Happy Birthday - Round 2

Remember Thomas the Tank Engine from last year? Mary-Ann orders a few dozen chocolate cupcakes for her son's birthday. Got to love loyal customers. Buttercream frosting, thank heavens the event was indoors!

What's the Big Deal Anyway?

They are all craze. I mean, c'mon they sell them at the Starbuck's inside Safeway. If that doesn't scream mainstream, I don't know what does. I thought I'd give them a try.



Haha. So I get it now. Easy to make. Easy to eat. Easy at the waist. Easy to transport. Easy to store. Great for kids and adults. What's not to love?

I went a little crazy and made another batch two days later..

Purple Velvet

Believe or not, I am a filipina. I was born here in the states, and my Tagalog is equivalent to that of a 5 year old. Ok, maybe a 3/4 year old, but you get the picture. I grew up eating mongo, pancit, adobo, and of course, ube. Ube, is a purple yam, and is a staple in Filipino cuisine that can be prepared as part of a savory or sweet dish. It can be found in glass jars drenched in syrup, in the frozen food section, or you can find it fresh at any Asian grocery store. Ube ice cream is one my favorites. Sometimes for merienda, it is scooped into a pan de leche roll. YUM! I thought, why not an ube cupcake? Here goes ...

My First Wedding Tasting

I happened to be catering cupcakes the same day Greenfish served lunch at LinkedIn. Mina, who happens to be the sweetest person ever (you really would have mistaken her for a fallen angel) asked if I would be interested in catering a wedding with her. UMMM, HELLO? ABSOLUTELY! I was jumping in my skin. Calm, cool and collected, "Sure." We exchanged cards and that was that.

I met the lovely couple at local coffee shop in Noe Valley. I asked them how they met and I think my heart melted and poured out onto the table. I really wanted to be a part of their special day. We talked pricing, quantity, deposits and decorations. It was hugs all round before we left to continue on with the rest of our day. They said they would be in touch. Pretty stoked.

It's Raining Babies at Zynga

Project Mayhem: LinkedIn Orders 150 Cupcakes

Thomas the Tank Engine

ten hours later...




The final product: 36 chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting.

I made fondant!

You'll have to excuse me. I'm a bit excited.

Who would have thought fondant could be so easy? And tasty?

Thanks to Bake at 350 no one will have to buy that crummy premade stuff from the store ever again.

16 oz. bag mini marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs. powdered sugar (sifted well)
Crisco

1. Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
2. Pour in the marshmallows and water in the bowl. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
3. Reserve about 1/4 c. powdered sugar. Place the rest of the powdered sugar in the large bowl of a standing mixer.
4. Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco.
5. Pour the melted marshmallows onto the powdered sugar.Beat until a dough forms. There will be lots of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
6. Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all loose bits. Grease hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
7. Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
8. Once smooth, keep white until ready to use. Coat the fondant in a light layer of Crisco and wrap in plastic wrap

This stuff can be stored up to two months at room temperature.

Happy Decorating!

Seahorses, Gater Bites and the Best Pesto Mac and Cheese

Le Bistro Montage

Basil Macaroons

Two Tarts Bakery

Portland's Waffle Window

The Waffle Window

Berry Picking on Sauvie Island

Shane and Keena's Amazing PBJ Food Cart

PBJ's Grilled

Julnette's Big Day

8:30 am.

I woke up, hopped in the shower, straightened my hair and made my way out of the house to pick up some fresh gerber daisies for the cake. The florist on Quintara and 19th saved my life - he had exactly what I was looking for in stock. I came back to the house, bundled the cupcakes in batches of three dozen with rope. Packed my car with the cupcakes, cake, business cards, cupcake toppers, my spatula knife and extra frosting just in case, the bridesmaid dress, shoes, makeup, and curling iron.

11:30 pm.

I arrive at the wedding reception venue.

Noon.

The cake table is complete. Pop the bubbly...

My Ten Hour Baking Marathon

I have been preparing for this moment for the past six months. My internship at Satura Cakes, having completed that five week cake decorating class, and all those batches of red velvet cupcakes including the sixty-something cupcakes for Karla's bridal shower have me feeling confident.

Ingredients - check
Cupcake liners - check
Cupcake boxes - check
Piping bag and frosting tips - check
Old, beat up t-shirt - check (red velvet gets messy)

It is noon, let the bake-a-thon begin.

With one oven and four baking trays, my strategy was to rotate two at a time and mix the batter somewhere in between.









3:30 pm - I finished baking all 156 cupcakes and one two layer 8" round.

By 10 pm, the kitchen was clean, the cupcakes were frosted as well as the cake, beading and dowels included.

Time for bed.