Sunday, May 6, 2012

Happy Birthday Kimberly!

As is obvious from the brief photo montage, Kimberly is one of the funnest, sunniest, all-time greatest people to be around.  We went out this weekend to celebrate her birthday, and her talented sister Kristina created some yummy, light and refreshing cupcakes for dessert.
Everyone at the table loved these light summery cupcakes, and they are also convenient to make. 
For the cake, you need to prepare a box of Angel Food cake mix (Betty Crocker), and prepare as directed.  For the frosting,
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
Combine butter and sugar, and add liquid in intervals.  Top with fresh summer fruit!

So grateful to celebrate another birthday with my wonderful friend. :o)



Saturday, April 28, 2012

A Sweet Deal

We all get those daily deal emails, but Specialicious had one I could not turn down.  $11 for a dozen gourmet cupcake's from Persnickety Cakes in Manassas, VA.  Can't wait to get my cupcakes, and if you want to try a Strawberry Shortcake or Caramel Cafe, or Peanut Butter, click HERE!

Peanut Butter Cupcake courtesy of pernsicketycakes.net

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Tangerine Almond Cupcakes


In March, my family had a fun brunch get-together to celebrate my uncle's birthday and my cousins' visiting from California. I decided to make these cupcakes, because anything citrus spells brunch to me. I adapted this recipe from the Cake Doctor, and just because I am me, went with tangerine instead of orange, but whatever you like should work. To be honest, at first, I didn’t love them. But I had several left over (as they are mini, you get at least 3 dozen) but I ate them daily for breakfast, or a snack, until they were gone. That proves they’re good, because I refuse to eat anything that is a treat unless it is delicious. (Which means if I make a batch of so-so cupcakes, they don't get eaten). Happy baking! I'll be searching for yummy breakfast treats to bake, asI returned to the working world a few weeks ago, and love to grab a homemade snack as I walk out the door. If anyone has a good recipe, please send it my way!


 Tangerine Almond Recipe
Almond Filling:
1/2 tube of almond paste
1 cup chopped almonds (plus more, for garnish)
For Cupcakes:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 package (small box) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/2 cups fresh-squeezed tangerine juice (you need a whole 5 lb bag for this task)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
For Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 T tangerine zest
3-4 tablespoons tangerine juice
A dollop of orange food coloring gel (Wilton)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350, line mini muffin pans with liners.
2. Mix together almond paste and chopped almonds.  The paste has to be broken up with you fingers. (And FYI, it gets super hard if you save the remaining paste, so use it up within a few weeks). Set aside.
3, Combine all cupcake ingredients in bowl of stand mixer, or use an electric mixer.  Mix on low for 1 minute, then scrape down bowl and mix on medium speed for an additonal minute. 
4.  Fold in almond mixture.
5. Use a measuring spoon to put one tablespoon batter in eahc cup. You may need to add a little more, but 1 T for mini mufifns is usually good.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes-check by pressing cupcake. W hen it springs back, it is done. Cool on rack for 5 minutes.
7.  Make glaze: combine sugar, zest, and one T of the juice, and stir.  It will be thick and paste-like, so add a little juice at a time until desired consistency is reached.  It helps to have an expert eyeball this, as too thin and it is runny, too thick and it looks ugly.  I'd say 3-4 T is good.
Finally, add a teeny bit of onage food colring gel.  This step is just for looks, but I think it made a difference, because the cupcakes themselves are not orange.  Alternatively, you could tint the cakes and leave the glaze a pale orange.
8.  Garnish with slivers of almond.
Voila!  And thanks to the BFF Kristy for this great platter! 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Birthday Cake Edition

Blueberry Cake with Lemon Curd Filling and Lemon Buttercream


As noted in my previous post, my cousin got married recently and had a delicious blueberry wedding cake.  So when my madre asked me what kind of cake I'd like for my birthday, it was a no-brainer.  Or was it?  It seems she had to do some research and unique adjustments to create my lovely birthday cake.
This was a crowd-pleasing, springy delicious dessert.  

Blueberry Cake  recipe:
1 box white cake mix
1 package vanilla instant pudding (small size)
4 egg whites (reserve yolks for lemon curd)
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups blueberry puree*
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon vanilla

*To make puree, rinse 3 1 lb. containers of blueberries and drain.  Blend until pureed, then strain off skin.  Sugar does not need to be added.

