crafting and kitchen witchin'

sling song

2009-12-07T18:12:00.001-08:00

too funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU84rDbdu8Q

ICE voting open!

2009-11-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/

Iron Cupcake earth is now open for voting!

ICE: November - Apple

2009-11-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, the apple - so fall. I have never made apple muffins or apple cupcakes or anything other then applesauce really with apple as an ingredient. Well I freakin love caramel apples. I will drive 20 minutes to the nearest mall to get a thick gooey sweet caramel apple! Yummy!

I started with this http://recipeland.com/recipe/v/Applesauce_Cupcakes_3260 recipe and twisted it up a bit.

1/2 cup butter
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup apple sauce
1 Tbs monin caramel syrup
12 caramels

Preheat oven to 375 F. Cream butter add eggs and sugar.

Sift together dry ingredients. Add to wet mixture alternately with applesauce, mixing well after each addition. Stir in caramel syrup.

Spoon into 12 cupcake pans with paper baking cups these are sticky! Drop 1 caramel into the middle of each cupcake. Bake 15-20 min.

These turned out very moist and not to sweet surprisingly. I actually liked mine best with just a touch of butter and no frosting as did my daughter. The boy child and the husband child both wanted frosting. For that i just mixed powdered sugar with the monin caramel syrup to the consistency they wanted (thick) and then poured it on.

I think if i added some nuts and used whole wheat flour and took out the caramel in the middle these would be okay for a breakfast treat.

These are the fantabulous prizes I am competing for this month.

Our Generous IronCupcake:Earth Prize Providers:
The Demy™ by Key Ingredient
Hello, Cupcake by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
Bella Cupcake Couture
Cupcake Stackers by Gourmac
The Cake Mix Doctor Returns! by Anne Byrne
Beautiful Baking Liners by Vestli House
Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Bakery & Cupcakey Supply

pictures are here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/

ICE: October 2009 Music

2009-10-18T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was so excited for a reason to bake insane cupcake combinations again. Iron Cupcake Earth is starting its second year and to kick it off the theme is music. I had too many ideas to find just 3 to nail down. Then my kids got sick and i had to put it on hold. While on hold a few other awesome bakers with fab taste baked up some of my ideas. So, I was only left with a million more ;)

The first cupcake I made is the Lollipop cupcake. Cherry cupcake with cherry glaze and a cherry lollipop. My kids love this song. Here is a cute video of a girl on youtube doing all the parts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxbhvhBtTwU

Anyhow, recipe follows

Lollipop cupcake

1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
6 TBS maraschino cherry juice
1 TBS Vanilla
1cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt

Combine wet/dry yada yada bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Glaze is
2 tbs marachino cherry juice
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbs butter.
put it in a little pot and heat until well combined - pour over naked cupcake

These are light and fluffy and not too sweet.

My second entry is "hot stuff"

There was a song when i was little called "hot stuff" and it went "i want some hot stuff baby this evening." Well, being from New Mexico I thought they were talking about chile.

Chocolate Chipotle cupcake with chocolate chipotle frosting topped with a cream cheese filled, chocolate dipped jalapeno from my garden.

Here is the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27-TM3q5-Cc

I started with the base cupcake from here
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chocolate-graham-cracker-cupcake-with-toasted-marshmallow

I made 15 cupcakes - here is the recipe i used

1 cup plus 1 tablespoons sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon red chile powder
1 large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup boiling water

combine dry, combine wet - mix together.
Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Frosting

1 stick melted butter (1/2 cup)
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp chile powder
3 cups confectioners sugar
2 tsp chocolate extract
4 TBS milk

add all ingredients and mix well

pictures here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/

The prizes this month are caaaarazy!

Our Generous IronCupcake:Earth Prize Providers:
The Demy™ by Key Ingredient
Hello, Cupcake by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
Bella Cupcake Couture
Cupcake Stackers by Gourmac
The Cake Mix Doctor Returns! by Anne Byrne

ICE: july - herbs

2009-07-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

My dad is an organic gardening fiend. He looooves basil and grows many varieties every year. I made 3 cupcakes with his basils. I used a lemon basil, a chocolate basil, and a cinnamon basil. When you walk past his basils the smell of lemon, cinnamon or chocolate is amazing.

