This is a friendly group of people who believe that The Mitten expands as more people ask to crawl inside to get warm. For the most part it seems that writers who create for an audience of children and young adults demonstrate the kindness and hope that steers them in their writing process. It is understood that while all themes can be explored in children’s literature, that the author keep her eyes on hope is essential. It’s part of what separates the writers for youth and the writers for adult world; the distance between hope and cynicism.

This year we had a large Alberta contingent and a strong Canadian one. Debby Waldman and Joan Marie Galat repped the Edmonton area. Jan Markley from Calgary showed up. Several authors from Ontario, including the famous Marsha Skrypuch.

If you’re a writer who is looking for a way to move to the next level of publishing or confidence, I’d recommend first, a membership and, as a goal, joining us at next year’s winter conference. (I’ve been once to the summer conference in LA and it was terrific! Alas, the timing doesn’t usually work out for me- vacation time!)

Have you ever felt like maybe the point to doing a task is no longer in sight? Like, maybe, getting above 90 per cent on every exam is not important, even though it used to be the focus of your life? Or how about hanging out with someone is the last thing you want to do because that person is, (God how clearly you see it now), really a negative influence in your life?

And you know that in-between place when you know the truth and the reality of it all, but you’re not ready to do something about it?

I know I’m being ambiguous about the details. That’s necessary.

What is also necessary is that I tell you that I’ve decided to take action. And what brought me to that? A realization that I can’t endure static. Static is remaining in a house that’s crumbling around me.

And what brought me to this understanding? Over months I accumulated stress that created a consuming ache in my shoulder and neck. I started writing about the issues that were causing it. I was considering what to do. When the earthquake hit in Haiti, I, finally, cried. I cried for the children who were abandoned and for the mothers who’d lost so much and for the fathers and brothers who were only sure that they needed to help someone, somewhere. I donated money. And then I began to realize that my feelings of helplessness about my own life were a trap I could release. Difficult.

So I found the inspiration to bake again. And I started it all from scratch- fresh coconut, grated by my hands, folded tenderly into a beautiful batter. The smell enveloped me. I only ate one without frosting and one with- just to experience the wonderful taste. I shared with friends and friends of friends and I asked them to text the numbers that gave money to people who didn’t have homes anymore, who were crying for a loss that was more immediate and longer lasting than mine. And I felt better. Cake can do that for a girl like me.

The Coconut Cupcakes are vegan but can be adapted for the non-vegans among us. I just like the idea of vegan because, as you know, I like rules. They keep order in life. And sometimes I need order, especially when my world is crashing.
Ingredients

* 1/2 cup coconut oil
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1 cup coconut milk
* 1/4 cup soy milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon coconut extract
* 1 cup flour, all purpose
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup unsweetened coconut (grated raw or dried)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan over very low heat. After it’s melted, turn off the heat but use it before it solidifies. (you can substitute canola oil)
3. In a medium bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, sugar, coconut milk, soy milk, vanilla, coconut extract. Mix until homogeneous (love that word!)
4. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until smooth. Add the grated coconut and incorporate.
5. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, until the top springs back.
6. Cool, then frost.

Lime Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

* 1 cup of butter or 1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening and 1/2 cup nonhydrogenated margarine
* 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

Directions

1. Beat the butter or shortening/margarine until fluffy. Add the sugar and beat 3 minutes more before you add the vanilla and lime juice. Beat for another 5 to 7 minutes. It will all be beautifully fluffy so that you can now pipe it onto the cupcakes. (If it’s too soft, give it 15 minutes in the refrigerator).

Does trying too hard mean that you try and fail? Or that what you attempt to do doesn’t turn out the way you expect? Or does it mean, “I know you want me to like you but because you’re sort of neurotic about it, you annoy me.”

The latter of those choices is what I think it means, but I’ve also been told that I can see the dark side of things when I ought to see the positive.

If you’re confused, we are in this whole life together.

I want to be liked. That’s true. I want to be liked by homeless people, by the people who serve me in restaurants, by the hot guys in my classes and by the nerds, too. I’d like to be liked by the girls who are “bad” and the girls who are “good” and the cheerleaders.

Now that I’ve confessed it to you all, and perhaps one or two of you may also feel the way I do.

I’ve learned to hide my trying-too-hard nature, but it comes out in cakes and offers to help people paint their rooms or tutor them in physics. Jillian says I’m crazy. All I know is it’s who I am and, sometimes after contemplating Jillian’s rants, I say maybe instead of yes or let me get back to you instead of yes. It’s a start.

But this cake. This cake is one of the Tuesdays with Dorie selections and it is among the most complicated things I’ve ever done. It is mighty tasty, though, and well worth the effort.

I’m not going to post the recipe because it’s so long and because the idea behind Tuesdays with Dorie is that you’re supposed to be inspired to buy her book, which would be a very good investment!

I can describe it this way: make one large chocolate cake with the secret ingredient of chestnut spread with vanilla, cut it into three layers, spread ganache between each layer and over the whole thing once it is assembled. Oh, don’t forget the crushed canned chestnuts between those layers. Then, pour a ganache glaze over the whole thing. Finally, some more chestnuts (dusted with edible gold dust) for the garnish. Wow. It’s a huge amount of work, but it feels great to have accomplished it.

That’s the payoff for trying hard if you choose the right target for your attention; the success that comes with the effort.

It’s not that I’ve kissed so often that I’m an expert; I’m actually one of those girls who watches all the kissing part on TV dramas and movies looking for tips. And, today, bffs, I will share them with you.

Here’s what I have learned:

• Tentative short, lips only kissing, is for the guy who’s been a friend forever and you’re worried that maybe this whole kissing thing will ruin your friendship.
• Slow burning kisses are definitely the kind of kisses for long term boyfriends that haven’t been so long term that you’re a bit bored.
• Pecks on the lips and cheek are the obligation kisses. Your aunt probably gets a bigger thrill.
• Any kisses that also involve hands cradling faces, the stroking of cheeks, a lick along the earlobe suggest more passion is coming to a theatre near you.
• Ferocious kissing is saved for your massive crush guy. It’s pent-up fierceness, cultivated by long stares from across the room, brushes of hands against sleeves, near meetings that fail to come to pass. Ferocious kissing involves tongues first, light tenderness in the coffee breaks and all the hands, lips and stroking of faces you can fit in for dessert.

I live for ferocious kissing, but have only experienced it once. The details, I will keep to myself. This is a pg rated blog, after all, reserved for lovers of stories and baking. So here’s the recipe that will make your mouth water and your lips crave the tender touch of someone else’s:

Click here to download the recipe: cherry chocolate cupcakes