jamie of all trades

cupcake pom poms

 i found some cupcake pom poms via pinterest of course!  i just had to make my own.

vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.  i used guittard semi sweet chocolate chips and i've officially decided they are the best!

new duck cupcakes

recently i made a dozen of the duck cupcakes for a baby shower coffey's mom was hosting.  i always want to try new things so i mixed it up a bit and did something a little different - green beaks!  but still cute as ever!

 

caramel frosting {salted too!}

last week i had a request for cupcakes with caramel frosting.  i've tried to make caramel before and royally failed.  i found a recipe that seemed fool-proof because you don't need a candy thermometer.  but you need to watch it, closely.  and full disclosure...it did take me three tries to get the caramel just right.  but it tasted amazing, new favorite flavor!

it starts out like this:

and you want to get it like this:

1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbls water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
{add 1 tsp salt to make salted caramel.}

briefly stir together sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  continue cooking, without stirring, until mixture turns dark amber in color, about 6 to 7 minutes.

 remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until completely smooth.  it will bubble up so stand back!  set aside until cool to the touch, about 25 minutes.

combine butter {and salt if you're doing salted caramel} in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  reduce speed to low, add powdered sugar, and mix until completely incorporated.

turn mixer off and scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add caramel.  beat frosting on medium-high speed until airy and thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes.  cover and refrigerate until stiff, about 45 minutes, before using.

a cupcake trio

...to end the week.  

chocolate/chocolate, red velvet and my new favorite caramel with chocolate.  i'll share the recipe next week.  it's amazing.  happy weekend!

bachelorette party + cupcakes shellys

what are cupcake shellys?  well, they are cupcakes for my friend michelle aka shelly!  she makes really good tacos and we call them tacos shellys.  so when i made cupcakes for her bachelorette party they're called cupcake shellys!  i made mini chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting, dyed green.  

in addition to cupcakes we did some wine tasting, rode a party bus but from the photos i took you'd think we were at a club in ibiza.

and then hit the rock box.  have you been?  it's private-room karaoke.  you get your own room and waitress for drinks...which leads to singing your heart out to whatever songs you please!  so much fun!  

congratulations, shelly!  

classic chocolate cake

i've been using the same chocolate cake recipe for a while now and although it's been good every now and then it doesn't come out right.  the other day the middles were sinking to the bottom!  so i tweaked my old recipe and have found the best version.  stake in the gound.  this is it.

{chocolate cupcake with vanilla frostind dyed pink.}

2 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil 
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk
2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour 
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup boiling water

preheat the oven to 350.  line 2 muffin pans with cupcake liners.

in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together sugar, cocoa powder and oil.   add eggs on at a time, mix togehter.  slowly add the milk and vanilla and continue to mix on medium low speed.  add in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in three separate batches.  slowly add the boiling water and mix on medium speed until the batter is smooth.

fill each muffin cup three-quarters of the way full with batter.  {i used a large ice cream scoop.  do not overfill, this batter really puffs up.}  bake for 20-25 minutes.  transfer to wire cooling racks, allow to cool for 30 minutes.  these cupcakes can be made two days in advance, store in an airtight container.

how i met your mother cupcakes

do you watch how i met your mother?  i love it.  i started watching when i had the swine flu and got hooked.  i always want to talk about it with someone but find only a select few watch...and it's so funny!  

luckily i have my friend john, a fellow himym watcher, recite quotes from the show, match our friends personalities up with characters on the shows {what?  that's normal, right?} and just talk about how awesome the show is.  it was johnny's birthday over the weekend and i made him some how i met your mother cupcakes and they were legen...wait for it...dary!

barney and his famous 'legendary' line!

marshal {lawyered} and lily {happy slaps-giving!}

ted {haaaaave ya met Ted?} and robin {slap bet!}

my personal favorite - robin sparkles {let's go to the mall...TODAY!}

the whole gang!  of course barney is front and center.

our mosby with ted mosby!

the birthday boy with his favorite.  barney says - god, it's me barney, what up?

do you watch?

 

 

red birthday cupcakes

...or the mushrooms from mario brothers?

i made these cupcakes for my friend rosie's birthday and the color red was just calling her name.  i topped the chocolate cupcakes with red frosting and white pearls and white round sprinkles.  then i noticed they kind of looked like the mushrooms from mario brothers.  ha!

baby shower cupcakes for twin boys

yesterday we celebrated my friend stacie and her twin boys arriving this winter!  i baked for the occassion - chocolate + chocolate cupcake with turquoise decorations.  i was a bonehead and forgot my camera so the iphone had to do. here are two photos i took with instagram. 

are we friends on instragram?  if not, follow me! @jsmcquary.

peach cupcake inspiration

every summer i make peaches and cream pie but this year i'm really inspiried to make some peach cupcakes...in addition to pie.  it's not summer until i make a peaches and cream pie.

Source: weekofmenus.blogspot.com via Jamie on Pinterest