tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91695804548879808682024-03-14T15:42:50.579+13:00Cupcake, She WroteBaking ScrapbookCupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-44102768467432480322012-04-24T15:13:00.000+12:002012-04-24T15:15:15.057+12:00SweetSpot, Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
SweetSpot is located at the flashy Marina Bay Sands hotel, opposite Ku De Ta, the "finest entertainment destination in South East Asia". Right.</div>
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SweetSpot has a wide array of pretty-looking treats. Their macarons, mille-feuilles and sacher tortes didn't quite appeal to me, so I opted for something more down-to-earth: a chocolate and hazelnut cookie.
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At $2.80 a piece, this is considered expensive by Singapore standards. And boy, was it a waste of money after taking the first bite. The cookie was limp and lifeless. It tasted as if someone had left the lid off the cookie jar for too long. The cookie wasn't freshly baked.</div>
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<i>Sad cookie</i>.</div>
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<i>Happy salesman.</i></div>
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After this experience, I don't think I'll try any of SweetSpot's other offerings, no matter how pretty-looking they are.<br />
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<b>SweetSpot</b><br />
Marina Bay Sands Hotel<br />
10 Bayfront Avenue<br />
Lobby Level, Tower 3<br />
Singapore<br />
<a href="http://www.marinabaysands.com/singapore-restaurants/quick-eats/sweetspot/">http://www.marinabaysands.com/singapore-restaurants/quick-eats/sweetspot/</a></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 0189561.283052 103.8605071.2671775 103.840766 1.2989265 103.880248tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-51213852385419437992012-04-16T16:06:00.002+12:002012-04-24T15:13:43.080+12:00Kisses Cupcakes, Hong Kong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kisses Cucpakes, opposite Kau Kee beef noodles on Gough Street in Hong Kong.</div>
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Smores and Red Velvet cupcakes.</div>
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<b>Kisses Cupcakes</b><br />
G/F, No. 24, Gough Street Central<br />
Hong Kong<br />
<a href="http://www.kissescupcakes.com/">www.kissescupcakes.com</a>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com024 Gough St, Central, Hong Kong22.2841829 114.152500822.2823464 114.1500333 22.2860194 114.1549683tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-11468974591679585172012-03-18T21:14:00.000+13:002012-03-18T21:14:58.431+13:00St. Paddy's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On St. Patrick's Day, Nat and I made some boozy cupcakes.</div>
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<a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/03/14/irish-car-bomb-cupcakes/">Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes from Brown Eyed Baker</a>.</div>
<br />Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-64084114181257604442011-11-02T20:29:00.001+13:002011-11-02T21:33:14.573+13:00Gilmore Girls is a contributing factor to my love of waffles<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="283" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltqsxd6Ihq1r0j9xzo1_500.png" width="400" /></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-75458344164467066782011-09-11T15:29:00.000+12:002011-09-14T09:11:08.952+12:00Everything but the kitchen sinkI've finally found a way of getting rid of my unwanted snacks and tidbits in the house. I've been wanting to try out this recipe for awhile but always chickened out at the last minute due to <a href="http://www.cookiemadness.net/2010/02/regis-and-kelly-compost-cookie-only-read-this-if/">failures </a>I've read about and the strange addition of potato chips in cookies.<br />
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Nonetheless, I gave it a go and the cookies turned out to be pretty good. They were crispy, not too sweet and had a pleasant caramel-ly aftertaste.<br />
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My version of Momofuku's Compost Cookies had chocolate-coated peanut brittle, rocky road, Coco Pops O's, ready salted potato chips, smokey capsicum flavoured grain crisps and pretzels.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie</strong></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><i>(Adapted from <a href="http://momofukufor2.com/2010/03/milk-bar-compost-cookie-recipe/">Momofuku for 2</a> and <a href="http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2010/02/momofuku_milk_bars_compost_cookie_recipe.html">Amateur Gourmet</a>)</i></span><br />
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1/2 cup Butter</div>
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1/2 cup Sugar</div>
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1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">1/2 Tbsp Corn Syrup </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[Note: I left this out; not because I'm against corn syrup, I just didn't have it. The cookies came out fine, though may have had a nicer sheen with the syrup.]</span></span><br />
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1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract</div>
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1 Large Eggs</div>
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3/4 + 2 Tbsp cups AP Flour</div>
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1 tsp Baking Powder</div>
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1/2 tsp Baking Soda</div>
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1 tsp Kosher Salt</div>
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3/4 cups of your favorite baking ingredients</div>
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3/4 cups your favorite snack foods</div>
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In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugars and corn syrup on medium high for 2-3 minutes until fluffy and pale yellow in color. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula.</div>
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On a lower speed, add eggs and vanilla to incorporate. Increase mixing speed to medium-high and start a timer for 10 minutes. During this time the sugar granules will fully dissolve, the mixture will become an almost pale white color and your creamed mixture will double in size.</div>
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When time is up, on a lower speed, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix 45-60 sec just until your dough comes together and all remnants of dry ingredients have incorporated. Do not walk away from your mixer during this time or you will risk over mixing the dough. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a spatula.</div>
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On same low speed, add in the hodgepodge of your favorite baking ingredients and mix for 30-45 sec until they evenly mix into the dough. Add in your favorite snack foods last, paddling again on low speed until they are just incorporated.</div>
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Using a 6oz ice cream scoop, portion cookie dough onto a parchment lined sheetpan.</div>
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Wrap scooped cookie dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour or up to 1 week.</div>
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DO NOT BAKE your cookies from room temperature or they will not hold their shape.</div>
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Heat the conventional oven to 400F. (350F in a convection oven)</div>
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When the oven reads 400F, arrange your chilled cookie dough balls on a parchment or silpat-lined sheetpan a minimum of 4″ apart in any direction.</div>
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Bake 9-11 min. While in the oven, the cookies will puff, crackle and spread.</div>
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At 9 min the cookies should be browned on the edges and just beginning to brown towards the center. Leave the cookies in the oven for the additional minutes if these colors don’t match up and your cookies stills seem pale and doughy on the surface.</div>
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Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pan before transferring to a plate or an airtight container or tin for storage. At room temp, cookies will keep fresh 5 days. In the freezer, cookies will keep fresh 1 month.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4pYqc5hiupYgxGX8opYqCzlryDo18cTb3VbmBT-BQAlMeF8SXoUWzj0xi-UQ_8Q7aE5rl1KmCLWwU_ONMPhfa_gSm2KvljagpPX2yZevC9qDCycqDia9S8sNRvNuFbt-GheVFssvX04/s1600/DSCN6576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4pYqc5hiupYgxGX8opYqCzlryDo18cTb3VbmBT-BQAlMeF8SXoUWzj0xi-UQ_8Q7aE5rl1KmCLWwU_ONMPhfa_gSm2KvljagpPX2yZevC9qDCycqDia9S8sNRvNuFbt-GheVFssvX04/s1600/DSCN6576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4pYqc5hiupYgxGX8opYqCzlryDo18cTb3VbmBT-BQAlMeF8SXoUWzj0xi-UQ_8Q7aE5rl1KmCLWwU_ONMPhfa_gSm2KvljagpPX2yZevC9qDCycqDia9S8sNRvNuFbt-GheVFssvX04/s320/DSCN6576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-82761152147766937232011-06-06T15:51:00.014+12:002011-06-06T18:48:44.057+12:00The Dolly Parton of cakes<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I trawl through food websites on a daily basis. My favourite sites are <a href="http://www.chow.com/">Chow</a> and <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/">Serious Eats</a> for their product reviews, food slideshows and handy tips for novice cooks like me. But what I find most interesting about these sites are their user forums. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The discussion thread I keep going back to is "<a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/736154">50 Desserts that Every Cook Should Know</a>" from Chow.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a majority of the users who contribute to this forum are from the US, red velvet cake gets mentioned quite often. I've made red velvet cupcakes <a href="http://cupcakeshewrote.blogspot.com/2009/09/red-velvet-without-red.html">before</a>, but they were neither red nor successful. So being a public holiday today, I decided to give it another go.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">According to the ever-trusty source Wikipedia, red velvet cake originated from the Southern states of America; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">“It’s the Dolly Parton of cakes: a little bit tacky, but you love her”.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"> </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCVrDShv2UqoDFoafUh9QMtoB73BzZa9LLNAM0Yuis1bTaPtdqZJSLYbqPo5Y7I4nSvriFRHiuJxibw0H5YTs_bK2NbbysZFokPw10KCTxi0erJc8xyg_vpzwtlRocnK7uBOBGF4ucyo/s1600/DSCN6194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCVrDShv2UqoDFoafUh9QMtoB73BzZa9LLNAM0Yuis1bTaPtdqZJSLYbqPo5Y7I4nSvriFRHiuJxibw0H5YTs_bK2NbbysZFokPw10KCTxi0erJc8xyg_vpzwtlRocnK7uBOBGF4ucyo/s320/DSCN6194.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Red Velvet Cupcakes</span></b><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/09/my-favorite-red-velvet-cupcakes/">Joy the Baker</a>)</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Ingredients:</span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3/4 cup sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 egg</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 Tablespoon red food colouring </span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup buttermilk</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Method:</span>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Turn mixer to high and add the egg. Scrape down the bowl and beat until well incorporated.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a separate bowl mix together cocoa, vanilla and red food coloring to make a thick paste. Add to the batter, mixing thoroughly until completely combined. You may need to stop the mixer to scrape the bottom of the bowl, making sure that all the batter gets color.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turn mixer to low and slowly add half of the buttermilk. Add half of the flour and mix until combined. Scrape the bowl and repeat the process with the remaining milk and flour. Beat on high until smooth.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turn mixer to low and add baking soda and white vinegar. Turn to high and beat a few more minutes.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spoon batter into a paper lined cupcake baking pan and bake at 325 F for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center cupcake comes out clean.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then place them of a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I paired it off with a vanilla buttercream, instead of a traditional cream cheese frosting.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Buttercream Frosting</span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/VanillaCupcakes.html">Joy of Baking</a>)</span></i></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span>
