Scream! This Is Halloween

As a child, Halloween was always one of my very favorite holidays.  What's not to love?! You get to play dress up, show off your costume, get free candy, stay up late, and not do very much homework! 

But let's not kid ourselves, I still love Halloween just as much in my 20s as I did when I was 8 years old.

In addition to coming up with a wonderfully creative costume, why not take that fun and play dress up with cupcakes?  

These mummies are made of tasty snickerdoodle cake with buttercream dressings wrapping them up.  Creepy eyes are M&Ms and ghoulish mouths of red sprinkles.  

Halloween is unique because each year we have the opportunity to make it different than the year before resulting in limitless costumes and countless cupcake designs.

Happy Halloween!

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Pumpkins scream in the dead of night  

This is Halloween, everybody make a scene

Trick or treat til the neighbors gonna die of fright 

It's our town, everybody scream

In this town of Halloween

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The Chocolate Cupcake

I know exactly what has been bugging you for the last two weeks relentlessly...You just can't settle on the absolute PERFECT recipe to celebrate National Chocolate Cupcake day with, right?! 

Never fear, we've got your back and you still have plenty of time to bake before the clock strikes midnight on October 18th, 2011!  

Chocolate cupcakes can come in many different ways, bedazzled with nuts and peppermints, dressed up with a cocktail accompaniment, even paired up with peanut butter.  But for such an important holiday, let's keep the chocolate pure!  

So in honor of National Chocolate Cupcake day (today!), I bring you my favorite and easiest chocolate cupcake recipe, courtesy of the mighty Martha Stewart:

One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

YieldMakes 18 to 24

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons safflower oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.
2. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

What I've noticed the most when using this recipe is the batter is a bit runnier than you would normally expect.  But don't let that fool you into filling your cups more than 2/3 full because they will rise beautifully!

These chocolate cuppies were frosted with a simple chocolate frosting, dipped in chocolate sprinkles and then dressed up for Halloween with marshmellows, M&Ms and licorice whips!

Happy Chocolate Cupcake Day and happy "boo"-tiful baking!

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Fifth Avenue, 5 AM, Fifty Years

Fifty years ago on a strangely subdued Fifth Avenue with dawn creeping over the horizon, a small cast of characters were unaware that their every move was making history.  Silence blankets the set and a yellow taxi cab rumbles to a stop.  Out steps a woman who would unwittingly change the way the world looks at women.

On Fifth Avenue at 5 AM fifty years ago, the world was introduced to Miss Holly Golightly.

Holly was never quite what you would expect her to be - an idealistic young woman wanting to make it in the world with her wholesome ideals, yet paving her way in the big city as a call girl or an "authentic American geisha" as Truman Capote lovingly referred to his lead character.  She dared to wear black in a time of florals and lace.  She exposed her shoulders while her towering up-do exuded a high society girl.  As we followed Holly home that morning and saw her scattered lifestyle of barely scrapping by, women the world over learned how to be fabulous on a budget.

Holly became a professional at chasing out life's trials by seeking solace in the superficial, while showing us that that is perfectly alright.  

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds? 

Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues? Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? Paul Varjak: Sure. Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name! 

My real life place is in fact Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Fifty years later this iconic film is still relevant and Audrey Hepburn remains inspiration.  

Nikki "Golightly"

I've dressed as the daring, darling Holly Golightly for several Halloween's, as has my dear friend Nikki.  So for her birthday one year, we needed to make sure we kept away the mean reds and make it a celebration to remember!

Since we couldn't very well march downtown and demand that Tiffany & Co. let us camp on their floor with cake, we had to make do with what we could.  Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream were dolled up in their Tiffany's best for a night on the town.

The very first gift I received packaged in that little blue box with white shiny ribbon was a string of pearls from my grandmother.  Every time I wear them (whether black gloves and a tiara are involved or not), I feel a little more carefree and a lot more "Golightly."

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Granddad's 80th Birthday!

After a brief hiatus (things got crazy busy at work!), I'm back to the blog.

Last weekend we celebrated my Granddad's 80th birthday with the family.  I know most people don't like to brag about their age, but how can you ignore such an important milestone of a birthday?!  You have to wear that like the badge of honor it is!

If I am lucky enough to live to 80, I hope that I can look back at my life and see even a fraction of the accomplishments that Granddad has to his name.  

Naturally for such a momentous birthday, the cake had to be as equally fabulous as him, in both flavor and design.  I spent several days trying to come up with the perfect flavor, which is not easy when you're baking for someone should have a master's degree in chocolate chip cookies and whipped cream!  After much deliberation and outside consultation, I landed on......

