From Ice Cream Soda to Cake: Root Beer Float Cupcake

The cupcake craze seemed to make cupcake an industry in itself. It has been featured in entertainment television programs, generated books dedicated to endless recipes on cupcake, and even resulted in cute, chic cupcake shops.
In stores, though, you'd find that some cupcakes are just so-so: the cake dry, the frosting just ordinary, the cost more than it's worth---reasons why it's always a good thing to bake your own cupcake at home.
Play around with various combinations of flavours, such as vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pumpkin, coffee, or red velvet. Or, since you're already at it, break the monotony of these cupcake flavours and come up with something new.
Here's a sample recipe of a cupcake that you can do at home. Bring out the kid in you and whip up a batch of this root beer float cupcakes:
Root beer float cupcakes
Serving: 12 cupcakes
Cupcake
Ingredients:

• 144 g all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 32 g dark cocoa powder
• 165 g brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons root beer extract
• 75 ml root beer soda
• 5 ml heavy cream
• 113 g butter, melted
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream

Preheat your oven to 176°C, and line the cupcake tins with paper. In a bowl, whisk the egg and sugar until smooth. Add heavy cream, butter, and vanilla. Mix until combined. Next, stir in sour cream. In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the mixture. Finally, add the root beer extract and soda. Mix until batter is smooth.
Use a 1/5 cup measure and add batter to each cupcake tin. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to allow complete cooling before frosting.
Frosting
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
• 800 g powdered sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon root beer extract

In an electric mixer bowl, beat butter until creamed. Starting on low speed, add sugar a little at a time, gradually speeding up the setting. Incorporate milk and vanilla extracts and combine thoroughly.
We'll have a separate root beer and vanilla frosting. Leave about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of frosting in the mixer and set aside the rest. Add root beer extract on the remaining frosting and mix.
Apply the root berry frosting to the cupcake, using a spoon or pastry bag, and then top it off with vanilla frosting. To make it look and taste yummier, add hot fudge, cocoa syrup, or maraschino cherries on top.

1-Day Smooth-Water Rafting in the Grand Canyon

Few places on Earth are as beautiful as Arizona's Grand Canyon. Every year, millions of people visit this 277-mile long chasm, and every one of them marvels at the canyon's natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere. The Colorado River runs through the floor of the canyon (the river created it millions of years ago!), and smooth-water canyon rafting tours are extremely popular. In fact, many people think smooth-water rafting through the canyon is the best single-day activity at the South Rim.
You can take a canyon rafting tour anytime between March and the end of November. They leave from Grand Canyon National Park Airport in tiny Tusayan, Arizona, just a few minutes outside the park's main gates.
These are tranquil, smooth-water rafting adventures, not the more dangerous white-water rafting expeditions. You won't see or experience any rapids or rough water during these popular float trips.
In fact, they're so popular that you'll want to book your rafting trip in advance. Every so often you'll run into a traveler who booked their seats a year ahead, but I usually suggest booking a week or two in advance. The motorized rubber pontoon boats only seat 19, and between that and their popularity, the tours sell out quickly.
These smooth-water adventure experiences aren't outrageously expensive. Although each company sets its own rates, basic packages usually cost less than $200. A basic canyon rafting tour typically includes park fees, water, lunch, a river guide, and bus transportation from Grand Canyon National Park Airport to Glen Canyon Dam - the starting point of the river portion of the trip. The bus will also take you back to the airfield after your float tour is over.
A lot of people choose the tour package that includes a plane ride to Page, Arizona and a 4x4 trip to Antelope Canyon (renowned for its slot canyons) before going to Glen Canyon Dam for the river portion. It's a terrific experience and I highly recommend it. The side trip to Antelope Canyon is wonderful, and the views from the air are truly spectacular.
You'll see plenty of wildlife on a canyon rafting tour. Children as young as 4 are welcome and you can create some wonderful family memories. Take plenty of photographs so you can look at them forever. I know I look at my photos all the time - especially of Horseshoe Bend.
You're not required to wear a life vest, but don't take any chances. It's better to be safe than sorry! When you're getting ready for your tour, make sure you bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, lip balm, salty snacks and some water. Wear sport sandals and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt. I also suggest bringing a waterproof bag with an extra change of clothes. After all, you'll want to be dry and comfortable during the two-hour bus ride back.

Repairing Holes in Pool Floats

Pool floats are the most common pool accessory. As pool usage during summer rises, floats and floaters come out of their storage bins and are seen floating on pool surfaces. What if the pool float you want to use has developed a hole during storage? Nothing can ruin your pool experience than a hole in the blow-up float. Even the small slit can potentially ruin a nice summer day because instead of spending your time in the pool and basking under the sun, you must go buy a repair kit. Repairing the damaged float itself can be irksome. That is why you have to inspect your pool toys and accessories before the season starts.
After discovering the presence of holes in your pool float, they must be repaired, but contrary to what you may believe, repairing float holes does not necessarily mean buying repair kits. You probably have items at home that can be used to repair float punctures and cuts.
The first thing to do is find the leak. There are a few ways to know if the float is leaking. The leak may be detected when the floater steadily loses volume while you are lying on it. The next thing to do is figure out where the site of the hole or cut is.
One way to check the location of the cut or hole is by submerging the float in water. Bubbles will come out of the site of the hole. This is a very reliable way of finding out where the slit or cut is. You can do this in a pool, lake, or bathtub.
Another way to determine where the hole is involves use of soap or shampoo. This method is used if you have no access to a pool or any body of water. What you need to do is mix soap and water. Apply the soap mixture on the surface of the float. Bubbles will appear at the site of the hole.
A crude way to determine the location of the leak is by pushing the float and keenly listening to the hissing noise of gushing air. Move your palm to the area where you suspect the leak is. If you feel air coming out, that's probably the leak that should be repaired. Once you have found the area, mark it with a pen.
To be able to use the float temporarily, you can use duct tape to cover the leak. Make sure the duct tape is water-resistant or it will just peel off. Completely cover the area of the leak. Give about half an inch from the edges of the hole. Blow the float and apply more pressure on the duct tape. Begin using the float to see if your temporary solution worked.
The permanent solution is to apply a patch, which may come with the float upon purchase. If not, check the availability of a float repair kit with your local pool supplies provider.