<br />
<ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 cups (230 grams)
confectioners sugar (icing or powdered sugar), sifted</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup (113 grams)
unsalted butter, room temperature</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 teaspoon pure
vanilla extract</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 tablespoons milk
or light cream</span></li>
</span></ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Method:</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span><br />
<ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In an electric
mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth and well blended. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Add the vanilla extract. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the
sugar. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the milk and beat on high speed
until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Add a little more milk
or sugar, if needed. </span></li>
</span></ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Makes about 12
cupcakes.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Print-friendly recipe <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cupcakeshewrote/red-velvet-cupcakes-with-vanilla-buttercream">here</a>.</i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0RUAyrL4OWU0f0wa4GRAm2sm7jX86oWddAFa7x_014TKZ7b8u8QqyhlMtFbq1QlFgd3yN-USgnoL63BH2Tk8-PAWMPQC_uW3XZZHJ81rxkm1TgzUEPF4hnZY2GzJeh2v9tWLnGJ-neQ/s1600/DSCN6199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0RUAyrL4OWU0f0wa4GRAm2sm7jX86oWddAFa7x_014TKZ7b8u8QqyhlMtFbq1QlFgd3yN-USgnoL63BH2Tk8-PAWMPQC_uW3XZZHJ81rxkm1TgzUEPF4hnZY2GzJeh2v9tWLnGJ-neQ/s320/DSCN6199.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The cupcake recipe is from the Hummingbird Bakery and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M08BAvT5NVc">this </a>helpful video runs you through the recipe. I also tried frosting the cupcakes as they do in Magnolia Bakery and watched <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1kqluYbsaw">this </a>video for help, but as you can see, I didn't quite achieve the famous Magnolia "swirl".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp7ODTXQ8Dk9Cfc9QS4VfsImGNCpMq0x-XmuKniPPwOtXoRH3KsjNuLXy0xLQx_uCIY3gwY9l2pMiGO2yG1TlELwaXWxRLH4M2IipxrG0SE3PpuOFJczZnGxbLru7IEAHdgFzPRXV8e4/s1600/DSCN6195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp7ODTXQ8Dk9Cfc9QS4VfsImGNCpMq0x-XmuKniPPwOtXoRH3KsjNuLXy0xLQx_uCIY3gwY9l2pMiGO2yG1TlELwaXWxRLH4M2IipxrG0SE3PpuOFJczZnGxbLru7IEAHdgFzPRXV8e4/s320/DSCN6195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-63253000836774922452011-01-25T17:09:00.042+13:002011-01-25T20:21:14.556+13:00It's that time of the year again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Chinese New Year is celebrated in pretty much the same way as Christmas: a lot of festivities, a lot of family gatherings and a lot of food. This year on the week leading up to the start of the Chinese New Year period, I decided to make two batches of cookies using cornflakes. One is a traditional CNY cookie recipe, while the other is a less-traditional cookie recipe that is famously sold in <a href="http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.momofuku.com%2Fmilk-bar%2F&ei=L1c-Tb7YFZP4sAOxspWQBQ&usg=AFQjCNHS4y29qExLE3J5qi0miwU9SYqX6w&sig2=VwGTk8HWYUWkS5eTgwdi4A">Momofuku Milk Bar</a>, a place I have been <a href="http://cupcakeshewrote.blogspot.com/2010/06/bites-from-other-blogs.html">raving</a> about.</div>
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<a href="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5477.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cornflakes ready for crushing</i></div>
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<a href="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5485.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Two batches of cornflake cookies. The batch on the right had more cookies than the one on the left.</i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cornflake and Raisin Cookies</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://i-bake-for-you.blogspot.com/2009/01/cornflake-cookies.html">I Bake For You</a>)</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5482.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">175gm butter</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 eggs</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp vanilla extract</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 1/4 cup plain flour</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp baking powder</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup milk powder</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-4 cups fairly crushed cornflakes (5 cups before crushing)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup sultanas/raisins</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method:</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol><span style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>Preheat oven to 180C.</li>
<li>In one mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.</li>
<li>Add eggs, vanilla essence and milk powder. Mix.</li>
<li>In another bowl, sift flour and baking powder . Mix in crushed cornflakes and sultanas.</li>
<li>Add in egg/butter/sugar mixture, and mix until combined. (If mixture is too dry, you'll have to add more softened butter or even margarine.)</li>
<li>Roll into balls and place onto lined baking tray. Press down gently for a flat surface.</li>
<li>Bake for 12mins or until golden brown.</li>
<li>Cool on wire rack before storing in air-tight containers.</li>
</span></span></ol>
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<span style="orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Makes 49 cookies.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Copycat Momofuku Cornflake-Marshmallow-Chocolate Chip Cookies</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.thecookbookchronicles.com/blog/?p=3246">The Cookbook Chronicles</a>)</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/cupcakeshewrote/DSCN5486.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
<address style="font-style: normal;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature (227gm)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup granulated sugar</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 eggs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp vanilla extract</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp baking soda</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp baking powder</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 tsp<b> </b>kosher salt (plus more for sprinkling)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup oatmeal <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">[I used rolled oats]</span></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/4 cup lightly crushed cornflakes (about 1 1/2 cup cornflakes before crushing)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2/3 cup chocolate chips</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">about 3/4 cup mini marshmallows</span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method</span></div>
</address>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and beat until combined.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and beat on low speed, just so the dry ingredients become incorporated. With a wooden spoon, mix in the oatmeal, crushed cornflakes, and chocolate chips.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(If you have time and would like the cookies to spread a little less, refrigerate the dough for two hours.)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a parchment-lined baking sheet, scoop up and roll the dough into golf ball-sized spheres. (Six will fit comfortably on one pan–give them room to spread!) Lightly press down 4 mini marshmallows in the center of each ball of dough. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">[I mixed in the marshmallows with the dough] </span>Sprinkle tops with a touch more salt. Repeat with the remaining dough.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake for 9-10 minutes. The cookies will still look soft in the middle when you take them out of the oven. Allow them to cool directly on the tray for a few minutes before moving them onto a platter.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 20 cookies. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">[I made about palm-sized cookies]</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR7FYAHm3OLMDIzV79B9apzCVp7VbH_hxwaYrA9fyz76cDdhJwx08P06wHLIA6QGfk_zHl0eLocE_CG2-MXs9hBzV0ZsJ9FMXgn2qZqz0U028PpI9Afl0RWJ9Nqkt7Cau0ilseUeklbY/s1600/DSCN5483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR7FYAHm3OLMDIzV79B9apzCVp7VbH_hxwaYrA9fyz76cDdhJwx08P06wHLIA6QGfk_zHl0eLocE_CG2-MXs9hBzV0ZsJ9FMXgn2qZqz0U028PpI9Afl0RWJ9Nqkt7Cau0ilseUeklbY/s320/DSCN5483.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-268868851162136002011-01-14T10:26:00.011+13:002011-01-14T21:04:21.000+13:00What I'm...<div style="text-align: left;">
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<b>EATING:</b></div>
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White chocolate mud cakes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OiA_DoBjgue_QH13knnBy699a2DCV_6Vb7PITicXAnqAcPIjsWy0TQ9CRGjBQksX4oCZROm4MpV9Ar01rC1e9Hc-FgXar0TECa1by8ihYLDZ-SsNCYa5uF5EwdZCUe_srCteTeL40Sc/s1600/DSCN5417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OiA_DoBjgue_QH13knnBy699a2DCV_6Vb7PITicXAnqAcPIjsWy0TQ9CRGjBQksX4oCZROm4MpV9Ar01rC1e9Hc-FgXar0TECa1by8ihYLDZ-SsNCYa5uF5EwdZCUe_srCteTeL40Sc/s320/DSCN5417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Recipe <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cupcakeshewrote/white-chocolate-mud-cakes">here</a>.</i></div>
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<b>READING:</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/">Is Google Making Us Stupid?</a> By Nicholas Carr.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.co.nz/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cartoons/google.gif&sa=X&ei=8m8vTcq1E43QsAPkw9HLBQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE1pLye1_EZ9-Kxshr5hzQIXV-xCA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://www.google.co.nz/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cartoons/google.gif&sa=X&ei=8m8vTcq1E43QsAPkw9HLBQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE1pLye1_EZ9-Kxshr5hzQIXV-xCA" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Interesting and somewhat ironic read.</i></div>
