If you are interested in Cupcakes for this weekend...

We have 3 types available - Lisa Jean Pumpkin Queen, Nilla Nilla and Choclit Choclit - and we don't need 48 hours notice! In anticipation of the article we have premade a few dozen and can deliver them later tonight or anytime tomorrow.

Costs are as follows:

Choclit or Nilla are 26.40 per dozen



Pumpkin Queen are 28.80 per dozen



You can mix up the flavours to get a bit of each and delivery is free within city limits.

Happy Thanks-Giving!

Thank You, Greg Burliuk!

The past week has been long one.

Last Friday I was interviewed by Greg Burliuk of the Whig and had to wait eight days for the article to come out - you can imagine the kinds of thoughts that had time to run through my mind - what if he was just being nice with his positive comments during the interview but really found them flavourless and uninspired? What if the cupcakes were fine but somehow my personality put him off? What if he just thought the whole thing was silly?

I woke up this morning far earlier than usual with an anticipation stomach ache, the kind kids get on Christmas morning, and collected some quarters off the dresser. I didn't know where the nearest newspaper-vendie thing was but I figured my best bet would be to head for Princess Street. A lovely morning, perfect for a 7am walk.

There it was, in front of the Star Diner, which is awesome for breakfast and burgers. So I skipped across the empty street, ready to drop some quarters on a paper that would divine for me the near future of my sugary little venture - but I was a quarter short. I paced about a little - do I run all the way home and come back? Couldn't, take way too long. I shook the handle and checked the coin return. Nothing. Should I go in to see if one of the hard working waitresses would lend me a quarter if I promised to bring one back later? I might come off as a beggar, I had just gotten out of the shower, was wearing Kevin's over-sized hoody and Crocs with paint on them. I didn't want to make a spectacle of myself but, man, I couldn't stand the idea of leaving there without that paper. If I could just explain that I was in that paper and had waited eight grueling days to see what was written, I'm sure they, staff and patrons alike, would be just as excited and multiple quarters would surely be offered up. Maybe I'd get the article out and we would all read it together, there would be congratulations and high-fives all around. It would be a moment to remember.

Just as I was about to do it, a young man crossed the street to enter the diner, "Excuse me," I said, with my hand extended, showing the change that I did have, "do you think you can spare a quarter? I'm short for the paper."

He did the mock-check-of-pockets-pat-down and said "Sorry".

Yeah, I was just looking too homeless. I walked home, no triumphant moment with the strangers at the diner to regale my friends with, and got my quarter, plus two extra, just in case. This time, I got in my car and drove a ways away to find a vendie thing - I didn't need the no-change guy pointing me out as a loiterer by going back to the same spot.

I didn't open it right away, I waited until I got upstairs, woke Kevin up and read it out-loud. By the end of the article, my voice was squeaky with glee and I wanted to rush to call everyone I knew. You're welcome, friends, most of whom are two time zones behind me, for controlling myself. I'll call you tonight and make you listen on the other end while I read it to you!

Super-Special Cupcakes...

I've wanted a reason to make extra-pretty cupcakes and that opportunity presented itself when I was asked to make two dozen for a christening. I was asked to make twelve sophisticated ones for the adults and twelve that would be 'magical' for the families two little girls. She was also concerned about them being messy, so chocolate was out. I imagine three-year-olds in fancy dresses with a handful of dark chocolate icing is a disaster waiting to happen.





For the grown-ups, I made 'Blushette' - White chocolate buttercream on Vanilla cake with raspberry cream filling.




And the little ladies had the 'Nilla-Nilla' with fondant roses and butterflies.
It was so fun decorating these! I was very happy with the way they turned out. After I dropped them off I had a pang of remorse because I knew they were not long for this world, but I reminded myself that their beauty is in their fleeting nature and that, uneaten, a cupcake has not reached it's full potential - it's just a rapidly deteriorating heap of useless sticky-sweetness. I suppose it's no surprise that in making something 'magical' you'll feel like you lost a little something when you say good-bye to it. Maybe thats how I'll know when I've done a good job.

Happy Birthday Lisa!
Because I live across the country from my family there's not a lot I can do to celebrate my sisters birthdays with her today and since today is the day to present the new fall cupcake, I think I'll name it after her! Meet 'Lisa Jean, Pumpkin Queen' - a Brown Sugar Cream frosting on Pumpkin Spice Cake filled with a Whipped Cream Cheese filling topped with Shaved Brown Sugar and Amber Sugar Rocks.




So Happy Birthday Lisa, I hope you like your gift and I miss you!

(She's 36! hehehe)

Just messing around on a Monday...

Recently, I finished a batch of cupcakes for a birthday party with a golf theme and was left with a good bit of green icing in my pastry bag. Fortunately, I also had some mini's stashed away in the freezer for just such an occasion. I've wanted to do a grass and flowers look for a while - ever since I bought my grass tip, really - I just think it's so funny to extrude icing like Play Dough hair! So, I worked up some flowers and leaves, set the table and took some shots....



Wouldn't they be cute with pale yellow grass and a basket handle for Easter? Maybe with a few jelly beans tucked up under the flowers...



Luckily, I'm a scrupulous cupcake baker and would never let anyone eat a previously frozen cake, so they're all for me!

HARS Walk For Life...

Yesterday, Poppy Mallow participated in the HIV/Aids Regional Services Walk For Life by donating about 275 mini's to the walkers, fund-raisers, and installation artists. Kevin and I stayed up the night before to twist about a hundred red fondant ribbons for toppers. It was fun - no matter what Kevin tells you.




As I started putting out the cupcakes, one-by-one, I realized it would take me about two days to get them all into position; thankfully, the university student volunteers, led by the lass in pink from the AIDS Awareness Committee of Queen's, jumped in to help. For their efforts, they got first crack at the cakes!



Here we snapped a shot of the gang of helpers.



And here is the finished set-up (with a few missing, pilfered prematurely by quick, hungry hands!).



We were so well received and people were wonderfully generous with their gratitude and compliments, but Kevin and I are equally grateful to have been allowed to participate. It was a beautiful evening and we loved being outside with everybody, meeting new people and hearing some new stories. Thank You HARS staff and we'll see you next year!