And Who Are You Supposed to Be?
I’m proud of the fact that for the most part, my girls are strong. Decisive. Unwavering.
Not today.
You see, this morning Lulu was dead set on her Halloween costume.
“Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring…banana phone.”
She was also dead set on waiting at the front window until the trick-or-treaters came.
It was 7:45 a.m.
Gigi was consistent as Rosetta, a fairy from the Tinkerbell movies.
That is until she became Rosetta the Ventriloquist with her puppet Sacko?
“Hey Sacko, what’s my mom like to use on Halloween to do her hair?”
“Just a whole can of SCARE-spray!!!”
They’re available for parties and bar-mitzvahs. Or since it’s Halloween, “bat” mitzvahs. Gee, I wonder who writes their material?!
I’m not sure if Lulu had a “Come to Jesus” talk in Sunday School, but after church, she had a change of heart.
Cinderella…
…O’ Hara?
But would this be the costume that was chosen for the church Harvest Party? Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn. I’ve got cupcakes to bake.
Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
Makes 24 cupcakes
Cupcakes:
- 2 c. unbleached organic flour
- 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1 T. baking powder
- 1 t. baking soda
- 1 1/2 c. non-dairy or organic milk
- 1/4 c. non-dairy or organic creamer
- 1/4 c. canola oil
- 1 1/3 c. organic sugar
- 20 Newman’s Own Newman-O’s (organic, non-dairy chocolate sandwich cookies)
Frosting:
- 1/3 c. vegetable shorting
- 1/2 c. non-dairy margarine (i.e. Earth Balance)
- 3 c. organic powdered sugar
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 3 T. non-dairy or organic milk
- 6 Newman’s Own Newman-O’s (organic, non-dairy chocolate sandwich cookies)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with papers and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine flours, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
Meanwhile, place 20 sandwich cookies in a sealed plastic bag and crush.
Add cookies to flour mixture and toss until combined.
In another bowl, combine sugar, milk, creamer and oil.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Spoon batter into prepared pan, filling each cup 2/3rds of the way full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
While the cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting by combining the shortening, margarine, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk with an electric or stand mixture.
Beat until fluffy.
Frost cupcakes generously.
Carefully cut remaining sandwich cookies into fourths,
Top each cupcake with a quarter of a cookie.
We had to sample an “extra” one.
So fun. Gigi has already requested these for her birthday. In seven months.
And Lulu, well, she finally decided on that costume. The one outfit that would define who she would be for the rest of Halloween.
Sleeping Beauty…
Dracula?
I’m so proud.
Lulu and I have much in common. I go through five outfit changes before breakfast.
Every time you post a new recipe, I read through the ingredient list, hoping that I have all the ingredients and can immediately start baking, despite the fact normally read around 10pm each night. It hasn’t happened yet, but Safeway is open 24 hours…
Problem is, Lulu usually finds a way to get each outfit dirty which means hella laundry for me.
I love how the girls are so into playing dressup and that you let them go wild with it! I love ALL of the costumes, but for LuLu the banana was my favorite!!
Gigi is looking more grown up EVERY day!! I actually had Bat Mitzvah and am pretty sure you need to start writing a joke book! So you’re packing those cupcakes on Thursday right?
I know…I wish Lu had wore that banana costume all day. Especially because I know what Pea D paid for it last year.
I’m not sure those cupcakes would pack well. We need to find a vegan bakery in SF stat!
The “banana phone” was definitely my favorite too!!
So cute! The indecisiveness is insane! My niece did the same thing, but she already had her costume (cinderella). She’s already telling everyone that NEXT year she’s going to be Jessie from Toy Story 2. We’ll see how long that lasts…
I honestly don’t think I’m going to buy another costume until they are 10. I think they have more costumes than clothes.
I wish I would have played the musical game to win one of your cup cakes:) Oh well, guess I’ll have to make a whole batch and just eat them all myself. The girls looked adorable!!!
Thanks Ang! I have some cute pics of the girls with Avery…I’ll have to send them to you!
Oh my gosh, that banana picture practically had me in tears.
Yeah for vanilla! They look awesome, cant wait to make them. Happy Halloween, see you soon!
