BTAB

wanted - baking project

2012-10-29T08:26:00.002+10:30

so I'm back into baking ze cupcakes in a big way. Sorry I've been lazy and not taken any photos.

Which, I have to be honest, is a pity. I been doing the best baking - cupcakes are great and frosting yummy. My piping skills improving and I'm even getting over my dislike/fear of fondant.

But there are only so many cupcakes I can feed my work colleagues.

I need a project. Wedding, cake stall, something I can donate cupcakes to. I don't want to waste this baking mojo I got going.

Tomorrow I am unleashing 'the missile'. It's the cupcake that I would give to James Magnussen - come on Rio 2016!

What's in 'the missile'? Chocolate orange cupcake filled with an orange caramel. Frosted with peanut butter mousse buttercream.

Give away tiiiiiiiiiime - Book One

2012-05-25T06:07:00.000+09:30

I've got a little something for ya.

I have 4 cupcake books to give away. Why? I felt like it. And i want to keep motivated to bake.

Books will be sent randomly - so please don't ask me to send you a particular book.

Now, the details. I've been sitting on this for a week or so because I wanted something a little different to the usual leae me a comment.

So for Round One I am inviting people to tell what their favourite cupcake recipe is, and most importantly why. The entry that catches my fancy will be sent a book. I will also bake and post the results.

You have until 8 June 2012 to flick me an email.

And... GO!

2012-04-21T18:10:00.000+09:30

Welcome back to me!

I am back baking.

You may have noticed that I have changed the name of the blog and I have been quite ruthless with old posts.

The downside - I can no longer eat any of the cakes I bake due to my health. But that hasn't stopped me.

I have been been baking once a week. I would love to bake more but time makes it hard and my work colleagues complain about their waistlines.

So please join me as I make my way through an every growing list of cakes/cupcakes to bake.

Special Legal Counsel Cupcakes

2011-06-27T21:18:00.003+09:30

I felt really bad that Special Legal Counsel missed out on the cupcakes I baked for him specifically last week. So I dropped off two for him this morning.

Apple cupcakes with a drop or two of some pink lady apple juice. The tartness of the apple juice helped make the cupcakes so fluffy. I filled the cupcakes with caramelised apple pieces (granny smith apples). Of course apple and custard go well together. This custard buttercream was light, not doubt from the added attention to the butter and extra whipping of the buttercream as the custard was added.

The custard wasn't discernable to me in the buttercream. Not quite sure how I would make it stronger. Will have to think on this.

Bake for a mate - Macadamia Coconut cupcakes

2011-06-20T18:09:00.005+09:30

Last week the local radio station ran a "bake for Your Mate: event. Great idea I thought. So I baked these for one of the lawyers at work who has been really worked hard by our area the last couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, he set the cupcake down at morning tea and he blinked and missed them! So I will bake for him again. Obviously me being me, I never bake the same cupcake twice. Thinking thinking thinking what I can bake for him.

These cupcakes were macadamia and coconut cupcakes.

Filling is coconut and coffee ducle de leche.

Dressing is White Chocolate Coconut ganache with macadamia nut brittle as the accessory.

The dulce de leche and the brittle made from scratch. No recipe. Hoping I will be able to reproduce in the future if I feel the need.

Lumberjack Cake - New Zealand Women's Weekly Way (with my twist)

2011-05-19T22:02:00.001+09:30

I really felt like lumberjack cake. Can't explain why. Especially when it's been over 3 years since I had lumberjack cake.

This was a bit of different recipe from most lumberjack recipe with the addition of the dried apricots, which add that little za za zoom to the cake. My little twist was using palm sugar instead. Hmmm I wonder what buttermilk would be like with the caramel?

The best part about this cake is that it is meant to be eaten a couple of days later.It's dense and moist. Perfect cake for the coming winter days.

Slice of this with double cream and a cup of tea. Thanks, I will.

New Zealand Women's Weekly Lumberjack Cake

2 Granny Smith apples, diced

1 cup dates, chopped

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

1 tsp bi carb soda

3/4 cup boiling water

1 cup sugar

125g butter

1 egg

1 1/2 cups self raising flour, sifted

1 tsp vanilla essence

TOPPING

60g butter

1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded coconut

Method:

1. Grease or line a 24cm cake tin.

2. Combine the apple, dates, apricots and bi carn soda in a pan and cover with the boiling water. Bring the pan to the boil. Turn off the heat and stand until cold.

3. Preheat oven to 180C.

4. Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla essence in a large bowl until light and creamy. Add the egg and beat until well combined.

