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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Bunny Cupcakes

I know Easter was over a month ago and that means I probably missed the prime time for this post, but it is ok, I don't mind.

This was actually the second time I made these cupcakes.  The first time for some reason I never wrote a post about them.  I don't know why?  I must have had a 'Mommy Moment'.  I am use to those.  I am starting to get use to them, but I digress.  So, here is my first time making them two Easters ago.


Very Cute!

I just made simple yellow cupcakes, nothing too fancy.  The icing is buttercream tinted pink.  The bunny itself is just a rounded teaspoon of white buttercream.  The ears are very simple.  There are just two slices of marshmallows.  Now, the website I got the idea from dipped the ears into pink sugar crystals, but I didn't want to do that.  The eyes are tiny cupcake hard sugar decorations and the whiskers are writing gel.

I thought I would pretty much do the same thing again.  Why do I always think things will be easy the second time around?  Will I ever learn?  Nope I guess not.  Here is Number Two...


As you can see not the same.    For whatever reason the icing DID NOT want to work with me to make the head of the bunny.  So, I had to improvise with what I had.... marshmallows.  Each bunny is made from two slices.  One full slice is for the head.  Then I cut one in half to make the ears.  I do have one tip here.... Your everyday kitchen shears will work great, but just have a damp paper towel handy to wipe the blades once in awhile.  They will get very sticky.

I have done some other things recently, so I have lots more to share.

Until next time..... Happy Baking!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

White Chocolate Cake

A couple of weeks ago was my hubby's birthday, which gave more then enough reason to bake a cake.  My initial plan was to use the cake pan that I bought Valentine's Day, but he didn't want me to do use it.  So, it was to Plan B.  (Why do they need to make things difficult?)  Anyway, off to think of something else.

With it only being three of us, I didn't need to make anything too big.  I decided on a two-layered round cake.  Since he isn't to fond of regular chocolate, I decided to make a White Chocolate Cake instead. I was able to find a recipe on one of my favorite sites allrecipes.com.  Here is the link to the recipe if you would like to check it out for yourself... http://allrecipes.com/recipe/white-chocolate-cake/detail.aspx .  The recipe also has the how-to to make a icing, but I didn't use that.  Because hubby really like white chocolate mousse, I decided to try something with that instead.  There was the hard decision to make in whether or not cover the whole cake or not.  After some thought I decided to got with just a layer of mousse in between the layers and on top of the cake.  It was just enough icing for the cake.


Mmmmmmm!

The cake itself is bit more dense then most cakes I have made, but it was not heavy and sit in your stomach.  It did look like a regular White Cake, but definitely had the light chocolate taste to it.  And of course the best thing about the cake was the birthday boy loved it.  That is all that matters, right?

Until next time.... Happy Baking!


Sunday, February 26, 2012

Valentine's Cake

I know Valentine's was almost two weeks ago, but this is the first chance I got to write about the two cakes a made for that day.

About a week and a half before Valentine's day, a teacher at my daughter's school asked me if wouldn't mind if I would think of something to make for her and her husband for Valentine's day.  Of course I was more then happy to think of something for them.  This wasn't very hard because I was already eyeing a new toy I wanted, but had no reason to get it.  Now I did.

I wanted a pan that Wilton made that allows you to do this......


I couldn't wait to try the pan out.  I decided to make a trial run before the final product.  The final cake I would be making was a chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse and buttercream icing.  Something I thought that would have a very nice contrast.  But, for the trial this combination would not work because hubby isn't too fond of chocolate.  (I know... How dare he?  Everyone loves chocolate!)   So,  I needed to come up with something else.  Also, I didn't want to do the same old same old.  After thinking and surfing the web, this is what I cam up with..... Applesauce Cake with a Apple Mousse.

The trial was a 50/50 success.  The cake it self turn out great.  It is a little heavier then a regular was is fine.  If you like to try is for yourself here is the link http://www.marthastewart.com/340985/applesauce-cake .  I am not a big fan of Martha Stewart usually, but this was good.  The Apple Mousse.... well not so good.  The taste was great, but the texture was something to be desired.  It ended up being more like a thicker applesauce then a mousse.  Because of this, it made it interesting putting the cake together.  I was able to, but in the end the cake ended up soaking in much of it.  So, when I cut into we had a hole in the center of the cake rather then a nice filling.  Oh well!  Live and Learn!

