Follow Me on Pinterest The Cupcake Files: January 2012

Friday, January 27, 2012

Grape Kool-Aid Explosion Cupcakes

About 10 years ago Dairy Queen had a blizzard that was called a grape kool-aid explosion.  It was vanilla ice cream mixed with grape koolaid and grape poprocks.  DQ offered it for ONE season and then never offered it again :o(  It was AMAZING...So these cupcakes are my take on that blizzard.  For the recipe venture over to the "sweet recipes" tab.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Dinner 1/25/2012-White Chili

White chili with smoked paprika garlic bread.  Want the recipe?  Check under the "savory recipes" tab.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Dinner 1/23/2012

Roasted pork loin...Once finished, slice and spoon white wine reduction over, for the recipe look under "savory recipes" tab.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Cinnamon rolls...In your waffle maker!

 Cinnamon rolls seem like they take FOREVER to bake, not anymore.  It takes 1-2 minutes to make them in your waffle maker!!

What you need:
1 can of cinnamon rolls
waffle maker

Open up the can of cinnamon rolls and place on in each section of your waffle maker.  Close and lock the waffle maker, in 1-2 minutes you have cinnamon rolls.  When they are finished, drizzle with the icing the cinnamon rolls came with.  If you like caramel, you can use premade caramel cake icing (delicious).  Put the icing in a bowl and microwave for 15 seconds then drizzle over your cinnamon roll waffles!  Your kids will LOVE these.  They are quick, easy and delicious.  These are also great for a dessert, with ice cream on top.  Enjoy!

Beach themed cupcakes

 These are vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing.  Check out recipes for both the cake and icing under the "sweet recipes" tab.

I used Americolor good coloring gel to color the icing, then I used a round decorator tip to pipe it on.

For the sand, I used graham cracker crumbs and a little brown sugar mixed together and sprinkled on the icing.

The shells and starfish are made from white chocolate.  I melted down a bag of white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, then poured the chocolate into a plastic mold.  Put the mold in the freezer for 10 minutes then removed the starfish and shells from the mold.

To get the color on the shells and starfish, I used petal and luster dust.  This can be found in any cake supply store.  I picked out colors that I thought would make the shells and starfish look realistic.  Brush the petal and luster dust on with a small paint brush.  Set on the cupcake and you're done!  These look really complicated but are SUPER easy, anyone can do it!

The chocolate molds can also be found at your local cake and candy supply store.  If you are having trouble finding them, send me an email and I can pick some up at my local store and will be happy to sell them to you.  They are $2.50 each.

Make your own cake mixes!

I love baking from scratch, almost all of my cakes are from scratch...However, the convenience of a box mix is hard to turn down.  So, I've started making my own "from scratch" cake mixes that I have on hand at all times.  Basically, it's all the dry cake ingredients, sifted together, put into a gallon sized freezer bag, with a label that states what cake the mix will make and lists the measurements of the wet ingredients that need to be added. 

I bake A LOT, I have a few cakes and several dozen cupcake orders each week.  So every Sunday night when I have some free time, I make up these cake mixes so when it comes time to bake all I have to do is dump the mix in a bowl, add the wet ingredients and bake.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Make and design your own tile coasters!

For step by step directions and materials needed look under the "Crafts" tab.  These coasters are unbelievably easy to make and a lot of fun!  They also make great gifts!!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Snowball cupcake

Classic snowball cupcake, check out the recipe under the "sweet recipes" tab.

'Smores cupcake!!!! Yummy!

If you want to create this confectionery masterpiece check out the recipe and directions under the "sweet recipes" tab.  Don't forget to join my blog so you can get in on the giveaway I have going on!!  Thanks for looking!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Check out step by step directions under the randomness tab

Wanna give this look a try, check out step by step directions under the randomness tab.

Dinner 1/16/2012

Louisiana Sirloin with a blackened creole butter, roasted garlic rosemary red potatoes and steamed broccoli.
For the recipe check out the "savory recipes" tab.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

New look plus check out my giveaway!

Check out what I used and how I used it to get this look, under the "randomness" tab...Also, don't forget to check out my giveaway that I have going on...You could win free MAC makeup just by following and joining my blog!