First up

Chocolate basil cupcake

3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tsp finely chopped chocolate basil
1/4 cup room temp butter
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup red wine (especially yummy with chocolate d'vine wine)

flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and basil in small bowl.
Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl
Alternate adding flour mixture and wine/milk to large bowl
bake at 350 for approx 20 minutes

frosting

1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbs vanilla or chocolate soy milk

melt butter - add all ingredients and mix well

second

cinnamon basil cupcake

1 Cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch salt
1/2 Cup vanilla soy milk
4 Tbsp unsalted butter - melted
2 large eggs
3/4 Cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp finely chopped cinnamon basil

heat oven to 350

in small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and basil.

in another small bowl mix melted butter, milk, and vanilla

in large bowl beat eggs, then add sugar

add butter mixture to egg mixture and combine.

add flour mixture and mix until combined.

pour in muffin tin and bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

remove from pan and allow to cool

frosting/glaze

1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup)

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 Tbs vanilla soy milk

1 tsp ground cinnamon

melt butter then beat in other ingredients

pour onto cupcakes immediately while still hot

last is

light lemon basil cupcake

1/2 cup milk
2 T. lemon juice
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 t. salt
2 tsp finely chopped lemon basil
6 TBS butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon yogurt
2 large eggs

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and basil.

3. in small bowl mix lemon juice and milk

3. In large bowl, using an electric hand mixer at a medium speed setting, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and beat. Change to low and add in half of the dry ingredients, beating until combined, followed by the milk mixture. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until combined.

4. Pour the batter into cupcake cups and bake approx 20 minutes.

Frosting

8 oz package of cream cheese

2 cups powdered suger

2 TBS lemon juice

mix until smooth

These are the lovely prizes this month

Our June ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:
A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935
A delicious treat from CIRCLEMONKEY http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5335273
a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery, http://www.acupcakery.com/
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!
Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

VOTING IS OPEN

2009-06-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/

ICE: berry

2009-06-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

So far this month i have made 2 cupcakes. I was so glad to get a "normal" ingredient like strawberries. Both recipes are a bit healthier then normal. My daughter said the first one was a healthy hearty"breaskfast cupcake"

healthy strawberry breakfast cuppies

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1/4 cup melted butter

2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup blended strawberries

1/2 cup chopped strawberries

mix all dry, mix all wet, mix both together and add berries. Put in cupcake tins and bake at 375 for 22ish minutes.

we topped with cream cheese with a small bit of powdered sugar mixed in
or toasted them lightly and buttered them

white chocolate triple threat - 3 berry cupcakes

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1/2 cup mixed berry applesauce

1/2 cup strawberry yogurt

1/4 cup melted butter

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped mixed berries (raspberry, strawberry, blackberry)

2 cups white chocolate chips

mix all dry, mix all wet, mix both together and stir in berries and chips. Put in cupcake tins and bake at 375 for 22ish minutes.

topped with a fresh raspberry and drizzled with white chocolate

These are the fun prizes up for grabs this month

Our June ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:

A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH
A groovy linocut piece from BLOCKHEAD PRESS
A sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin’ Cakes Cupcakery
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice – sweet!

Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS; HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson; JESSIE STEELE APRONS ; TASTE OF HOME books; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers.

ICE - voting open

2009-06-02T19:43:00.001-07:00

http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/2009/05/ice-010savory-voting-now-open.html

ICE: Savory

2009-05-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

This months Iron Cupcake Challenge is "savory."

The first cupcake is a Hawaiian cupcake. My husband loves hawaiian pizza so I gave it a go.

make 6 cupcakes

preheat oven to 325

1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 Tbs + 2 tsp cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup crushed pineapple (blended/food processed till only small chunks remain)
1/4 cup diced canadian bacon
1 tsp dried crushed oregano (optional)

Mix flours, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl

Mix oil, egg, milk, vanilla, and sugar in a large bowl

Add flour mix to large bowl and mix until combined.

