Rabu, 29 Februari 2012

Sprinkles Cupcakes to launch 24-hour automated cupcake machine and Sprinkles Ice Cream in Beverly Hills

Sprinkles Cupcakes is getting ready to launch their 24-hour automated cupcake machine and Sprinkles Ice Cream in Beverly Hills! Are you ready? You can follow 24-Hour Sprinkles on Facebook and, though it has only been used once so far, @24HourSprinkles on Twitter. Can't wait to hear when its launching. I will be in San Francisco in April and might have to pop down to Beverly Hills to check this out! Via LAist, who report:
This automatic cupcake machine dispenses freshly baked cupcakes, cupcake mixes, apparel and even cupcakes for Fido! In the heart of Beverly Hills nestled between Sprinkles Cupcakes and the brand new Sprinkles Ice Cream, 24 Hour Sprinkles will be continuously restocked day and night with a variety of freshly baked cupcake flavors.
And while Sprinkles Ice Cream sounds like it will be an ice cream shop and not actually selling cupcakes, it's still a big move for this major cupcake bakery and I would imagine will tie back in to the bakery somehow.
Our ice cream will be hand-crafted American ice cream using only the finest ingredients, staying in line with the Sprinkles philosophy. Scooped into crisp waffle cones, pressed between fluffy cupcake tops or piled high into sundaes topped with housemade sauces and toppings, Sprinkles Ice Cream shop is a back to basics creamery with a Sprinkles twist! Sprinkles Ice Cream will also serve up freshly baked cookies and brownies!


Colorful tissue paper pom pom cupcake toppers

Aren't these pom pom cupcake toppers fun? They're made from tissue paper and for sale on Etsy by seller Jojobean Designs.

Lemon berry brighteness at Georgetown Cupcake, plus hazelnut crunch and cookies and creme

I stopped by Georgetown Cupcake SoHo again, because SoHo is very convenient, you can't beat the $2.75 price and every cupcake I've had is delicious. I didn't love this cupcake, though I did love the look of it. I wish it had had lemon frosting because the lemon cake and lemon candy were awesome. I didn't hate the berry frosting, it just wasn't my favorite. Hazelnut crunch and cookies and creme were winners in my book. The crunch on the hazelnut crunch was a perfect texture and it was a thin layer of hazelnut frosting, just enough. Visit georgetowncupcake.com for more information.







Win a copy of the cookbook Home Baked Comfort

Our latest contest gives you the chance to win a copy of the new cookbook Home Baked Comfort, which has various cupcake recipes, including coconut cupcakes with lemon curd and red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, plus lots more. enter at Formstack by March 9th at 7 pm EST. US only.



More about the book:
Imagine a book that combines the most beloved home-baked treats with a sprinkling of favorite recipes from the country’s most well known bakers and bloggers, from the likes of Smitten Kitchen’s Deb Perelman, La Tartine Gourmand’s Beatrice Peltre, and Bakerella’s Angie Dudley. Editor Kim Laidlaw’s new book Home Baked Comfort makes it so easy, it’s harder not to bake.

Bay Area cookbook editor and food writer Kim Laidlaw’s passion for baking as well as her experience shines through in each of the 100 featured recipes that mix classic comfort food and contemporary flavors like flaky rhubarb turnovers and family-favorites like maple pumpkin pie. Readers will be inspired to dip their hands into the staple ingredients flour, sugar, eggs, and butter and transform them into mouthwatering dessert creations.

Divided into five chapters, breakfast; bread; cookies & bars; cakes & cupcakes; pies & tarts; custards & soufflés, sink into some of the most delectable re-imaginings of classic comfort recipes

Chocolate-covered strawberry, Tim Tam, caramel and more cupcakes by Viva La Cupcake

These luscious-looking cupcakes are all by custom cupcake company Viva La Cupcake in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, via their Facebook page. They can be reached at vivalacupcake at hotmail.com or +61 407006599. Find out more at vivalacupcake.net.









Someone is very ready for St. Patrick's Day, with Guinness, Bailey's and Harpoon Celtic Ale cupcakes

And that someone would be cupcakery Philly Cupcake! At least, according to this photo, which features cupcakes inspired by these alcoholic beverages. Via Facebook.

Chocolate, red wine and goat cheese cupcakes, plus recipe link!

Blogger Buttercream Blondie made these beautiful chocolate and goat cheese cupcakes for an Oscar party menu, and has the recipe!