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<b>WATCHING:</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Top Chef: Just Desserts.</div>
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<a href="http://www.google.co.nz/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4995438364_187aa43835.jpg&sa=X&ei=NmovTfS_F4iasAP-z-W2BQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE36GVHrjr-OW2wbCQju4gtaRg-5A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://www.google.co.nz/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4995438364_187aa43835.jpg&sa=X&ei=NmovTfS_F4iasAP-z-W2BQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNE36GVHrjr-OW2wbCQju4gtaRg-5A" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Well, not watching yet but waiting for it to premiere on TV later in the year.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Special mention: Top Chef: All Stars.</div>
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<a href="http://www.google.co.nz/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/files/2010/11/TopChefAllStars2010_P.jpg&sa=X&ei=f28vTb-DI5S6sAPjgJXBBQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGAMuHg__x6ZhPQGw_dBa_d9DVCzw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://www.google.co.nz/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/files/2010/11/TopChefAllStars2010_P.jpg&sa=X&ei=f28vTb-DI5S6sAPjgJXBBQ&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGAMuHg__x6ZhPQGw_dBa_d9DVCzw" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>BROWSING:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/">Oh Joy!</a><br />
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<a href="http://ohjoy.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c6a0853ef0148c77dd5f9970c-pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://ohjoy.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c6a0853ef0148c77dd5f9970c-pi" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://ohjoy.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c6a0853ef0148c77dd6b1970c-pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://ohjoy.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c6a0853ef0148c77dd6b1970c-pi" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>I chanced upon <a href="http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/">this blog</a> from <a href="http://www.isaaclikes.com/">this blog</a>.</i></div>
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<b>LISTENING TO:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You've Got the Love" remixed by The XX.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/h1l4pDXbkic?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Better than Florence and the Machine's version, dare I say it.</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>COVETING:</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natalie's <a href="http://www.home-essentials.co.nz/Avanti_Cookie_Press__Icing_Set-details.aspx">Avanti Cookie Press/Icing Set</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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.<a href="http://www.cookaholics.com.au/image/cache/data/sheldon%20and%20hammond/avanti/12796-250x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cookaholics.com.au/image/cache/data/sheldon%20and%20hammond/avanti/12796-250x250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This tool is amazing.</i></div>
<br />Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-11307374902194100482010-12-27T19:54:00.003+13:002010-12-27T19:56:00.161+13:00Chrismukkah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Djl3cWkYXiaNDYgsGvf-aIzs6fhW0Rfc_5DanGZX5mfeWL4TFCCXZmgu0zmqLnPYciTkaKRrycUiHmwxlgNgLaZLf3v0Mztqud8OhVJl0tQMfFrKc8FyxoBSsmNZMvSjAGgl62IVG_Q/s1600/Christmas+Eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Djl3cWkYXiaNDYgsGvf-aIzs6fhW0Rfc_5DanGZX5mfeWL4TFCCXZmgu0zmqLnPYciTkaKRrycUiHmwxlgNgLaZLf3v0Mztqud8OhVJl0tQMfFrKc8FyxoBSsmNZMvSjAGgl62IVG_Q/s400/Christmas+Eve.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<br />
...and Christmas is over for another year. Zombie sugar cookie is bidding adieu to Christmas 2010.<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Photo by Esthel Kim.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Sugar cookie recipe from <a href="http://bakingpowders.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-decorated-sugar-cookies-and.html">Baking Powders</a>.</i>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-19158893078637272122010-10-23T10:47:00.003+13:002010-10-24T18:41:02.420+13:00Failcakes<div style="text-align: justify;">
I hereby declare myself forbidden from baking cupcakes unless I'm in the presence of an experienced baker. And by presence I mean being in the kitchen right next to me, mixing the ingredients and baking the whole batch of cupcakes while I stand out of the way and merely observe from a distance. Because, lately, it seems, I am in no condition to bake a batch of cupcakes. The last two batches of cupcakes I've baked have been rather inedible. The first batch <i>melted</i> (before this I didn't know cupcakes could melt. It actually looked as if the cupcakes were crying from turning out so horribly) and the second batch is about to face the bottom of my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InSinkErator">insinkerator</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I like to blame the recipe, of course. I knew a recipe that didn't call for butter, eggs and an electric mixer was too good to be true. The recipe seemed promising, but I was probably being too ambitious. I should've perfected my <a href="http://cupcakeshewrote.blogspot.com/2009/06/live-and-learn.html">basic cupcakes</a> first before I attempted anything that called for beating cream into a spreading consistency.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nonetheless, the simple recipe deceived me and I ended up with a dull tasting cupcake. The redeeming factor was the half Oreo at the cupcake's base. For the first time, the fat content in the cupcakes didn't leak out of the cheap cupcake liners. But that's the only positive point... the frosting was another beast. The colour looked great and it tasted fantastic but the texture was too liquid and far from icing consistency. I tried thickening it up by adding more powdered sugar but this did nothing except make the frosting sickeningly sweet. Dad intervened with the electric mixer to Naomi Campbell it, but the frosting just curdled into some pseudo-butter crap. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'll link the recipe to the <a href="http://ccrecipe.com/1396/cupcakes/oreo-cupcakes.html">cupcakes </a>and <a href="http://www.thegoodmoodfoodblog.com/2009/02/chocolate-chip-oreo-cupcakes.html">frosting</a>, but I don't see why anyone would want it. Perhaps someone with more luck and/or skill could have a crack at it and hopefully restore my faith in my baking ability should the cupcakes turn out to be failcakes too.</div>
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<i>Half an Oreo (cream side up) at the base of the cupcake</i></div>
<span xmlns=""></span>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-68491828584836867752010-10-22T22:38:00.000+13:002011-11-03T12:02:02.288+13:00This makes me hungry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lao3ekKz3I1qbadhgo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lao3ekKz3I1qbadhgo1_500.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://gossipgirladdicts.tumblr.com/">Source</a></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-12105594663680365612010-10-13T18:52:00.001+13:002010-10-13T22:31:53.187+13:00Coffee Chocolate mousse with Creme Chantilly and Other Divine FlavoursDavid, my flatmate, being the fortunate combination of both posh and English deigned to make us <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/french/poires-belle-helene.html">Poires Belle Helene</a> the other day. Us common folk went, what in the Queen's name is that? Well, it's just poached pears, dressed up in a heavy chocolate coat. It was nice, but would have been nicer if the pears were poached well enough. But that was partly my fault, as I was in need of the giant pot in which the said pears were poaching and might have harassed him a little for it.<br />
<br />
So, the outcome of that was slightly grainy chocolate sauce on slightly raw pears. However, the even better outcome was this unfancy-sounding mousse which unfortunately outdid the Poires Belle Helene by a mile.<br />
<br />
To the leftover chocolate sauce I sourced<br />
Egg yolks two I whisked with force<br />
A dash of cream and a smidgen of coffee<br />
Instant it was and followed with chilli<br />
Melting, molten chocolate lava<br />
<br />
Missing egg whites I spun them stiff<br />
Cinnamon, ginger, vanilla in a jiff<br />
Zest of lemon, ice of sugar<br />
Fold them over<br />
<br />
In the glass they went<br />
Both ebony and ivory<br />
And folded them quickly<br />
For we like our mousse bubbly<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oP_oG-8Hy475Joy2e0M7eVeFDM9RYMJYCAx8xRjUuvwcMQ5OomIl1ZKjAFJqbiJJteafxi3pXbvZh9J-hjO3L_Vzimxag-YZOOZejPp95RX4g8H-I1qraMHJG0LdBYDwAFKWC2z2H4M/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oP_oG-8Hy475Joy2e0M7eVeFDM9RYMJYCAx8xRjUuvwcMQ5OomIl1ZKjAFJqbiJJteafxi3pXbvZh9J-hjO3L_Vzimxag-YZOOZejPp95RX4g8H-I1qraMHJG0LdBYDwAFKWC2z2H4M/s400/IMG_1525.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg7KulEjnEKwCx0goWu8F7Oog2BUD3e-woVJZZYzrmvAtQOH8GWmTxXXtUgW9JWhEizVzkwx4iK8N-uHyHAiWhrTEqiJ1Q9-uMDfFXWXX7nupxBqVR7msC-rIYG-WOzN9igHHbvVwAKQ/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg7KulEjnEKwCx0goWu8F7Oog2BUD3e-woVJZZYzrmvAtQOH8GWmTxXXtUgW9JWhEizVzkwx4iK8N-uHyHAiWhrTEqiJ1Q9-uMDfFXWXX7nupxBqVR7msC-rIYG-WOzN9igHHbvVwAKQ/s400/IMG_1526.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And voila! For the extra bubble factor, in bubbly glasses.<br />
<br />
David insisted I slant them against the fridge door as they chilled so that presentation would benefit.<br />
Sigh. Mousse in my shoes.<br />
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<br /></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-38415575236557492972010-09-23T11:22:00.001+12:002010-09-23T11:24:05.319+12:00Klutz in the kitchenAuckland weather has been nothing short of unpredictable. One minute it's freezing cold from the storm blasting through the city, and the next minute, the sun appears, reminding you that it is indeed, spring.<br />
<br />
While the weather outside was busy deciding whether to chill or warm us up, I've spent the past few days indoors baking. I had a delicious chili chocolate cupcake at <a href="http://thecupcakebakery.com.au/">Cupcake Bakery</a> in Melbourne Central and it was only time I returned home to make my own. BTW, the cupcakes are not meant to be flat. I forgot to add baking soda! I also spilled a considerable amount of flour all over the kitchen counter. My clumsiness comes into full effect when I haven't baked in awhile... and also when the weather is bad.<br />
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<br />
<b>Chilli Chocolate Cupcakes</b><br />
