughters are both very kind and empathic people. They also have a desire to get closer to Christ.

What are you most proud of in what you are doing now? 

Surprise, surprise! Pickett’s Pearls. Pickett’s Pearls is mostly four ingredient recipes and creative or helpful tips for the home. I don’t know where it will go, but I’m okay with that. I feel like I was made for this and I enjoy every part of it: the planning, the writing with humor and lightness, the photography (my photos are worlds away from where they were), the problem solving needed for things like how to make a delectable lemon rum cake with only four ingredients or how to keep your sponges from smelling icky. I also love to make beautiful things: wreaths, napkin folds, and jewelry. And I really love encouraging others to create beautiful things.

Tell me something about being an empty nester that you didn't expect or that someone who hasn't gone through this process might not know.

Very few parents have the extreme struggle that I have had, but almost every empty nester has a hard time. My advice would be to find “life giving” endeavors way before it’s time for your children to leave the nest. Whether it’s finding a job you really like or taking up painting or going back to school - something that you can immerse yourself in, something involving others, and something fulfilling.

Children bring so much life and energy into the home. They not only physically have more energy, thereby adding energy to any environment, but they also have their whole lives in front of them which usually comes with lots of plans, hopes, and dreams. Also, because they don’t have as many responsibilities as adults do they are almost always more playful and light. As empty nesters we need to create our own energy by planning fun activities with our spouse and/or friends, making sure we are always learning something new, and being involved in things we are excited about.

Dottie is a married momma of two beautiful women (Carly, 24, fine artist, and Abbey, 21, Film major at USC). She's also a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and a fellow blogger over at www.pickettspearls.net.

More posts in this series:

Living with Emotional Pain

Love and Basketball

Waiting in the Pain
An Unnatural Leader

Game Day Jalapeño Cheddar Bacon Dogs

You guys. These dogs. You have to make these dogs. They are A-MAZING! I know I say that about a lot of things. But these really are the best game day dogs of all time. You just have to try them.




Bacon wrapped all beef dogs are roasted or grilled to crispy awesomeness. The buns are buttered and toasted ever so briefly. Then, they're topped with sharp cheddar, jalapeños, and crispy fried onions. Can I get a "game on?"





Since most of the country is under heavy snow I made these glorious dogs by roasting and toasting in my handy dandy oven. All you's guys out here in California, feel free to use your grills. Ha!




Start by wrapping each wiener in a slice of bacon securing with toothpicks on either end. I load them onto a foil-lined baking sheet for easy clean up.




Roast 'em for about 45 minutes checking and turning every 15 minutes or so. Then, set them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.

During the last 5 minutes of roasting, you can slide in another pan of face down buttered buns to toast up to perfection.

Top each delectable delight of a hot dog with shredded sharp cheddar, briny jalapeños, and crispy fried onions. A game day dream come true, y'all!




Game or no game, make these dogs!

Game Day Jalapeño Cheddar Bacon Dogs

INGREDIENTS
1 package all beef hot dogs (I used Oscar Meyer)
8 to 10 slices of bacon or 1 slice per dog
toothpicks to secure
1 package hot dog buns (I used Ball Park)
1/2 a stick of softened butter for toasting buns
about 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
about 1 cup jarred jalapeños
about 1 cup French's crispy fried onions

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wrap each wiener with a slice of bacon securing with a toothpick at either end.
3. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and roast about 45 minutes, checking and turning every 15 minutes.
4. While dogs are roasting, open up the buns and spread with butter. Place face down on another foil-lined baking sheet. Slide into the oven the last 4 or 5 minutes of roasting.
5. Place dogs on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
6. Put your hot dogs together sprinkling on some cheddar, peños, and fried onions onto each.

Matters of the Heart: Love and Basketball

Love and Basketball
A Weekly Dose of Inner Peace from an Unlikely Source
by Bruce Overby

A Liberating Routine

Every Tuesday I drive to my mother’s house and load up my special needs brother, Eric, who lives with her, and take him to a local park to shoot baskets. After that we go out for coffee.

