Thank You! (cupcakes)

for sticking around the past couple of weeks while I packed up my life and moved halfway down the East Coast. My blogging frequency definitely went down as well, but, let's be honest, my daily blogging was not easy to maintain. Anyway, I'm settled. ish. And I've got a whole new crowd to bake for.

My first batch of VA cupcakes were requested by my mom in appreciation of her boss's big to-do over Receptionists' Day earlier this week. Since most of my cupcake things are packed and who-knows-where, I wanted to go simple on these cupcakes. I used Martha Stewart's One Bowl Chocolate Cake recipe and halved it roughly. I say "roughly" because when I halved 3 eggs, I used 2.

The batter was wicked liquid and that made for some... messy distribution.


Oops.

While the cupsters were baking, I melted some Tiffany blue candy melts and poured them into a sandwich-sized ziploc bag. There was no wax paper to be found, so I piped onto another gallon-sized ziploc. It was classy.


This is only the second time I've piped candy melts, and the first time I piped lettering. I am pretty pleased with the results.


Some of the more spindly connections broke when I lifted them from the plastic, but I did enough extras to make things work. I ended up spelling out "Thank You Victoria!" with one letter per cupcake, but I guess you could have figured that out on your own. You can see some of them in the background of this shot.


The cupcakes were a big hit in the office. When asked by a coworker for a cupcake, the recipient, Victoria, said, "Um... it's cream cheese icing. Hell no!" And then capitulated and gave her a cupcake anyway.

Speaking of that cream cheese icing, I used Cassie's perfect cream cheese again. It's fabulous and there really is no reason to use any other process. The icing, unsurprisingly paired very well with Martha's cake.

Blogger's Note: Upon review, or "preview" I guess, I realized that this post is more awkward than usual. I'm not changing it. Just know that I know. You can look forward to more coherent posts in the future, I'm sure.

Mother's Day = Flowers. Right?

I'm allergic to flowers. I know that's lame, but I am. So even though my mom enjoys them, when I'm spending Mother's Day with my mom in close quarters (say... a hotel room?) I'm not inclined to buy her flowers.

However...

There will be flowers for Mother's Day. Of the homemade sort.

Since I'm moving on Tuesday, I don't have many groceries to work from. For today's project, I used leftover candy melts to make some things that closely resemble flowers. Last night I moved my frozen pound cake from the freezer to the fridge and voila!


A Mother's Day plate of pound cake (one of my Mom's absolute favorite desserts -- hopefully this recipe passes muster!) and purple (also Mom's favorite) and orange flowers. How can this go wrong?


With the addition of this sweet heart, I submit that nothing can go wrong.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom in specific and your mom in general.

The Morning After

Ugh. I don't know about Big E and the roommate, but I am feeling a bit of a cake hangover today.

Allow me to explain why.

Last night I threw a haphazard yet killer party for my roommate and Big E. Big E fixed my computer (and earned my undying devotion) while we watched a Peanuts Valentine's special and the 2nd installment of the Grey's Anatomy/ Private Practice crossover.

Here's the part that you might care about.

We also cut the cake.

Oh... what cake? I'm sorry. This one.


As it turns out, the roommate, Big E, and I were no match for the overwhelming sugar-ness of all that red fondant. Not one of us finished a whole piece.

But didn't she cut up well?


And I managed to take a picture of a white chocolate cake truffle in slightly better lighting. Notice how the truffle is enjoying some modern art.


Such a sassy truffle.

All present for last night's celebration of Saint Valentine agreed that the cake was cute and a good effort; however, we also agreed that actually eating the cake was a bit of a struggle. Too much sweet.

I woke up this morning feeling sluggish and well...heavier than I did yesterday.

So, what can one do when suffering from a cake hangover?

Well... two things.

1. Hair of the Dog - I dumped the cake leftovers last night, but there are still quite a few cake truffles (or balls, as I lovingly refer to them) and I think I've had three so far today. Can't promise I won't have more.

2. Indulge on the Savory Side - I've decided on a menu of Celery Soup (one of Pat's Failures of the Week) and Paula Deen's Tuna Burgers.

This should do the trick.

I'm currently ignoring the third option of time at the gym. I don't think shaking the cake around is the best idea right now.