I think that’s kinda funny that you didn’t take these to the class party! But major props for not doing so because you opened up people’s minds about different (healthy!) kinds of treats that can be enjoyed!
How awesome that your girls have pink fangs! I’m sure they wouldn’t have it any other way.
No homemade treats at school! I wish I could have brought these!
I bet everyone else wishes that too! How silly that they have that rule to protect the kids but the storebought stuff (chockful of chemicals and other junk) is much more dangerous to them than anything coming out of your home! Ay yi yi!
I had my halloween costume ready since LAST YEAR because they had it on sale for like 75% off, which meant I didn’t really care if it was in the children’s section or not because I wasn’t gonna spend more than $10 (it was Dorothy, btw). So all year I’m all pumped that I’ll have a legit costume (as opposed to the ‘dress’ made out of ripped up and stapled trader joe’s brown paper bags my mom whipped out as a surprise for me last year -way to be thrifty, ma!) and finally today rolls around and what do I do?
Stay home and sew.
Because I have no social life.
So, really, it’s not that I DIDN’T have a costume on, I did, and I christened it “Lamest 22 Year Old on the Planet.” I guess Dorothy will have to wait for next year.
… Or any day i feel like going out in public lookin’ like a douche.
It might come out tomorrow.
I’ll keep you updated.
When I first glanced at your cupcake photos, I thought you were going with the scary ‘sharks in the water’ theme. Then I realized that your fins were really just supposed to be oreos and that your your water really was just supposed to be white frosting. Alas, I may be a bit too into this halloween season. However, I didn’t stand by the front door all morning.
I though they looked like sharks too! Or witches hats!
The girtls are as gorgeous as ever. Even with those scary teeth. But those cupcakes? Talk about gorgeous! I’ll be waiting by my mailbox for my package of them to come. P(l)eas(e) and thank you!
Of course I meant “girls,” not “girtls.” Yikes. That’s what I get for typing while lying in bed!
Cookies & cream cupcakes? Yes please! My birthday is in 9 1/2 months.
your girls are so funny! i really enjoyed seeing the kids come by to trick-or-treat yesterday. the cupcakes look delicious!
The cupcakes look delish but the frosting is where it’s at for me! I just love…frosting. I like a little cake/cupcake with my slab of frosting!
The girls look adorable. 7:45am. Oh my. You had a LONG day!
Hope you had fun trick or treating!
You don’t know the half of it. Gigi was up at 5:45.
Out of them all, I think the banana is the most fitting for LuLu. Now if could only find an adult sized costume of a chic pea…LoL.
Happy Halloween Pea Family!!!!
haha too cute – I did that once for Halloween too. I was dead set on being a leopard and my aunt even made my costume. Then after I was dressed up and face painted, i decided I didn’t want to be a leopard. I went as a ballerina instead.
I bet those pictures are hilarious!
Love that banana costume! I agree – too bad she didn’t go with that one. Maybe if Lulu was dressed as a monkey?
I would definitely support the purchase of a monkey costume.
Oh…my…drool….I don’t think I could get past the batter in this recipe! I LOVE cookies and cream ANYTHING. You must have Oreos on the brain from last week’s Wacky Wednesday. I don’t mind at all
Cute pictures of the girls, but isn’t it time for dress up EVERY day in the Pea household?!
I was on a mission to find those Newman O’s and then I had to put them to use!
Those things rock. I am on a mission to find the peanut butter filled ones…if you like Ginger, those are greattttt
Ooh, pumpkin cupcake base with the ginger cookies and cream “cheese” frosting. YUM!
go mama go!!!! make this NOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
That banana costume is seriously precious!
And those cupcakes look great. I’m planning to bake some cupcakes to share with my co-workers soon, and these might be the chosen ones.
The girls look so cute! And the cupcakes look amazing of course
I realized yesterday how much better Halloween is through the eyes of little kids, rather those of the girls who where barely there costumes 
Until the “scary” costumed kids come to the door. Then Halloween is not fun through the eyes of my children.
I laughed out loud at that last picture of lulu! Even thouhg your posts are always entertaining this one was a true stand out.