From her post:
I opted to go with a cupcake because it's fitting for any party you're having. In order to dress up my chocolate cupcake, I decided I would incorporate goat cheese. I made a goat cheese frosting that is light and airy like a mousse. Light brown sugar in both the frosting and cupcake add a wonderful layer of flavor. That slight tang of the goat cheese frosting paired with the chocolate cupcake is a flavor combination that should not be missed! This is also a great way to try goat cheese in a dessert if you haven't gone there yet. At this point the cupcake was good, but it needed that finishing touch. That's when the red wine popped in my head. I got a sweet red wine and let it reduce till it got nice and syrupy. I spooned a little of the reduction over the frosting, and that's when the magic happened. Besides adding a fantastic color to the cupcake, the wine added a sweetness that was needed. With underlying hints of cherry and pomegranate shining through, it balanced the cupcake beautifully. The final product is incredibly luscious, yet refined at the same time.
While I'm posting about her, I must also include her penguin cupcakes, not because they're related to the goat cheese ones, but because they are so cute!

Dr. Seuss The Lorax cupcakes

Tied to the release of the movie The Lorax based on the book by Dr. Seuss, blogger Hoosier Homemade has some Lorax cupcakes for you and instructions on how to make them using sanding sugar and some decorating techniques. I love the moustache! Via Flickr.

April 14: Cupcake Eating Contest In Waterloo, Iowa

Best Book Party/ Competitive Eating Contest Ever
(left to right- Crazy Legs Conti, Badlands Booker, Eater X at a book party in 2006)

Major League Eating, the organization for professional eaters, is having a cupcake eating contest in Waterloo, Iowa on April 14. The contest will be held at Isle Casino and Hotel. [ I am just now learning that there is a casino in Iowa.] The winner will get $5000.Last year Tim Eater X (he's on the right in the photo above) set the World Record of 42 cupcakes in 8 minutes to win. Will he repeat?!

Wizard of Oz Witch Cupcake





Ding dong the wicked witch, the wicked witch is dead...





Super-cute shot courtesy TNLNYC.

Cupcake Baker of the Week: Melissa Ward, Cupcake Friday Project


The problem many cupcake bakers have is finding time to work on new creations, and finding people to test out those new combos. Melissa Ward has tackled both of these issues with her Cupcake Friday project. Melissa makes a new treat every week, and uses her lucky co-workers as taste-testers, making her quite popular at the office. She also shares her experiences with fellow cupcake enthusiasts through her blog. Keep reading to find out more about the Cupcake Friday Project.

Name: Melissa Ward
Location: Philadelphia, PA (metro area)
Website: www.cupcakefridayproject.com

  1. How did you get started making cupcakes? 
    I learned to bake with my Grandma Betty, but I really got into cupcakes about a year ago when I brought in a batch to work on a Friday. A bunch of my work buddies went nuts and said they wanted every Friday to be "Cupcake Friday." So, the blog was born and I began bringing in cupcakes—or other baked goodies—almost every Friday. For 2012, my goal is to not miss a single week, so 52 different cupcake flavors in a year. 
  2. Do you have any formal training? 
    No, but I have begun a part-time apprenticeship with a local bakery. 
  3. Do you have a signature cupcake or personal favorite? 
    If you ask my cupcake taste testers, that would be my Salted Caramel Cupcakes. However, I'm a big fan of my Orange Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream ... they're so flavorful! 
  4. What inspired you to start the Cupcake Friday Project? 
    Aside from the baking aspect, I wanted a blog to keep me accountable and allow taste testers to leave me feedback—good, bad and ugly—about the cupcakes. This way I learn what works and what doesn't. 
  5. How do you come up with the recipes for your projects? 
    I decide on my flavors first, then I either create a cupcake or frosting off of one of my base recipes OR I surf the web to get ideas from other bakers. I try to be seasonal and tie flavors in to holidays when I can. 
  6. What has been the biggest challenge with the project? 
    There's been a few: keeping up with the regular writing (I work full-time as a magazine editor and freelance on the side for another publication); staying creative; and not beating myself up too much when a cupcake doesn't work out perfectly. I have to remember that I'm still learning. 
  7. Do you have any goals for expanding the project into a business? 
    I would love to either have my own cupcake catering business or a full bakery in the next 2-3 years. 
  8. What’s the biggest thing the project has taught you? 
    To believe in what I'm doing and to keep doing it. This project is my test kitchen, my nano-bakery, and if I keep working my butt off it can become my dream bakery, too.
  9. What’s your favorite thing about baking? 
    The first bite someone takes of a cupcake and the smile that lights up on his/her face. I love making people happy. 
  10. Any cupcake horror stories? 
    Nothing too awful, though early on in the project I ended up with horribly sunken cakes the night before I was bringing them in to work for my taste testers. I had to regroup and try again, which ended up working. I called the first batch Sad'cakes

Happy Leap Day! Leap Day babies get free cupcakes today at MyDelight Cupcakery in Ontario, Caliofrnia

If you've got a Leap Day birthday, bring your ID and get on over to MyDelight Cupcakery at 1520 N. Mountain Avenue in Ontario, California! Via their Facebook page. Visit mydelightcupcakery.com for more information.


breakfast cupcake: "Light and fluffy buttermilk cake, loaded with bits of apple wood smoked bacon, frosted with a light, and buttery maple frosting, topped with a drizzle of syrup and freshly crisped bacon"




"Blueberry Cinnamon Crunch: Fluffy, flavorful cinnamon cake stuffed with fresh blueberries, frosted with a light blueberry mousse, edged in crunchy granola bits, and topped with a fresh blueberry!"


