Cupcake Pinata

I was at Party City  in Reno today and saw a cupcake pinata so when I got home I surfed around and found a few more!  I really like the ones with the pull strings.

PinataCasa   $79

2 ft. x 2 ft.

Birthday in a Box

$15.99

Buy.com

$17.99

Is a Ho-Ho really a cupcake?

On my recent trip to Napa, I ordered a red velvet Ho-Ho at one of the wineries. It was quite large and it took me two days to eat it...dee-lish-uss-ness!  But I started to wonder if a Ho-Ho would qualify as a cupcake. The cake, filling and icing were all essentially the same...the only difference was the shape.  After much research and contemplation, I have reached the conclusion that a Ho-Ho is an oblong rolled cupcake!

Hostess Ho-Hos

Cupcakes with Bling

I was watching My Fair Wedding with David Tutera last night and he was attempting to bling up a boring wedding....so I started thinking about blinging up some cupcakes!

genii cupcakes

DIY Crystal Cupcake Stand

Project Wedding

Chocolate Chips & Cupcakes

One of my favorite ingredients is the chocolate chip.  Melt some for a topping or dipping sauce for fruit.  Add them to pancakes...and adding them to cookie dough just goes without saying.  Here are some ideas for featuring chocolate chips with cupcakes!

zoeycakes

(I just love those liners!)

Dawn Violet

NoshWithMe

Recipe of the Week: Mountain Dew Cupcakes

Do the Dew....make that "eat the Dew!"

Today's recipe for Mountain Dew cupcakes comes from the blog Sherry Starts Cooking and includes the cupcake recipe as well as the recipe for Mountain Dew buttercream. 

Al Dente 

(blog)

Cupcake Love

Treats drift slowly past...
They cannot capture my heart:
I has a cupcake!

                   (cupcake haiku by Darkpool posted on GoodReads)

Cupcake Love t-shirt/matte print

birdarts

Ivy style33

Cupcakes by Paolo

heh86

Snow & Lemon Cupcakes

I got a new phone today (see yesterday's post)...after I plowed almost 4 feet of snow to get out to the highway.  When I got back to the house, I remembered that there were lemon cupcakes with lemon buttercream in the freezer.  Oh joy & rapture!  I needed that snack!

post-plowing snack!

Never-Ending Snow!

It is snowing like crazy today at Lake Tahoe!  In two hours this afternoon we got over a foot and tonight's forecast is for 3 inches per hour until noon tomorrow.  I have shoveled, plowed, blown snow, scraped the solar panels, and you can't even tell....so I am going to bake a batch of cupcakes, sit by the fire and read the April In Style magazine I bought today!

P.S. I lost my phone after falling in the snow this afternoon.  That means I can eat as many cupcakes as I want.

springlakecake

 

In Memory of Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011)

My favorite Elizabeth Taylor movie is Father of the Bride (1950).  I carry it around on my iPod and watch it at least once a week.  So many memories....thank you!

Less than Attractive (aka Ugly) Cupcakes

I have come across what I will call "less than attractive" cupcakes.  Embrace and love them...beauty is in the eye of the cupcake beholder!

barneydog1972

haggispigwideon

sar2698

Fernley Branch Library

Lyon County (NV) Library System

Katy Perry's Cupcake Dress

Katy Perry wore a cupcake dress recently while on tour in Italy...a fashion statement everyone should make!

PopEater

Cupcake Placemats from Pier 1 Imports

My friend Lynn gave me these cupcake placemats.  She got them at Pier 1, and they apparently have quite a few cupcake items!

Recipe of the Week: Chocolate Merlot Cupcakes

This past week I spent several days in wine country (Napa, Sonoma & Calistoga).  On the way from Lake Tahoe my friend Kristi shared a recipe for a merlot cake that I have turned into merlot cupcakes.  Cara, my other passenger, invented a unique wine glossary that became the basis for our wine tasting! 

chewy:  full-bodied & intense
crunchy: can taste the individual components of the wine
puny:  dilute, weak
meaty: similar to chewy (but just a little different)

Kim Siciliano

Scrumptious Photography

(via Flickr)

Chocolate Merlot Cupcakes

2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups red wine (merlot, zinfandel, cabernet)

Heat the oven to 350°F.  Prepare the cupcake tins with liners. Sift flour with the cocoa, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.

Cream the butter in an electric mixer, beat in the sugar, and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs and then the vanilla - continue beating 1 to 2 minutes. Sift a third of the flour over the butter mixture and fold them together, using a spoon. Fold in a third of the wine. Add the remaining flour and wine alternately in two batches.

Fill the cupcake liners 1/2 full with batter. Bake for 12-15 minutes - checking frequently after 12 minutes.  Cool completely and sift with confectioner's sugar.

Ants & Cupcakes

For the past few days I have been with friends at Indian Springs Resort & Spa in Calistoga (CA).  Only three words can describe it:  FAB - YOU - LUSS!  We soaked in the mineral springs and ate some delicious food...and how could we pass up tasting some liquid deliciousness at some of the wineries?

