Practice makes perfect..........or at least keep trying

I have never,been one for flower designs, I think it really has been because I have allowed myself to be intimidated...............But that seems to be changing.
I loved practicing with the melted chocolate to make these leaves again.
I guess practice does make perfect, and I will continue to do so................
A simple design, that gave me such pleasure to make. Under the leaves is a simple yellow cupcake.

The vase was bought at TJ Max/Home Goods in San Jose.

Have your Cupcake and Coffee too!!

Have your cupcake and coffee too.........Life just doesn't
get any better.............
O.K. Maybe it does........... But, I sure do like this combination, these are Cappuccino Cupcakes and very good.................MMMM's
I also tried making the coffee cups on top, free hand, with melted chocolate.
The pastry bag got hot, so I wrapped a dish cloth around it. It took me awhile to get the hang of the design but with a little practice, I started to feel more confident. I have a feeling these will become a regular favorite around here.

Cappuccino Cupcakes

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup instant coffee granules

1/2 cup hot water 2 eggs

1/2 cup prune baby food (yep prunes)

1/4 cup canola oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Topping:

1 1/2 whipped cream

2 Tablespoon sugar, whipped into cream, slowly

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Dissolve coffee granules in hot water.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs, baby food, oil, vanilla and coffee mixture. Stir in to dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill paper lined muffin cups two thirds full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire racks to cool completely.

For a simple topping just before serving, frost cupcakes with whipped cream.

You may even want to sprinkle a little cocoa of top.

Makes about 18 cupcakes

Checkerboard Cake

I came, I conquered, I am, NOW!!! Queen of my most feared cake........... "The Checkerboard Cake" and with no special pans either......................
For anyone else who has ever wanted to make this cake without going and buying one of those specialty designed pans..................
Here it is:

"Checkerboard Cake"

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

3 cups cake flour, divided

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 square (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate,

melted and cooled

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Red liquid food coloring

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Yellow liquid food coloring

Frosting

6 Tablespoons butter, softened

6-1/2 to 7-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided

5 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened

chocolate, melted and cooled

3/4 cup milk

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Grease three 9 inch round baking pans, set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine 2-1/2 cups of cake flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk.

Divide batter into thirds, To one portion, fold in melted chocolate and vanilla. To second portion, fold in 1/4 cup flour, almond extract, 3-4 drops red food coloring. To third portion, fold in lemon extract, 3-4 drops yellow food coloring and remaining flour.

Spoon a ring of chocolate batter around edge of one prepared pan; spoon a ring of pink batter inside chocolate ring and fill center with yellow batter. Spoon a ring of yellow batter around edge of second pan; add a chocolate middle ring and a pink center. Spoon a ring of pink batter around edge of third pan; add a yellow middle ring and a chocolate center.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the enter comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing pan to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a mixing bowl, cream butter and 2 cups confectioners' sugar. Beat in melted chocolate until smooth. Add milk and vanilla.

Beat in enough of the remaining confectioners' sugar until frosting achieves spreading consistency. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

This cake comes out, nice and moist and will satisfy most sweet tooths'

Special note: I did use a pastry bags to pipe my batter into pans, to insure that they would come out more even.

This recipe was found in a "Taste of Home" magazine

Blossom White Chocolate Cheesecake

This cheesecake is the perfect ending to any meal............I have always had trouble making chocolate leaves but I so wanted to make this for a friend of mine for Easter.

At first I got a little intimidated but I am finding with some patience, I can accomplish what it is I am trying to make................I use to let myself get so frustrated, but patience does seems to be the key.

Even thou not all the leaves came out perfect, I looked out to a tree in our backyard and realized, there is no such thing, it adds to the character of the cake......................... I am quite pleased and I hope my friend will enjoy this creamy white chocolate cheesecake.

I found this recipe in "Taste of Home's Cakes for all occasions", It has some really gorgeous cakes, of Elegant Classics and family favorites that I can't wait to make.

"Easter's Here!"