And I’ve already starred these cupcakes as must makes. Thanks!
Thanks, Elizabeth. I had a lot of fun writing it. Pea Daddy kept looking over at me as I was giggling.
I thought of these last week when you mentioned the class Christmas party-
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/hot-chocolate-cones-687223/
My kids have done these several times during class parties. They usually set up a station and let the kids scoop their own ingredients into the bag. Also, makes a nice gift for them to take home to their parents.
Great idea, Stacey, thanks! I’m just wondering if there is a way to veganize them…
The cupcakes are gorgeous! And they look so yummy. Can you believe I’ve never made a homemade cupcake? I think this is a good place to start.
And I love all of Lulu’s outfits, but I have to say that the banana one is my favorite. Too fun!
Never made a homemade cupcake?! Yes, you should start!
Those cupcakes look AMAZING. I’ll bet there were no survivors. Of course Lulu went with the pinkest costume…it’s the little girl rule
That’ last picture is priceless! She had to be her…That’s a princess with very little sleep
I am very much enjoying them catching up on sleep right now. It’s after 7 and they are both still out.
Haha! Very cute!
What are you doing to me with those cupcakes! I was just going to take a break from baking… way to go Sarah!
You and baking are on a break? That sounds like a Friends episode…
Your girls are so adorable. It’s so much fun to see all their costumes they dress up in.
And MamaPea, cookies n cream cupcakes? WOW you bake the most delicious treats.
i think cinderella o’hara is my fave…now i know what i want to be for halloween next year
And you shall never go hungry again…or at least not until midnight.
Oh yum…yum…I can’t even think of anything else to write – you had me at cookies and cream.
Snapping out of it for a moment – your girls look so cute…I hope you guys had a fun day yesterday!
The girls look ADORABLE!
What did you dress up as?
We were so lame this year and didn’t go to a single Halloween party!
I’m not really a “dress-up” person. Although, Pea Daddy did say he liked my “MILF costume.”
LMAO.
You make the most fun, cutest desserts. Love this.
Those cupcakes look irresistable. I want them for my birthday too. Don’t worry it’s 11 months away! In all seriousness though, I’m going to have to try making these!
The girls look adorable. Especially with the pink fangs. LOL
I thought the cupcakes were surprisingly easy. You should definitely make some!
Oh my word… those cupcakes look amazing! And those girls of yours are cuter everyday, I swear!!
I made a version of the cupcakes last year for Max’s birthday and the kids went crazy over them. Seriously though, what is not to love? Yours look tasty! The girls look adorable!
Why choose between cookies and cupcakes when you can have both?!
these look deliciousss!!! i’ll be making them soon!
The “candy corn witch” costume made it to our front door last night and I thought of you! Fortuantely this little girl was dressed a bit more tastefully than Gigi’s classmate, as she had on solid black tights and black ballet slippers.
Phew.
Be thankful they arent sporting fishnets and whips like the other girls i see. Personally, I’m a fan of the banana phone. Kids are getting very creative these days. One of my cooking students is around gigi’s age and she was going to be “frida kahlo” and said she was gonna draw in a unibrow with magic markers. I think Newmans needs to pay you for endorsements (maybe an “oreo slide” for the commericial?)
I will absolutely take any cash (or cookies) Newman’s Own throws at me.
Those look so good! And I don’t even like Cookies and Cream things normally. The power you have…
Cute, cute, cute. Did she do the Rosetta accent? My girl’s favorite fairy is Vidia. Nice, huh? Clearly I am raising her well. Like you guys probably, we’ve got enough frilly princess/fairy/mermaid/ballerina/etc costumes for 10 Halloweens. A Banana, however, we are lacking.
Related to your comment about the scary trick or treaters that come later. After we got back last night we put the candy bowl on the door step and let them help themselves so my two wouldn’t have nightmares. We all need our sleep!
If you guys ever make it to Disney, you have to go to Pixie Hollow and meet the fairies. Vidia was a total hoot. Such a nasty sneer. I loved it!
hehehehehe
Tell Gigi she is a muffin in her wings and Lulu is adorable pink teeth or not. XO
I love L’s teeth.
