Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder..."I Did it!"

I did it, I conquered, fear with this one.......I'm so jazzed. This cake pan and I have always had a love, hate relationship. For those of you who may wonder where I got this mold. It is from Wilton, it is the Panda Bear mold.
I have had it for a few years now and disaster has always struck when ever I have tried to make this cake.
Maybe I'm learning to be more patience........Baking in cake molds like these can be very hard to judge. It also needed more cake batter than original recipe called for.
To test to see if cake was done, I used a bamboo skewer.

Success.!!!!! Cake is done after baking 80 minutes.

Cake is now cooling & I'm trying to keep from being anxious.

"TA Da!!!!!!!!!!"

"I'm a Proud Momma Bear"

I admit, I knew this was going to be a challenge but the fact that I now conquered this particular mold, makes me want to face and pursue other FEARS, I've had in the past with baking.

"Another Step forward"

I again enjoyed and relaxed reading "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" by Joanne Fluke. This is the 1st book in this series. And through out the holidays, my family has reaped the benefits of some great cookie recipes..........

My next adventure........."Blueberry Muffin Murder" again by Joanne Fluke

Special note:

I don't know how anyone could serve this cake but it makes a cute centerpiece for perhaps a baby shower.

"Look what I got!"

"Look what I got!" a Cupcake baking pan/carrier. I didn't think I would get it before Christmas, but here it is........Check it out.
I ordered it from Joy Baking
I had to send in 2 UPC bar codes from any pack of Joy Ice cream cup/cones. And a check for $15.50 (that included postage)
This offer expires in June 2006 or while supplies last.
I think it is pretty cool............
Each set includes a metal baking pan which holds 14 cones and a 2 piece plastic covered carrying case. You do need to use their official order form.

I just love it............."Cupcake anyone?"

I'll make cupcakes with my Lemons....Thank you!

Why do people get so sour at Christmas time, with all these sweet treats around?????? "Here eat a cupcake, you'll feel better!"

What I started to do and what I ended up doing where two different things.
I seem to be stuck on Lemons since making that "Killer Lemon Meringue Pie" I wanted to do something that was like a Lemon Poppy seed muffin, yet still a cupcake.......
I looked in several different cookbooks but just could not find some thing that fit what I was really looking for.......So I decided....holding my breath..... to make my own recipe......".Cupcake Gods are you with me on this one?"

"This is a first for me"

"Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes with Double Topping Frosting"

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

3 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 t. Vanilla Paste (extract is O.K. too, I just happen to love this stuff)

1/4 fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 Tablespoon Poppy seeds

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluff; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.

Add flour to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour, Mix after each addition. Stir in Vanilla and Lemon juice.

Fill cupcake cups with batter about 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20 to 22 minutes. Cool in pans for 5 min. then cool on wire racks.

One Pot Lemon Filling

In a double boiler, combine all ingredients

1T. grated lemon rind

1/4 cup fresh squeezed Lemon juice

2T. water

1 cup sugar

1/4 butter (not Margarine)

4 large eggs, lightly beaten, before putting in double boiler

Cook over boiling water, be patient, this will take about 15 to 20 minutes.

So make this while baking cupcakes. Stirring constantly, or until thickened.( To test to see if the filling is done, place a spoon in the filling, if it comes out coated like melted ice cream, it is done.) Remove from heat and place on a cold burner for a few minutes, then refrigerate for about an hour. If you over cook this.... it will be lumpy.......

White Frosting

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1/2 milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 cups powdered sugar (you do not have to sift)

Cream butter at meduim speed with an electric mixer. Combine milk and vanilla; gradually add sugar and milk mixture alternately to butter, beating after each addition.

If your frosting is on the stiff side, a great trick once all the powder sugar is incorporated, is to turn your mixer on high for about 6 to 12 minutes.

This adds a lot of air to the frosting making it much lighter.......Most people

are to hasty when making their frosting and it is to heavy, you do this....And I promise people will notice a difference.

To assemble:

Put a light coat of Lemon filling on top of cooled cupcake and then decorate over the top of lemon filling with the White frosting.

Sprinkle with chopped Almonds if desired..........

One very Bad mistake I made, when decorating these, I decided to sprinkle poppy seeds on top as well...........Don't do this....it looks like little gnats are in the lemon filling & frosting........Bad, Bad Bad!!!!!!!!

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

I am savoring each one of these books in this series with delight....By Joanne Fluke.
This pie recipe has a nice little twist to it, that I have never seen before in a Lemon Meringue Pie. Add 1/8 cup of Lime juice is genius.........
It actually mellows out the tartness of this luscious Lemon Pie.

So with Sergei, my cockatiel perched above me watching, we went to work making the pie, I think we did pretty good.
At least we had fun doing it.

I am now looking forward to reading the first book in this cozy read.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.
Since I've finished early today, I think I will start reading it tonight..........