It seems like a simple routine, and perhaps it is for him. But for me, over the seven years we’ve been doing this, it’s become much more than that.

Eric and Bruce

Welcome Aboard, Little Dude

Eric was born in 1967, the eighth of nine children. Our parents, gradually discovering Eric’s handicap, which would limit his mental capacity to that of a 5 year old for the rest of his life, must have fretted greatly. Extra care would be needed, additional financial pressures might arise, and they would have to manage it all in a brood that was already large and demanding.

At the same time, I know they saw silver linings: Eric had no physical deformity, and while his development would be slow, it would be steady. And most importantly, we learned over time that his condition was not progressive — it would not get worse. We had all learned by example to help care for one another, so we generally embraced Eric, provided the small bits of extra care he needed, and watched over him with a slightly more protective eye than we had with each other.

Brush with Tragedy

Fast forward to the fall of 2010, our mother suffered a ruptured artery in her stomach that nearly took her life. Her stomach problem was the result of analgesics she had been using to soothe orthopedic pain. In the wake of the crisis we put our heads together to think about relieving her daily burdens so the pain could be relieved without the medicine. In particular, we considered the central burden of her life, which was caring for Eric, who was now a 200 pound middle-aged man with the limited abilities and consistent needs of an energetic five year old.

We considered placing Eric in a care facility, but Mom was insistent: “I need Eric in my life,” she told us, flatly refusing anything that would take him away from her.

We all got a stark reminder that day of not only the strong connection our mother had built with Eric, but also the very simple fact that Eric is, in every sense, a person. He has special needs, yes, but he looks you in the eye and calls you by your name, values his family and his life, and not only mutters the names of his brothers and sisters incessantly, but drops whatever he’s doing at the sound of a sibling’s voice entering the house. And even more than that, he is a man who treasures, to the extent that he can, the person who has been the most constant presence in his life, his mother.

Not So Different from the Rest of Us
In the end, we decided each of us would do what we could to take Eric out so Mom could have at least a few extra hours of respite a few times a week. One brother has taken him for the occasional Saturday outing, lasting much of the day. Each of two sisters take him for an evening a week, providing him with dinner and activities in their homes, or a trip to Target or Home Depot. And I, of course, get him out on the basketball court.

On the court and off, I’ve discovered that as different as this lumbering, clumsy, sometimes silly man is from the rest of us, he is also very much the same. He is more vulnerable, certainly, unable to make rational decisions or move independently through a world that requires complex thinking and sophisticated words. But like any of us, he is curious. He cranes his head and leans in to feast his now failing eyes on any shining, pinging, or glowing thing he sees or hears. He’s also fickle sometimes, growing tired of the basketball court we typically use and asking for “a different park.” And at other times, he’s a creature of habit, ordering the same Javiva iced-coffee drink every week, without fail. And he even gets lazy sometimes, taking a day off from the special needs program he attends or taking a little more time than usual to get motivated for his outings. And who among us doesn’t get fickle about some things and habitual about others, or feel a little lazy every once in a while?

Freedom
But the real discovery I’ve made in these years of basketball with Eric has been one of complete release and freedom. Because in many ways, I’ve realized, Eric’s handicap has set him free. He is free from the burden of difficult choices and challenges to self-esteem, and the hours, days, sometimes weeks of consternation that come with them. And the price of that freedom is actually our gift as members of his family: It is the privilege of providing the support and care that grants him that freedom. Because who knows what kind of person Eric would be without the support system he has? Who knows what might befall a vulnerable innocent like him? The answer is, no one does, and no one ever will, because he does have two hard-working, sensitive, empathetic parents, a brilliant and compassionate stepmother, and eight solid and supportive siblings. (Eric easily matches sibling names to birth order. “Who’s No. 4?” “Bruce!” “Who’s No. 8?” “Eric!” And constantly reconfirms his schedule of visitors. “Cindy’s coming?” “Yep.” “Wednesday, five o’clock?” “Yep.”)