"Red Velvet Deluxe: decadent Red Velvet cake, dipped in ganache, frosted with our signature cream cheese frosting swirled with chocolate mousse, topped with chocolate curls."

Any Video Converter Professional 3.3.5 Multilingual




Convert video files from mpg, avi, divX, mpg, vob, wmv, 3gp, asf, mov, rmvb and more into mp4, avi, mpeg and wmv files without installation.

Download Portable VideoConverter Online from RapidShare (0.3 MB)


Extract and run VideoConverterPortable.

Output in portable folder, if you want to fix path: write PortableOutput=false in VideoConverterPortable.ini.

Settings of installed VideoConverter should be preserved.

Any Video Converter Ultimate 4.3.5 Multilingual




DVD Ripper, Video Converter, Video Recorder, Video to iPhone, Video to iPod, MP4 Converter, AVI Converter without installation.

Download Portable VideoConverterUltimate Online from RapidShare (0.3 MB)


Extract and run VideoConverterUltimatePortable.

Settings of installed VideoConverterUltimate should be preserved.

Any DVD Converter Professional 4.3.5 Multilingual




All-in-one DVD ripper and video converter without installation.

Download Portable DVDConverter Online from RapidShare (0.3 MB)


Extract and run DVDConverterPortable.

Output and Snapshot in portable folder, if you want to fix path: edit DVDConverterPortable.ini.

Settings of installed DVDConverter should be preserved.

Selasa, 28 Februari 2012

(Cold Hearted) Cupcake-Embroidered Apron

I would love to know the story behind this Cold Hearted Cupcake embroidery:


Cold <3ed Cupcake


I believe it's a roller derby name and a damn fine one at that. Instagram courtesy Spec-ta-cles.





Lady Gaga love, bravery, acceptance cupcakes by Sweet celebrating her visit to Harvard

Cupcakery Sweet in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, is sweet on Lady Gaga and celebrating her visit tomorrow to Harvard University and her Born This Way Foundation, with cupcakes! This, of course, is not the first time Lada Gaga has been immortalized in cupcake form.
In honor of Lady Gaga’s visit to Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education tomorrow to unveil her Born This Way Foundation, Sweet has created the Be Sweet cupcake with custom-made Lady Gaga and inspirational word edible fondant toppers.

100% of the proceeds of Be Sweet cupcakes sold at Sweet’s Harvard Square location tomorrow will go to the singer’s non-profit Foundation. Prices are $4.25/each, $48/dozen and $64/for 16. After tomorrow, Be Sweet cupcakes will be available by special order online (sweetcupcakes.com) until March 29, 2012.

Photo by Michael Blanchard

Mission of Born This Way Foundation, via their website:
Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, the Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2011 to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a braver, kinder world.

We believe that everyone has the right to feel safe, to be empowered and to make a difference in the world. Together, we will move towards acceptance, bravery and love.

Wedding cupcake tastings at Main Street Cupcakes in Ohio

Main Street Cupcakes, with locations in Medina, and Rocky River, Ohio, is offering wedding cupcake tastings. Find out more at mainstreetcupcakes.com and keep up with them on Facebook. The photos below are a wedding cupcake tower, appropriately, and groundhog cupcakes, just because they're cute!
3 opportunities to test out the wedding cupcakes at Main Street Cupcakes in Ohio.

Saturday, March 3rd at our Medina Location
Sunday, March 4th at Rocky River and Hudson
Sunday, March 11th at Rocky River and Hudson

$5/person 12:00pm-2:00pm (Reservations required! Try an array of our cupcakes and learn more about Cupcake Wedding Cakes: the cutest trend in Weddings!Due to the size of our shops we kindly ask for a limit of 4 persons per wedding. So no more than you and 3 friends ;)
Reservations and pre-payment required: Please Call 440.331.3661 for our Rocky River shop, 330.342.0833 for our Hudson shop and 330.725.6421 for Medina.

BOOK YOUR WEDDING WITH US AT ONE OF OUR GROUP TASTINGS ($150.00 deposit) AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY 6 INCH CAKE TOPPER. ($45 value!) This is one of the only wedding events we do all year and it books up most of our availability so mark your calendars and call us for reservations!


"I wish I knew how to quit you" cupcakes

As seen at Eleni's in Chelsea Market today...cupcakes with various sayings, including "I wish I knew how to quit you." Not sure who you'd give this to or what it means regarding cupcakes, but I was amused.