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour two 8 inch round pans.
2. Combine cake mix and pudding mix in large bowl, and whisk together.
3. In separate bowl, add remaining ingredients. 
4.  Gradually add wrt ingredients to dry using electric mixer, stopping to scrape sides and bottom of the bowl.
5.  Pour into cake pans.  Bake for 35 minutes, or until a stick inserted into cakes come out clean.
6.  Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.

Lemon Curd Filling (from oregonfruit.com)

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
1/3 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
2 eggs
dash of salt
6 tablespoons butter, cubed

1. In saucepan, whisk all ingredients except butter.
2. Turn burner to low.  Add butter a little at a time, whisking constantly, until all is melted and combined.
3.  Increase to medium-lowish heat, and continue to whisk constantly until mixture thickens and becomes jelly-like.  (Like making a custard).  Cook about 9 minutes.
4.  Pull pan away from heat, and strain lemon curd through strainer placed over a bowl.
5.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.

Lemon Buttercream (from oregonfruit.com)

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons lemon zest
5-6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 tablespoons water
dash of salt

1. Cream butter & lemon zest using electric stand mixer. 
2. Combine liquid ingredients in separate bowl.
3. Alternate adding sugar and wet ingredients until desired flavor and consistency is achieved.

The letters were constructed by melting sugar until liquid, then adding food coloring.  Rapidly, you drop this liquid onto a Silpat (silicone mat) from a spoon.  My madre says the sugar hardens too fats to pipe it, so this was free-form writing with a spoon.  To that, I say well done.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Cupcake Travels: North by Northwest Ohio


Recently, I prepared to hit the road for my cousin's wedding in Toledo, Ohio.  This is a looooooong trip-minimum 9 hours-so I jazzed myself up for the journey by looking up cupcakeries in the area.  And you know what?  I found one!
Cake in a Cup is an adorable little cupcakery located in the western Toledo suburbs.  They are currently revamping their site, but I knew this place would be great as they have a rotating daily cupcake menu.  We waltzed in on St. Patrick's Day, and discovered many leprechaun-inspired treats, including Green Velvet cupcakes. 
My mom and I decided to try the Snickerdoodle and Black & Tan.
Snickerdoodle



I *love* cupcakes inspired by other desserts,and in this case, inspired by the famous buttery cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar.   When I ate the cupcake, I was stuffed full with delicious wedding cake.  But I dutifully pressed onward, tasted it..and it was sensational.  I personally did not care for the marshmallow buttercream frosting, but the cake was excellent.  It was light, airy, and magically infused with sweet cinnamon sugar.  I am so glad we ventured out to this cupcakery, if only for this cupcake.


The next day, we tried the Black & Tan, chocolate-stout cupcake.  
Black & Tan

The chocolate cake was light and fluffy, but I failed to taste the stout.  The frosting had substance without being too sweet.  This cupcakery is 2 for 2!


Finally, I want to say I am blessed with such wonderful family.  In times of dark clouds that had me blind (quite literally), they helped me have bright sunshiney days again.  During awful times, when I was walking around in a detached daze, they helped bring me back to life.  I am grateful for every last one of them.

I wish my cousin Erin all the happiness in the world, and many bright sunshiney days!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Life is Good

Ooy.
It has been a long week on the job hunt.  I am making progress, and things are looking up, but then I hit a point where I feel like this process takes way too long and I am losing my mind.  And I cannot even blog, because every moment not devoted to writing essay responses or finding teacher positions makes me feel guilty.  What do I do to fix that?  The answer is the same response I gave in an interview about what motivates me.
I am motivated  by happiness, and simple things bring me great joy.  I believe in surrounding myself with things that make me happy.  
Recycled art sign from TN that always makes me smile, and reminds me to have hope.  The roses are from my dad's funeral, and have amazingly held up over ten years, even through moving
Pink coffee pot with a mug that makes me smile       
Encouraging words-knowing someone is rooting for me.
The coolest decorative block EVER,  a gift from my BFF, and a card from my student teaching class.    

My door, decorated with notes, artwork, rainbows...every time I second-guess the sacrifices, or whether I made the right choices about my career, I look at my door, and I relax, and know teaching is what I was meant to do.
It may all seem silly, or quirky, but these things bring me joy and motivate me.  Especially when the going gets tough, surrounding myself with positivity helps me smile as I sing along to my current theme song.