The final cake came out much better.  L and her hubby were very happy the cake.  I only wish I could have gotten a picture to share with all of you, but she forgot.  (It is ok.  It just gives me another excuse to use the pan again.)

I have a few other things happen these past few weeks, but those are for other posts.

Until next time....... Happy Baking!


Thursday, February 2, 2012

Apple Streusel Muffins - Part II

As some of you may remember I had made apple streusel muffins just a little while ago.  They had turned out overall very well, but I thought I needed to make some improvements.

The biggest thing that I felt needed adjusting was the filling.  I felt there needed to be much more and it needed to be more solid.  Here is what it looked liked the first time.....


Not bad, but could be better.

Now here it the improvement......


Better?  I like to think so.

What I did was use a brownie bite mold from Wilton.  The main purpose of the mold is to make 24 bite size brownies.  I instead froze the apple cinnamon filling in it.  I feel that the mold worked great.  My only fear was getting the filling out of the mold, but because it was silicone I was able to easily pop them out.  The one thing I must remember is to put the mold make in the freezer while a batch of muffins is baking.  Even though I kept the mold in the refrigerator the filling started to soften up a little too much. 

The extra filling I feel added to the taste of the muffin.  Also, with doing it this way I think the kinds of filling are endless.  The basic muffin mix can stay the same, just chance the filling and the topping.  (I think I may of just added another item I can sell.)

I did experiment with Strawberry Muffins, too.  But, that is whole another post.  

Until next time...... Happy Baking!


Sunday, January 29, 2012

Apple Streusel Muffins

In the past two weeks I tried two new things.  Both are a little outside my comfort zone.  I was a little hesitated about doing this, but was very excited at the same time.  I decided to try my hand at muffins.  Overall, one was more successful then the other.

The one that had more success was the Apple Streusel Muffins.  I found the recipe on allrecipes.com  several  months ago, but never had the real desire to try it until now.  (I can't lie.  My first thoughts about it was it had too many steps to build the muffin.  I was lazy in the beginning.)  I am very happy that I tried it out.  They tasted really really good.  If you want to check it out here is the link..... http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-streusel-muffins-2/detail.aspx .

YUM-YUM!

Everyone that had one thought they were great.  I even have to admit they were good. I had only one complaint..... there needed to be more filling.

See what I mean?

This one wasn't too bad, but some also needed the filling to be more throughout the muffin.  While talking with my husband after each of us taste testing them.  He suggested about freezing the filling before putting them in the muffins.  I thought that was great idea.  Then the wheels really started turning for me. (I was told he could almost see my brain working with a million ideas.)  After talking out loud, saying random things, and not standing still it finally hit me.   I could use a mold to put the filling in until in harden then just drop them in the muffins.  So, the search began for the mold.

My first thought for a mold was a cake pop mold I came across a few weeks ago.  The original mold was only six and much deeper then what I really needed.  I thought this would work, but I ended finding something even better.

Much better!

So, I have already made the filling and put into the mold and in the freezer.  Later today I will be making as many muffins I can.  I promise to let you all know how things turn out.  (Oh no! This might mean two posts in one day!  Who would have thunk it? Ok, to be honest the post will probably be tomorrow after more people taste test them.)

Until next time...... Happy Baking!








Tuesday, January 17, 2012

French Toast Casserole

Some of you may remember that I work in retail during my spare time.  So, the last 2 months have be rather crazy for me.  I was working 6 days a week.  I use to have off just about every weekend, but that became non-existent.  When I had off on the weekends I tried to make a nice breakfast one of the two days.  Ok, most of the time it was just pancakes and sausage because that was all my daughter would eat. Now that I have my weekends back, I want to get back into making breakfast and also baking something.

This weekend I decided to make a French Toast Casserole.  The picture had me sold from the beginning.  

What do you think?



I got the recipe from Betty Crocker.  If you would like to try it for yourself here is the link.... http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/french-toast-casserole/72f6a15c-4dd1-4682-ad2a-bb8bdea3f9f4 .  

