So I finished college. I haven't officially graduated yet (that's on the 20th), but I had my last day of class yesterday, and I just picked up my cap and gown today. I have to say I'm having mixed feelings about the whole thing. I'm happy and proud to have finished my education, and at a very good school no less, but I'm a little sad that it didn't all turn out how I'd envisioned it would when I was younger. I'm sad that I had to go through a lot of hardships, that I lost friends, that I had to leave my first school. But as my good friend and mother of my incredible god-daughter told me, I went through things that a lot of college-aged kids don't have to, and I came out of it a changed (and I'd like to hope stronger and better) person. The struggles brought me to new friends, strengthened my relationships with old ones, and even took me all the way to Greece, the most magical place I've ever been. And now I get to embark on a new adventure to Boston!
So yes, I did experience some heartache over these past few years that will be with me always, but I also experienced some wonderful things, and all of it has brought me to a new and exciting chapter in my life. Finishing college is certainly something to celebrate, which is why I made chocolate buttermilk cupcakes with earl grey swiss buttercream and salted caramel (recipe) for everyone last night! They were delicious.
I didn't alter anything, but I would alter the cake recipe if I made them again, because they came out a little crispy on the edges and sunken in the middle (the pitfalls of cooking at 6,000 feet). Really any chocolate cake would work with the supremely delicious earl grey swiss buttercream. And the salted caramel is totally optional, but there are few things that it doesn't make better, and the saltiness helps to combat the super sweetness of the frosting. (Another tip for high altitude bakers: make this buttercream in a stand mixer if you can. My arm practically went numb from whipping egg whites with a hand mixer for about a hour.)
So yes, I did experience some heartache over these past few years that will be with me always, but I also experienced some wonderful things, and all of it has brought me to a new and exciting chapter in my life. Finishing college is certainly something to celebrate, which is why I made chocolate buttermilk cupcakes with earl grey swiss buttercream and salted caramel (recipe) for everyone last night! They were delicious.
I didn't alter anything, but I would alter the cake recipe if I made them again, because they came out a little crispy on the edges and sunken in the middle (the pitfalls of cooking at 6,000 feet). Really any chocolate cake would work with the supremely delicious earl grey swiss buttercream. And the salted caramel is totally optional, but there are few things that it doesn't make better, and the saltiness helps to combat the super sweetness of the frosting. (Another tip for high altitude bakers: make this buttercream in a stand mixer if you can. My arm practically went numb from whipping egg whites with a hand mixer for about a hour.)
