Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Cupcake Art from P Davis Designs
My niece Payton is a very talented artist and emailed me this cupcake doodle last night. Check out her photography plus other creative and quirky work at P Davis Designs!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Cupcake Mix Wedding Favors
How cute is this idea? Personalized cupcake baking mixes as wedding favors!
Fine favors. Stylish giving
Monday, June 28, 2010
167 Cupcake Flavors
Check out this cupcake flavor guide from Time Out New York....167 flavors (wish I could try them all)!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Recipe of the Week - German Chocolate Cupcakes
Week 50
My friend Jeannie brought German Chocolate cupcakes to a meeting last week and it was all I could do to keep myself from scraping the frosting off all the cupcakes and scarfing it down! There is just something dee-lish about that frosting. Since my taste buds were still reeling from that experience I decided to feature German Chocolate cupcakes this week.
This recipe comes from a tattered page out of my mother's Bell's Best cookbook - published by the Telephone Pioneers of America (Mississippi Chapter No. 36). Mom is on her second Bell's Best original cookbook (there are several additional volumes). She got her first one in 1981 and it was used so much it totally disintegrated.
German Chocolate Cupcakes
2 cups sugar
4 egg yolks
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. sweet German chocolate
1 cup Crisco
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup hot water
4 egg whites - beaten
Cream shortening and add sugar gradually. Melt chocolate in 1/2 cup hot water (over hot water bath) and allow to cool. Add egg yolks to creamed mixture - one at a time. Mix well. Sift flour and measure. Mix soda and buttermilk. Add flour alternatively with buttermilk to the creamed mixture. Add the chocolate and vanilla then fold in the beaten egg whites.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, checking frequently after 15 minutes. Frost cupcakes when completely cooled.
German Chocolate Frosting
2 cups + 2 Tbsp. evaporated milk (we call it "canned milk" in the South)
1 stick + 2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. sugar
2 egg yolks + 2 whole eggs
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
Mix milk, butter, sugar and eggs in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. Do not leave unattended! When thick, remove from heat and cool. Fold in coconut and pecans.
My friend Jeannie brought German Chocolate cupcakes to a meeting last week and it was all I could do to keep myself from scraping the frosting off all the cupcakes and scarfing it down! There is just something dee-lish about that frosting. Since my taste buds were still reeling from that experience I decided to feature German Chocolate cupcakes this week.
This recipe comes from a tattered page out of my mother's Bell's Best cookbook - published by the Telephone Pioneers of America (Mississippi Chapter No. 36). Mom is on her second Bell's Best original cookbook (there are several additional volumes). She got her first one in 1981 and it was used so much it totally disintegrated.
photo from MarthaStewart.com
Cake Creations by Shelly via Flickr
German Chocolate Cupcakes
2 cups sugar
4 egg yolks
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. sweet German chocolate
1 cup Crisco
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup hot water
4 egg whites - beaten
Cream shortening and add sugar gradually. Melt chocolate in 1/2 cup hot water (over hot water bath) and allow to cool. Add egg yolks to creamed mixture - one at a time. Mix well. Sift flour and measure. Mix soda and buttermilk. Add flour alternatively with buttermilk to the creamed mixture. Add the chocolate and vanilla then fold in the beaten egg whites.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, checking frequently after 15 minutes. Frost cupcakes when completely cooled.
German Chocolate Frosting
2 cups + 2 Tbsp. evaporated milk (we call it "canned milk" in the South)
1 stick + 2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. sugar
2 egg yolks + 2 whole eggs
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
Mix milk, butter, sugar and eggs in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. Do not leave unattended! When thick, remove from heat and cool. Fold in coconut and pecans.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Cakes...not cupcakes
I delivered five cakes today for a birthday celebration. No cupcakes this weekend, but next weekend I will be doing July 4th birthday cupcakes!
My new Carpe Cupcakes! apron....ordered from Zazzle
Friday, June 25, 2010
FIFA Cupcakes
The International Federation of Association Football (French: Fédération Internationale de Football Association), commonly known as FIFA, is the international governing body of association football. Its headquarters are located in Zürich, Switzerland, and it is responsible for the organization and governance of football's major international tournaments, most notably the FIFA World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of the Second World War.
Go USA!
cupcake_love via Flickr
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Flip Flop Cupcakes
It is cloudy and a bit chilly at Lake Tahoe today, but next week we are going to have a major warm-up just in time for July 4th. So I am sharing some flip flop cupcakes....and hoping for warm days ahead!
(not my feet)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
My Favorite Cupcake Cake Wreck
One of my favorite blogs is Cake Wrecks. It is hard to believe professional cakes & cupcakes can go so horribly wrong, but that blog is proof that it happens....and happens a lot! Visit the Cake Wrecks blog or buy their books. You won't be disappointed and won't stop laughing for a long, long time.
Here is my favorite cupcake cake wreck of all time. This cupcake cake was requested for Shara's birthday and it was supposed to be a cupcake cake of Curious George (the cartoon monkey). But that is not exactly what Shara got. Which character does the cupcake cake look like most??
Curious George
Shara's cupcake cake
Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Fried Cupcakes
Being from the South, I am no stranger to fried foods. Fair food takes on a whole 'nuther meaning down there because we don't just eat it at the fair...so I gotta try frying a cupcake!
Spud Shack
Old Sacramento
Raspberry Cupcakes
I have a raspberry cupcake craving today and I don't know why....just thinking about cold, juicy berries with chocolate or vanilla cake (don't care which)!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Summer Solstice....celebrate with a cupcake!