<i>(Recipe adapted from </i><a href="http://doghillkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/cincinnati-chili-cupcakes-for-iron.html"><i>Dog Hill Kitchen</i></a><i>)</i><br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 cup sugar </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">(I used 1/2 cup caster sugar and 1/4 cup soft brown sugar)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/4 cup cocoa powder</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/4 teaspoon ground allspice</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">pinch cayenne pepper</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/2 cup chocolate chips</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">5 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 tablespoon vinegar (apple cider or white)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1 cup cold water</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Method:</span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and line a cupcake pan with papers.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt and spices to a large bowl. Stir with a wire whisk until full incorporated. Add the chocolate chips and stir to distribute.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Mix together the oil, vanilla, vinegar and water in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Fill the cupcake papers three quarters full.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with only a few crumbs clinging.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Cool for 5-10 minutes and then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Frost and decorate.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;">These chocolate chilli cupcakes are spicy enough that you feel your lips tingling after each bite, but you won't be gasping for water (or milk). But of course, feel free to pump up the spice by adding more chilli powder and/or cayenne pepper.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">When it comes to frosting, I suppose anything goes. I chose not to frost mine, but a simple buttercream frosting or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://eatmycakenow.blogspot.com/2010/03/chocolate-chili-cupcakes-cupcakes-au.html">chocolate ganache</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> dusted with extra chilli powder might work.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">This is what got me hooked on the idea of spicy chocolate:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-51597031361476307372010-09-12T20:19:00.005+12:002010-09-12T20:24:07.136+12:00Word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8l2viIkpc1qzc5aao1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8l2viIkpc1qzc5aao1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cupcakesoftheday.tumblr.com/post/1104273293"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source</span></a></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-43975744145116314192010-09-11T21:16:00.002+12:002010-09-12T12:16:24.354+12:00The Leftover JumbananaJade and I have a love/hate relationship with leftovers. I mean we don't like throwing away leftovers but neither do we like consuming excessive quantities of them. Below are 4 items I found in dire need of using:-<br />
<br />
Item A: 1/2 a tub of sour cream near expiry date left by Violet (current flatmate)<br />
Item B: More bananas than anyone can count left by BC (also current flatmate)<br />
Item C: A 250g bar of Nestlé's cooking chocolate bought on unknown date left in drawer by ex-flatmate<br />
Item D: 1/2 a bottle of pouring/whipping cream nearing expiry date<br />
<br />
So what does one do with such excessive fridge refuse? I initially intended to make a sour cream coffee cake but we only had high grade flour thanks to our bread-making household. As I read the description of high grade flour, I noticed that the manufacturers recommended making banana bread with it. So I decided to make banana the main ingredient instead of sour cream. <br />
<br />
After what felt like an eternity of Googling, I managed to find a recipe procured from <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/03/banana-and-chocolate-upsidedown-cake/">David Lebovitz</a> and tweaked it, producing this:<br />
<br />
<strong>Chocolate Chip Banana Over The Top Cake</strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
<u>For the bottom of the rectangular, around 12 inches long pan</u>:<br />
2 ripe medium bananas<br />
<br />
a few drops of lemon juice<br />
<br />
<u>For the cake</u>:<br />
1 1/2 cups (210 g) flour<br />
<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
<br />
1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br />
<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
<br />
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
<br />
3/4 cup (150 g) raw sugar<br />
<br />
2 tablespoons (30 g) melted butter, salted or unsalted<br />
<br />
1 large egg<br />
<br />
1 large egg white<br />
<br />
1 cup (250 g) banana puree (about 2 bananas)<br />
<br />
1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream, regular or low-fat<br />
<br />
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
<br />
1/2 bar of cooking chocolate roughly chopped/broken up<br />
<br />
<u>Chocolate Ganache and Cake Topping:</u><br />
As many bananas that will cover the top of the cake<br />
<br />
200 ml of cream (however much there was left in the bottle of 500 ml cream)<br />
<br />
1/2 a 250g bar of cooking chocolate (100g) + about 3/4 a 250g bar of <a href="http://www.chocablog.com/reviews/whittaker%E2%80%99s-dark-orange/">Whittakers Dark Orange Chocolate</a> David was munching on and deigned to contribute (I sieved out the orange bits as I don't like orange chocolate myself but couldn't help leaving some in) <br />
<br />
1. Grease the bottom of the pan with butter and line them with thickly sliced bananas. Sprinkle some lemon juice on them.<br />
<br />
2. Mix all the dry ingredients for the cake together, make a well and pour in the wet ingredients. I used 2 eggs instead of a whole egg and an egg white since I had less than the required amount of sour cream.<br />
<br />
3. Bake at 180°C for about 33 minutes (do the toothpick test!). Or if you're using a square 8 inch pan, bake for 40 minutes and it should come out brown and warm. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAaRPBGe1ZDJN6pRBetFeWJbEc9YDx4_-NjsQGNYE-LYgLvD2mEVabxzLJzx4EcmpP-Ilk1pCYS1rgb85dCpWRXawVkBw1jKqdNIxDdmDwY_sd46DoIzpC6YWWR2jzipx2HFpFbA4HSs/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAaRPBGe1ZDJN6pRBetFeWJbEc9YDx4_-NjsQGNYE-LYgLvD2mEVabxzLJzx4EcmpP-Ilk1pCYS1rgb85dCpWRXawVkBw1jKqdNIxDdmDwY_sd46DoIzpC6YWWR2jzipx2HFpFbA4HSs/s320/IMG_1479.JPG" /></a></div>
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4. Leave to cool and use a knife to separate the sides of the cake, emptying it bottom side up out onto a plate like so (or if you're lazy just leave it in the pan and decorate it):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJzCF4nQOpxnRDZFiFTqpoORieoudqxMlh7OYNdT0OjrIbtNjNNq55i6KdwITkfWyuMizB_NpiihICy3EpaYYFCB3FRHpCv9goRk76ZtaBOZ4tC1H_x8HqV_vigGv6cky8CSOKgFOJ_I/s1600/IMG_1481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJzCF4nQOpxnRDZFiFTqpoORieoudqxMlh7OYNdT0OjrIbtNjNNq55i6KdwITkfWyuMizB_NpiihICy3EpaYYFCB3FRHpCv9goRk76ZtaBOZ4tC1H_x8HqV_vigGv6cky8CSOKgFOJ_I/s320/IMG_1481.JPG" /></a></div>
5. Thickly slice the bananas, enough to cover the top (or bottom) of the cake and squeeze more lemon juice on it. <br />
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6. Prepare the chocolate ganache. Heat the cream over low heat and melt the chocolate chunks. Stir until smooth and drizzle over the top of the cake.I had so much ganache I completely covered the cake. Sprinkle with some icing sugar and you have yourself a successful by-product of leftovers!<br />
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Boyfriend protested he would never touch leftovers and expired food but eventually managed to down three of these!</div>
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<br /></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-5839864770885277362010-09-07T16:51:00.001+12:002010-09-12T12:16:02.361+12:00San ChurroJust a small post to say that <a href="http://www.sanchurro.com/sanchurromenu.php">San Churro</a> is <b>absolutely divine</b>.<br />
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<br />Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-79640527112715569612010-09-07T15:41:00.027+12:002011-09-14T09:11:33.382+12:00Macawrongs<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am back from my much-needed trip to Melbourne and I have returned $150 poorer and 2kg heavier. But that is what holidays are about - shopping and eating yourself silly and Melbourne is the place to do just that. Aside from spending on clothes and stopping at every cupcake shop I saw in the city, I made a batch of macarons for the very first time.<br />
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Result? They were kinda <i>fail</i>. Despite reading articles about it, my first attempt at macaron-making wasn't very successful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_9J7BqDPLyqTMep-WRLJ-ffvrjXhC_d8TPcM0DvbT2dsg_FHmWJZ2vNN-5I4DAE_FGDowGTygfRWliXRb1sKGjoACwrat1cXu19OlNCpuUj40uj8WlfX8_Eivr4OpXteFVr00z150B0/s1600/DSCN4614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_9J7BqDPLyqTMep-WRLJ-ffvrjXhC_d8TPcM0DvbT2dsg_FHmWJZ2vNN-5I4DAE_FGDowGTygfRWliXRb1sKGjoACwrat1cXu19OlNCpuUj40uj8WlfX8_Eivr4OpXteFVr00z150B0/s400/DSCN4614.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Regardless, it tasted fantastic. My friend (hi Janne!) from Melbourne and I made two types of filling: salty peanut butter and salted caramel.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">French Macarons</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recipe adapted from </span><a href="http://thewiveswithknives.blogspot.com/2010/05/pb-j-macarons-for-very-fancy-tea-party.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wives with Knives</span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">225 grams powdered sugar</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">125 grams almond flour </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">110 grams egg whites (3-4) left at room temperature for 1-2 days before using</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">30 grams superfine granulated sugar</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">food colouring (optional)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Method:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preheat oven to 150 degrees C.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Using a digital scale, measure the powdered sugar and almond flour. Sift the powdered sugar and almond meal with a medium sieve to remove any large or coarse bits. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Measure the egg whites with the digital scale and place in the bowl of an electric mixer with the whip attachment. Beat the egg whites and a pinch of salt on medium high speed until they form soft peaks. Gradually, in small additions, add the granulated sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. I beat the mixture about 3-4 minutes. When the egg whites are glossy, add food colouring and combine well.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Add about 1/3 of the almond/powdered sugar mixture to the egg whites and gently fold in. Add another third and fold, and finally add the last third. Keep folding until the mixture is well combined and falls in a slow ribbon from the spatula. Don't overmix.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Using a pastry bag with a large round tip, pipe the mixture onto a lined cookie sheet into approximately 1-1/2 inch disks. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After piping, tap the baking sheet on the counter to release any air bubbles, then allow the macarons to set at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before baking. You should be able to touch the top and not have it stick to your finger.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bake at 150 degrees C for 12 - 16 minutes. Slide the macarons with the parchment off of the cookie sheet and allow to cool on the counter. </span></span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Salty Peanut Butter Filling</span></b></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Recipe adapted from </span><a href="http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/2008/08/chocolate-macarons-and-tropical-storm.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cannelle et Vanille</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">125 grams creamy peanut butter</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">70 grams powdered sugar</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">25 grams softened butter</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">25 grams heavy cream</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5 grams vanilla extract</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 grams fine sea salt</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Method:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cream all ingredients together for a smooth filling.