Kahlua Mudslide (Kahlua + coffee + chocolate)!  I don't know if I can come up with a better flavor combination!  The cake was filled with a Kahlua coffee buttercream and finished with a Kahlua chocolate ganache.

From beginning to end, this recipe was a delight to make.  I'm particularly proud of my egg whites (see action shot below) if I do say so myself!

First coat of the yummy Kahlua chocolate ganache.  Can you tell where this cake is heading yet?

Granddad's 757 jet cake was covered in fondant and then brushed with shimmer powder mixed with Kahlua to give it that lustrous silver shine!  And why not add more Kahlua to this cake?! 

No we didn't make him blow out 80 candles...that may have been a fire hazard, or led to passing out ;)

Happy 80th Birthday Granddad!!

By the time we were done cutting up the cake, it looked like a scene out of LOST...well if you squint your eyes and pretend there's a beach and smoke monster...

I think it's safe to say that the whole family had a blast celebrating Granddad and left the party a little fatter and happier after cake :)

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Thomas and Friends

If you were ever a kid, know some kids, babysit kids, walk past kids on the street, then there is no doubt in my mind that you know who Thomas the Tank Engine is.  Both of my cousins who are now 21 and 17, my brother who is 17, and even now my little cousin age 4 loved/loves Thomas and Percy and Sir Topham Hatt.  They had the videos, the railroads, the trains, the backpacks and pretty much anything that was manufactured with that cheeky little engine's face on it.

The really incredible thing to think about is that Thomas first appeared in story books in 1946!  Reverend Wilbert Awdry originally created the tank engines as wooden toys for his son Christopher.  From there he wove elaborate stories at bed time staring the wooden toys.  Awdry's wife encouraged him to write the stories and thus The Railway Series was born.  It wasn't until 1976 that rights to the stories were secured for television and did not debut in Britain until September 1984!  What makes Thomas and his friends so endearing, so lasting, something every generation wants to keep watching?  If you figure it out, let me know!


Thomas' round face naturally lends itself wonderfully to cupcakes and what better way to beat out William's third birthday Sesame Street cupcakes?

We made simple chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting tinted in different colors.  Railroad tracks were fashioned out of fondant and the tanks were painted Nilla Wafers.

Not to brag or anything, but I'd say the cupcakes were a hit!

Happy 4th birthday William!

PS - Now taking suggestions for the big number 5 birthday for William in November...after all, how do you beat George, Sesame Street and Thomas?!

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Pay It Forward

Earlier this week I was coming out of a Starbucks drive-thru and attempting to take a left hand turn onto a busy street with no stop light.  I groaned inwardly as my hopes of actually making it to work on time became slimmer and slimmer.  I waited maybe a minute before a semi-truck came barreling down the busy street and stopped to let me go.  Not only did she stop, but she checked her mirrors and waved me on when there weren't any other cars coming in the other lane.

I chose to go through the drive-thru that day because I didn't have the extra two or three minutes to park the car, get out, go wait in line, order, make small talk with the barista, grab a sleeve for my hot cup, unlock the car, get in, start the car again and drive.  

Our "fast food" mentality has conditioned us to expect what we want, when we want it and separated us from the everyday human interactions that keep us grounded.  The truck driver that took a moment to let me turn maybe didn't think twice about it, but it put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.  

The smile I had on my face going into the office definitely gave the work day a sunny tint and kept my spirits up.  I wanted to pass along that feeling to someone else, and what better way than to bake the happiness right into a cupcake?

My friend Ansley has been living abroad in Spain and returned home for a few short weeks before moving to the east coast for law school.  When she emailed me to ask if I could make some cupcakes, of course I said yes!  It was a sunny summer day in Seattle and happened to coincide with Seafair weekend (which means lots of boats, the Blue Angels, Hydroplane races and generally lots of chaos).  For a yummy treat to top off a good old fashioned BBQ, I opted for fresh strawberry cake, whipped buttercream and more fresh strawberries on top!

Putting a smile on someone else's face (even a stranger) is something that is well worth taking a second of your time.  And if everyone took the time to pay it forward? Well there would be less road rage, more kindness, less stress, and more happiness all around.

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Lemonade Stands

Yesterday was National Lemonade Day and really what is more indicative of summer than a child's lemonade stand? The makeshift table, hand scratched sign, chintzy pitcher and paper cups, not to mention the jar of change filled with the promise of popsicles and dime store toys - it all smells of summer.