Mix in pineapple, canadian bacon and oregano

Bake for approx 22 min

TOPPING

blend 1/3 cup pineapple in a food processor till it is the consistency of applesauce.

Mix in 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add in 4 oz of cream cheese

Blend/process till smooth

FRIED PINEAPPLE

Melt 1/4 cup butter in frying pan
Add 1/2 cup brown sugar
Mix/fry until it is a syrup consistency
Add pineapple chunks
Fry chunks in sugar mixture until coated and lightly browned
Top each cupcake with a piece of pineapple and some of the syrup if you want it extra sweet

My daughter liked these without the meat and oregano as a lightly sweet cuppie

BASIL/FETA/PINON CUPCAKES

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 cup feta cheese

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1/4 cup pinon

1/4 cup fresh chopped basil

1 tsp crumbled dried rosemary

1 egg

1 cup milk

fresh grated parmesan

mix egg and milk - set aside

mix all other ingredients together

add milk mixture to dry mixture

spray muffin liner as this mixture is sticky!

fill and top with fresh grated parmesan (and a slice of tomato if you want)

bake at 375 until tops are browned

these cupcakes are hearty

these are the awesome prized this month

Our May ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:
A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935
something sweet and dangly from CHERRYCREEKCHARMS at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6686445.
a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery, http://www.acupcakery.com/
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!
Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

VOTING OPEN

2009-04-27T16:38:00.001-07:00

Voting is now open for Iron Cupcake Earth

Vote for me Crafting and Kitchen witchin'
I have 4 cupcakes in the competition this month

http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/2009/04/ice009-soda-pop-voting-now-open.html

Tie Dye

2009-04-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

My playgroup did another tie dye day. I only dyed a few pieces this time but I am happy with how everything turned out.

Pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/sets/72157617049474433/

ICE: Soda Pop cupcakes

2009-04-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

This months Iron Cupcake Earth Challenge is soda. My husband loved the excuse to have soda in the house.

1 - First cupcake was a rainbow sherbet cupcake. I made 3 different batters. 1 was strawberry, 1 was orange, and 1 was lime. The recipe is below

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup soda pop

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg, stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the sugar mixture and mix well. Stir in the soda. Pour or spoon batter into cups.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Top with buttercream flavored with lime juice

This reminded us of fruity pebbles

2 - Second cupcake was dreamsicle - Recipe is below

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup orange juice

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 cup blue sky orange cream soda (let sit out in shallow dish to flatten)

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat sugar, juice, egg and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with soda

BEAT cream cheese, sugar, and egg in small mixer bowl until creamy

fill cups with 1/4 full of batter, then 1/4 full of cream filling, then top with 1/4 full of batter (will be 3/4 full)
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Top with buttercream frosting

These ones are very dense and more muffin like.

3 - Third cupcake was a cherry vanilla cupcake.

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 egg
2 teaspoons maraschino cherry syrup
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup cherry vanilla blue sky soda
maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg, stir in the cherry syrup. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the sugar mixture and mix well. Stir in the soda. Pour half batter into cups. Add a cherry. Top with more batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Top with buttercream (replace milk with maraschino cherry syrup)
Sprinkle with red sprinkles and top with another cherry.

4 - Fourth cupcake is a chocolate dipped strawberry cupcake.

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoon butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup chocolate chips - melted and cooled
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberry soda - pour into a shallow dish and stir for 1 minute to help flatten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the melted chocolate chips. Add the egg beating well. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the soda; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

I topped with chocolate chips right out of the oven. as they melted i spread them onto the cupcakes.

After they were cool i added a layer of buttercream frosting where i subbed strawberry soda for the milk.

These were very brownie like - yum!