</span></span></li>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Salted Caramel Filling</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recipe adapted from </span><a href="http://www.syrupandtang.com/200712/la-macaronicite-4-fillings-flavours-frippery/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Syrup and Tang</span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">50 g sugar</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">23 g cream</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">35 g butter, cold, in cubes</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Method:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Place one third of the sugar in a small saucepan and heat very gently. After some time it will suddenly start to melt and go brown.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As soon as the sugar is liquid, add another third of the dry sugar and melt, stirring gently.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Repeat with the remaining sugar.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When the liquid sugar has reached a rich caramel colour (perhaps very soon after melting), add the cream in a thin stream. The caramel will bubble vigorously, so be careful.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stir and measure the temperature promptly. When the caramel reaches 108-110 C (this can happen very quickly!), remove from the heat and immediately add the butter.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stir well (or use a handmixer) until the caramel is smooth and has cooled somewhat.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Refrigerate the caramel. It will firm up after an hour or two.</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRK9OjB_k0jbdmruG6P_uusIQGtTEeCzxZrJoI7kUsMltH0FtG9ND4uI3176LTDeKFsi0gROnB0lRN1zXTZooAeX4ZVRUXWg9YyidICfQ7Lhu10ce1MmuAIxYJ4o9JFdd4FEafq7fGpY/s1600/DSCN4613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRK9OjB_k0jbdmruG6P_uusIQGtTEeCzxZrJoI7kUsMltH0FtG9ND4uI3176LTDeKFsi0gROnB0lRN1zXTZooAeX4ZVRUXWg9YyidICfQ7Lhu10ce1MmuAIxYJ4o9JFdd4FEafq7fGpY/s400/DSCN4613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.foodista.com/recipe/F4MKLMRR/macarons" style="-moz-border-radius: 2px; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; background-color: #c36c6d; border: 5px solid #C44F50; color: white; display: block; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; overflow: hidden; padding: 4px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0; width: 200px;" title="Macarons on Foodista"><img alt="Macarons on Foodista" src="http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_logo.png" style="border: none; float: right; height: 25px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 70px;" />Macarons<img src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/embed/z1.png?foodista_widget_F4MKLMRR_AAAAAAAA" style="display: none;" /></a>
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Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-80507518160266877802010-08-18T22:51:00.002+12:002010-08-21T19:34:30.675+12:00For the love of poptarts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I love poptarts but this is just too much:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pop-Tarts Sushi</b></div><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-sushi-thumb-500x333-105157.jpg" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mashed-up wildberry, raspberry, and blueberry Pop-Tarts wrapped in a fruit roll-up.</i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wild Berry Buckle Bar</b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-wildberrycrap-thumb-500x333-105158.jpg" /></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Pop-Tart crumb topping and Pop-Tart jam.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Grape Jam-Wich</b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-PB-thumb-500x333-105166.jpg" /></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Grape Pop-Tarts sandwiching PB and banana.</i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">But I actually wouldn't mind trying these:</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Blondie</b></span></span></div><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-pb-bar-thumb-500x333-105159.jpg" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Peanut butter blondie studded with chocolate chips and chocolate Pop-Tarts.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Caramel Green Apple Bars</b></div><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-apple-thumb-500x333-105161.jpg" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>With brown sugar cinnamon flavoured Pop-Tarts.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sticky Cinna Munchies</b></div><i><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-cinn-thumb-500x333-105162.jpg" /></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cinnamon roll dough with little cinnamon Pop-Tart bits and lots of icing on top.</span></span></i></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">his just looks wrong:</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>S'More Stix</b></div><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/08/20100810poptart-smore-thumb-500x333-105168.jpg" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Chocolate-covered marshmallows with S'More Pop-Tart bits.</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span></div><br />
<i>(All pictures from <a href="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/08/yes-we-ate-at-pop-tarts-world-in-times-square-new-york-midtown-42-street-manhattan.html">Serious Eats</a>)</i>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-33584488168913582692010-08-18T22:24:00.005+12:002010-08-18T22:27:37.174+12:00Top 10 cupcake tipsI tweeted about this <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2rbBMW/newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/08/how-to-make-cupcakes-cupcake-tips-butter-lane-new-york-city-nyc.html">article</a> I found on <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/">Serious Eats</a>.<br />
<br />
It would probably help explain some of our <a href="http://cupcakeshewrote.blogspot.com/2009/11/broken-butterfly-wings.html">not-quite-perfect</a> cupcakes.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 23px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Top 10 Tips For Better Cupcakes:</h3><i>Reposted from Serious Eats<br />
</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 22px;">1. Keep It Organized</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Use as few bowls and utensils as possible. I have the tendency to use a new spoon for each ingredient, but when all you want to do is eat your delicious cupcakes and you're faced with a sink overflowing with dirty dishes, it might discourage you from making cupcakes again in the future. Remember, all the ingredients are getting mixed together anyway. Measure the sugar and butter right into the bowl of the mixer; reuse bowls and clean up as you go along.</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Bookend With Dry Ingredients</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Whenever combining dry ingredients with liquid ingredients, start and end with the dry ingredients—it helps get the perfect consistency.</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Whip It Good</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When mixing ingredients in a stand mixer, put the mixer on max speed for the last five seconds.</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Add Gradually</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Add ingredients bit by bit, mixing between each addition, rather than dumping everything together then attempting to mix a mountain of ingredients. For instance, when making the batter, add one egg at a time, mixing briefly in between each addition.</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Keep It Even</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A key to successful cupcake-making is consistency. A consistent size is necessary to even baking (otherwise you will be stuck with a pan of cupcakes in which some are under-baked and others are over-baked). Rather than eye-balling your batter as you use a spoon or spatula, try using an ice cream scooper instead.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. High-Quality</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The best quality ingredients will result in the best taste. This may be a no-brainer, but it's worth it to use, for example, actual vanilla beans to flavor vanilla frosting. (After you have scraped the inside of the bean for the frosting, save the exterior and put it in a sugar canister: it not only perfumes the sugar, but gives it a hint of vanilla taste).</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Watch The Shine</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When mixing ingredients for the frosting, add the butter—and cream cheese, if the recipe calls for it—then begin adding sugar before the mixture becomes shiny. (Shininess means that the ingredients are starting to melt, and you want to add the sugar before that happens).</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Fully Mixed?</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To gauge whether frosting is sufficiently mixed, taste it for texture: it should be creamy rather than grainy. If it's grainy, keep mixing.</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9. The Bounceback</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Right out of the oven, the cupcakes should be able to take a bit of pressure from your fingers and still be able to bounce up. Cupcake tops may still be a little sticky right out of the oven, but they will continue to cook in the minutes after.</div><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Eat 'Em Up!</h4><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your cupcakes should be consumed within 48 hours for optimal taste. (This is probably no challenge for most of us. If you can't polish them all off, share!). Don't put your cupcakes in the refrigerator; it dries out the cake and the frosting loses its flavor. Keep them in an airtight container in a cool place in your home.</div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-84239439076209304992010-08-03T17:27:00.009+12:002010-08-07T17:09:47.644+12:00A result of procrastination<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xpkNYrssOuX6SheKkfowdIZgBpnCG981D54VDuBDP46p-V58FM0U_JVWvj2C7TfF5WYk5rr5iKUofI-B7eqQ9g-QS5eRhAEibQdkxBFuYdSZBvjf8paI-tHf662Bcanhs_3uQ6wmNlM/s1600/DSCN4497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xpkNYrssOuX6SheKkfowdIZgBpnCG981D54VDuBDP46p-V58FM0U_JVWvj2C7TfF5WYk5rr5iKUofI-B7eqQ9g-QS5eRhAEibQdkxBFuYdSZBvjf8paI-tHf662Bcanhs_3uQ6wmNlM/s400/DSCN4497.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Procrastination and general restlessness has led me to these delicious morsels. Whilst taking a break from studying (read: procrastination), I decided to bake something that was quick and easy. These bars fulfilled my baking urge on both counts, and on top of this, were scrumptious! </div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chocolate Walnut Shortbread</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Recipe adapted from </span></i><a href="http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/family-recipes/toffee-bars-made-easy"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Salad in a Jar</span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)</span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup plain flour</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 cup icing sugar</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 teaspoon salt</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 cup melted butter</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup dark chocolate chips </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/8 cup chopped walnuts </span></li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Method:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Line an 8-inch pan with baking paper. This is essential if you are to have any hope of getting the bars out of the pan without crumbling. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stir flour, sugar and salt together in small bowl. Pour in melted butter and stir. Use fingers to thoroughly mix butter with dry ingredients.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dump butter/flour mixture in to pan and pat down smooth. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle chips evenly over the surface of shortbread cookie base. Allow to sit until all chips are completely melted and soft.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Very carefully use a knife or back of a spoon to spread soft chips in an even layer. Sprinkle chopped, walnuts on top. Place in refrigerator until chocolate layer hardens. Remove cookies from pan carefully. Slice into 16 pieces.</span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Print-friendly recipe </i><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cupcakeshewrote/chocolate-walnut-shortbread"><i>here</i></a><i>.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2aY_IUJo-aaqYtb4IKneBrAUdw1Tm7LqYHGQvpNmsvnox9LFWzJ-NYQlJNWEwwRYEYtRPSkApiqy4rmzctpgFkHNRTLmbxkh2JGDjHpXpyCUi6Hlm7OqK2FfARood9xnBB_6ufDdCVU/s1600/DSCN4499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2aY_IUJo-aaqYtb4IKneBrAUdw1Tm7LqYHGQvpNmsvnox9LFWzJ-NYQlJNWEwwRYEYtRPSkApiqy4rmzctpgFkHNRTLmbxkh2JGDjHpXpyCUi6Hlm7OqK2FfARood9xnBB_6ufDdCVU/s400/DSCN4499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you look at the original blogger's posting, you'll find many variations to this recipe, such as 1/2 dark chocolate chips and 1/2 white chocolate chips which I should try out next time. The recipe is originally called "Toffee Bars Made Easy", but I couldn't detect a hint of toffee! This recipe took me under an hour to make, leaving me time to get back to studying (hmm). But the best thing about this recipe is that it only contains 96 calories. Quick, simple, delicious AND not so fattening? Score!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-ySVCTlTzNZfcrg2ka-1aPfJMsCbA8OK-TEUgYRATno0FYZ_SyIGp4p419va_RTH5_oniuOdS_ZvfEfAVALrRa85UG8yU-qiYtDmS7AM0tSsv5p4fxk_hYZSX_YrKZpdPWDvB1HZvzE/s1600/DSCN4488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-ySVCTlTzNZfcrg2ka-1aPfJMsCbA8OK-TEUgYRATno0FYZ_SyIGp4p419va_RTH5_oniuOdS_ZvfEfAVALrRa85UG8yU-qiYtDmS7AM0tSsv5p4fxk_hYZSX_YrKZpdPWDvB1HZvzE/s400/DSCN4488.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-62825713205266189642010-07-31T15:57:00.005+12:002010-08-12T22:03:53.299+12:00Voulez-vous quelque choses à manger?<div style="text-align: justify;">Damien hides drugs in a box of macarons and gives it to Jenny. Serena and Blair feed each other macarons while strutting about in Paris. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Macarons are becoming the most featured food item on <i>Gossip Girl</i>, second only to waffles. Waffles are featured in just about every episode of <i>Gossip Girl</i> that it might as well become a main character. Waffles supposedly symbolize innocence on the show, hence Rufus constantly forces Jenny to eat her waffles. Dan rejecting waffles from Rufus suggests that he has grown up and about to make his own decisions. Serena discovering that Nate could make waffles reflect on the end of their childhood and the realization that they've become more than friends. Nate guessing that Rufus' waffle iron broke down after noticing Serena's hunger uncovers a lie she told him. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And all of that suggests that I read too much into my favourite teen drama.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2156/blparis11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2156/blparis11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">More French pastries below. All pictures by <a href="http://www.chow.com/">CHOW</a>, click on the name to get the recipe.</div><h2 style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: large; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12px;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12px;"><h2 style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/28330" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Croq-Télé (Almond Cookies)</a></span></span></span></h2></span></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28330_croq_tele_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28330_croq_tele_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"></span></div><h2 style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/28324" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Chouquettes</a></span></span></span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28324_chouquette_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28324_chouquette_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"></span></div><h2 style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/28323" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Financiers</a></span></span></span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28323_financiers_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28323_financiers_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"></span></div><h2 style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/28335" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Croquants</a><br />
</span></span></span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28335_croquants_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28335_croquants_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"></span></div><h2 style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/28331" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Palmiers</span></span></span></a></h2><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28331_palmiers_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28331_palmiers_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"></span></div><h2 style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/28339" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">French Chocolate Macarons with Chocolate Ganache</span></span></span></a></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28339_macarons_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2010/04/28339_macarons_600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Gossip Girl image from <a href="http://forum.purseblog.com/celebrity-news-and-gossip/gossip-girls-leighton-meester-296570-89.html">PurseForum</a>. No copyright infringement intended.)</span></i></div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-69676126590436853742010-07-30T16:34:00.003+12:002010-07-30T16:39:14.353+12:00Foodgawker findsPhoto summary of today's listings that caught my eye on Foodgawker. Clicking on the images direct you to the blog with recipes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://runningfoodie.blogspot.com/2010/07/smores-bars.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="S'mores Bars" border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4813900832_630558df5a_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2010/07/29/birthday-bliss-double-chocolate-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting-and-raspberries/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://cdn.babble.com/family-kitchen/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Chocolate-Raspberry-Cream-Cupcakes.jpg" width="400" alt="Double Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Raspberries" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2010/07/29/paula-deens-symphony-brownies/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.recipegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Symphony-Brownies-4.jpg" width="308" alt="Symphony Brownies" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kokken69.blogspot.com/2010/07/cookies-and-cream-cheesecakes.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/4839791037_e368955f99.jpg" width="266" alt="Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2010/07/chocolate-peanut-butter-mousse-cups.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SQE60Y8r6hubuwP3T9hNfcKJ9kXEagmYm5uTr0v1QhYOPjlJ1fEBaxJTDuGNkAE0l9MbsAwgJLRuhnpRTbPEeCnQeKqEd2JbfKB6Y6n3k1bxtinxp4TDfRmuuCg9yf3PjWCQC71aVmYb/s400/pbmousse3.jpg" width="400" alt="Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Cups" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-91575604540259435822010-07-24T12:59:00.008+12:002010-08-01T15:24:07.606+12:00Auckland needs some cupcake shops<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/">Serious Eats</a> ran a review on the best cupcakes in New York City. <i>Sex and the City</i> has been credited as the show that ignited society's love affair with all things cupcake (cupcake shops, cupcake blogs, cupcake-printed objects, etc). Cupcakes have become so prolific that <a href="http://nym.ag/bVfuBn">reports</a> even claim that cupcakes are bringing the world out of the recession.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whether that is true or not, it is evident that cupcakes are more than just a fad. Which is why I find it surprising that Auckland doesn't have any cupcake shops. You can find local bakeries selling cupcakes, but I haven't come across any shops dedicated to selling just cupcakes, like Melbourne's <a href="http://cupcakeshewrote.blogspot.com/2009/07/little-cupcakes-in-melbourne.html">Little Cupcakes</a>, New York's Magnolia and Los Angeles' Crumbs. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rest of this post are excerpts from the Serious Eats <a href="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/07/the-best-cupcake-in-new-york-city-cupcake-shops-bakeries-nyc.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+seriouseatsfeaturesvideos+(Serious+Eats)">article</a>. Reading it makes you wonder who will step up and bring Auckland its first cupcake shop?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-buttercup-thumb-399x399-101453.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">12. </span></span><a href="http://buttercupbakeshop.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Buttercup Bake Shop</span></span></a></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: The </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolate</span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">from this long-time New York favorite got decent marks, with tasters commenting on a "very chocolatey" flavor. But the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">was ill-received, with notes of "crumbly cake" and "overly-sweet frosting." The</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red velvet</span></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">had "good cake flavor" but still, the frosting was too sweet. The cupcakes were of a decent size and cake:frosting ratio, but some of the flavors let us down.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-sweetrevenge-thumb-399x399-101460.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">11. </span><a href="http://www.sweetrevengenyc.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sweet Revenge</span></a></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Sweet Revenge, you had class. You were a strong contender, but unfortunately the vastly unbalanced cake:frosting ratio (too much cake) on these </span></span><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">giant</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> cupcakes was only underlined by the dry texture of both cake and frosting. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pure (Mexican vanilla)</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "grainy frosting," "dense cake," and was "too sweet." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dirty (chocolate)</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was something of a "brownie in disguise," but the cake was still dry; the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sweet Revenge (peanut butter chocolate)</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "big peanut hit," but the cake was "fell apart." And the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Crimson & Cream (raspberry cake, cream cheese frosting)</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had an "odd spice hint in cake," prompting one taster to say, "I just don't know what this tastes like."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-robicellis-thumb-399x399-101456.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">10. </span><a href="http://robicellis.tumblr.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Robicelli's</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: This Brooklyn-based cupcakery presents its goods at several cafes across the borough. There was some delicious potential here, but the dryness of the cake and overwhelmingly buttery frosting let us down. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">almond with vanilla buttercream</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "great almond flavor" in the frosting, but dry cake; the</span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">peanut butter</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "hard," "spongey" cake and the peanut butter flavor wasn't particularly discernible. Nor was the blackberry. Higher marks for flavor ideas than execution.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-sugarsweetsunshine-thumb-399x399-101459.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">9. </span><a href="http://sugarsweetsunshine.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sugar Sweet Sunshine</span></a></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: While we were hoping for more from one of the classic cupcakeries of NYC, the overall opinion was that these cupcakes were too darn sweet. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was "very sugary," although one taster noted that "the cake still comes through." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was "nice, a little almond-y," but some picked up on a "fake chocolate flavor." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pistachio</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was "mild, but yummy" for some, while others said there "wasn't much flavor." And the</span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">strawberry cheesecake</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (which, we should note, melted a little in the 95 degree heat) led testers to say that though it "looked sad," it "tasted yummy."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-tribeca-thumb-399x399-101462.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8. </span><a href="http://www.tribecatreats.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tribeca Treats</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: These cupcakes got pretty average marks amongst our finalists. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "creamy frosting, but too sweet." </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "sweet cake" that was "a little dry," but "intense." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red velvet</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had frosting that had a "nice cream cheesiness," a rare characteristic among the red velvets we tried. And the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla with strawberry frosting</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "good flavor" but grainy frosting, with a base that reminded us too much of cornbread.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-tonnis-thumb-399x399-101461.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">7. </span><a href="http://www.tonniesminis.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tonnie's Minis</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: This Harlem bakery has a major following, especially for their </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red velvet</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> cake, which we found had "delicious cake" that actually tasted like chocolate, but were saddened that "icing doesn't really taste like cream cheese." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla coconut</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "good textures" and "great cake," but some mentioned "overly sugary frosting." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was flavorful but a bit dry in the cake, and one taster noted that the frosting "tasted like it came out of a can." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lemon</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had some fans, though, with "strong lemony flavor" and a "sweet frosting that doesn't overwhelm."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-amys-thumb-399x399-101451.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">6. </span><a href="http://amysbread.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amy's Bread</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: These cupcakes remind us of our childhood. They had a classic frosting swirl presentation, and solid, unassuming flavors. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> frosting was a little "too sugary and sweet," but the cake was "moist" and "good." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Devil's Food</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "super fudge-y," "intense" frosting that was a tad heavy for the "dense, chocolatey" cake. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red velvet</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "fluffy," "cloudlike" frosting and a good cake. And the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">black and white</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "good cake," but frosting that tended towards "gritty" and "too sweet" for most tasters.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-kumquat-thumb-399x399-101455.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">5. </span><a href="http://www.kumquatcupcakery.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kumquat Cupcakery</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: If you've never seen Kumquat cupcakes before, it's because this mini-cupcake business currently only sells at the Brooklyn Flea or through mail order. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> prompted tasters to comments of "dry cake" and "[frosting is] a little too sweet." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dark chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was "very chocolatey," but still a little on the dry side. However, Kumquat won us over with </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">banana</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which was "sweet and banana-y" but not overkill. And the real winner of the bunch was the</span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">peanut butter banana honey</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which was "so flavorful" and "not too sweet." Overall, we would have liked more frosting, but these two-bite cuties are a show-stopper for presentation and adorable-ness factor.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-spot-thumb-399x399-101458.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4. </span><a href="http://www.spotdessertbar.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spot</span></a></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Pichet Ong's St. Marks location has a variety of intriguing desserts on offer, and their cupcakes are certainly for those who are interested in more adventurous flavors. For instance, we didn't get just plain vanilla—we got </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla yuzu lemon</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which had "creamy, smooth frosting" and "complex flavor" that screamed yuzu. The</span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">berry berry chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> "tastes more like raspberry than a raspberry," and kept up the "moist cake" standard. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolate green tea</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was definitely polarizing, but if you are a fan of matcha you will agree that this is a "perfect balance of flavor," with "moist and chocolatey" cake. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mocha caramel</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was probably our least favorite, with "grainier frosting" and "little coffee flavor." </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-chikalicious-thumb-399x399-101454.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3. </span><a href="http://www.chikalicious.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dessert Club Chickalicious</span></a></span></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: This bakery toes the line between regular and mini cupcakes, and the cake:frosting ratio tends to slant in the cake direction. But the flavors made tasters pretty happy across the board, and all the cakes had an extremely fluffy, spongey texture. The</span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "good vanilla flavor in the frosting," and was refreshingly "not a sugar bomb." The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "smooooth frosting," and a chocolate hit that wasn't overwhelming. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mocha</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "slightly dry cake," and frosting whose sweet creaminess reminded one taster (that'd be me) of </span></span><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/coffee-milk-rhode-island-state-drink-autocrat-eclipse-morning-glory-the-best-brand.html" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00a5e9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">coffeemilk</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. And the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">banana</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was the favorite of the bunch, with "intense banana flavor" but a "slight aftertaste."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-twolittleredhens-thumb-399x399-101463.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2. </span><a href="http://twolittleredhens.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Two Little Red Hens</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: We were very pleased with the consistent, tasty offerings from this wonderful Upper East Side bakery. The cupcakes were all very generously sized, with a good cake:frosting ratio. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "very buttery frosting" that was "not too sweet," and well-flavored cake. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brooklyn Blackout</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> chocolate cake is "for chocolate lovers," with a "very fudge-y" texture and a serious explosion of chocolate flavor. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red velvet</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had "delish" frosting that was appropriately "tangy and smooth," but less flavor in the cake. And the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">marble</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> had a "nice presentation" with the chocolate/vanilla swirl, but underwhelmed on flavor despite a "very moist, fluffy cake".</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/assets_c/2010/07/20100720-cupcakes-baked-thumb-399x399-101452.jpg" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 24px;"><span class="label" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1. </span></span><a href="http://bakednyc.