The weather is fine in Silicon Valley and my work is painless, but the distance between the problems I solve and the people I solve them for is so great that I am often left wondering, why? I meet, create, analyze, assess, measure and remeasure, judge and get judged, and after all that, the accomplishment I feel is fleeting, and the question lingers, what’s the point of it all? But for two hours every Tuesday I am delivered from all that. The amiable lummox who is my brother greets me and goes through the routine. Ball and wallet are zipped securely into the duffel bag. I brush his hair — my vanity, not his — and he tucks the brush into the bag for later. In the car, the toughest decisions to make are which Peet’s coffee shop to go to and whether or not we’ll look for “a different park.”

Out in the world Eric draws the occasional quizzical look or frown, but he also draws out astonishing levels of humanity. The clerk at the coffee shop simply smiles as Eric rounds the counter and sticks his big head right into the cash register. A boy, maybe 10 years old, shares a basket with us and soon takes it on himself to shag each of Eric’s misses, returning the ball to Eric carefully while balancing his own ball on his tiny hip. It is a time of human frailty and goodness, and of lightness buttressed by lifelong devotion. And this is where I am set free. Life steps down from ethereal complexity and becomes simple, essential, and palpable.

And the predictable result is that, on those rare occasions when some conflict gets in the way and I miss my time with Eric, it is a bad week. Sadness and a sense of yearning creep in during that long stretch of 13 days, but no matter. For now, at least, there is always the next Tuesday, which will come along and make everything right.

Bruce Overby is a prize-winning author and writer in the truest sense of the word. He spends his days as a technical writer and his off time as a fiction writer. His writing passions lie in the world of loss, addiction, family, relationships, and the human condition in a technology-driven world. You can read more from Bruce at www.bruceoverby.com. He also happens to be my beloved brother-in-law. I hope you all enjoyed his offering.

More posts in this series:

Living with Emotional Pain

Empty Nesting

Waiting in the Pain
An Unnatural Leader

Matters of the Heart: Living with Emotional Pain

Welcome to Matters of the Heart, folks. I've had this series in mind for several months now. As a trained spiritual director I am drawn to the experience of the heart, both in my own life and in the lives of others. I hope you'll join me in delving into the parts of ourselves that can so often go unshared; putting words to the beauty, the anguish, the emptiness, the heroism, the strength, and the weakness that these unseen parts of ourselves can so quietly contain.

Kicking off this series I offer my own experience of living with emotional pain. Let's just jump right in, shall we?

So, we all go through pain, right? We all suffer a broken heart at some point (or many points) in our lives. It's part of life after all. In this post I wanna zero in on the kind of emotional pain that lasts longer than a few days or even a few weeks - the kind of emotional pain connected to loss, betrayal, difficult circumstances, difficult relationships, chemical or emotional depression, past trauma, mistakes, and failures - just to name a few.

Let's get a little real about being on the path to healing. It can be a loooooooong road. I'm talking about when you're working on things but the pain is still with you - when you're working through grief, when you're walking out forgiveness, when the doctors are trying to get your dosage right, when you're trying to let go of regret - the day-to-day of that kind of experience - when you can't make the pain go away or even lessen it - when you're in the middle of a process and you're living with emotional pain.

I won't pretend to have all the answers. In fact, I'll tell you right now that I definitely DO NOT! I just want to share my own experience of living with pain - my own heart journey on the path to healing and letting go.




This past year I've been dealing with reoccurring situational depression. Life as a busy, sleep-deprived mama in a hectic and strange year, with a minuscule support system, and some self doubt thrown into the mix have combined with situations in my life to wreak havoc on my emotional life. My pain isn't constant. It ebbs and flows as it's triggered by situations and then eased by time and acceptance and letting go. In the day-to-day, here's how I'm walking through my pain.