Thost cuppys look amazing! We have been wanting to try the Newmans Ginger oreos like cookies.
Hope the party and the treating was fun, sweetie!
Have a beautiful Monday… it’s NOVEMBER!
I love this month.
oh! Did the treat fairy trade in any candy for tunes yet? ; )
Ahh yes, the sweet sounds of Taylor Swift have been filling my house.
The girls look adorable, I love all her choices but I am partial to the banana! lol Cupcakes look amazing, my girls would love those!
Mmm looks delicious! I love that your girls have so many dress up clothes they have their choice of ten costumes. They are definitely little girls!!
Since you guys don’t really do candy at your house, what do you give out for Halloween? I’m curious!
This year we ended up picking up a bag of Twizzlers (quasi-vegan, with the exception of the sugar) and then giving out the candy that the girls got at their church party and via trick-o-treating. I had hoped to give out the Good Earth Lollipops that we did last year, but Whole Foods was all out when we were there Friday.
Once again your witt and wisdom does not disappoint! I could not wait to see what your girls dressed up as for Halloween. Princesses all the way! Such fun – glad you had a good one – and the cupcakes look pretty awesome. Thanks!
Little did you know you’d be getting multiple costumes. Glad we didn’t disappoint!
Your girls are so precios. Can you just imagine what Lulu’s room is going to look like one day when she’s trying to decide what to wear to the school dance or on a date (yikes!)? Hopefully the banana won’t make an appearance for those occasions. I had a banana trick-or-treater last night who was so excited when I gave him a clementine jack-o-lantern (http://rachelrandolph.com/2010/11/01/virtual-book-tour-special-offer-for-national-authors-day/) he shouted, “Hey, I’m a fruit, too!” He was probably my favorite of the night.
Let’s try this again…I posted the wrong link above. Too many things going on today! You can just delete that one.
Your girls are so precious. Can you just imagine what Lulu’s room is going to look like one day when she’s trying to decide what to wear to the school dance or on a date (yikes!)? Hopefully the banana won’t make an appearance for those occasions. I had a banana trick-or-treater last night who was so excited when I gave him a clementine jack-o-lantern (http://lifeinbites.com/2010/11/01/happy-healthy-vegan-halloween/) he shouted, “Hey, I’m a fruit, too!” He was probably my favorite of the night.
You gave out clems?!? I love you!
No, I love you! And I was shocked to see so many kids excited about fruit. They were a hit!
My girls would have been stoked. They bypass the free Kids Club cookies at Whole Foods and go straight for the free oranges!
that last posed photo of the girls cracks me up… they are super cute… but the fake smiles are hilarious!
I don’t know what you are talking about
Hi There, Im taking time today to delurk and to tell all my favorite bloggers, Im reading your blog and I LOVE IT! Thanks for helping me past time.
Thank you! Happy to kill productivity any time!
HAHAHA, Lulu is cracking me up with the fangs. I’m not surprised, though–my boss has a toddler and she said that he was pretty sure he wanted to be a policeman, but that he wore a clown wig on and off throughout the trick-or-treating.
That’s what we were missing–a clown wig!
halloween cuties! and the kids are too.
Wow those cupcakes look delicious!!! I can’t wait to try them! Mama Pea, you’re not participating in Vegan Month of Food (AKA Vegan MoFo) this month? You should, you’d be great!!!
I know, I should! I just don’t always post about food everyday and I’m not quite sure what the requirements are?
The requirements are to (try to) commit to blogging something vegan-food related at least 5 times a week. It doesn’t even have to be recipes per se. It could be some of your favorite kitchen utensils, fave veg cookbook authors…anything really! Over 500 people are signed up this year, deadline is tomorrow! This is my first year doing it. But if anyone is an awesome blogger, it’s you! I think you should consider next year’s MoFo for sure! Unless you’re feeling wild and want to commit today! Hahaha yeah can’t blame ya if you’d rather wait till next year. Some people are doing themes, some people are just wingin’ it, it’s just all about getting the word out about delicious vegan food any way you want! If you’re interested or just want to check out some of the blogs, the address is:
http://veganmofo.wordpress.com/
I signed up. Hopefully they won’t kick me out if I fall short…
Hahaha no they won’t. The “MoFos” are good folks. It was started by Isa Chandra Moskowitz (author of Vegan With a Vengeance, Veganomicon, etc) and she’s great. I’m glad you signed up! I’ll check your blog every day (like I don’t already?)!
