Yum! Those cupcakes look great. But the thought of standing over/near an oven at all right now does not appeal to me in the least. Maybe when the Summer inferno receeds I will have to give it a try. :)

Also - I will have to learn to knit soon so that I can join in on the contest fun! I have the cat, I have the camera, I have the yarn too (I am learning how to crochet right now...)

Stay cool!

p.s. - I am glad to see that you survived another weekend with the 'zukes. I was a little worried that you may have been taken hostage by terrorist squash!!

Oh! Julianne1 I will make my contest open for crochet too, I am so glad you said that. Especially being in the still "I am dreaming this shiite up as I go" phase of contest planning :)

There has to be a cupcake recipe out there so you will have an excuse to make and decorate (and EAT !).

Sending cool(er) thoughts your way. Hope you get relief soon.

Cheers !

I meant to say a Zuke cupcake recipe...

Sheesh.

You need to stop sharing the heat with Chicago, this Canadian can't handle it. I forgive you though, because I loooove those cupcakes.

Those cupcakes are pretty incredible. The fancy bit would even stay intact if they came to live with me since marzipan is about as tasty as something I might find under my shoe or in the cat box...

Contests!! I hope it's not a zucchini since 1. people in this country think that is a hilarious name because they have to be all French about it instead (courgette) yet they insist on pronouncing the H in herb - they're so fickle and 2. I don't think it would get through customs.

What's wrong with Moose Jaw?
It gets hot there, too, though. Just sayin.

I wanted to comment earlier about what I THOUGHT was an impressive zucchini that I grew in my garden, but after seeing your previous post, I didn't bother! For the record, mine was 11 inches long and 9 inches around (as my sister said, "impressive girth"). I'm not sure I'll ever quite get over seeing zukes that are so large that they stick out of your toaster oven...I am speechless with admiration of your talents, once again. Regarding the weather, move back to the SOUTH, where you belong! It gets a little hot from time to time, but nothing like the valley, and we have plenty of cold days to justify all the knitting :)

Nothing is wrong with MoioseJaw, that's why I wanted to move there! Besides, how rockin' would it be to have your postal address be MooseJaw, Canada???

check out my pre-coffee typing skills there

It's been pretty darn hot here in Atlanta lately too. I'm not a knitter (gasp!) but can't wait to see what your contest is.

Feel free to send zuchinni my direction....I love the stuff. But I don't want all of it. :-)

I can't wait until you announce your contest...I love contests almost as much as I love theme parties (hello...DORK).

Yes, those cupcakes are all over the knitting blogosphere, and they're so cute! And look soooo yummy!
I can't wait to hear about your contest! I do have an AC, and two cats, so bring it on!
And I'd love one of your zukes! After seeing all the recipes everyone donated to you, I wish I had a few zukes of my own!

I have baby zukes in my garden. I will have photos of them on my blog later today.

{{gasp}} Caint. . . breathe. . . too. . . hot!!!

I think Frank will win any baking-related contest. I think the Jman will faint if he sees me even thinking about baking.

I was born in Moose Jaw. It's a pretty good place. But it was 38 degrees (100 F) there this weekend; I'm not sure that's much cooler than your Valley. There is also less shopping. Just so that you are prepared.

yay - thanks for the neato links!

I'm so glad you are going to include crocheters because my learn to knit kit is waiting for winter.

Yeah, the heat is freaken awful. I have to get up extra early just to be able to drink my coffee while it's hot.

[Although my dad always said the best time to drink hot stuff was when it was hot so it heated up your insides to match the outsides.

Yeppers... he was finally hauled away in a white jacket. But he was cool the whole time!]

I need more sleep.
.

Terrorist squash? No, reverse that. "All you people out there with rifles and exploding backpacks, give up NOW or we'll ship you all our zucchini. Your nation can never survive that."

Can't wait for the contest!!

The cupcakes look yummy...maybe inspirational, even. Although mine wouldn't look nearly as good. And yes, it's disgustingly hot outside, but central a/c is goooood. :) (And I just realized I never reset the thermostat from its nighttime setting...oops!)

i'm originally from moose jaw, and hon, summers there aren't much better, and the winters there will kill ya. seriously.

Your plethora of zucchini reminds me of Bubba explaining to Forrest what you could do with shrimp...

Zucchini bread
Fried Zucchini
Zucchini soup
Zucchini casserole
Grilled Zucchini
Baked Zucchini
Stir-Fried Zucchini
French-Fried Zucchini
Cold Pasta Salad with Zucchini
Zucchini Muffins
Zucchini Adult Toys
Zucchini Wanton
Zucchini Rolls
Zucchini and Onions in Vinegar
Zucchini Pickles

As you can see, the list is endless. :)

I might have to make that Jeffery Dahmer book bag, he was a true psycho and I'm reminded of him every time I de-bone a chicken.

"Drunk, on vacation and burying the bodies from my HOMICIDAL UMBRELLA ATTACK!!" I LOVE it!!