According to Wikipedia, a solstice is "an astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme. The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination....that is, the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south comes to a stop before reversing direction. As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in the longest day and the shortest night of the year.
At the Tropic of Cancer (23°26'N) and all points to the north, and at the Tropic of Capricorn (23°26'S) and all points to the south, the sun reaches its highest position in the sky on the day of the Summer Solstice. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the Summer Solstice occurs sometime between December 21 and December 22 each year in the Southern Hemisphere, and between June 20 and June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere" ....and today is June 21st!
Mommy Jazz via Flickr
angelakillion via Flickr
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Reno Rodeo
The Reno Rodeo is in town June 17 - 26, 2010. It is the "Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West" and is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event.
The Reno Rodeo is a not-for-profit organization. In 1986 the Reno Rodeo established the Reno Rodeo Foundation as the giving arm of the Reno Rodeo and has since donated over $5.1 million to educational scholarships, special children's charities, high school rodeo programs, literacy programs, the Marvin Picollo School Therapeutic Equestrian program and the Kids Kampus Activity Center located at the Kids Kottage.
Get out there and support the Reno Rodeo.....and stop by Batch Cupcakery while you're at it. You will need a cupcake snack while you watch the Xtreme Bull riding events!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tour de Nez at Lake Tahoe this Weekend
Tour de Nez June 19-21, 2010
The Tour de Nez cycling event, one of the country’s top professional bicycling stage races, will be held in Sparks and Downtown Reno and will wrap up at the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in Truckee, CA for the main events of epic climbs and scenic course routes. Pro cyclists will vie for a share of thousands of dollars in prize money, while all cycling enthusiasts will enjoy riding with cycling legends through scenic Lake Tahoe. This year there will be 27 handcyclists participating!
I think they need to eat lots of cupcakes to climb those mountains!
The Tour de Nez cycling event, one of the country’s top professional bicycling stage races, will be held in Sparks and Downtown Reno and will wrap up at the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in Truckee, CA for the main events of epic climbs and scenic course routes. Pro cyclists will vie for a share of thousands of dollars in prize money, while all cycling enthusiasts will enjoy riding with cycling legends through scenic Lake Tahoe. This year there will be 27 handcyclists participating!
I think they need to eat lots of cupcakes to climb those mountains!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Cupcake Items at Target
While shopping at Target.com I found buried cupcake treasure! These items are not available in the stores - only online. Note to Target: please put this cute cupcake stuff in your stores!
Learning Resources sorting shapes
(toy department)
$14.99
Cupcake Creations
88 pc cupcake paper set
$14.99
Cupcake Photo Clips
$11.99
Oval cupcake platter
$29.99
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Cupcake Wars
I watched the first episode of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network last night. Who knew baking cupcakes could be so stressful??
This show pits cupcake bakers against each other to win money and showcase their finished products at celebrity events. Last night's show was the Series Premiere - a Sea World Birthday Bash challenge. I can't imagine baking 1000 cupcakes in 2 hours....much less making them taste good AND create an awesome display.
Congrats to Lindsay Morton from the Dollhouse Bake Shoppe who won $10,000 and got to serve her tasty cupcakes poolside at the Sea World Birthday party. Her winning cupcake recipe: Cinammon Sugar Graham Cupcakes!
This show pits cupcake bakers against each other to win money and showcase their finished products at celebrity events. Last night's show was the Series Premiere - a Sea World Birthday Bash challenge. I can't imagine baking 1000 cupcakes in 2 hours....much less making them taste good AND create an awesome display.
Congrats to Lindsay Morton from the Dollhouse Bake Shoppe who won $10,000 and got to serve her tasty cupcakes poolside at the Sea World Birthday party. Her winning cupcake recipe: Cinammon Sugar Graham Cupcakes!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Cupcake Jar
My friend Ginger gave me this cupcake jar a few days ago. I am going to use it to store the decorating tips I use most often. It is my signature color (pink) and looks soooo cute in the kitchen!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Flag Day!
Today is Flag Day! It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14, 1977 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Display your red, white & blue proudly today....or better yet, make some Flag Day cupcakes!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Recipe of the Week - Quick Vanilla Buttercream
Week 48
This recipe comes from Gale Gand, one of my favorite chefs on the Food Network. She had a show called Sweet Dreams from 2000-2008 and is a great pastry chef and teacher!
Quick Vanilla Buttercream
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for one minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
This recipe comes from Gale Gand, one of my favorite chefs on the Food Network. She had a show called Sweet Dreams from 2000-2008 and is a great pastry chef and teacher!
Billy's Bakery (NYC)
Quick Vanilla Buttercream
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for one minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Frosting vs. Icing
I have discussed this topic before, but recently have renewed interest in the issue. Are the terms "frosting" and "icing" interchangeable? Some believe they are....but maybe not.
Frosting is usually thicker and creamier (like buttercream) and stays soft after it is applied to a cake or cupcake. Icing is more fluid but after being applied to a cupcake, it dries and the appearance becomes more thin and hard. Frosting is applied either by using a spatula or knife to make a mound over the cupcake. Icing is too hard to apply by using a spatula...it will just run off.
I think it is a regional thing. "Icing" is more popular in Europe, and the term "frosting" is used more often in America, although where I am from in Mississippi, icing is the term used most often.
Personally it doesn't matter to me which term is used....as long as the cupcake I am eating has tons of it on top!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch is my favorite show! I just finished reading books written by the Captains of the Northwestern and Time Bandit. I learned about the history of fishing and fishing families in Alaska and a whole lot about crab fishing. I am not sure I could survive life on a crab boat so I will just watch and learn from those that do...and enjoy some crab cupcakes!
