Week in Review: I wedged a plastic heart into the squirrel's paws this week so Valentine's Day must be just around the corner. Ah, the magic of Valentine's Day. Remember how you used to scrutinize your valentines and how you told yourself that you were quite sure that the cutest boy in your class had selected the best valentine in his collection just for you? When probably, his mother had actually addressed his valentines, and just grabbed them randomly from the package.

Last year for Valentine's Day, Bob gave me a box of DeBrand's Truffles. They were all caramel, every one. I ate one, and the next day, when I opened the box, that truffle had been replaced with another caramel truffle. This pattern continued. It was the perpetual, eternal, never-ending box of caramel truffles! I ended up making Rob and his friends eat them. "For the love of God, boys. Let's put an end to this monster!" I said to them. It was memorable.

I also gave valentines to the squirrels on our kitchen tree. I taped them onto their little nuts....they're holding little nuts, the squrrels are...

Of course, I was too distraught to blog last week, what with Brett not getting to go to the Super Bowl and all. I'm bouncing back, but it hasn't been easy.

The Biggest Loser Contest Continues:

To date, I've lost 8.2 pounds. I'm in second place and I can't tell you who's in first place because the contestants must remain anonymous. I will just say that the person in first place is VERY COMPETITIVE and will be hard to beat. Buying that scale was one of the best things I've done in the last, um......ten years. I've been hopping on and off that thing like a woman, possessed.

We invited some guests to eat with us Sunday, but they couldn't come, so I just made a big pot of vegetable beef soup. We also had leftover lasagna from Friday night. Bob is going to be in California this week, so I'll be eating that soup while he's away.

The recipe of the week is one that Stormy got from Bon Appetit magazine. These cupcakes are worth the effort. I took some to Sally for her birthday. Enjoy!

Cinnamon-Scented Devil's Food Cupcakes

2 & 2/3 cups flour

1 & 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 & 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 & 1/2 cups sugar

1 & 1/4 cups brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature

1 & 1/4 cups buttermilk

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 & 1/4 cups miniature chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray insides of cupcake papers with nonstick spray. Sift flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda into large bowl. Combine sugar, coffee, buttermilk, oil, eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla in another large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat egg mixture until blended. Add dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed until blended, scraping the bowl occasionally, about 4 minutes. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each paper. Bake cupcakes until puffed and center is just firm to touch. about 24 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool completely.

Frosting

3 sticks unsalted butter

10 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons whipping cream

1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)