Our cupcakes got their senior pictures taken!

Aren't they adorable!!  This is the first official image of the cupcakes we made and delivered for a birthday party last Saturday, thanks Rob!

-Jenny

The search for the perfect cupcake

I realize it has been a while since either of us has posted a blog and I would like to say it's not because we are lazy.  It's mostly because we aren't lazy, but mostly because we have been super busy trying out recipes for the perfect chocolate and vanilla cupcake.  You see we have been commissioned to make cupcakes for a friends son's first birthday, and you cannot possibly imagine how much stress this puts on us both and it's not the making the cupcakes part either.It's the making the cupcakes perfect part that is driving us to sugar insanity. Jenn is working on chocolate and I am working on vanilla, both of us combined have made no less than 300 cupcakes this week alone, and we have been eating them for breakfast, lunch and sometimes, dinner.  After last night, we think we may have the perfect recipes.

Prebaked cupcakes, I think they look funnier this way.  Endless jokes were made about the chocolate batter.

We are also working on a new website and I would like to think that has contributed most to our recent absence.  As soon as it is ready we will announce and redirect you all to it.  Jenn has been working on our business plan and we may have our first official macaron order (EEK!)  More details to come. 

Homemade vanilla extract- 3 months to go!

Last week I decided to make my very own homemade vanilla extract, I had no idea it was so easy, but patience is key with this little project as it is best to let it sit for about 3 months.  3 months?  Yes, you heard me, set it and forget it.  Well almost forget it, you still need to shake the bottle up every week or so.

Vanilla Extract

For every 1 cup vodka or rum (or even tequila, although I need to try that once first before I recommend it.)

add 6 split vanilla beans.  Let sit for 3 months, shaking every week. 

That's it.  Crazy right?  Who knew that could be so easy and so darn good.  Since I still have 2 and 1/2 months to go , I will have to let you know how it turns out later.  Right now however, it's smells heavenly.  If you love vanilla as much as I do, you will be content just to smell it every day.  I thought I would save a ton of money making my own extract, but I don't really think I will.  Vanilla beans are expensive, good vodka is expensive, but making your own extract is priceless. 

-Jenny

Impromptu Birthday Cupcakes

Before the Christmas craziness kicked in, I made these cupcakes for my mom’s birthday. It was a spur-of-the-moment baking decision, so I did a quick search at  Epicurious for a white cupcake/cake recipe and got cracking. I used the Magnolia Bakery recipe, which I thought turned out some nice cupcakes, but I always wonder if my scratch cakes and cupcakes are too dry. I think it’s just due to the box cake world domination, but it might also be that I need to work on my cake skills. Either way, I’m still looking for that perfect recipe that will never fail me and that I can always count on.

My apologies for the terrible picture--it was late!

I had some grapefruit curd in the freezer, (thanks, Jenny!) so I filled half of the cupcakes with grapefruit curd and topped them with buttercream frosting. I knew chocolate was a must for my mom and cousin, so I added cocoa powder to the buttercream and voila: chocoholics were not neglected! Most of the birthday guests took seconds on these babies, so I don’t think cake dryness was too much of an issue.

In other birthday related news, Arigato the cat was rescued three years ago yesterday. Since we don’t know his actual birthday, we use this date to keep track of his years. Happy 3^rd birthday, Mr. Roboto!

He is thrilled

 - Jenn