5. Fold the flour and the fruit mixture alternately into the creamed butter.

6. Pour the mixture into the cake tin. Bake in the oven at 180C for 40 minutes.

7. While the cake is baking, combine all the topping ingredients into a saucepan.Stir over a low heat until the butter and sugar have melted.

8. Remove the cake from the oven and spread the topping evenly on top of the cake.

9. Bake for a further 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

10. Cool the cake in the tin on a rack before serving.

Um, yeah I still alive

2011-04-25T21:02:00.007+09:30

Hullooooo

Gosh its been over a year since I've baked. Outrageous.

I had a hankering for cake. Remember this mess?

Here is my second attempt. Worked out much better.

Have you tried it yet?

I am thinking a white chocolate champagne cupcake with same same marshmallow frosting as my next baking project.

I NEED to get back into baking yeah?

Wedding Cupcake Tower

2010-03-13T23:31:00.001+10:30

And here is all put together. I was happy.

And loved the table settings and the flowers arrangements - green is not appreciated as a flower colour.

Great wedding - the bride sang to the groom. Tired feet. Sleep now.

Baking again soon.

Carrot Passion cutting cake

2010-03-13T23:26:00.002+10:30

I decided to do a cutting cake for the happy couple. I had no idea how I was going to decorate the cake as the florist had told me that green cymbidiums are not in season until June.

It was pure luck that these orchids were at the florist on my way home last night!!! (Side note - I have an exciting project in the works. Hopefuly it will come together!)

The cutting cake it also carrot passion cake.

Had to be.

Carrot Passion Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:22:00.000+10:30

I wanted to make a carrot cake befitting for a passionate couple.

This is soooooooooo good. I figured adding two p's - pomegranate and pistachio would up the passion in the carrot cake. I soaked the currants in orange juice.

The carrot cake itself is really really (it is not your 'healthy' carrot cake). But totally fitting to have on a special occassion - like a wedding.

I want to say it again. So good.

Love Chai Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:19:00.000+10:30

I played around with my Love Chai tea. This was a mud cake. Not sure chai works as a mud cake.

Filled with Dulce de leche.

Chocolate Cupcake

2010-03-13T23:18:00.000+10:30

Yes I made the obligatory chocolate cupcakes.

Custard Passionfruit Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:15:00.000+10:30

Flavour number two for the wedding - custard passionfruit cupcakes with white chocolate buttercream.

Custard.

Passionfruit.

Nuff said.

Gluten Free Lemon Cupcakes

2010-03-13T23:06:00.001+10:30

Ay yai yai. A couple of burnt finger tips and numerous cans of spray paint later the day my girlfriend's wedding finally happened. The theme was lime green and silver. I think I managed to coordinate everything well.

The cupcake stand? Made (thanks dad!).
The organza flowers? Made!
Cupcake flavours? Decided! Five flavours.

I don't care what anyone else says, baking in these 'cupcake' cups is hard. Not a big fan. I mean, yes they look good. But it is so much easier and I think the cupcakes cook and look so much better in the traditional paper liners.

These are gluten free lemon cupcakes.

Raspberry Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting

2010-02-18T23:35:00.000+10:30

I've made cupcakes using jelly crystals before (remember these or these?- using different recipes (from memory).

I've been meaning to make these ones for a while and I finally stopped making excuses and made them for a morning tea at work.

The recipes is from Taste. I added raspberries (as you can see) and added lemon rather than rosewater to the meringue, and I didn't do the crystallised rose petals as garnish. Meringue is great. I wasn't too bowled over by the cupcakes. But then perhaps I shouldn't have put them in the fridge ......

Raspberry Cupcakes Rose Cupcakes (from Taste)

125g butter
1 packet of raspberry flavour jelly crystals
2 tbs sugar
2 tbs milk
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour, sifted
1/4 cup plain flour, sifted

Preheat oven to 180. Line 12 (1/3 cup capacity) muffin tray with paper cases.
Use an electric beater to beat the butter, jelly crystals and sugar in a small bowl until pale and creamy. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in half the combine flour and milk. Stir in remaining flour and milk.
Divide the mixture among the lined pans. Bake in oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until the skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean. Set aside for two minutes to cool before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Rose Icing

1/2 cup water
2 tbs water
1 egg white
1/2 tsp rosewater essence

To make the rosewater icing, place sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium high. Simmer for 2 minutes or until syrup thickens and reaches 'soft ball stage'. Use an electric beater to beat the egg white in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Pour the syrup over the egg white. Beat for a further 3 minutes or until the mixture is cool. Beat in the rosewater essence.
Spread the rose icing evenly over the cupcakes.

Craft Project 1 - Organza flowers

2010-02-06T23:59:00.006+10:30

Really can't say too much about this project other than these contribute towards something bigger.