One of your best stories; I hope it made it into the first book!!

Maybe a contest for "Worst Yarn Mayhem Created By Cats?" I could compete in that one.

I LOVED the Homicidal Pretty American Umbrella Attack, too. Thanks, McTwin, for reminding me.

the knitted marzipan is brilliant, but the icing looks a little like poo. no disrespect meant to the creator of course. so with that and the fact that i'm not a fan of eating marzipan, these cupcakes would be safe in my house

Apparently a co-worker of a friend of mine made similar cupcakes for a going-away party earlier this month. They're so neat looking! Makes me (almost) wish I was the baking kind, instead of the eating kind. . .

Can't wait for the contest! I have three cats, a basket full of yarn and one stitch mastered! It took three years but I've got the knit stitch down. I hope to move on to purling before the next decade happens upon us. ;)

We have fans, not air conditioning, so can I still join in? Perry Penelope parks her orange tabby queenly butt self right on my elevated feet so she can get the air from the fan before it gets used up on me.

Heh. I'll need to have a picture of a cat? Heh. Heh. I have three cats. A new cat took up residence on my deck last week and won't leave. Storms tomorrow. Guess who is going to own another cat in the next 24 hours...against her will, no less? Darn cats. Darn cute little cats. What am I going to do with four cats???

Save me...

This contest sounds just right for me. I can't wait!

This sounds intriguing.

Now you've got me hankering for zucchini cupcakes with lemon cream-cheese frosting. Darn you!

Dang, I was in a meeting when you posted, and I missed the cupcakes. They look utterly yummy. I am all about contests, though. Do I get bonus points for a majority-feline household?

Please please tell me you will actually use that title for your next book. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Drunkards might also be good.

I have yarn
I have cats
I like contests
Count me in!
and I am zuke free, sadly

Ooh, I'm excited! I have *two* cats, and air conditioning. Can't wait to see what your contest is. And yes, I did see those cupcakes - they're AMAZING.

Even if you haven't been knitting, there is knitting goodness in your mail. Have you picked up the blankets Ruth mailed you? Please let me know. I am starting to worry about their well being.

Kristy I have had some things going on here but will get them from Stella at the mail place very soon, thank you!! =)

You clearly want some help with those zukes, so... did you know that in New Zealand, they put zucchini in chocolate cake?

I am not stringing you along. I've tasted it, it's fantastic. You'd never know that there's a vegetable in there - it just makes the cake yummy and moist. Google it for recipes. And then you have the best ever excuse for making and eating chocolate cake: "I need to use up my vegetables!" and "I gotta get my five a day!"

But we will of course expect fantastic marzipan decorations. So. Get started.

(Is this a little rude for a delurker? Um... sorry!)

I LOVE marzipan. I realize this makes me an utter freak of nature , but my mouth is watering at those decorations.

First, absolutely LOVE the cupcakes. Those are fantastic.

Second, I'm a little miffed by a knitting contest themed on serial killers. Knitting is supposed to be be warm and fuzzy and I don't get that feeling from someone who committed sodomy, dismemberment and cannibalism.

I knit! I have four cats! Contestcontestcontest!

Here ya go, chickydoodle - zucchini cupcakes:
http://www.recipezaar.com/42742

it's funny how i saw these um, very different, cupcakes only a few days ago. i'm so cool. also, i can't believe no one else in your comments has seen them. yall are knitters! you should totally know about them.

http://www.betzwhite.com
(no html? i never knew.)

A zucchini from your garden would be a great prize!
Can't wait to see what you are plotting.
:)

Thankfully up here in the Bay Area the good old marine layer rolled in over the weekend.

I have AC and a rabbit -- can I play?

You realize that -- by federal law -- McDonald's has to let you enter a contest even if you don't buy any food there. Therefore, I hope you will allow those who don't knit to enter your crazy contest. Or I WILL sue.

Nah, I wouldn't really sue you. I'd probably learn to knit first.

I just started reading your blog (bounced over for the Knitting Daily interview) and I love it!

My family was from California, LA area and then moved to small town Wisconsin one summer. Everyone brought us zuchini, at first we thought this was the small town kindness we had only read about. Then we realized they just really wanted to get rid of them. They even started leaving them on our doorstep. Like ding-dong-ditch!

Howdy from the good ole south!

Zuchinni is best fried my friend. ANytime it wants to take a trip to Florida I would be more then happy to trade some Oranges or Earthquake free sand, or something else. ( Sorry I cant send a man because I can't find one for myself)

Have a great week!

Let's see, I have AC only in one room, my husband's office, a German Shepard that pounces on balls like she's a cat -- does that count?! No thanks on the zucchini, we've got some whoppers of our own. Oh, maybe I'd better go check the backyard, I haven't looked in a couple days...

"Hope your day is full of contests and cupcakes and cats and zucchini."

I didn't have ANY of those things today but the laugh I just got reading this makes up for it.
Thanks!

Love the cupcakes! Those are awesome!