A Cupcake with the Spirit of Christmas

If this doesn't jump start your Christmas Spirit, nothing will......
With my XM satellite radio set to Holly and Christmas music playing in the background. I was very excited to get started on making these cupcakes.

Yum...."Eggnog Cupcake with Bourbon Caramel Cream cheese Frosting, courtesy of Cupcake Bakeshop by Chocklit!"

"Thank you"

My son Jason, always looks forward to the holidays because of the fact Eggnog, one of his all time favorites, is readily available.
But Eggnog cupcakes............This is over the Top!!!!!!!!!!!!

The whole house sounds and smells so festive......The fresh blanket of snow we got last night just adds to this wonderful Christmas scene.

This cupcake was a perfect, unexpected gift, but definitely a keeper for many, many, Christmas' to come.

"Happy Holidays Everyone!"

Follow up of Chocolate Pyramid Cupcakes and Silicone molds....

The cupcakes were really quite tasty. And it has been requested that I give them another TRY!!!

I realize that this was my first attempt, using a silicone mold and this one does happen to have an unusual shape.

So with this in mind. Here is a list of things I will do differently.

1. I would cream the butter with the sugar before adding the dry ingredients (perhaps) then the batter will be smoother
2. Cool cupcakes completely in the mold, at least 1 hour.
3. While cupcake are still in the mold, I would hollow them out and fill with Chocolate Mousse and refrigerate till firm for at least 2 to 3 hours.

I feel that if I do these simple steps, the cupcakes will be easier to release from the mold and not want to come apart.

Because of the triangular shape, the top of the cupcake while still slightly warm, wants to split off.

So by letting them cool completely, I believe they are more likely to come out easier.....

I plan on testing this theory at the beginning of next month.

Hey Cupcake Gods, I could use a little Help here!!!!!!

Some days, (more like I'm feeling Dazed) theCupcake gods are not with me. But I do think I still made a pretty good save, considering every obstacle that was thrown my way.

Silicone molds....You can have mine.......Lucky for me, I only needed 3 Chocolate Pyramid cupcakes, that I was making, from The Artful Cupcake book.
I do like this book, for the reason, they do challenge me. And I do consider this cupcake to be a delicious Indulgence.
But........I really wanted this to be a special dessert......a prequal to Christmas.

It seems, I have stumbled and fallen into my Christmas spirit this year.


The first thing I noticed was the batter was grainy and not smooth, like other cupcake batters, I have used in the past.
"Put butter in with dry ingredients in bowl of electric mixer and blend well."
O.K........Call me, weird, but of all recipes I've read over time, I just have never seen one quite like this.
I was so thrilled to have found this mold in the King Arthur Flour Catalogue. www.bakerscatalogue.com. I could not wait to use it.
But the truth is....I will never, use a silicone mold for baking ever again.
I suppose, I could use it to freeze things into this shape............No !!!!!!!!!!!! I am done, done, done.

The pictures I have, are not quite like the one in the book, but like I said before

Good Save

Oh well.................. it is the Holiday Season and the Cupcake Gods are busier than usual.......

Celebrating Our first Winter's Snow

We woke up this morning to our first Winters' snow.

How beautiful, calm and quiet it was .

It snuck in during the night and was not expected.


Perfect day for baking cupcakes.

I decided it was time to say good-bye to Fall and hello to Winter, with this combination of Applesauce cupcakes, with carmelized apples (Fall) and Snow Flake paper cups. (Winter)
This a very ooey, gooey and messy cupcake.

The recipe can be found in "The Artful Cupcake" by Marcianne Miller. I do think this is one of the best cupcake books, I have found.

With the house full of wonderul aromas coming from the oven and the apples with carmel cooking on the stove.

This should make everyone feel warm and cozy when they arrive home tonight.

Strawberry Shortcake Murder

I've just finished reading Joanne Fluke's "Strawberry Shortcake Murder"

I don't seem to be reading this series in the proper order but it really doesn't take away from the mystery nor the fabulous recipes. (I find, I'm always trying to sneak a peek to what the next great recipe is going to be.) Which only adds to the fun.

These books really do keep the reader in suspense from beginning to end. I recommend highly to all fans of culinary mysteries.

I also can't seem to resist trying to copy the book jackets either, this is a perfect dessert to serve at your next murder/mystery dinner.

Shark Bites

The San Jose Sharks, acquired "Super Joe" Thornton, this week

With a 10 game losing streak, I am happy to see the S.J. Sharks take some action.

Short and Sweet, just like a cupcake should be, I felt it was time to show my team spirit.
This inspiration comes courtesy of Clare Crespo (www.yummyfun.com) from her book Hey There Cupcake!

I keep every thing very basic with this cupcake. Including the Whipped cream frosting.

For the Shark fin I shaped the fin using Almond paste and black food coloring.

The San Jose Shark picks can be purchased through www.babykakes.com

Go Sharks

www.sjsharks.com

Special note:

The San Jose Sharks have won 5 games straight

"Make that 6 wins!"

The streak has ended.....but it was exciting while it lasted.