Theme - silver and lime green.

Green cymbidiums orchids not in season until June. Too late.

Solution? Make organza flowers.

What do you think?

Jelly Belly Baby Shower Cupcakes

2010-01-23T18:16:00.008+10:30

Here are the cupcakes for the baby shower. Again, I tinkered with the recipe and I really wasn't as happy with these as I was with the ones on Monday.

STICK TO THE RECIPE!

I was told purple and jelly beans for the cupcakes. So I got some gourmet Jelly Belly jelly beans. Hello - expensive.

It is so hot today - scorching, that while I thought the buttercream was 'stiff'', it really didn't matter because it just softened in the heat. And no we don't have air con.

I tried to pipe flowers - begonias actually but they didn't quite come off.

Just got to keep baking I guess.

And I am a working on valentine cupcakes. I am determined that chocolate will not be a flavour. So over chocolate with valentines day.

My sister and single girlfriends will be celebrating our fabulousness as singles by going to see Valentines Day on Valentines Day. Hello Bradley Cooper. Pity we got to also see the Jessica's in that movie as well.

Behave! Sunflower Cupcakes - not quite

2010-01-20T19:06:00.002+10:30

I made coconut cupcakes with lemon white chocolate cream cheese frosting for friend at work who is off to Darwin for 6 months (maybe longer). Lucky beyotch. Darwin. But that is another story.

I wasn't all that happy with the cupcakes. And as for the frosting. It just wouldn't behave. It wasn't 'stiff' enough and pretty much melted the moment I started trying to pipe sunflowers. Even though the lemon white chocolate cream cheese frosting didn't behave, it was magically delicious.

After 6 melted sunflowers, I decided to just pipe swirls. Not very patient.

Some of the cupcakes had a lemon cream surprise.

I really should stick to a 'recipe'. I am always altering what is either tried and tested. So really, I shouldn't wonder why no batch of cupcakes is ever the same.

To be a stickler for details.

First Cupcakes of 2010

2010-01-18T18:54:00.001+10:30

First batch of cupcakes for 2010! Purple cupcakes were vanilla and yellow ones were lemon.

How I've missed you cupcake.

I really enjoyed baking - why did I stop?

We didn't have any milk so I made do with other ingredients and wow - dare I say better than using milk? Just added that something something to the cupcakes.

These were practice for a baby shower next weekend.

Contender for best carrot cake recipe ever

2009-04-12T22:18:00.006+09:30

I can not recommend this carrot cake recipe that I stumbled upon in this issue of Coles Magazine enough. Everyone I know who has tasted it has helped themselves to at least 2 slice whenever I have baked it.

Here is the recipe from the mag.

Carrot Cake

2 carrots
1 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup golden syrup
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence

Icing
250g spreadable cream cheese
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Method
Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease a 20cm (base) round cake pan lightly with oil, and line with non-stick baking paper. Peel and grate the carrots, and set aside. Sift the flours, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon into a large bowl.
Put the brown sugar, oil, golden syrup, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl. Use a balloon whisk to mix until combined.
Pour the oil mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to stir gently until just combined. Stir in the grated carrot.
Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 1 hour. Set aside for 5 minutes, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the icing, place the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
Spread the icing over the cake

Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Coconut Ganache

2009-03-21T22:18:00.003+10:30

Chocolate cupcakes. Nuff said.

Gluten White Chocolate Rosewater Cupcakes with White Chocolate Coconut Ganache

2009-03-21T22:12:00.004+10:30

I always like to make sure I cater for everyone so made gluten free white chocolate rosewater cupcakes. Amazing how many people have a gluten intolerance.

White Chocolate Lemon Cupcake with White Chocolate Coconut Ganache

2009-03-21T22:07:00.003+10:30

These are White Chocolate Lemon Cupcakes.

Caramel Lychee Cupcake with White Chocolate Coconut Ganache

2009-03-21T22:00:00.000+10:30

I offered to make cupcakes for to be served as dessert for a friend's wedding today. I made 4 different flavours but being lazy I frosted them all with white chocolate coconut ganache that had just a hint of lemon in it.

These cupcakes are caramel lychee.

Don't you love singpore orchids? As you can tell I went all out withe decoration as well.

Caramel Banana Mud Cake with goey chocolate caramel ganache

2009-03-16T21:53:00.002+10:30

Caramel Banana mud cake with ooey gooey ganache. The ganache was an accident - it just didn't want to set for me. Not that it was a bad thing.

The cake was moist and dense and so tasty. I limited myself to two small slithers but I saw people have up to 3 slice of it.