I breathe. I can't stop the pain. I can't control the degree of pain that I feel. But I can breathe. That's something I can do and it helps me. It brings me solace that I can do something.

When you can't stop the person who is gossiping about you, when you can't turn back time and do things differently, when you can't change the situation that is breaking your heart, you can still breathe.

I feel. I allow myself to feel my feelings - to feel the pain - to let it hurt. I'm a big proponent of living in reality and of facing the truth. It also... just feels right. No denial. No bracing. No wincing. Just embracefully feeling. It's almost as if I have to let my pain be mine before I can give it away.

I pray. I ask God for help. I ask God for guidance. I ask God for relief. Sometimes, I just ask why. I lean on His promises. I remind myself that God is with me, that He cares for me, that He's got me.

I get angry. I get angry at myself. I get angry at others. I get angry at God. I get angry at my emotions. I try not to act out in anger. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I fail.

I look on the bright side, so to speak. I turn my attention to all the good that is in my life - and there is so very much. I try to be thankful for my wonderful husband, my sweet children, my comfortable, peaceful, warm, and joyful (albeit, crazy) home. 

That last one is the hardest for me. It can feel like an uphill battle. I keep at it though. At the very least my gratitude muscle gets a little exercise.




I choose love. I remind myself that "love covers a multitude of sins" - that others are fighting their own battles. I turn away from my desire for vengeance. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I try to give them grace. Another hard one.

I say, "I forgive," and I ask God to help me forgive. I say, "I let go," and I ask God to help me let go. I say, "I can't do this," and I fall on the One that I love.

I breathe. I remind myself that He's got me.

Some day this pain will be gone, like other pains I've walked through before. But while I'm in process, that's how this one simple gal is living with her emotional pain.

Hope you'll join me for the rest of the series. I've got some great guest writers coming up that'll be sharing some pretty special parts of themselves with y'all. You won't wanna miss it.

Peace, folks.

More posts in this series:

Love and Basketball

Empty Nesting

Waiting in the Pain
An Unnatural Leader

Easy Gourmet Cupcakes: Gluten Free Fudgy Mint

This one goes out to all of my gluten free cupcake-loving peeps out there, and to my baby girl. This cupcake has Nora's name written all over it. That little girly girl loves her some mint. So much so that we have to hide the toothpaste. No joke! If she happens to get her hands on a tube we have to chase her down while she gleefully sucks out as much as she possibly can. All those poor candy canes on our Christmas tree didn't stand a chance. Oh, that girl.

Eating gluten free doesn't get any better than these Easy Gluten Free Fudgy Mint Cupcakes.

I'll confess right off the bat that these Easy Gluten Free Fudgy Mint Cupcakes are just a little over the top - but just a little. 😉 A chocolate mint gluten free cake gets filled with hot fudge, frosted with creamy peppermint frosting, drizzled with more hot fudge, and topped with chopped chocolate mints. Welcome to gluten free indulgence, my friends.




I used a gluten free cake mix for this recipe, but you can sub in a regular one if you don't need to eat gluten free. The Andes chocolate mints, Mrs. Richardson's hot fudge, and McCormick peppermint extract are all gluten free products you can find at your local supermarket. If you are an exclusive gluten free eater, make sure you buy the "Marshmallow Fluff" brand of marshmallow cream or that your jar reads "gluten free" on the label. While other Kraft marshmallow products read "gluten free" on the packaging, their Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme does not. Just a word to the wise.




Start by mixing up your gluten free cake mix according to the package directions and adding in 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract.

You can prep your toppings while your cupcakes are cooling. Chop up the chocolate mints so they're ready to sprinkle onto your cupcakes. Also, fill a Ziploc bag with some of the fudge and snip off less than 1/4 inch off of one corner to drizzle on the frosted cakes.




