From Shanna's Kitchen: Monkey cupcakes

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

I moved to Palm Coast when I was 3. Almost immediately, I acquired an adopted older sister in my next-door neighbor, who only had an older brother but was desperate for younger girls to play with.

The two of us, my younger sister and a couple girls down the street quickly dubbed ourselves the Belvedere Gang, hosting Cabbage Patch tea parties, fashion shows in our driveway and even renting out our extensive collection of "Baby Sitter’s Club" and "Goosebumps" books to the neighborhood kids, from our homemade library (we made library cards; it was legit).

When I got to high school, this childhood neighbor was a senior, but she never hesitated to introduce me to people as her younger sister, even though I was a good 6 inches taller than she was.

So naturally, when she became a mother, I quickly became Aunt Shanna.

Her youngest turned 1 this weekend, and I was eager to perform my auntie duties by decorating some monkey cupcakes for her little monkey.

And although I watch "Ace of Cakes" and Food Network’s "Challenge" on a regular basis and think "I could do that," I'm a little hesitant when it comes to decorating.

But after some minor adjustments, the cupcakes turned out almost as cute as the 1-year-old girl who was shoving it into her face Saturday afternoon.

For how to decorate, visit Shanna's Kitchen.