When Squirrels Attack!

Oh no!  An animal pastry raid!




SQUIRREL ATTACK



How sad. A squirrel calling card. Mr. (or Mrs.) Squirrel was here (and ate your cupcake).

Shot courtesy Horno Magico.

Win Bella Cupcake Couture Easter cupcake wrappers

Win one of 5 sets of these Easter themed cupcake wrappers by Bella Cupcake Couture. Featuring a Faberge-style pattern with a bunny silhouette, a little Chickie and four stylishly decorated Easter eggs. The contest is just for the wrappers, not cupcakes. enter at Formstack by March 7th at 7 pm EST. US residents only.

Make chocolate cupcakes in your microwave!

Blogger Casa Veneracion shows you how to make chocolate cupcakes in your microwave! In a coffee mug!



From the post:
These cupcakes are my first attempt with microwave baking. Really easy. No mixing bowls needed. Just a fork to stir. And the really wonderful thing? My trepidation was that they’d come out hard and dry. But they were soft and moist. Granted, the texture is coarser than that of a cake or cupcake that had been mixed using the regular procedure. But, oh, the effect is really rustic and I love it. The cupcakes rose higher on one side but they were uniformly baked.

Sparkly red, white and blue and soaked amaretto cupcakes by City Cakes

Red, white, blue and silver star and soaked Lush amaretto cupcakes by New York City's City Cakes via Twitpic. Follow them @CityCakes on Twitter. No, they're not really related seasonally or thematically, but I saw them on Twitter and liked them both!



Skylander cake pop

Skylander cake pop by Sweet Tooth Cake Pops in Whitby, Ontario, Canada! And if you're like me and had never heard of Skylander, it's a game. Via their Facebook page. Contact them at sweettoothcakepops at yahoo.com or 416-668-9602 and visit sweettoothcakepops.com for more information.

Cupcake Walking Tour With Stay Calm Cupcake

Yesterday I met up with Jill Fontaine from Stay Calm Cupcake. She's in town from Florida for a marketing conference. I took her on a mini-tour of cupcakes places.  We went to Molly's Cupcakes, Sweet Revenge, Georgetown Soho, Baked By Melissa, Little Cupcake Bake Shop and Billy's Bakery. Walking to six places in two hours was quite a feat.  I think of Soho as a "cupcake corridor" since they are several bakeries in the neighborhood. Jill and I loved the Honey Banana at Georgetown Soho.


Toffee Crunch
I really enjoyed the Toffee Crunch from Georgetown Soho.
Jill also gave some of her signature cupcakes in jars.

Cinnamon cupcake

This morning I had one of yummy cupcakes for breakfast which was a cinnamon brown sugar cake filled with vanilla cream and topped with caramel frosting and dusted with cinnamon. Jill is also planning to have her cupcake truck and running starting this summer in Orlando, Florida. Follow @staycalmcupcake on Twitter for updates and check out the Stay Calm Cupcake Etsy shop.

More Oscars cupcakes, including Best Actress nominees

More Oscars cupcakes from Twitter!


All 9 Best Picture nominees by @dgraye on Twitter


The Aisle Best Actress nominee cupcakes by @AisleDavid on Twitter: Judi Dench, Viola Davis, Michelle Williams, Glenn Close, Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep


Oscar trophy cupcakes sent to the offices of Grazia in Australia,by @GraziaAusOnline on Twitter

Camouflage cupcakes in honor of Act of Valor and more by Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen

In honor of the movie Act of Valor, cupcakery Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen made their camouflage cupcakes. These and the others, including adorable cake pops, are from their Facebook page. The RIP cupcake is "zombie toffee."




Zombie Toffee cupcake! "Chocolate Butter cake with toffee baked into the crust topped with chocolate frosting, a shortbread cookie tombstone and dark chocolate arms rising from the grave."







Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen
30 Main St. Suite 180
Vista, CA 92083
760-842-5138

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cupcakes with Recipe Link


Have you been looking for a new and excitingly unique cupcake recipe to try? Well, I think I might have found just that for all you readers! How Sweet It Is has created a Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cupcake recipe topped with a Cinnamon Sugared Chocolate Chip Frosting. Yes, the name is quite a mouthful and after looking over the recipe I'm sure the cupcake itself is chock full of flavor, textures and amazingness as well! Want to try this for yourself? Check it out here!


Axialis IconWorkshop 6.70 En-Fr-De




Create icons for Windows, MacOS, Unix without installation.

Download Portable IconWorkshop from RapidShare (6.5 MB)

(md5: 340c55ba6a02bb89f61f55dbc206b32f)


Extract and run IconWorkshopPortable.

Settings of installed IconWorkshop should be preserved.