For a BBQ one year I made pink lemonade cupcakes and they were a huge hit! But it got me thinking, what better compliment to a lemonade stand than a sweet treat you can wash down with an ice cold glass of fresh squeezed lemonade?

These cupcakes used a traditional white cake recipe with frozen pink lemonade mix added in. Toss in a hint of red food coloring and they come out of the oven a warm rosy pink. For the frosting I decided on a light lemon buttercream also colored a pale pink to match.

To offset the sour I added some sugared lemon candies and a final touch of whimsy with a bendy straw! Just be sure you get some paying customers at your lemonade stand before you and the kiddos devour the tasty treats!

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Aww, Cupcake!

Yesterday was one of my favorite people's birthdays - Miss Megan, otherwise known affectionately as Cupcake :)  So in honor of her 26th birthday, here's a look back at the yummy treats from her 21st!

These cupcakes were the always classy Funfetti flavor with vanilla buttercream (sorry no rainbow chip frosting here!).  Neon food coloring was used to make the fabulous colors and of course a "21" candle was placed on top!

Cupcake blows out her cupcake candles!

Cheers to making it to 26 - a whole five years after your infamous 21-run!  And for those of you who were hoping of a rehashing of the epic evening, well cupcakes are as far as we're going. :)

Birthday girl keeps it classy at 26 after winning
fake mustaches at trivia
(Image credit goes to Megan)

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One Week to Go!

I can count on one hand the very best friends I've had throughout my life.  Depending on the time in life, the friendship may have begun over the swing set, the lunchroom table, freshman orientation, summer camp, first job, first roommate or completely by happenstance.  For the life of me I cannot remember how Danny and I met.  We lived a floor apart in the dorms at Seattle University, but he was a business major and I ran around the halls of arts and sciences.  Perhaps it's what I don't remember that is the most significant however.  I don't remember the time where we were getting to know each other, I just remember us always being the closest of friends.  And one week from today, I get to watch him marry the woman of his dreams.

I'm lucky to have Danny as one of my best friends, but perhaps even luckier to know Marisa.  She is a wonderful person inside and out and I couldn't be happier for the two of them!  

But before the happily ever after can start, every bride needs to be sent off into matrimony in style -- oh yes, the bachelorette party!  Now, I won't go into details except to say that we had fantastic time ;)  And as for the dessert?  Well the shots are censored (let's keep this a family show after all!) but let your imagination do the work... 

Pink champagne cupcakes gave the illusion that we were attempting to keep it classy.

The pale pink cupcakes were topped with a champagne buttercream frosting for a delicious finish.  The pink toppings were molded out of Wilton candy melts in vanilla.  My favorite part were the hot pink zebra print wrappers!  

The most important thing to remember when baking with champagne is to not use anything French or spendy!  Lower brand bubbly will often come in half size bottles which is better when you only need a cup or two for your recipe.

You could easily adapt these cupcakes into a less girly event by leaving the food coloring out of the batter or changing the color.  

We had a wonderful time feting the bride to be and she was absolutely glowing all night long.  Saturday, August 13th is the big day and I can't wait to see the happy couple!

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Wanna Rock 'n Roll

What's better for an AC|DC singing, rock 'n rolling 17 year old's birthday?  An electric guitar of course!  So why not one you can eat?  For my brother's 17th birthday I already had the hard rocking design in mind, but still needed a flavor.  When I asked him, the last thing I was expecting was the answer I got -- strawberry and chocolate?!  Not exactly a rock and roll flavor, but one of the most delicious cakes I've ever made!

Fresh strawberries are the key to this recipe - there were over two cups of chopped, super fresh berries in this cake.  Using a template I created out of cardstock, I carved each layer of cake into the guitar, using the leftover pieces to build the rest of the cake.

The whole cake was frosted with a vanilla buttercream (since the birthday boy doesn't like fondant).  In between the layers was a delicious chocolate chip fudge filling.

I did manage to use some of Wilton's new sugar sheets (the blue) for decoration in lieu of fondant in some places, but didn't have enough to do the whole thing! And I'm a convert,these sugar sheets are just about the easiest things to use in the world!  All of the knobs and buttons and whatever else they are called were molded out of  mini Tootsie Rolls.  The strings were simple gel frosting, though I would have liked to use black licorice strings.  Who would have thought those would be difficult to find?  An FYI, Safeway (at least my local one) doesn't carry them so plan ahead!

What I love the most about this cake was how easy it really was from start to finish.  A basic recipe gets a fresh twist with berries and the cake was insanely easy to assemble.  Next time I'll use fondant for a more polished look and make sure I have those black licorice strings on hand!

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