I bought several bottles of Cuvee Rouge (a sparkling rose) from V. Sattui and found this ant carrying a cupcake on his back in their gift shop.  I just had to bring him home! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Carpe O'Cupcakes to you! 

Serve something green today so you don't get pinched...may I suggest this shamrock cupcake cake!

VioletCubed

 

Cupcake Spatulas

Your cupcakes will taste even more delicious when you use one of these spatulas to mix your batter!

Crate & Barrel

$7.95

Target

$2.50

shining egg

Michael's Cupcake Project - March 19th

Michael's is having a Family Event on Saturday, March 19th from 10 am to 12 noon. Purchase a clay pot and turn it into a giant cupcake!  If you are in the Reno-Tahoe area, join me at the Carson City location.

Cake Wrecks: Create Your Own Wreck

As most of you know, Cake Wrecks is one of my favorite blogs.  Their post on Saturday featured a Make-Your-Own-Cake-Wreck with a blank cake and items to drag and drop.  Maybe they will come across this blog someday and create a make-your-own CupCake Wreck! 

And don't forget to purchase your 2011 Cake Wrecks calendars! 

derklbot

Recipe of the Week: Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes

Bailey's Irish Cream cupcakes in honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up on Thursday....just make them!

Melanie Greene  via  Flickr

Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes

1 - yellow cake mix
4 oz. instant chocolate pudding
3/4 cup oil
1/8 cup water
1/4 cup vodka (or water)
3/8 cup Bailey's Irish Cream
4 eggs

Mix all ingredients & bake cupcakes at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes (checking frequently after 12 minutes).


Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing

8 ounces cream cheese - room temperature
4 tablespoons butter -  room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
3 - 4 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream

Lego Cupcakes

My brothers and I spent hours playing with Legos...yes, they have been around that long.  Legos have a very interesting history and I visited the amazing Lego store in Manhattan when I was in New York last fall.  I can't believe how far they have come...and now you can build a cupcake with them!  

History of Legos 

Lego Cupcakes

 edubl13216

Cupcake Key Cozy

This cupcake key cozy is from the Enna Design store on Etsy...and I am ordering one.  I just love the cherry on top!

Enna Design  via  Etsy

Cupcake Rug

I found this cupcake rug online today. I think it would look very cute in my kitchen!

Susan Branch

available from Amazon for $80.96

Happy Mardi Gras!

Today is Mardi Gras...Fat Tuesday!  Last year I had the best time ever and I wish I could have gone this year.  For those who are there...eat some King (cup)Cake for me!

P.S.  Wishing a special Happy Mardi Gras to my good friend Lily J!

TidyMom

(Cheryl)

Lundi Gras 2011

I grew up in southern Mississippi, not far from New Orleans.  I love Carnival in New Orleans! 

Today is Lundi Gras (Fat Monday)...the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).  I did not get to go this year, but tonight is one of my favorite nights of the Carnival season.  Rex, the King of Carnival, arrives by boat at 6 pm and the mayor of New Orleans gives him the key to the city and gives Rex the honor of "ruling" the city the next day (Mardi Gras Day).  Rex reads a proclamation stating that no one will work on Tuesday and everyone must celebrate.  Then the crowd sings It's Carnival Time and enjoys more music & fireworks.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

(Let the good times roll!)

I Sing in the Kitchen

Cupcake Cocktails

It is still snowing here at Lake Tahoe but I am thinking of warmer weather and cocktails by the beach.  For now I will have to make do with some cupcake cocktails.

toriejayne

the curious cupcake

brittanyewyatt

Suzie Cakez

Recipe of the Week: Vegan Buttercream Frosting

I have vegan friends...who want to eat chocolate & frosting just like everybody else!

freakgirl

Vegan Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
1/2 cup nonhydrogenated margarine  (Earth Balance)
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup plain soy milk or soy creamer

Cream the shortening and margarine together until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat for about 3 more minutes. Add the vanilla and soy milk -  beat for another 5 to 7 minutes.

Andy Warhol cupcakes

This is for my niece Payton...and Andy Warhol fans everywhere.

omgwereismyspacebar

via PhotoBucket

Bowling in Reno

The National Bowling Stadium in Reno is hosting the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) for the 10th time and the opening ceremonies today included a simultaneous roll of bowling balls in all 78 lanes. It is a great boost to our local economy and bowlers will be here for the next four months as they work their way toward the finals in June.  Take your favorite bowler out for a cupcake at Batch Cupcakery while they are here!

Funny story about bowling balls...a few years ago I was flying from Denver to Reno with two other friends. We boarded the plane and put on our seat belts and then the flight attendant made an announcement that the last 5 people who boarded had to get off the plane. It was overweight due to too many bowling balls in the luggage compartment!  So we got off the plane...and got to fly first class on the next flight.  Good times! 

two parts sugar

discocupcakes

Bombass

St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

St. Patrick's Day will be here soon...here are some ideas as you plan your celebration (with cupcakes of course).

JavaCupcake

Trisha B Designs

Jeanne Benedict

two parts sugar

And wear these to serve your cupcakes:

inediblejewelry