Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

Ever wonder what to do with all that zucchini from the garden.  Why not make a heavenly chocolate cupcake!
Here is a recipe- I hope you enjoy it.

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes

Sift Together:
2 cups flour
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 ½ tsp soda
½ cup cocoa
Add and stir:
2 tsp vanilla
½ cup oil
1 egg
2 cups finely grated or blended zucchini
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Line or grease cupcake pan. Fill each one about 2/3 full. Bake for 18 minutes

Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Muffins

I have been playing around with my standard muffin recipe and came up with this variation yesterday.  They are yummy and moist- give it a try!

Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Muffins

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Fold in sour cream. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and chips. Batter will be thick! Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Sprinkle sugar crystals over batter. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Enjoy!

Icecream Birthday Party

My daughter just celebrated her birthday.  She had a hard time deciding what theme she wanted to do her party in.  She is very girly so all her ideas were very girly but she wanted the boys invited to have fun too.  Finally she decided to do a party all about icecream because everyone loves icecream!

Sticking with her theme I made a quick cake that looked like an icecream sundae and I made cake balls dipped in chocolate with an icecream cone on top so they looked like they were upside down icecream cones melting (inspired by Bakerella).  I do have to admit that I am not a fan of cake balls but they were very cute!  We also let each child make their own icecream sundae- talk about a sugar overload!!!

I used the wilton giant cupcake pan to make the cake.  It worked out okay but I think I will do it differently next time and maybe not start the dang thing at 10pm!  I always seem to be running behind when it comes to my own children's cakes so to cut down on time I used (GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!) store bought frosting.  All I can say is never again.  Anyone that knows me knows I am definitly a fan of home made frosting and NEVER use store bought!  The kids thought everything was great and I guess that is what really matters!   

My Cake and Cupcakes in Magazine!

Cake Central Magazine contacted me this summer and asked if they could include some of my work in their magazine!  I obviously said yes.  A cupcake display and small cake went into the August issue.  HURRAY!  It is so incredibly neat to see your own work published!  Anyway, here are the two projects that were included.  Hope you like them!

Part 2 Pirate Tutorial- Pirate Captain and Treasure Map

Part 2: Pirate Captain Cupcake and Treasure Map Tutorial

Supply List:

Fondant – white, red, and black

Premade red and black fondant (you can color your own but I prefer to just buy it)

Gel food colors- black, ivory

Nesting Circle cutters

Nesting Square cutters

Small Leaf cutter

Paint brush and water

Tip #3

Pink petal dust

Paint brush

Knife

(Just click on pictures to enlarge)

Step 1: Color fondant ivory. Then roll out and using a circle cutter make circles for the faces.

Step 2: Next roll out black fondant and cut circles using the largest circle cutter. Then using the same cutter place it a little more than half way up the circle, you will have a shape that kind of looks like a crescent moon. Cut the ends at an angle. Next you will gently push the top sides down to get the contour of the hat.

Step3: Roll a small piece of fondant into a ball and then flatten and slightly pinch bottom of flattened ball to make the shape of the skeleton head. Attach the skeleton head to the hat with water. Using a tooth pick dipped in black coloring draw the face of the skeleton. Once the hat has dried a bit attach to the head with water. To make the feather use a small leaf cutter and frill the edges a bit with a ball tool or texture it with a toothpick or veining tool. Let dry a few minutes and then attach to hat with water.

Step 4: Next you need to give your pirate a little color in his cheeks. Pour a little dust out on to wax paper and then dip your finger in pink petal dust. Rub your pointer finger and thumb together to remove excess dust. Softly rub pointer finger on pirate face for pink cheeks like you did from part 1 of the pirate tutorials.

Step 5: Now you are ready to make your pirates face. Use the end of a paint brush dipped in black gel food coloring to make your eyes. Next using the large end of a tip make an indentation for his mouth and use the end of a paint brush for his dimples. Roll a small ball of ivory fondant for the nose and attach with water. Using a tooth pick dipped in black food coloring paint the captain’s freckles on to his face.

Congratulations- you now have a cute little pirate captain face!
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Treasure Map

Step1: Roll out white fondant and cut squares using largest cutter.

Step 2: Cut squares into rectangle with knife.

Step 3: Paint map using tooth picks and gel food coloring.

And embellish your map with little designs. I added a palm tree, water, and gold coins.

Step 4: Gently curl ends of map with finger and then let dry on wax paper.

Now you have a cool treasure map too!!!

Coming soon-

Part 3: How to make the Pirate Cupcake Stand

My first Tutorial! Pirate Cupcakes and Display

This is my first tutorial.  The pictures could be better but I had fun putting it all together.  Just click on the pictures for larger images.  Hope you like it!

Part 1: Pirate Mate Cupcake Tutorial

Supply List:

Fondant – white, red, and black
Premade red and black fondant (you can color your own but I prefer to just buy it)
Gel food colors- black, ivory
Circle cutter
Paint brush and water
Tip #3
Pink petal dust
Paint brush
Knife

Step 1: Color fondant ivory. Then roll out and using a circle cutter make circles for the faces.

Step 2: Next roll out red fondant and cut circles using the same cutter in step 1. Then cut in half and with water attach each half to your ivory circles.

Step3: Roll out a small portion of white fondant and with tip#3 cut out small circles. If they are sticking to the tip just use a tooth pick to gently remove them. Attach them to your red hat with water. Alternate pirate mate has a stripe instead of dots – roll your fondant out, cut stripes, and then attach with water.

Step 4: Next you will need to roll a small ball of fondant into a sausage shape but with pointy ends. Bend it and in the center slightly pinch it. This is the knot on your hat. Attach with water.

Step 5: Next you need to give your pirate a little color in his cheeks. Pour a little dust out on to wax paper and then dip your finger in pink petal dust. Rub your pointer finger and thumb together to remove excess dust. Softly rub pointer finger on pirate face for pink cheeks.

Step 6: Now you are ready to make your pirates face. Use the end of a paint brush dipped in black gel food coloring to make your eyes. Then using the large opening of a tip make an indentation for his mouth and then roll a small ball of ivory fondant for the nose and attach with water. If you are making the alternate pirate face you will also need to add your scar. Just use a tooth pick with black color on the tip and paint the scar on to his cheek.

 Congratulations- you now have a cute little pirate face!

Coming soon-

Part 2: How to make the Pirate Captain face and treasure map tutorial

Part 3: How to make the Pirate Cupcake Stand