Crisp Cherry Cobbler

We have a beautiful cherry tree in our backyard...and last weekend, my boyfriend and I spent 30 minutes picking cherries of the lowest branches.

We picked a lot...but barely made a dent, so we will be picking more this weekend.

I actually don't care for fresh cherries but I LOVE cherry pie and cherry cobbler, so that was my plan for these cherries...but 4 gallon size bags of cherries would've made a whole lotta cobbler! So, I gave 3 bags to family and saved the last one for baking.

I found this recipe online and decided it sounded the yummiest and easiest.
I'm quite pregnant these days and didn't want something too involved because it's getting harder and harder to be on my feet for very long.

I made a couple changes to the recipe...using probably 5 cups of pitted cherries and all butter, no shortening.

The cherries were pretty easy to pit, I basically just smashed them open with my fingers and ripped out the seeds because they cherries didn't need to look pretty for the cobbler.

I mixed up the cherries with the sugar and flour...

Then mixed together the crisp topping and sprinkled chunks over the whole tray....

Then baked!

I am supposed to be staying away from sweets...but come on...I had to try it...twice.

Great recipe, I will definitely be making this again and again.

There's Always Next Year...

I'm getting better and better at saying that as each season comes to an end for the Sharks without a Stanley Cup win.

My niece Hailey turned 8 last week and she wanted Sharks cupcakes to take to school.
When my brother asked if I could make them a few weeks ago, I asked if she will still want them if they don't win.

His response? Yes, she is a die hard fan.

Is there any other kind in my family? Nope.

The birthday girl wanted white chocolate cupcakes, just like I made last time.
I didn't have anymore of the jersey picks, so I had to think of something equally as cool for toppers - I didn't want to just make all fins.

So, I decided I'd make hockey pucks too - some with NHL written on them, some with SHARKS and some with the number 8.

She only wanted 30 for her class, but my batch produced some extras so for the sake of even packaging - I gave her 36 and spelled out her name on the six extra cupcakes.

All the toppers were made with vanilla fondant and the writing is done with white chocolate.

The cupcakes are white cake with white/teal swirled white chocolate buttercream and a some black sugar sprinkles.

All I know is...my niece is super cool and now all her classmates know too.