I’ll actually post a recipe today and announce my participation!
Aw, such cute girls! Love their mish-mash costumes. At least they’re creative, right?
I loooove the Cookies ‘n Cream cupcakes from “Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.” These look fantastic, too.
I think those cupcakes are chocolate with cookies mixed in. I’m sure they are great too!
SO I really want you to write a parenting book, I swear I want to be just like you (in a totally acceptable blog-stalking way )) I want to know more about your halloween candy trade -will you write about that? I totally want to do that as a parent. Also, how do you approach treat eating? The kids obviously have dessert…always? Finally, hmmm….I forgot the last one, but really, I’ll probably think of fifty more and write later.
Thanks, Jessica! I really am not a perfect parent…there’s no such thing, but this is just what works for us.
I’m planning a follow-up post which will include what the Treat Fairy bought, but essentially, I think they got two pieces of candy last night and then I let them each pick three pieces to keep and space out over the week. They both ate really well at lunch today, so they each got a piece after lunch.
They pretty much do eat dessert after dinner every night but our desserts are either 1/2 of one my vegan baked goods, frozen juice pops or banana soft serve. As long as they eat a good share of their dinner and at least try everything, they get dessert!
I hope my kids just do what I say and wear what I say. The only reason I even plan on having babies is so I have someone to boss (Ben’s bigger than me, so I often lose the bossing war).
Um yeah. Let me know how that works out for you…
Those cupcakes are such a great idea! They look like an army of little sharks with their cookie “fins”!
Your cupcakes look like little sharks!!
I feel like everyday is Halloween at your house
Sad but true.
Those look so yummy! I do have to say that I took your “pumpkin ginger snap” cookies and made them Gluten free on top of vegan and they were a hit at our harvest dinner party. We had friends who were vegan so I popped on over to your site to find something that we could all enjoy and then I did a little tweeking to make them “tina and Vince friendly” since we both have wheat intolerance. I have to say that everyone loved them and they were a huge hit!
Ooh, I’ll pop over to your blog and see how you made them gluten free!
Love it, so cute! Your girls are adorable
And those cupcakes look killer 
YUMMM I just make a really good white oreo cake, a long time ago and remember it was always a bit hit. I guess I need to somehow re-create it though gluten free … now have my thinking cap on 
Oh my gosh I was to DEVOUR your cupcakes. They looks so good AND you used whole wheat flour? Awesome. You beat me by a landslide. I’m lovin’ them!
OH, and I just read your most recent post – I have to say that I’ve always thought Gigi looks like the happiest kid I’ve ever seen. I’ve though multiple times “I hope my kid is that happy.”
If not, I’m gonna send it back.
They always have their moments. I wanted to send Gigi back for the first six months.
I used part whole wheat/part regular…if you really wanted to get decadent, I’d use all regular…
Those cupcakes look amazinggggg! I was kind of surprised to see Crisco as an ingredient though. I know that it’s vegan but doesn’t it have partially hydrogenated junk? What’s the deal?
You’re right, normally I wouldn’t use shortening but I needed the frosting to stay set at room temp for a few hours. You could eliminate it or sub coconut oil.
they both chose amazing costumes- and theyre equally adorable. that being said, i have to say the banana costume is priceless. and the innocent photo (first one) is as if she’s saying “who me? banana?……” hehe <3
Love the costumes! My little one is constantly changing outfits too…or running around naked. I think she and LuLu would get along great!
Your cupcakes look so so yummy. I had to try to make them myself. I wanted to ask you where you think I might have gone wrong though. My batter was “oreo” color, not the brown color that yours is, and I had to add more milk b/c it was more on the drier end. Any ideas?
Thanks!! Love reading your blogs!
My guess is you overmixed or overground your cookies if the batter was too dark and dry. How’d they taste?