Well… I suppose it was high time for me to make another batch of cupcakes.  Even though I just haven’t been my cupcakey self this entire pregnancy! Bleh!  But when a birthday rolls around, you just have to put the queasiness behind you and bake!   Here are some black forest cupcakes I made for my father-in-law’s birthday.  Yum yum.  Chocolate cake, cherry filling, whipped topping, chocolate drizzle and a cherry on top!  How divine!  I don’t have time to post the recipe today – but I will say that I used the Chocolate Cupcake Recipe from the book 500 Cupcakes.

This week I will be leading a Spring Fun Day as part of my duties as Program Coordinator… Truthfully admin work is easy compared to that of entertaining a large group of children for a day. Gulp.  As a beginner – I’m a little nervous.
And, while my school teacher sister gives me tons of reassurance, coaching and planning ideas, I’m still really hoping I choose the right activities for the day!
For snack I think I’m going to stick within my niche and teach the kids how to decorate little bird’s nest cupcakes. Like the adorable ones pictured above that I found over at The Celebration Shoppe.
Even though this will only make up a small part of the day at least I (definitely) know what I’m doing when it comes to cupcakes!

PS: The Cornerstone Blog I have been working on with work is also up and running. Go and check it out HERE.

I spent all day yesterday baking.  Grandma was great enough to take the Little Cupcake for the day while I got down to business and here are the results:

 Vanilla Chiffon

Chocolate Cupcakes

Strawberry Cupcakes

Swirl Cupcakes

Well here it is, the finished product and some cupcakes to go with it.  Everyone loved it – and I was so glad!

I am famous for throwing holiday themed parties.  Halloween is by far the biggest event of the year for me, however, Valentine’s day is never forgotten.  Last year I got together a few good friends for a valentine card making party and this year – it’s going to be even better.   So before I come to my senses about this I am going to post it for everyone to see.  There is no backing out now – and I am looking very forward to how busy this is going to keep me for the next couple weeks.  Please leave a comment and your e-mail if you would like to attend!

Yummy Christmas S’mores cupcakes!  Graham cracker crust, gooey chocolate cake and fluffy marshmallow topping.  Delicious!

I am mad at Mr. Cupcake right now.  There is an entire batch of Egg Nog Cupcakes in my fridge right now that were intended for him to take to work.  I was specifically asked to make these today – and they were particularly complex.  Humbug. 

Well, I suppose if that’s the worst of it I’m doing all right.   Really I was excited to see how these would go over because I had taken a batch of egg nog cupcakes to party not too long ago and everyone had something great to say about them! ( That recipe is from Crazy About Cupcakes by Krystina Castella)  So I decided to make an egg nog cupcake recipe of my very own.   MMMM MMM good.

makes 24

• 2 1/4 c pastry flour
  3 tsp baking powder
  1/4 tsp baking soda
  1 tsp salt
  1 c packed brown sugar
  1/3 c creamy butter
  1/3 c canola oil
  1 1/4 c Candy Cane, divided
  2 eggs, separated
  1/2 c sugar
• 1 tsp rum flavour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°
Line 2 cupcake pans with liners.
Beat 2 egg whites until frothy; gradually add sugar and continue beating until stiff. Set aside.
In mixer bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add brown sugar, butter, oil , flavourings and 1/2 cup nog and beat 1 minute.  Add 2 egg yolks and remainder of nog and beat 1 minute.  Fold egg whites into batter in three stages.  Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven for 20 mins.

Eggnog and Rum Mousseline Buttercream

• 5 egg whites
  1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  1/4 c sugar
  3/4 c sugar
  1/4 c Candy Cane Egg Nog
  2 c Unsalted butter creamed and cool
• 1 tsp rum extract or to taste
• 1 tbs vanilla
• 1/4 c milk or nog

Beat egg whites until foamy, add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks
form. Add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff. Set aside. Mix nog and sugar in small saucepan. Have a greased pyrex measuring cup at hand. Stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring sugar mixture to a boil, without stirring, until temperature reaches 248-250 degrees.  Once syrup reaches temperature, immediately pour into the greased pyrex measuring cup (this will stop the cooking process).  Carefully pour syrup into egg whites in a small stream, beating at medium speed. Continue beating for 5-6 minutes or until
mixing bowl is cool to touch.  In seperate mixing bowl cream butter.  Add butter mixture one tablespoon at a time to the egg mixture. If at any time the mixture appears curdled, beat at a higher speed until blended before you add more butter. Add rum, vanilla, beat until incorporated.  Add milk slowly beat on high for 5 seconds per addition.  Be careful not to thin icing with too much milk.

Icing can be refrigerated.  Bring completely to room temp before re-beating or icing will curdle.

You haven’t read everything until you’ve read the adventures of Edgar the Rabbit over at Where’s Edgar?  This sweet little knitted bunny follows his friend Amber everywhere she goes – and has the pictures to prove it!  Today I noticed that Edgar had decided to make something very sweet….. CUPCAKES!

Another Halloween past.  Another Successful party!  Everyone had a great time last night at the Haunted Housewarming (even recovering Baby Cupcake who trick-or-treated for the first time!)  Once again – there was way too much food.  To think that I even had a worry!  Check out these photos!

After seeing so many sculpted figures out there I thought that I should start giving it a try.  I had so much fun making this little figure – and he’s not done yet.  I’m not sure how far I will be able to get on him because baby cupcake has come down with yet another ear infection.  The timing is impeccable!  And so with my sweet girl needing her mommy – I ordered a sweet tray from the grocery store instead of baking.  Ah well.  Maybe next year.  Get Well Soon Baby!