This is the first time I have ever done anything with Fondant, I wanted to keep it simple, just so I could explore, the texture, taste and feel of it. I did find it is easy to work with..........a lot like play dough.

I made the bunny's heads.............. Next time I will now know what to expect and am looking for a project to expand on...................

I also have a new Easter song that I would like to share. My girlfriend has the most adorable grand daughter named Taylar, she is so precious............She bought her a stuff bunny rabbit that plays this catchy little tune called "Easter's Here!" and I can't get this song out of my head, it is so cute.....................

"Happy Easter to all............Enjoy"

"Easter's Here"

He must have come in early morning

He didn't make a sound

but when I looked out my back door, treats were all around.

I ran around so happily,

looking for the treats

filling up my basket with eggs and jelly beans.

"I love Easter Time!"

Pink and purple lollipops

and candy ducks and chicks

lots of chocolate bunnies

and jelly beans too

"Easter's here!"

I am so glad

"Easter's here!"

Oh Yeah!

"Easter's Here!"

Special thanks to Britt for writing out the words for me..................I will have to get a picture of Taylar with the Bunny rabbit, when I see you this weekend..............Love you

Cherry Cheesecake Murder

Joanne Fluke has done it again.................I loved this book, "Cherry Cheesecake Murder", the Hannah Swensen Mystery Series, I believe, is one of the very best cozy reads, there is..............And the recipes, if you'll excuse the pun, are "to die for".

The Cherry Cheesecake is one of the best tasting Cheesecakes, I have ever had. The recipes in all the books are so easy to follow and the results are always perfect.

I have grown so fond of all the characters in this series that I know I will miss them all till the next book.

What ever great recipe Joanne Fluke does decide to go with in her next book, you can bet. I will not be to far away............... Ready with my mixer in hand.

Chocolate-Covered Hi-Hats Cupcakes

Ever hear of Hi-Hats?........................I had not till I bought, this book, "Cupcakes" by Elinor Klivans.

These are a Chocolate Cupcake with a large mound of a soft marshmallow filling under a coat of chocolate.
These remind me of the chocolate covered marshmallow cookies you find in the grocery store, like a Moon Pie "only better!"
Sounds like they are very popular in New York.

I never would have attempted to make these........Why?................Because I have a fear of making Seven Minute Frosting, and now, I should say.............. I had................... But with the extra sugar and the techniques that Elinor Klivans uses, I have now conquered this frosting.............What a wonderful feeling. I am now looking forward to making these again soon, with perhaps a different variation.

The Chocolate Cat Caper

I am now beginning to read the Chocoholic Mystery series by JoAnna Carl.
The 1st book in this series is "The Chocolate Cat Caper"...........I love nothing better than to mix mystery with a nice little tidbit of Chocolate and this series does it with Chocolate Trivia...............For example, did you know? Chocolate was even linked to corporate espionage in 1980 when an apprentice of a Swiss chocolate firm tried to sell trade secrets to several foreign countries.

My only disappoint with this series so far is that I was hoping for a marvelous,Chocolate recipe. Thou entertaining, I will continue to read these books and enjoy learning various Chocolate facts...........But do have to say this book just didn't leave me craving for lots of Chocolate, the way I would have liked it too.
I did however, have great fun, finding a Chocolate Cat Mold so that I could play with melted Chocolate and create a cat that looked like the one on the cover of this book..............It is not an exact match, but no matter, close enough for me.

Time to Reflect.............

It is time for me to reflect and take inventory of myself and where I am heading with this blog...........
This all began with my inspirations of baking and decorating cupcakes, but I keep feeling like, I need

to open myself up still, to more challenging and a much wider variety of baked goods and desserts.

When cupcake mania hit, I never envisioned myself starting a blog. It really has become my happy place...........A place where my creativity is boundless.
Only, I can, hold myself back.

I have been truly blessed by the people around me who encourage me to continue to express myself and if I too, inspire some one else along the way, then I know I really have done something special and have given back in some small way.

All these cupcakes/cakes you see here are all from my humble beginnings

"NOW for the start of something new!"............................