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Lemony Blue Heart Cupcakes

January 19, 2012 By 86 Comments

It’s Kitchen Improv!!!

Have you ever watched Chopped on The Food Network?  It’s one of my favorite shows!  How those chefs combine 4 totally obscure ingredients in the most cohesive way in 20 minutes is mind blowing to me!  And though I’d love the challenge, it would take me days to figure out how to put them all together!

Luckily for me, I’ve found a more reasonable, realistic, and fun version of this concept.  It’s called Kitchen Improv.  And it is hosted by Kristen from The Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker.  If Kristen is a harried homemaker, you would never know it.  She’s a wonderful chef, baker, blogger, mother, whose site is filled with amazing recipes for “family style cooking, frugal tips, and an occasional random post”.  And it is awesome!

The premise of Kitchen Improv is that each month we are given 2 ingredients to incorporate into a recipe of our choice.  I can do that!  This month we were to utilize lemons and sour cream.  A fabulous combination!  Let me show you how I worked these into a scrumptious and lemony cupcake filled with a creamy lemon and blueberry filling.  Hopefully I won’t be hearing Kristen say, “Chef Anne, you have been chopped!” [Read more...]

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Funfetti Cupcakes { sprinkles with a twist}

December 21, 2011 By 14 Comments

“I MEAN, C’MON NOW.  WHO DOESN’T LOVE A FUNFETTI CUPCAKE?”  Matt B. (my son, at the age of 20)

HaPpY 21st BiRtHdAy To My Son MATT!!!!

Why do I always feel my age on my kids’ birthdays!?!  So every year I ask my boys (young men!) what they would like me to make them for their birthday.  And Matt always wants a funfetti cake or funfetti cupcakes!  And so last year, when Matt requested funfetti, I asked if he didn’t think he was getting a little old for funfetti.  And my quote for this post was his reply!

Good for you Matt!  We should all remain kids at heart!  And the truth is…..WHO DOESN’T love funfetti cupcakes?!  So this year I asked for a compromise.  Maybe just a little something more sophisticated than your average sprinkle.  After all….he is officially and finally 21 today!  You will laugh when you read how I could even think that what I added was sophisticated!……… [Read more...]

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Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

November 19, 2011 By 29 Comments

“I WOULD RATHER SIT ON A PUMPKIN AND HAVE IT ALL TO MYSELF, THAN BE CROWDED ON A VELVET CUSHION.”  Henry David Thoreau

I often walk this fine line of trying to be creative and walking off the deep end!  And what I’ve learned is that sometimes you just have to leave well enough alone.  Keep things simple and let the ingredients speak for themselves.  And for me, this applies most to baking cupcakes.  Maybe I’ve been watching Cupcake Wars too much!  And if you’ve ever seen that show….they combine some funky flavors in one cupcake!  What works well with pumpkin?  For me, it was the warming spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice combined with the cool tang of cream cheese, the toasty crunch of pecans and the sweetness of a drizzle of maple syrup.  If these speak to you then……. [Read more...]

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Boston Creme Cupcakes

May 23, 2011 By 15 Comments

“DON’T BE DISMAYED AT GOOD-BYES.  A FAREWELL IS NECESSARY BEFORE YOU CAN MEET AGAIN.  AND MEETING AGAIN, AFTER MOMENTS OR LIFETIMES, IS CERTAIN FOR THOSE WHO ARE FRIENDS.”  Richard Bach

HaPpY BiRtHdAy MiKe!!!

I have an amazing story to tell you.  At least it’s amazing and special to me.  I recently had the occasion to have cocktails with my high school sweetheart.  What’s so amazing you ask?  It’s just that we have not seen each other in nearly 35 years!!!

I truly believe that nothing in life is random.  And that everything happens for a reason.  And I am trying to understand why I am given this second chance at friendship.  For me, I think I know.  I struggle to understand how some can take friendship for granted; or worse, can let go so easily after investing much time and emotion.  But second chances of this magnitude don’t come along every day.  And so it is that I know, despite what time has passed, that this is a friendship I will treasure and nurture for all the days of my life.  Mike recently suggested that I get back to our roots and make a Boston Creme Pie.  So here’s  to prom pictures and pansies and Boston Creme Cupcakes and many more birthday celebrations to come…..and to many, many more years of friendship! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cupcake Heaven, Simple Tagged With: , ,

Devils Food Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

May 12, 2011 By 10 Comments

“NONE OF US WILL EVER ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING EXCELLENT OR COMMANDING EXCEPT WHEN HE LISTENS TO THIS WHISPER WHICH IS HEARD BY HIM ALONE.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

 I feel very accomplished when I make a decent batch of cupcakes.  But this weekend I’ll be traveling to New York instead of baking.  And I will be celebrating the accomplishments of my son, Jeff, as I watch him receive his Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology!!!  I could not be more thrilled and excited for him as he graduates and as he now gets to pursue and enjoy every day, what has been a lifelong passion.  So my advice to Jeff and Matt….and everyone…. is to listen to the whispers we all have inside our hearts;  and practice your passions daily!

While I feel pretty passionate about cupcakes…I can only offer you re-runs this weekend.  I made these cupcakes many months ago.  But they are definitely worth posting.  Moist and sweet and salty!  And the recipe follows………. [Read more...]

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Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

April 24, 2011 By 8 Comments

“LARGE, NAKED, RAW CARROTS ARE ACCEPTABLE AS FOOD ONLY TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN HUTCHES EAGERLY AWAITING EASTER.”  Fran Lebowitz

 

Actually, I like carrots.  Though I prefer them cooked than raw.  And even so much better when nestled in sweet cakey goodness! Yet somehow, I still feel healthy when I eat any baked good containing carrots!

These are a cinch to make and very very moist and flavorful.  It was originally a cake recipe and the tops came out kind of flat.  But that was actually the best part.  It taste like a carrot cookie on top of a carrot cake! [Read more...]

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Vanilla Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

April 21, 2011 By 7 Comments

“NO HYPE.  JUST A GREAT RECIPE.”

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Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

April 3, 2011 By 4 Comments

“LIFE IS UNCERTAIN.  EAT DESSERT FIRST.”  Ernestine Ulmer

 So I live in D.C. where there are an abundance of cupcake bakeries.  And it occurred to me one day….that I could do that!  Okay.  Maybe not in mass.  But I was certainly capable of making something better than a funfetti cupcake!  I am starting off the first post of this very new blog with this cupcake.  Because this was my first attempt at making a “fancy cupcake”.  And it is one of the most scrumptious things….. [Read more...]

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