PICTURES ARE HERE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/sets/72157612418297372/

These are the great prizes I am competing for this month:

Our April ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:
A creation by FRUITFLYPIE, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16748
a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281.
a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery, http://www.acupcakery.com/
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!
Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

ICE - March challenge nuts and seeds - 4 kinds of peanut butter cupcakes

2009-03-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

This months challenge is nuts and seeds. I right away wanted to do a sandwichy theme. When pregnant I almost live on peanut butter. I eat peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter with honey and banana, and peanut butter and nutella.

1 - The first cupcake I made was the peanut butter, honey, and banana.

I used this basic peanut butter recipe
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Cupcakes/Detail.aspx

I added chopped fresh banana to the batter before baking.
When they were done I poured honey on it and topped it with banana slices

2 - The next one I made was peanut butter cup cupcakes.

I used the same basic recipe and then added in some semi sweet chocolate chips. As soon as they were out of the oven I covered them with more chocolate chips. After a few minutes I spread the melted chips over the cupcakes.

These were delish! My 4 year old who hates peanut butter said these were "super yummy!"

3 - The third cupcakes were the peanut butter and jelly cupcakes.

I started with the same peanut butter batter. I also made this strawberry cupcake recipe.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/candace-nelson-strawberry-cupcakes?autonomy_kw=candace%20nelson&rsc=header_3

I filled the cupcake liners with half of each type of batter.

After they cooled we topped some with pureed strawberries, some with peanut butter, we also filled some with both and topped with strawberries. They were all good and the filled one tasted like a tasty pb&j.

4 - The last one I made was special for my daughter. She is a marshmellow junkie and I knew she would love a fluffernutter cupcake. We used the same peanutbutter batter and put a marshmellow in the middle. As soon as it was out of the oven we put a marshmellow on top and it melted into a nice fluffy layer. It got a gooey thumbs up from her.

The pics are posted here http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=sets

These are the prizes up for grabs this month

Our March ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:
A Bunnycake Easter Plushie by DOGBONEART, http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21636297.
A whimsical piece by CAKEASAURUS, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5729584.
as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281.
a collection of all new printed cupcake liners, 200 in all from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery, http://www.acupcakery.com/
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!
Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com . And as a special thank you, we would like to once again thank DIANAEVANS - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5599270 for her participation in the February challenge. An incorrect link was posted and we want to be sure that she gets the recognition she deserves. Thanks again Diana!

Crockpot Cream of asparagus soup

2009-03-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

I love my crockpot and I also love cream of asparagus soup. So of course I need to make this. I just grab stuff and go so I am trying to remember how much of each thing I put in.

1 bunch of asparagus (1-1.5 pounds) chopped in 2inch pieces
2 cups of water or veggie stock
2 red potatoes chopped with the skins on
1 carrot chopped
1/2 onion (or in my case 2 tbs dried onion pieces)
sprinkles of random herbs
1tsp fresh black pepper

put in the crockpot on high till semi soft (mine took 2 hours)
blend or mash or food process until only small lumps remain
pour back in crock pot

add
1/4 cup FRESH grated parmesan
add in as much milk or cream as you would like depending on how thick you like your soup
stir well and turn on low for about an hour

pour into bowls and top with a sprinkle of fresh ground pepper and a bit of fresh parmesan

eeep - hope i remembered everything right

voting is open!

2009-03-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

It is vote time again. Vote for me - crafting and kitchen witchin' - the irish cream cupcake http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/2009/02/007coffee-ironcupcakeearth-voting-now.html

Iron Cupcake:coffee challenge - Irish Kiss Cupcakes

2009-02-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

I love coffee - so much in fact that I do NOT own a coffee maker. Because if I did, I would drink 2 pots a day. So I only get coffee when we go out.

Anyhow, I also love Baileys Irish Cream either plain or in coffee.

I started out with my favorite rich cupcake recipe from here http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=29890

But I changed a few things. I wanted it to be white chocolate so I made it as follows.

Ingredients:

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) white chocolate chips , divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee
2 packages (3 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease or paper-line 16 muffin cups.

MICROWAVE 1/2 cup morsels in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10 to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Cool to room temperature.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat sugar, oil, egg and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. Beat in melted chocolate; gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with water and coffee (batter will be thin).

