Cupcake Mania

Posted on March 5, 2008 by chatty

Cupcakes have been on my mind lately, especially since my trial-run of the Banana Cupcake recipe (hint: if you want to be super-popular at the office, go with chocolate. People look at you funny when you say ‘banana cupcake with amaretto buttercream”).

I watched with fascination this past weekend an episode of “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” where he went head to head with a cupcake baker/rocker from LA. I was disappointed with the outcome, mainly because sometimes I think Bobby is a boob and I appreciate a good cupcake baker. Especially in HD. The rocker made a moist, decadent Red Velvet cupcake with sky-high cream cheese frosting. I felt cavities forming just watching. I also felt the drool dribbling out of the corner of my mouth as I watched. Mmmmmm …. frosting ….

The other cupcake news to inform you of is this recent article from MSN.com about the best cupcakes in the country. Sure, they mention the CR. And I’m happy and all, but I would love to try some of these other treats, liks the Fluffer Nutter from “Cake Fetish” and the Fat Elvis from “Saint Cupcake”. What is that commandment again? Thou shalt not covet another man’s cupcake.

Best. Easter Candy. Ever.

Posted on March 3, 2008 by chatty

Cadbury Mini-Eggs are now in season. This is the best Easter candy out there (other than the upper-end See’s and such). I’ve been eating these since I was a tween. I believe it was Sis who introduced them to me. Back then we went to the Walgreen’s at Bishop’s Corner in West Hartford. Now it’s Bartells at the University Village. When I was young and stupid I would buy the tiny one-serving bags several times throughout the season. Last year I finally got smart. Buy the larger bag once, and just make sure you ration them out. I take out a few, wrap the bag back up, put it in tupperware and hide ’em. Gotta stash them away so that the husband can’t track them down. One larger bag now lasts through Easter. Woo hoo.

Mini-eggs are rich milk chocolate coated with a sweet candy shell. They’re shaped like little robin’s eggs, speckled and all. I’m not a huge chocolate fan. I usually would choose Swedish Fish, Cinnamon Bears, or Jelly Belly’s over a chocolate bar. However this is a great chocolate treat that I can never turn down.

Oddly enough, Hershey’s does not have a page devoted to Mini-Eggs. Just this fun Easter basket filler. Good thing I’m not the only one who loves these treasures:

Girl Scout Cookies Time

Posted on February 26, 2008 by chatty

The niece is a Brownie, and so this is the second year in a row we’ve purchased cookies for her Troop. Last year it was about eight boxes. This year, we reduced, to six.

Missing from this photo: a box of Tagalongs, which I brought to the office. Tomorrow I’ll bring in the Samoas. Must share the sugar and calories with as many people as possible.

thank you card from emily via chattycha on flickr

Meanwhile, this bit from ICHC made me LOL …

And the Oscar goes to …

Posted on February 24, 2008 by chatty

Well why would I spoil it for you? Truth be told, the only nominated movie we saw this year was “Michael Clayton” and we watched that on PPV about four days ago. But if you were curious to know what classic Hollywood food we ate to commemorate the evening, it was beef stir fry.

And then there’s dessert. I’ve been meaning to test out the new silicone muffin tins I received for Christmas (if they are made from silicone, they aren’t really tins anymore, now are they). I’ve been carrying around a grocery list for the ingredients of “Lemon Cream Cupcakes” for some time now, though each time I mentioned them to the husband he would look like he was going to throw up. So today I recycled that list and started new … Banana Cupcakes with Amaretto Buttercream. It was the amaretto that made the decision for me. Great excuse to pick up a bottle of my favorite liqueur.

Really great and fun to make. I don’t make frosting very often. And, after seeing the ingredients I combined to make the Amaretto Buttercream I remember why. I had a sugar headache for 20 minutes after finishing my cupcake. But my, does it make a difference. What makes a banana cupcake a cupcake, and not a banana muffin? It’s the frosting, stupid. As the “too cool for school” kids at Cupcake Royale are known to say, Legalize Frostitution!

(banana muffins)

(banana cupcakes!)

Valentine’s Day. Sweet!

Posted on January 26, 2008 by chatty

Just a day or two following New Year’s everything in the local grocery store turns red for Valentine’s Day. You could moan and groan and curse Hallmark for the commercialization of love, or you could just go with the flow and pick up some heart-shaped cookies. I chose the latter.

Last week, I tried a berry jam-filled cookie from Ambrosetti. It wasn’t actually filled as much as it was spread. Delicious:

Then, last night, the husband and I shared this indulgent treat (always tastes better when you can share it with someone you love), also from Ambrosetti:

Why wait for February 14? Enjoy one tonight.

A Cupcake Cake is better than just regular cake

Posted on January 12, 2008 by chatty

Got the email that there was a Happy Birthday cake outside Scott’s office. You can’t wait too long to take the photo, because cake waits for no one. This was a swell cupcake cake (don’t know the official title, though I’m sure Cupcake Takes the Cake has a title for it). Anyway, half of it was chocolate, the other half was vanilla. There’s nothing like some refined sugar and flour to really wake you up on a Friday afternoon. There’s also nothing like a sugar headache to make the day go much s-l-o-w-e-r.

Visit this tasty Web site

Posted on January 1, 2008 by chatty

Cupcakes Take The Cake features cupcakes from around the world.

They also list cupcake bakeries around the U.S., including our local cupcake eatery in Seattle, Cupcake Royale.

Now, I am most definitely known to enjoy a cupcake from CR when I’m hanging out in Ballard, however I must admit. The CR folks. They show a little bit of attitude. Not really needing that with my sweet treat. I’m just saying.

Yum. Cupcakes. Considering I received new muffin tins for Christmas as well (not really tins … it is the new silicone baking stuff) … perhaps perfecting the homemade cupcake could very well be my other new year’s resolution.

For 2008 I resolve …

Posted on January 1, 2008 by chatty

… to perfect the art of a good pie crust. I thought I was getting good at it. But I’m a bit rusty, and the evidence below clearly shows I am not living up to my potential:

What brought about the pie baking in the first place, you ask? For Christmas this year the husband gave me the Waitress DVD. We watched last night, and I loved it just as much as I did in the theater. Plus, the film makes you want to bake pies. Of course, the pie I baked in my mind was WAY better that what you see here.

So, my new year’s resolution will be to improve upon my existing pie-making skills. Preferably using our Cuisinart rather than the pastry blender (I am blaming technology on my poor baking skills. It couldn’t possibly be me. I mean, really.)

Gingerbread Shanty-town

Posted on December 28, 2007 by chatty

We built our own little Hooverville (insert jokes about New Orleans, post-FEMA). Gingerbread is a misnomer, since really the sis used graham crackers held together with a water/confectioner’s sugar mix. Mom, Emily, Aaron and I built this little neighborhood. Any idea which is mine?

Ta-da!

Pork and pumpkin

Posted on November 30, 2007 by chatty

I do wish I had remembered to pull out my camera before the husband began carving. This is a pork loin, brined for several hours, then infused with garlic. It was some amazing flavor in there. We enjoyed it with a side salad.