Hello Everyone!

I am writing as a very sleepy version of myself. This past weekend has been filled with birthdays and anniversaries (and of course, baking). It has been so much fun. In particular I am so grateful to have been able to celebrate my beloved uncle and aunt's 50th anniversary with them last night.

There will be more pictures to follow from that event but here is what we've been cooking up the past few days.


First up were icecream cone cupcakes with vanilla cupcakes, buttercream frosting (and sprinkles on some) for a friends 25th birthday.


Mini cupcakes in classic vanilla were made to match the theme of a 50th anniversary party. White and champagne colored roses filled the hall and these little guys fit right in.


A 20th birthday celebration for someone that loves a punch of color. These Dolce Amore cupcakes have their traditional chocolate base, custard filling and fondant topper, with a little message added to it!

I hope everyone can enjoy the sunshine and rest that is required on a Sunday such as this.

Talk to you later,
Jen

Monkeying Around this week

Hello Everyone,

I wish the above statement was true. The past couple of weeks have been a completely, fabulously busy whirlwind of exciting events. Aside from the summer course I am taking (for fun... I don't know why I do these things) work has been busy and baking has been top priority when time is available.

This weekend there are several events we're baking for. I have a 50th anniversary party for my Aunt and Uncle that I am baking mini cupcakes for, then a 20th birthday party and lastly a 2 year old's Monkey-themed birthday party.

Here are the fondant toppers we're putting on them!


I love these little guys. And since I didn't have round cutters in all the different shapes I needed I decided to get creative. For the eyes, I ended up using one of my wilton tips for decorating and just used the edge of those! Sounds a little bit messy but it was totally worth it!

I'll post pictures of all the finished product at the end of the weekend

Tip for the Kitchen: If you're ever trying to make new shapes, don't be afraid to use tools that have been created to do something else. Sometimes those are the best tools to use, and FREE! Just make sure they are well cleaned of course ;)

Till next time,
Have fun and eat a cupcake!

Jen

HAPPY VICTORIA DAY LONG WEEKEND!

Hey everyone!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet.

I recently learned that humans laugh an average 15 times per day. I hope this post I'm going to put in here brings you to at LEAST 16. I laughed so hard I started clapping my hands and searching for something to lean on. I hope it has the same effect on you!

http://jezebel.com/5582562/clueless-secretary-makes-for-hilarious-office-email-thread


Oh ya, and in baking news... I tweaked a recipe from bakerella's blog... and did some Holiday weekend cupcakes. To me, nothing says Summer is here more than cottaging, campfires, and of course SMORES:


These cucpakes are made with part chocolate, part graham cracker based cupcake and in the middle is a jumbo marshmellow (I think I'll use mini's next time to be honest... the jumbo's exploded as they cooled out of the oven, haha). All in all my family and I enjoyed these. I also want to mention that I didn't even put the finishing touches on them! Picture a silky smooth chocolatey ganache drizzle.
mmmm... maybe I should add it then.

You can find the original recipe from...
http://www.bakerella.com/smore-or-less/

this site has amazing ideas and recipes.

ENJOY and Happy Long Weekend!!!

Jen

Bachelorette here we go!

Hello bakers (and non-bakers),

Today is a day I am happy to say I have been down in the kitchen since the moment I woke up. First and foremost I made some lovely cupcakes for a Lingerie themed Bachelorette Party!

These mini chocolate and vanilla cupcakes are topped with vanilla butter cream frosting and fondant bra's!
Here's a peak.



next we're having a get together with family for dinner and I thought it would be nice to make some Penne a la vodka for my cousins.


I love this sauce. it's so easy to make too!

I'm also loving that it is cool and rainy out... It makes being in here all the more fun (since I'm not missing out on anything!)

Have a wonderful Saturday everyone! Eat well and be Merry :)

Jen

a non cupcake baking adventure... kind of

Hello!

This evening I decided to try a new recipe after going for a jog (yes that sounds very counter productive I'm sure, although I only ate one, honest!)

I don't know if you guys have ever heard of a website called http://www.mybakingaddiction.com WELL- it.is.amazing!

I decided to slightly tweak her Homemade Oreo recipe to see if I couldn't make some for myself.

They were definitely too big, and I want to make them again with even less sugar than I put in (which was less than the recipe called for) but I think, with anice big glass of milk they are DELISH.

here is a sneak peak of the picture:




have a great night everyone!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

It is a gorgeous day today. The sun is shining and it's nice and warm out.

I don't have a lot to say except I love this weather and hope that you are all able to enjoy the sunshine!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mothers in the world!!!

I will leave you with some photos of this weeks creations!


Lemon drop daisy mini's and Lady bug chocolate ganache filled mini's!



strawberry-lemon minicakes!


chocolate sunflowers with peppermint patty centers.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

P.S. Hi Mom! Thank you for being the best mother ever and supporting me through everything I do. I love you! <3

Dolce Amore Cupcakes is Moving on Up!

This past weekend has been amazing... and really busy!

Nikita and I completed 6 different East cupcake Orders (and added a few more dozen for our own families as well). After the incredibly fun and busy Easter weekend we decided to take a break... JUST KIDDING! Nikita has just finished an order for cupcakes that were used at an Open House for a Local Real Estate Agent making a real splash in the real estate business world. We are so excited to be asked to be a part of it!



This coming weekend I will be baking some cupcakes for a 30th surprise birthday party. I'll let you guess the birthday boy's profession after you see the cupcakes! ;)

Lastly I want to admit something that has been bothering me for months.

Finding the perfect Vanilla recipe has been nearly impossible. I think between Nikita and I we have tried about 30 different recipe variations! I'm looking for Betty Crocker fluffiness with the natural vanilla flavor that we currently have in our cupcake. Going between using oil, butter, applesauce, zucchini, sour cream you name it and we've probably used it in hopes of finding the perfectly, fluffiest, most moist cupcake possible. I'm certainly not giving up yet, although I am prepared to get much more creative in the kitchen if necessary. I'll keep you posted on

I'm now going to call on you, all my fellow cupcake connoisseurs and lovers, to answer one question. What is the most important characteristic of a cupcake to you? Is it moistness? Density? Fluffiness? Frosting? You name it, we'll try to make it the best way ever.

I'll leave you with that. I hope you are all staying dry and doing your best to enjoy this rain!
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Jen