BEAT cream cheese, sugar, egg and salt in small mixer bowl until creamy. Stir in 1 cup morsels.

SPOON batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 1/2 full. Spoon filling by rounded tablespoon over batter. Spoon remaining batter over filling. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. While still hot, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup morsels. Let cool for 5 minutes or until morsels are shiny; spread to frost. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For the adults in the house i skipped the white chips on top and instead poured (a teaspoon per cupcake) a mix of 1/2 coffee 1/2 irish cream on each cupcake.

For the frosting I combined
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Baileys Irish Cream
4 teaspoons of coffee
combine and chill

Let the cupcakes fully cool before frosting

Then top with a Baileys Irish Cream Truffle

These were yummy though my husband likes white chocolate more then me so he really enjoyed them.

Pictures are here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/sets/72157612418297372/

These are the lovely prizes I am competing for:

Our February ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:

DIANAEVANS - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5599270
as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281.
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!

As an added bonus for February, SWEET CUPPIN CAKES BAKERY AND CUPCAKERY SUPPLY will be tossing in a variety of cupcaking supplies, http://www.acupcakery.com/index.html.

Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

voting is open!

2009-01-29T07:49:00.000-08:00

Voting is open for iron cupcake challenge

http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com/

I will be tickled if my little first try wine-a-rita gets some votes!

oh - and the pic they have is sucky so here is my flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/

wine-a-rita cupcakes

2009-01-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

I have been following Jamieanne at the Cupcake Review (http://jamiescupcakes.blogspot.com/)
She always makes these fun cupcakes for these challenges. She won last months challenge. I finally decided to try it. This months challenge is wine.

This is from the website that hosts the challenge (http://ironcupcake.blogspot.com/)

"Our January ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:

DOGBONE ART - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=22042
as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281.
PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!

As an added bonus for January, our friend at SWEET CUPPIN CAKES BAKERY AND CUPCAKERY SUPPLY will be tossing in another treat as well, http://www.acupcakery.com/index.html.

Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; the CUPCAKE COURIER http://www.cupcakecourier.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com. NEW, BEGINNING IN JANUARY; our new friends at UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/ will be providing our winner with one of their cute cupcake attitue t's! Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

I go to the local wine festival every year. I love trying new wines and getting a stock of my old favorites. This year I bought wine-a-rita, it is a margarita flavored wine. It is silly and fun and yummy with chips and salsa. I wanted to create a cupcake with a wine-a-rita flavor.

Now I will say right now, I am not a fancy baker. I have no kitchen aid mixer, no special liners - nada. I have a $4 hand mixer that is 6 years old and that is the end of my tools. I also do not have a fancy camera. It is a 4 year old clearance fujifilm digital camera. So I apoligize in advance for my country bumpkin pictures :)

I figure most recipes out by playing around in my little kitchen.

This was no different. I first tried an actual Margarita cupcake recipe that was vegan - blech. It was gross. So I then set out with just messing around in the kitchen. In the end this is what i came up with.

Wine-a-rita cupcake

There are 3 steps
First this bland and dry but super fluffy cupcake.
Second is the wine and lime soak
Third is a butter cream frosting

Cupcake

5 large egg whites

1/2 cup wine-a-rita wine

1/2 cup lime juice

3 1/4 Cups cake flour

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 tbl and 1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 sticks butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine all dry ingredients 3. Cream together butter and sugar 4. Add in egg whites then wine and lime juice 5. Mix until combined 6. Divide among 18 cupcake liners 7. Cook 20-24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

Remove from pan immediately.

Wine and lime soak

Mix 3 Tablespoons Lime Juice with 9 Tablespoons Wine-a-rita

Pour 1 teaspoon of soak over each cupcake slowly so it can soak in.

Wine-a-rita butter cream frosting

2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon wine-a-rita

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Top each cupcake when cooled.

Top with a slice of lime or a slice of lime candy.

Voting takes place here http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com/

here is a pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/34210340@N02/

2009-01-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Yay! A fresh new place for the crafty rambling.