Archive for June, 2011

Turtle Cupcakes

By on Thursday, June 30th, 2011

I love this turtle cupcake cake!  This just goes to show that you can make pretty much anything you want out of cupcakes, and it’s a whole lot easier (and less mess) than cutting the shape out of a sheet cake!

Hippie Cupcakes

By on Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Okay, I admit it — I’m kind of a hippie, and I’m kind of raising a hippie daughter, which is why I am so inspired by these “tie-dyed” (air-brushed) cupcakes from Simply Sweets!

Join Hello Cupcake to Salute the Military

By on Thursday, June 30th, 2011

On Thursday, June 30 from 4 pm – 6 pm, all Washington, D.C. military and their families are invited to “Cupcakes for Courage” at Hello Cupcake at their new location on Barracks Row (705 8th Street, S.E., WDC).  An R.S.V.P. is requested.

Hello Cupcake Goes Patriotic

According to the e-vite:  “Families will decorate patriotic themed cupcakes, meet with friends and celebrate Independence Day early.  Light fare from Matchbox Restaurant and Zest Bistro will be provided.”

Hello Cupcake is also serving charitable cupcakes from June 30 to July 4, when a portion of the proceeds from the sale of patriotic-themed cupcakes will be donated to Camp Desert Kids, a program under Military Families United that helps service members’ children.  This 2 minute YouTube video about this special camp will more than inspire you to participate in this fundraiser.

Stars and Stripes

By on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

I thought this idea looked fun and tasty for the 4th of July.  The cupcakes themselves are made with a yellow cake recipe, and the frosting uses cream cheese with just a bit of lime.  Cut out stars and stripes from waxed paper, lay the templates on the cupcakes, add red and blue sprinkles, remove templates with tweezers, and you have a nicely decorated and patriotic cupcake!

Fantasy Cupcakes: Owner’s Tips

By on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

I recently discovered Fantasy Cupcakes on line, a lovely UK bakery that won a gold heart prize in the North West Fine Foods Awards, beating out 400 entries in the general foods competition.

Vegan Mudpie Cupcake

So I e-mailed Fantasy Cupcakes to ask for their secrets at taking a vegan cupcake into the mainstream.  The owner, Melinda, thought that the bitterness of the chocolate was the primary flavor of the cake and that it lingered on the palate.

Here’s a list of Melinda’s tips for vegan mud pie cupcakes:

  • Use a little apple cider vinegar in the sponge batter instead of soya milk curdled with vinegar;
  • Mix the wet ingredients together and fold in the dry ones; and,
  • For the frosting, melt rich, dark chocolate mixed with soya cream, leave it to set, beat in a little powdered sugar until a firm(ish) spreading consistency is reached, spread onto the cupcake in a dome shape with a small palate knife, and dust with a good quality cocoa.

Melinda said the frosting recipe was an adaptation from a recipe for a vegan chocolate torte which was a family favorite for years.

For my two pence, I’d recommend using Cadbury’s cocoa powder.  It’s make in the UK and has more bite to it than its US Hershey counterpart.

Cupcake Nail Art

By on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

After going to see Katy Perry in concert a few weeks ago and reading a bit further into her interests and fashion sense, I read that she loves doing her nails! This has inspired me to be a bit more creative with my nails, which I usually never paint!

As I was doing my nails tonight (still in the middle of them) I said to myself – “CUPCAKE NAILS!!” I thought to myself there has to be tutorials out there somewhere. Low and behold, I found some Cupcake Nail Art!

I found these great nails and a Cupcake Nail Art Tutorial from the blog, Cupcake Clothes! Check out the rest of Georgia’s blog, she has some AMAZING nail work.

 

Cupcakes and Children’s Books

By on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

A Dr. Seuss Display

As a mother to a nearly six-month-old son who loves looking at (and trying to eat) any book he can get his hands on, the Iron Cupcake Madison Challenge definitely got my attention!  Bakers and cupcake enthusiasts gathered this past Sunday at Basie’s Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin to eat and vote on mini-cupcakes, which were all based off of popular children’s books.  The proceeds from this event will benefit the Literacy Network. Read the rest of this entry »