The Sunday Scoop - Issue #3
A weekly recap of all my latest obsessions—from books and shows to bakes and beyond. There may be affiliate links in this post.
Hello,
It’s been an interesting week here—from snow in Houston (yes, really) to the release of Onyx Storm and dragon egg cupcakes. Let’s dive in!
The Book Recap
I finished two books this week, and I may or may not have made one of them my new identity.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros: If you haven’t heard of this one yet, you’ve probably been living under a rock. The third book in the Empyrean series is here, and let me just say... Xaden Riorson. That man could peel an apple, and I’d still swoon. (Okay, let’s be real—I
mightdefinitely have a slightly unhealthy obsession with this series.) This book is the third in a five-part series, following Violet Sorrengail as she navigates a war college where students are trained to become dragon riders. The romance, the drama, the dragons—it’s everything. And speaking of dragons, if you’re a fan, you’ll definitely want to check out the dragon egg cupcakes I made below.
I’ll Cry if I Want To by Raquel Franco: A powerful collection of poems on womanhood, motherhood, and grief. I finished this feeling empowered and ready to embrace myself fully. It's now permanently on my “poetry nightstand.”
Tunes & Talk
There are a couple of new tracks I’ve been loving, but my absolute favorite this week is from Teddy Swims:
Guilty by Teddy Swims: Like most people, I fell in love with Teddy Swims’ breakout song, Lose Control and I am so thrilled to have this new release. This release from I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) is everything. His lyrics read like the perfect romance hero in the “down bad” phase, and I’m here for it.
Also, in case you missed it, the Fantasy Fangirls podcast is diving deep into Onyx Storm starting February 3rd. They’ll be breaking down chapters with spoilers, and I’ll be re-reading the book alongside each episode. Cannot wait!
Watched & Binged
Despite being glued to Onyx Storm, I managed to squeeze in some binge-worthy TV (I swear I do also get some work done).
The Night Agent (Netflix): A fast-paced, action-packed show with plenty of twists. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s fun—and perfect for watching with my husband.
High Potential (Hulu): Another crime-solving show (what can I say, I’m a sucker for mysteries). This one’s perfect for casual viewing, making it great for winding down after a long day. The show stars Kaitlin Olson (you might know her from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as Morgan, a single mom with an exceptional mind—and, if I’m being honest, some questionable fashion choices. She helps the police solve crimes, and while it’s definitely a bit far-fetched, it’s completely addictive and so fun to watch.
Tell me, should I start watching The Traitors - I’m seeing it everywhere.
Tried & Tested
I'm so excited to share these fun dragon egg cupcakes I made this week in honor of Onyx Storm (yes, I fully embraced the theme—we read and we don’t judge). Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your own dragon-inspired cupcakes!
What you’ll need:
Cupcakes: Bake your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe. I’m a huge fan of Sally’s Baking Addiction, but if you’re looking for something quicker, a boxed mix (I love Duncan Hines) works perfectly fine! I used a brown cupcake liner also.
Frosting: Use your favorite chocolate buttercream recipe. Again, store-bought frosting is totally fine if you're short on time.
If you’re making your own frosting, I recommend using black cocoa powder instead of regular cocoa powder to get a rich, darker color. You can also add 1 to 2 drops of black food coloring gel (I like Amerigel) to deepen the color further. For store-bought frosting, just add the food coloring to get that perfect dark tone.
Decorating the cupcakes:
Frost the Cupcakes: Once your cupcakes are baked and completely cooled, spread a layer of frosting on top of each one. You don’t need to be too neat about this; just use a butter knife or palette knife to cover the top. This base layer helps the design adhere to the cupcake.
Prepare the Piping Bag: Fit a piping bag with a small round tip (I used Wilton #10, but any small round tip will do). Fill the bag with frosting, being careful not to overfill it, so the frosting doesn’t squish out from the bottom. I like to use a bench scraper to help push the frosting down and get rid of any air bubbles.
Pipe the Dragon Scales:
Start by piping small dots around the outer edge of the cupcake. These will form the base of your first row of scales.
Take a small knife or offset spatula and gently press the edge of each dot to flatten it a bit, creating the "scale" effect.
Pipe another row of dots just next to the first one, making sure they slightly overlap. Continue this process, piping rows of scales all around the cupcake.
Spray edible glitter in your color of choice on your cupcakes. I used various brands but this collection I used has a variety of colors.
Tips:
For a more textured look, you can swap the round tip for a petal tip (like Wilton #104). This will give your scales a more elongated shape, which can add even more visual depth to your design.
Practice your scales on some wax paper first! This way you will get the technique down first.
Don’t worry about perfection—dragons aren’t perfect, and neither are these cupcakes!
And there you have it: your own set of dragon egg cupcakes, ready to impress any Onyx Storm fan—or anyone who loves a good dessert. Enjoy!
Thanks for reading this week’s update! What have you been loving, reading, or watching? Let me know—I'd love to hear from you.
Take care and stay cozy,
Danielle