Oh the memories...

As I was walking down the aisle of the supermarket, lost in the sea of labels swearing that their product has the lowest calories, carbs, cholesterol, blah blah blah.  Torn between a bag of apples and that box of pop tarts claiming that it's made of whole grains, I caught a glimpse of red, white, and blue.  Since this is not July my interest was peaked and I slowly meandered in that general direction, careful not to show to much excitement.  Lord have mercy what did I see but a glorious "old school" can of Pepsi looking back at me!

Immediately I am taken back to me sitting in the floor of my room, my 8 track blaring Bad Company, walls covered with poster of hair bands, mementos of crazy times stuck in precarious places, a cherry mash and a nice cool Pepsi.  It was during these times that I was sure of what I was, where I was going, and how I was going to get there.

As the feeling of nostalgia wears away and I find myself standing  in the aisle with teary eyes I thought to myself, "To hell with eating healthy I am going to bake cupcakes that take me back to that."  So in true rebellious fashion I grab that 12 pack and dare someone to say a word about it.

On the way home I decided to make a chocolate cupcake with Pepsi incorporated into the batter and for that cherry mash deliciousness I stuck a maraschino cherry in the center.  Once the cupcakes cooled I mixed up a Pepsi and powdered sugar glaze and poured it on top.  For more cherry flavor I made a cherry cream cheese frosting and topped it with a cherry.

  

Twilight Funky Munky Style

The "tween craze" Twilight meandered into my kitchen on one warm summer morning last month.  The client of the twin tweens gave me these ideas: zebra print, hot pink, Twilight, and cupcakes.  Commence the brewing of the ideas!

 I have seen sooo many Team Edward and Team Jacob cookies that I just couldn't bring myself to do it that way.  So after bouncing some ideas off my fellow cookie connoisseur here is the result.  The cupcake is a devilish devil's food with cinnamon and nutmeg.  It is topped with a cream cheese frosting and pink sanding sugars.  Now for the Edward vs Jacob national crisis...

The lips are made of fondant and royal icing.  They were inspired by the Rolling Stones (What's up mic?) and True Blood.  Ok, vampire done now what in the world am I to do for the werewolf?  This one stumped me for a while.  I thought of doing a paw (to kidlike), a werewolf head (a little gross for tweens), and so on and so forth.  After days of contemplating what I was going to do with the werewolf cupcakes an idea sprang up like a careless weed after a summer rain.  What about a medallion with the marking of a werewolf?!  I swear sometimes I am so dern clever I surprise myself.  

I have to say that I was really happy with these little darlings.  Score 1 for funky Munky!

    

Wedding!

Fearless Funky Munky

I am a special education teacher who has a dream and Funky Munky was started to support my teaching habit. (o:  I have never been to culinary school nor have I taken a cooking class.  My experience comes from trial and error, honest taste testers, my mom, and my grangie.  I really don’t know what brioche is and I am intimidated by a culinary blowtorch. (Images of my hair on fire spring to mind)  I may not be all of those things but let me tell you what I am.

I am a Texas gal who isn’t afraid to take on a challenge.  I am a wife, mother, sister, and daughter.  I am fearless in my flavor combinations and have the courage to say “Ew! That’s disgusting!” , trash the whole thing and start over.  (baking soda in salmon patties, not a good combination)  I am the girl who started a baking company without thinking twice about it.  I am the girl who will bring the party to your mouth. (keep the thoughts clean please) 

My mom taught me to make something out of nothing and my grangie taught me how to get around in the kitchen.  It is because of these two women that I will mix cayenne and beer with chocolate.  I am artistic by nature and have converted that to baking.  I refuse to do something that has been done, so all of my works have my own little spin on them.  I am quirky and funky, I have a hard time staying in the lines when I color, and if you tell me that I can’t I will show you that I can.

You may think, “Why Funky Munky Cookies”?  Well let me tell you why.  In my family all of the kids are referred to as monkeys.  My son looked exactly like the drunken spider monkey on Dr. Doolittle, no joke.  I found the stamp of the two monkeys and saw my son and daughter.  The funky comes from me cause that’s just what I am.  You may be wondering what my goal is with this?  Of course it’s to make Funky Munky Cookies a household name, to carve out my spot in the culinary world.  Culinary expert, no way, but I know food and I know people.  I am an expert on what makes people happy and that’s what is going to make Funky Munky Cookies explode! 

 

Fourth of July Funky Munky Style

Here is my lil guy again.  I made these cookies for a beauty pageant at a park celebration.  I just know that one day my cookie orders will outweigh my freebies...

50th Birthday

These were for a avid hunter/fisherman's surprise 50th birthday party.

Here you go Mr. Man!

These were for my husband on Father's Day.  They represent all of the things he really likes.  The hamburger helper hand and number 33 represents his favorite Nascar driver Clint Bowyer.  The Old No 7 is his favorite whiskey and that crazy looking thing is suppose to be a wild boar.  Of course the golf represents golf.  My favorites out of this set are the hamburger helper hand and golf cookies.  

It is quite funny that his driver is sponsored by Hamburger Helper.  I bet you are thinking why.  Well let me tell you!  When we were first married, almost 19 years ago, all I knew how to make was Hamburger Helper.  I was very proud of myself.  I was 17 and making dinner for my husband every night.  I mean we were eating gourmet meals! :o)

My wonderful husband put up with it for about 3 years and then stood up and proclaimed, "NO MORE HAMBURGER HELPER!  I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"  To this day he refuses to eat it.  I was so hurt when he did this.  However, due to this I was forced to move out of my comfort zone.  Now I am a bonafide advanced foodie!