Baby Shower Cupcakes

My sister in law hired me to make cupcakes for a baby shower that is today. She said to me that the shower is for a girl and that she wanted to show off my work! First of all I was extremely flattered that she would say that but at the same time I thought to myself I better try to give these cupcakes the WOW factor! I don't know if I hit the WOW factor but I sure did try to!!!!

Keep in mind that everything that I do I've learned how to do just by researching the internet and or images and looking up ideas. You tube has a been a big help when it comes to visual tutorials! So, I am a newbie when it comes to working with fondant. I saw an image of a cupcake decorated like this and thought I would give it a whirl. This was my first attempt at trying this.

The cupcakes are chocolate, from  JoyofBaking.com.
My all time favorite chocolate cupcake recipe!
I filled these cupcakes with marshmallow creme filling. Here is the recipe for that:

Marshmallow creme filling:
1- 7 ounce jar of marshmallow creme
1/2 cup of shortening
1/3cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons of hot water
1 teaspoon of vanilla

I mix all of these ingredients together until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

After I cored out the middle of these cupcakes I filled them with the marshmallow creme, iced them with vanilla butter cream and then tucked a fondant head and hands into the frosting and then topped that with a pink fondant blankie.

Fondant Calla Lilly, Chocolate, White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Filled Cupcakes
 
I made these a few weekends ago for a bridal shower. I bought a certain color for green fondant  leaves but the color was all wrong and it was too late to go the store so I had to improvise. I used white chocolate for the leaves instead. It worked.
 

I can't believe that I haven't been on here for months. Right after my last post in April, mine and my children's lives changed literally in one morning. That one morning, my husband of 27 years, decided that our marriage was over. I was completely shocked.
So, as anyone can imagine, since then it has been a struggle for me trying to pick up the pieces of what he left behind, learning how to be independent, entering the work force, learning new skills and working through a divorce through all of that.
I have to be honest, at first I thought that I couldn't do it. As time goes by, I've learned that I can do all these things and more. Each day I've become stronger, more confident, more independent and I'm proud of myself. Everything happens for a reason. I believe that with all of my heart. Good things have come into my life since then. My life has changed for the better........
With that being said, as to why I haven't been posting my latest adventures in baking......I'm back!
I've missed baking....... so, here me ROAR! Here I go again......
 

Cookie Monster and Elmo Cupcakes

I was asked to make cupcakes for a little girl that is turning one year old tomorrow. She has something wrong with her involving her spinal cord that her doctor's have told her parents that she may only live until she is four years old. How sad.... so tomorrow and every day after that is special for both this little girl and her parents. 
So of course I will make cupcakes! I'm going to make lots and lots of cupcakes for this little girl!  I'm making Cookie Monster cupcakes, Elmo cupcakes and some pretty floral cupcakes.
Here is a picture of the Cookie Monster cupcakes:

Elmo Cupcakes

As for the floral cupcake, I went with a sparkly daisy.

I stumbled upon this poem......

Book
by mike bullock

Don't judge a book by it's cover
The pages are all worn
Many years of constant toil
Have left them thin and torn
It gives a good appearance
Belying what's inside
Perhaps you call it death to self
As God dissolves our pride.

He carefully takes the cover off
The pages fall to bits
We're dependent on the One
Who on our throne now sits
Slowly He rebuilds our lives
He puts things into place
Not as quickly as we'd like
But at His perfect pace.

How true is this poem in so many people's lives at some point! Don't judge a book by it's cover: such a simple saying that is so true and at the same time profound.

Peony Cupcakes

I saw this video at http://cutecupcakesallthetime.blogspot.com/2010/04/you-can-do-it.html  
and I just had to try this, so I did and these are my first attempt.  My daughter is having a Premier jewelry this afternoon and these are going to the party! I made a vanilla bean cake with a marshmallow cream filling and iced them with pink and white butter cream and topped with pearlized candy sprinkles.  

Hello Kitty Cupcakes

This is my very first try at making this decoration. I made these for a neighbor's 23rd birthday! I made a white cake, added fresh strawberries to the batter and filled and iced the top with fresh strawberry cream cheese butter cream. I used a Hello Kitty cookie cutter to cut out the shape. I added fondant daisies to a few of the cupcakes to add more prettiness to the entire presentation. 
I can't wait until the birthday girl sees her cupcakes!

Rocky Road Cupcake

Rocky Road Cupcake

Here I go again with the chocolate.....I made chocolate cake, filled and iced it with vanilla butter cream, topped it with melted marshmallow, mini-chocolate chips, mini-marshmallows, toasted pecans and drizzled the top with more chocolate.
There is a lot going on with this cupcake with the added melted marshmallow on top. But, I really like it! It just adds to the decadence of this cupcake.
For some people, one of these cupcakes might be enough to share with someone!
Now, I'm off for a bike ride in this beautiful 70 degree weather we are having in Ohio and to find a home for these treats!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes

I'm at it again....red velvet cheesecake cupcakes! 
I used the red velvet cupcake recipe from  the JoyofBaking website. I filled the cupcake liners about 1/2 full and then topped the batter with cheesecake filling.


Cheesecake filling:
1 - 8 ounce pkg. of cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
Vanilla

Mix together very well. I put about 1 tablespoon of this filling right on top of the red velvet cupcake batter. 


I've had cheesecake on the brain for a week now and I just had to make cupcakes so I combined both! They are delicious! These are frosted with my fluffy cream cheese icing, topped with red velvet cake crumbs and Ghirardelli white chocolate chips.

PB and Chocolate Cupcake

I just made this one this morning! Peanut butter cake with a peanut butter cup baked inside, iced with peanut butter butter cream, topped with peanut butter cup pieces, chocolate chips and drizzled with chocolate. Oh my, this one I really, really like! My daughter, Jennica and I just taste tested this one! We both loved it. I can tell that this one is going to be another one of my own personal favorites.
I got the recipe for the peanut butter cake at: tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Peanut-Butter-Cup-Cupcakes 
This one is another great recipe. The cake texture is light and delicate. There is just the right amount of peanut butter taste to it. Try it!
 

Happy Easter to All

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.  ~Alice Freeman Palmer


This weekend all of my (grown) babies are home. Including a young lady, Kristyne, that has become a part of our family. She is home for a week from the Air Force. Family time is so important to me and getting more so the older I get. Yesterday we had our first camp fire of the season! Can you believe that....April 7th! We have never had one that early in the season here in Ohio. It was a little cool outside so the warmth from the fire felt great. It was nice just hanging out around the fire, talking, telling jokes and just being silly. And, the roasted marshmallows were delicious!
Today we have planned an Easter egg hunt for Kristyne's two younger brothers and let me tell you that I think I'm more excited about it than they are! We haven't had an Easter egg hunt around here for many, many years! So, now it's time to go hide the eggs!
Enjoy today, your family, your friends and Happy Easter!!!! 

I just thought this was pretty!

Roxy, my 6 year beagle

Betsy, my daughter Jennica's 4 year old beagle.

My kids.....Sarah, Jennica and Kristyne packing the Easter eggs with candy!

My husband Scott and my kids having a good time!

Some of us just hanging out by the campfire.

I love this picture!