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Baked</span></span></a></strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: If you're even remotely familiar with the baked goods scene, then the fact that Baked produces some excellent cupcakes won't come as a surprise. This Red Hook bakery makes some of the best goodies around, and their cupcakes delivered. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lemon drop</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was one of the overall favorites of the tasting, with bright flavors that reminded us of summer citrus and not jarred lemon curd. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> was a big pick for best of its category, in that it really "tasted like </span></span><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vanilla</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">" and had a light, fluffy texture. The </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chocolate</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> got solid marks for "excellent flavor," despite being more cake-y than fudge-y. And the </span></span><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #484848; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">sweet and salty</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a truly brilliant creation of a chocolate cupcake generously sprinkled with sea salt, made our tasters scream "wonderful"; "fluffy cake and frosting!"; and "wooooo, salty!" What more can you ask for?</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-17315599995317508392010-07-20T19:04:00.023+12:002010-08-01T15:25:21.302+12:00Junk inside your trunk<div style="text-align: justify;">This week's recipes are high in fat, sugar and all things bad for your body but heavenly for your taste buds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some days I feel like exercising restraint on my diet by feeding it with healthy foods, other times I feel like abusing it with cookies, cakes and chips.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today feels like the latter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nat and I had a <i>Gossip Girl</i> marathon and proceeded to consume chocolates, popcorn, chocolate caramel biscuits, Tim Tams, carrot cake, chocolate fudge Pop Tarts and chips. In addition to this, I've had white chocolate Kinder Bueno, Lindt dark chili chocolate, Lindt dark roasted almond chocolate and chocolate buttercream cake in the past 2 days. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I still feel like doing my digestive system some more damage. These recipes would be a good start.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Pretzel Cookies with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chips</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>From </i><a href="http://sugarcooking.blogspot.com/2010/07/pretzel-cookies-with-chocolate-peanut.html"><i>Sugar Cooking</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nVG9jciqtMTCZxOciHJd4WEpDed3Kvp2Xoz53iSN79kmfWnhTRYpJR_Kn66YccUSOdruNEm2ZJQlGVu9M9-yzKVuU53tDl7Gm1ZreVmZZYbOsxIkgYr8JkEZRnSxytrlVbsBqNCfdkw/s400/IMG_4850.JPG" width="399" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Oh peanut butter chips, why won't you come to New Zealand?! I long for you so. Nat and I were having a debate over whether <b>sweet and salty</b> was a good combination. She said no, I said yes.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mini Turtle Brownie Bites</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>From <a href="http://othersideof50.blogspot.com/2009/09/mini-turtle-brownie-bites-treats-for-co.html">The Other Side of 50</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXmxAJxDAegOm31if-6guDLuPn72Pxt1KYOlapWlz4fLHaO3jWJ8wFnw3bkzI-ng6K364sdRiKU-zwHSFAYiR9FbeK_XuNEfeDTHbI7p4MKnVtGULkRcn4W0hD-2jOfcbt74StPUCYEka/s400/browniebites3.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another topic Nat and I debated about over episodes of <i>Gossip Girl</i> was caramel. Turns out Nat doesn't like caramel. I've only recently began to form a liking for it. Either way, chocolate brownies with caramel sauce sounds damn good.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Cookies</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>From <a href="http://picky-palate.com/2010/07/08/snickers-caramel-cheesecake-cookies/">Picky Palate</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="296" src="http://picky-palate.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IMG_1421p.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The words in this recipe sound good on their own but better when strung together in a sentence. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Peanut Butter Honey Brownies</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>From <a href="http://sposu.blogspot.com/2010/07/peanut-butter-honey-brownies.html">Spoonful of Sugar</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="http://gouldtex.com/sos/images/pbhoney19.png" width="425" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">You can't have junk food without peanut butter of some kind. In this recipe it's in the form of brownies with a honey filled centre. I like to think the healthiness of the honey offsets the calorific nature of everything else in the brownies.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Baked Doughnuts</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>From <a href="http://www.howtoeatacupcake.net/2010/06/cake-doughnuts-baked-not-fried_29.html">How to Eat a Cupcake</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4746814940_b5f585f4a4.jpg" width="400" /> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Funny how this is the only recipe of the ones listed that I'm actually excited to make. The reason being is that I can finally make doughnuts without using a fryer! I've come to believe that baking is a healthier method than frying, so these baked doughnuts sit on top of my list of things to bake in the near future. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I feel like I've gained ten pounds just blogging about junk food. I've got to feed the fat kid inside of me!</div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9169580454887980868.post-12360556763324254032010-07-06T18:20:00.006+12:002010-07-16T23:18:16.960+12:00Recipes of the week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From </span><a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/06/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-balls/#more-2980"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Joy the Baker</span></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2010/06/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-balls/#more-2980" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4747574946_2e07f67d90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My first taste of cookie dough was in Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream, and ever since then, I've been hooked. Most of the time they taste delicious, albeit artificial, (like <a href="http://www.chocablog.com/reviews/kit-kat-chunky-cookie-dough/">Kit Kat</a><a href="http://www.chocablog.com/reviews/kit-kat-chunky-cookie-dough/"> Cookie Dough</a>) and sometimes I can't get over the rawness of it. When I tried Baskin Robbins' chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in Sydney, it had a really eggy taste to it that put me off. Still, I like the sound of cookie dough and any recipe with it always catches my eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nutty White Chocolate Blondies</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From </span></i><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/12131-nutty-white-chocolate-blondies"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chow</span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/12131-nutty-white-chocolate-blondies" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.chow.com/assets/2009/08/12131_blondies_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In five words: big chunks of white chocolate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From </span><a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2010/05/banana-chocolate-chip-muffins.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jamie Cooks It Up</span></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2010/05/banana-chocolate-chip-muffins.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgR9pQWpmI9QFLNiNRmy-5BjXaY2VLXkAhwpKaQtsEfMqUZSTKq42VTnaJ6ejYli-kSVndCqYSuvXODVmp169UzfXESwbFRwFZ3e6CwweR0ojJJGOcFvmM52zsBGVUWKtwDA_1zJZ9YM/s320/basket.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">What attracted me to this recipe was the use of mayonnaise to make these sweet muffins. I've heard of zucchini, chili and bacon used in chocolate recipes, but not <i>mayonnaise</i>. Apparently the mayonnaise gives the muffins a moist texture. The recipe even says you can substitute mayonnaise for salad dressing if you don't have a tub of mayo handy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Banana Caramel Cupcakes</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From </span></i><a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/cupcakes/banana-caramel-cupcakes/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bakers Royale</span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/cupcakes/banana-caramel-cupcakes/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Banana-Caramel-Cupcakes-Bakers-Royale-250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bakersroyale.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Banana-Caramel-Cupcakes-Bakers-Royale-250.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Continuing with bananas, these cupcakes look and sound absolutely delicious. There are a number of ingredients involved but these are readily available in your pantry (with the exception of heavy cream for the filling). This recipe seems similar to the <a href="http://cupcakeshewrote.blogspot.com/2010/07/banana-magnet.html">banana cupcakes</a> Natalie and I baked that were meant to be accompanied with a toffee icing. But this one is a lot harder to assemble, but I would presume to be a lot tastier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">David Leibovitz's Chocolate Chip Cookies</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From </span><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/04/david-lebovitzs-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe.html?ref=se-bb2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Serious Eats</span></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/04/david-lebovitzs-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe.html?ref=se-bb2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/images/20100419lebovitzcookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/images/20100419lebovitzcookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Chocolate chip cookies so famous it needs an equally famous chef's name in front of it. But I don't know who David Leibovitz is (although his name sounds familiar). I may have heard of him from watching Top Chef or this recipe has been circling around the food blogosphere. I think it's the latter. Everyday a recipe for chocolate chip cookies would feature on FoodGawker or TasteSpotting, with posters claiming theirs is the chunkiest, richest, sweetest, chewiest chocolate chip cookie. On the same site, there is a <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/06/what-are-the-best-chocolate-chips-brands-for-baking-cookies.html?ref=se-bb1">taste test</a> to see which are the best chocolate chips to use for chocolate chip cookies. To me, chocolate chip cookies are plain and boring, and are not something I would bake. But if it's <i>David Leibovitz's Chocolate Chip Cookies</i>, I just might.</div>Cupcake, She Wrotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14779481983579271195noreply@blogger.com0