Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ever since the Paper Source opened around the corner, I have probably been in there over 100 times… actually more like 500 but that’s besides the point. Anyway, I have fallen in love with their rubber stamps and stamping accessories. I used their embossing tools to create shiny daisies on Rachel’s wedding programs. They have a Create-Your-Own-Stamp kit. I bought it and gave it a whirl and this is what I came up with….
I am going to collaborate with my sister to make Chi Omega note card sets… we will see how this works out…
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I am starting to see a lot of dessert buffets on wedding blogs and at weddings. Couples may opt for a smaller wedding cake, then fill a table with smaller desserts. This is great because guests have a choice of sweet treats! I really like the dessert buffets that Melody Brandon from Sweet & Saucy in Long Beach, CA does. Below are a few pictures of her dessert buffets.
The desserts with the sticks are cake lollipops (similar to cake balls!)
Simple and elegant!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Someone suggested I post recipes on my blog. So in lieu of today being my Friday (yes.. I have a four day weekend) and it being a holiday weekend, here is a recipe for Funfetti Cupcakes! Perhaps you could use red, white and blue jimmies to make them Labor Day cupcakes! I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but you better believe I am going to make some funfetti cake balls when my mixer and melting chocolate comes in! The recipe is from the fun blog cakespy.com! I love the bakery-inspired cartoons on the blog!
Artwork & Cuppie the Cupcake © Jessie Oleson. All rights reserved.
Funfetti Cupcakes
Recipe adapted from Cupcakes
by Shelly Kaldunski
Makes about 12 cupcakes
For the cupcakes
- 1-1/4 cups AP flour
- 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 6 tbsp butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg + 1 egg white, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk (I used half-and-half instead)
- 2 tbsp rainbow sprinkles
For vanilla buttercream
- 2 sticks butter
- 7 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
To make cupcakes—
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line cupcake pan with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a stand mixer, fitted with flat beater, beat the sugar and butter until well combined, about 2-3 minutes. Add egg and egg white, one at a time, beating on low.
- Then add vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions, ending with the flour mixture. Fold in rainbow sprinkles.
- Fill cupcake liners about 1/2-2/3 full. Bake for about 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting.
To make buttercream—
In a stand mixer, fitted with flat beater, beat butter until creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add 5 cups of sifted powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, beat until combined. Add more powdered sugar until you get to the consistency you want.
[NOTES: I think I added about 6-1/2 cups, give or take a few tbsp, to get the consistency I wanted. If its too stiff, you can add a little more milk.]
Frost with vanilla buttercream and garnish with more rainbow sprinkles.
ENJOY!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I stumbled upon a new blog that I really like – it is by Erin Vale of Vale Designs. Her artistic style is much like mine – hence why I probably like everything she does. Another cool thing about her blog is that she posts DIY projects. Here are some address labels she’s made:
I really like them. If you are a fan of sending snail mail and jazzing up the evelope a little, here is a link to download these fun labels! Happy Wednesday!
http://www.erinvaledesign.com/DIY/AddressLabels.pdf
My research and obession with cake balls continues… here are some more pictures I found on the internet!
from www.banginfood.com
from www.stuffnchocolates.com
from Etsy user BrightNBeautiful
No.. they aren’t truffles, nor are they chocolate covered cherries. They are the newest fad in cake making. Tiny, chocolate or candy covered bite-sized cake pieces! I’ve known about these little desserts for awhile, but never thought anything of them. Turns out, the cupcake fad is deteriorating as quickly as it started and cake balls are the new thing. They coincide with the new dessert buffet wedding trend that I’ve been seeing a lot of lately. Instead of serving guests only wedding cake, guests have a choice of a variety of cakes as well as many bite-sized desserts, including cake balls. I like them because you can make them as creative looking as a celebration cake! I’ll have to try these out once I get my new kitchenaid mixer… here are some pictures. The first picture is of some cake balls made by Cake by Bridges in Austin, Texas.
I’ve been on the lookout for good deals on kitchenaid mixers (yes I have a cakery business and I do not own a kitchenaid mixer). I’ve been using my mom’s and love it. I’ve found a couple good deals on used mixers… but today my mom told me that she has ordered the professional sized one as an early Christmas present!!! YAY!!! I am so excited!!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Saw a link for “nerdy cupcakes” and thought of my boyfriend – who BTW loves Lego’s. The possibilities are endless!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A friend sent me a link to this cake on digg.com and it has to be one of the coolest cakes I’ve seen lately. This cake wouldn’t be hard to make… just time consuming. Nonetheless, it is one of those cakes that I just had to stare at in awe for a little while.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I was organizing my pictures the other day and came across a cake I made last summer. It was a request to imitate a peruvian cake. Apparently they make a cake that has several layers of chocolate with a caramel filling… covered in chocolate frosting and dusted with coconut pieces. I did my best and this is what I came up with… I wish I had a picture of what the inside looked like – but it was pretty delicious. (And the Peruvian family was very happy with the finished product)