I can't wait for your contest, I have the A/C, cats, knitting, yarn and needles all ready and waiting.

Obviously you have never heard of Dildo, Newfoundland. Wouldn't that be a fun one to put on your letter home to Mom?

Hey, the book One Skein has a pattern for actual knitted cupcakes. They are sooooooper-cute.

Also, don't offer to mail zucchini if you enjoy having a bank account. The shipping costs would wipe you out. Although I would take some because I forgot to plant mine. (duh)

I have my cozy den with futon, desk, two bookcases (no room to walk around, but what the hey). It also has a ocuple of knitting baskets, my TWO CATS and a room air-conditioner, and ME, fairly tingling with anticipation! Oh, and I'd be happy to have some of those gadzukes too. Furthermore, by the way...Dahmer could be described as "one of ours"...he lived in Milwaukee. We've had a couple of other weirdies too: Ed Gein, McCarthy.....

Pass on the contest, cuz I just signed up for Melanie's Mystery Stole knitalong No.3... which in retrospect I SHOULD have mentioned over here before it closed on Friday, stupid me!

YarnHarlot got wind of it and that's where I came across it ... her blog entry about it scored the group another 2,400 members. Total number signed up is 6,995 worldwide, can you believe it ! It is being translated into at least 6 languages.

She gives out one 'clue' or section of the pattern each Friday (clue #3 this Friday) and apparently we made Yahoo fall over last Friday morning with everyone trying to access and download Clue #2! LOL!

PS I *love* marzipan. I've been known to eat a tube of it ("Odense" I think the brand is) like a banana. Delish! I'll eat the little knittys off any cupcakes you guys don't want, K?

Hey Laurie - as long as there's a contest already in place (I'm not eligible for Karin's, but am looking forward to yours!), you should use your amazing creativity and enter! Karin is a friend of mine and it was a great honor to get all of the goodies for the contest (and dye the one of a kind yarn) together. The two knitting winners will definitely have chocolate buzzes.

She wanted to hold a knitting contest because she'd noticed that more and more knitters were/are showing up at her book signings. She should've known from early on that knitters have great taste in completely twisted and sick books.

Have yarn. Own cats (or they own me, who knows). No ac, but it´s still cold outside and I need a blanket in the evenings. Do I qualify for your contest? Yesterday night I began with knitting a scarf. With the intention to wear it, right now.

I've seen that cupcake site before and I *love* them! The tutorial doesn't even look that hard...though I wonder how the marzipan doesn't melt?
Can't wait for the contest!

its a lovely 68deg in MooseJaw this morning. You can always come North!

Okay, I can't figure out how to post the link without the url showing, sorry. But this recipe is yummy AND without benefit of actually cooking anything (um, is grilling cooking? I don't think so). And, you'll get rid of all your zucchinis, provided you make enough for everyone in your office, your knitting friends, and your next door neighbor. http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_6695,00.html?rsrc=search

What about cupcakes made from zukes??

Just saying...

Yarn? check.
Cat? check.
AC? check.
Ready for a contest? check.

Whadda ya mean I have to wait??!? Oh well, I'll just whip up some zucchini bread to occupy my time until then....

Once upon a time, I also had a bumper crop of gadzooks. The crop was so ever-bountiful that I took to leaving piles of them in the company kitchen with a sign that read "FREE ZUCCHINI BREAD!!! (some assembly required)"-------

This year the local critters have decided they are more worthy of the fruits and vegetables of my labors than I am. We are not on speaking terms any more. Fat, furry beasts!------------

My two dogs think they are cats. You'll never know they aren't Maine coon cats out there in your valley of goodness. :-) so I'm in!

My wife made me promise never to brag about the size of my zucchini... But what can I say? I don't knit, I don't crochet. I'm nothing but a yarn-pimp and a cat-comber. The cat, meanwhile, thinks there is nothing wrong with snuggling against a human at 4 am, when it is still only 98 degrees outside.

I hate to expose my inner bitterness. . . But someone has way too much time on their hands. Cupcakes are meant to be eaten and eaten quickly, not admired.

Please please please can the competition be who is the craziest knitting cat-lady? Preferably judged on sheer volume of uncompleted projects and size of resident feline army. I'd win hands down - four cats? Bah! I have four cats and four three-week-old kittens. And a dog. And lots of yarn, even more books of patterns as well as the odd unchewed needle. Plus, posting a comment at 5am shows a certain degree of dedication.
Oh, and its my birthday next week.
Hi, I'm Anna, long time listener, first time caller.

Do zucchini make good pets (before they rot)? Y'see I let my two pudding cats behind in Oz. Can't have cats in this rental. Send zucchini urgently!

I can't knit and I can't bake and it's been hotter 'n Hades here in Toronto for days now.

BTW, did you hear about the guy who LITERALLY fried an egg on the sidewalk in Phoenix last week? No really, he did. It was 46C/115F there!!! Now that's hot (and not in the way Paris Hilton means it either).