Now, I am sorry I forgot to take a picture of my version.  I know I deserve a flogging for my mistaken, but I hope you all forgive this time.  I think mine looked very similar except for the nuts.  I am not big on nuts.  

Ok, I need to stop making it sound like it was prefect because it wasn't.  I know hard to believe, but it is true.  I also know I am my own worst critic.  I always will be.  Overall, it turn out good.  There just needs to be a few adjustments next around.  The first thing I need to do is let it come to room temperature before putting into the oven.  The next is how the bread is arranged in the pan.  The overlapping caused the covered parts not to be cook.  I am thinking the solution to this is to use a bigger pan and lay all the bread flat instead of overlapping them.  I know this will use less bread, so I know I will need to make an adjustment to how much batter is used.  I am thinking next time will be better.  I promise to let you know when I do this and take pictures too.

Until next time...... Happy Baking!!!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Red Velvet Cupcakes

In my last post I had told you that a dear friend's birthday was coming up and she wanted red velvet for her cake.  This weekend was the first trial run of a recipe.  I thought I would start with a recipe from someone whom I believe is the epitome of Southern cooking.... Paula Deen.  I did not have to look very far on her website to find a recipe.  This is the one I used..... http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/red_velvet_cupcakes_with_cream_cheese_frosting/ .  I found it to be a very easy recipe.  I would honestly recommend it to anyone who is an amateur baker.  There is a few more things about it, but I will get to them in a minute because I know all of you want to see the cupcakes.  I know it is the only reason anyone reads my blog is to look at all the pretty pictures.  It's ok.  I don't blame you.  I love looking at things I wish I could eat too.  So, no more stalling.....

YUMMY!

Well, what do you think?  I know looks great and it was good too.

Ok, now onto some of the other stuff about the cake.  I will be honest I have no idea what a red velvet cake should taste like.  I have had it before, but I will admit I thought it was a bit dry.  These cupcakes to me just tasted like any cake.  It did not have any real distinct flavor to it.  The birthday girl tried and thought they were ok.  They were good, but not what she was looking for.  After some discussion, this version is not exactly what she is looking for in the cake.  So, it is back to oven for me.  I have a recipe from one of my favorite websites... AllRecipes.com.  There is a few tweaks that I will need to make, but I think it will work.  Of course, I will let you know all about it when I make them.

Until next time...... Happy Baking!!!




Friday, January 6, 2012

A New Year.... A New Beginning

It is a new year and I finally have an idea what other posts I want to make besides letting you know about my baking adventures.  I am planning on writing about different baking topics.  This topics could be about recipes, baking techniques, baking tools, or just fun ideas I come across.

This one is going to be a little mix of both.  

A very good friend of mine is turning 40 this May.  She is already starting to make plans for it.  She wants a red velvet cake for the party and of course she thought of me.  Why wouldn't she?  Well, we talked about it and she has a few requests about the cake.  They are simple things, but for me they could be a challenge.  Even though I have had made red velvet before, it is still a little foreign to me since I didn't grow up in the South.  So, for the next step I need to start looking for recipes and try them out.  My first try-out will be this weekend.  After a suggestion from B, I found a Paula Deen cupcake recipe.  The picture makes it look so good.....

Can't wait to try it!

Don't worry my faithfully readers..... I'll will let you all know about how they turned out and how they look.

But, this whole thing got me thinking.  I never heard of a red velvet cake before I moved to Texas.  I had no idea what it was.  A cake that was red?  I know I know you could make a cake any color with the magic of food coloring, but this wasn't a colored white cake.  It was its own thing.  Then it made me think.... 

What other desserts, sweets, and pastries that are out there that I never heard of because they are a regional thing?  

I need to find out.  I am truly curious about this.  One way to solve this problem will be to travel around the country or maybe even the world going from bakery to bakery.  Ummmm, no.  Not really a feasible idea.  (Very nice thought, though!)  Ok, I guess I can go with option 2.... surfing the web.  This will be my next step.  I going to do some research and let you know what I find.  This is going to be fun!

Until next time....... Happy Baking!