Thursday, August 20, 2009

Real Men Of Genius

I know, this is completely non-baking/cupcake related. I just thought this is an amazing piece of art.

I came across something incredible in my stroll through the internet.  I found this picture of a Portrait of Jimmy Carter by Octavio Ocampo.It was a gift from José López Portillo the President of Mexico. This was presented to President Jimmy Carter in February of 1979.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies. No Wait... M & M Cookies... No... Walnut White Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Picture it, this morning, my kitchen, eating cereal. I look in my pantry and see a pile of an idea. So I says to myself, I says "What could I make out of this mini mountain of goodies?" I search through my recipe book and came across this: I can make sort of an Everything-but-the-kitchen-sick cookie. Then I get started on softening some butter. I had a little bit of dark brown sugar left over so I used that up with a little light brown sugar.La La La, finishing my cereal, drinking some tea, just about to mix all the base ingredients.. La la la... WAIT A MINUTE..... I can't just make an M & M coconut walnut toffee mini chocolate white chocolate chip cookie!!! That's just irresponsible, it can't be done. I have the dough all mixed up, now what?I actually saw the light bulb turn on above my head just then. I decided to split the dough three ways and make three different kinds of cookies, ALL FROM THE SAME DOUGH!!! It's insanity!!! My first cookie creation I'll use walnuts and coconut....and white chocolate chips!! YES!Into the oven, OH hello there engagement ring!For my next cookie trick... M & M's!! These pink M & M's were left over from my 30th birthday. My Mother had them made. Duchess is a nickname my parent's good friend Danny gave me when I was little.The dough looked too pretty to add anything to it, so off it goes to the oven!Ok.. last cookie.. what to do.. what to do..... what would the guys over at Apple, Inc. do? They'd keep it simple and sexy.... are you thinking what I'm thinking????? Walnut mini chocolate chip! It's crazy, but it just might work.LET'S DO IT!! The dough looks so good do I have to bake them?.... (fine)Like the Three Caballeros, I give you

Coconut Walnut White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pink Duchess M & M Cookies
and Walnut Mini Chocolate Chip CookiesWhat we've learned here kiddies, is that you can take any basic cookie recipe and fold in a bunch of yummy and pretty things from the pantry to make some destructively tasty cookies.

Monday, August 17, 2009

They Eat Cupcakes In Laguna Beach?

Sunday brunch was spent with my fiance and my wonderful parents by the beach in Laguna. Margaritas, ocean views and fun! While walking along we came across this little shop.

Flowers, cupcakes AND gifts?!?! That's my kinda place!
How much is that cupcake in the window, ruff ruff. (wait.. what?)

I love the mini cupcakes!!!

Red Velvet Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting: A Bakers Ultra Challenge


My sweet little Nephew turned 2 last week, and had a party on Saturday that I made red velvet cupcakes for! I borrowed this recipe from Martha Stewart. I'm sure she doesn't mind. Any cream cheese frosting will do, but you can't have my recipe! They turned out amazing! The only thing I'll do differently to this recipe next time I make it is add about a tablespoon more of cocoa powder.

Here was challenge. The cupcakes were for Saturday and I didn't have time to make them Saturday morning so I planned to make them Friday night after work. Friday rolls around and it turns out that I had to work late. I panicked a little and started to call around to find a bakery that could have 2 dozen red velvets ready to be picked up the next morning at 9am. After all the laughs I got, you would have thought I was Don Rickles!

I only had two hours to run home, make cupcakes and make it back to work by 10pm. I live on the other side of town. I left work at 8pm and managed to fight the Friday night dinner traffic, make 2 dozen cupcakes, chop a ton of veggies for a veggie platter, then fight Friday night bar and club traffic and made it back to work by 10pm. It's amazing what you can do in two hours as long as you have A) a boyfriend to talk you of a ledge while you drive like a jerk to get home to do everything and listen to you complain about how typical it is that you have to work late on the one night you have something really important you have to take care of, and B) a better attitude after talking with said boyfriend/miracle worker.

Here is the murder scene in my kitchen after that whirlwind.



It was a little disturbing that the batter looked like ketchup.

They of course turned out beautiful!

It was a good thing I made those sunflower seed butter cookies to bring to the party as well.

My Nephew had a guitar rock n' roll theme for his party, so I found these cute little guitar toppers on Shop Bakers Nook.

This one was mine.

I shared it with my fiance.

Not bad for slapping these together in less than 2 hours!!