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

When I reach 100 followers I want to do 2 giveaways, each with a prize.

The first giveaway will be a makeup contest.  Send me a photo of yourself showing off your makeup skills, and with a list of products used...In the photo you will need to hold a piece of paper with the date and your first name/screen name on it.  I will post the winners picture! 
The prize for this giveaway will be your choice of 2 MAC eye shadows.

The second giveway will be for my bakers!  Send me a photo of a cake or cupcake creation that you are proud of.  Include the recipe used...In the photo please include a piece of paper with the date and your name.  The prize for this contest will be 4 decorating tips, ten 20 inch disposable decorating bags, assorted sprinkles, cupcake papers and 3 americolor food coloring gels.

A random winner for each giveaway will be chosen when the giveaway closes.

The contest will start the day I get 100 followers and will close 2 weeks after that day.   When the contest starts, I will give an email address where all pictures can be sent.

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!!!

Make your own doughnuts

 It's super easy and your kids will have tons of fun creating their own.

What you will need:
1 can of biscuit dough (not the flaky kind)
vegetable oil for frying in a skillet
biscuit cutters (or round cookie cutters smallest size)
Chocolate for melting
powdered sugar
cinnamon
granulated sugar
Sprinkles 

Slightly flatten each biscuit then with a small cookie cutter (I used the cap to the bottle of oil, lol) cut a hole in the middle of each biscuit...Don't toss those holes, fry those last for doughnut holes!
Heat your oil on medium, drop each doughnut in, fry for about 30 seconds on each side (until each side is golden brown, watch out, they fry VERY quickly and burn easily)
Lay then on a paper towel lined plate.

Glaze 
1/3 cup butter (melted)
 2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 -6 tablespoons hot water
Mix together in a mixing bowl and dip tops and bottoms of doughnuts.
Chocolate icing
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 tablespoon heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
Melt together and stir.  Dip tops of doughnuts in.

Mix 2 cups of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon in a paper lunch bag, brush doughnuts with melted butter...Put doughnut in paper bag and shake.



Saturday, January 14, 2012

Homemade butter



This is fun for kiddos to do as well, they will love making their own herb combinations.

You will need:
heavy cream
Mason jars
a few glass marbles (optional)
your choice of herbs (optional)

Fill each mason jar half way with heavy cream and drop 2 marbles in each jar (if you don't have the marbles that's ok, just shake a little longer).  Shake vigorously for 10-12 minutes  
The cream will go through several stages...Whipped cream, stiff whipped cream, then the liquid will desperate from the butter (buttermilk, ha!).  Once the liquid has separated shake for 2 more minutes.  Open the jar and pour the liquid out and add 3 tablespoons of ice water.  Shake for 30 seconds.  Repeat this, with the cold water 2 more times. 
Drain all the liquid from the jar and put your butter in a bowl.  You can add your own herbs in.  I like adding in roasted garlic and chopped rosemary.
With a fork combine the herbs.  You can either return your butter to a jar or put your butter on wax paper and roll up and refrigerate.  

I use homemade butter for everything!  It's great alone on a slice of bread...The herbed butters are great for making garlic bread and mixing it in with some pasta, for a quick lunch...and I love using unsalted homemade butter for buttercream icing.

Blueberry streusel muffins

Blueberry streusel muffins.  Check under the "Sweet recipes" tab for the recipe!

Dinner 1/14/2012

Chicken salad on croissants
If you'd like the recipe, check it out under the "Savory recipes" tab.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Dinner 1/12/2012

King ranch chicken and individual pineapple upside down cakes...Yum!
If you want the recipe for the king ranch chicken, look under the "savory recipes" tab, If you want the recipe for the pineapple upside down cakes, look under the "sweet recipes" tab.


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Dinner 1/11/2012

Creamy chicken and artichoke pasta!
For ingredients and directions check out the recipe under the "savory recipes" tab.

Check out the Randomness tab!!

Be sure to check out the randomness tab, I will be posting all things random there!  Including makeup and hair tips and makeup looks!

Hi!

Welcome to my blog!  It is still very much a work in progress but I will be updating and working on it daily, so please check back!  Check out my "about me" to read a little bit about me and what this blog will be about!