Once your cupcakes have cooled, use the end of a wooden spoon to make a hole in the center of each cupcake being careful not to punch through the bottom.

Fill another Ziploc freezer bag with more hot fudge, snip off 1/3 inch off of one corner, and squeeze some into the center of each cupcake until you can see it coming up out of the top.




Now, make the peppermint frosting. Beat a stick of butter with the marshmallow cream.




Beat in 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat in 1 tsp of peppermint extract and then another 2 cups of powdered sugar.




Beat in 3 or 4 drops of green food coloring and one to two tablespoons of milk.



Scrape down the bowl and beat for 3 minutes until light and creamy.

Say hello to gluten free indulgence with these Easy Gluten Free Fudgy Mint Cupcakes.

Frost your cupcakes, drizzle them with more hot fudge, and sprinkle the tops with chopped chocolate mints. You may need to push them into the frosting a little.

Is the fudgy minty awesomeness getting to you yet? It's okay to drool. I won't tell. 😉




Easy Gourmet Gluten Free Fudgy Mint Cupcakes
(makes 12 cupcakes)


INGREDIENTS
For the cupcakes:
1 15 oz gluten free chocolate cake mix (I used Betty Crocker's)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
3 large eggs
1 cup water
1/2 tsp peppermint extract

For the peppermint frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 7 oz jar marshmallow cream (gluten free eaters, make sure you buy "Marshmallow Fluff" brand or that the label on your jar reads "gluten free")
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp peppermint extract
2 Tbsp milk
3 or 4 drops green food coloring

1 16 oz jar Mrs. Richardson's hot fudge, room temperature
1 cup chopped Andes chocolate mints

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
2. Make your batter according to the directions on your box of cake mix adding 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract.
3. Divide batter evenly among the 12 cupcake liners.
4. Bake cupcakes for the time recommended on your cake mix box for cupcakes. Check them at the earliest time by inserting a toothpick into the center of one of the cupcakes near the center of the oven. The cupcakes are done when it comes out clean.
5. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 15 minutes and then remove from the pans to cool completely.
6. When your cupcakes are completely cool, use the end of a wooden spoon to make a hole in the center of each cupcake being careful not to punch through the bottom.
7. Fill a Ziploc freezer bag with 1/2 cup of hot fudge, twist the top closed (you can use a twist tie if you like), snip off a 1/3 inch off of one corner, and squeeze filling into each cupcake until you see the filling coming up out of the top of the cupcake.
8. Chop the Andes chocolate mints, if you haven't already, so they are ready to top your cupcakes.
9. Fill another Ziploc freezer bag with more hot fudge, twist the top closed, snip off less than 1/4 inch off of one corner, and set aside.
10. For the peppermint frosting, beat the butter in a stand mixer for 30 seconds.
11. Beat in the whole 7 oz jar of marshmallow cream.
12. Scrape down the bowl and beat in 2 cups powdered sugar. Then, beat in 1 tsp peppermint extract.
13. Beat in 2 more cups of powdered sugar.
14. Beat in 3 or 4 drops of green food coloring and 1 to 2 Tbsp milk.
15. Scrape down the bowl and beat on high for 3 minutes.
16. Snip off one corner of another Ziploc freezer bag a little smaller than your piping tip. Slide in your piping tip and set bag in a tall cup to easily fill with frosting.
17. Twist the top of your bag closed and pipe frosting onto each cupcake.
18. Immediately drizzle with more hot fudge and sprinkle with chopped chocolate mints.

* If you don't need to eat gluten free use a regular chocolate cake mix. Doctor it up by adding an extra egg, subbing whole milk for the water, subbing melted butter for the oil, doubling the amount of butter, and stirring in a tsp of peppermint extract. You'll need to double the frosting recipe and use more fudge and chopped chocolate mints than the recipe above calls for since it makes 12 cupcakes and your regular cake mix box will make 24.