Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Make-Your-Own Ceramic Letters


Found this great tutorial from Lestaret for making your own ceramic letters. For those whose hands are itching to make something this coming weekend.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Cupcake Disaster?

Batter


I don't know what came over me when I told my sister-in-law that I'll make the cupcakes for my niece's baptism party. I guess I forgot that I didn't have an electric mixer and that my electric oven can only accommodate a maximum of 12 cupcakes at a time, and that my cupcake pan's capacity is just 6. I woke up the next day barely able to lift my arm from mixing batter for 60 cupcakes.

Pink Sleeves


With everything considered, it wasn't a total disaster. The cupcakes turned out nicely, a bit dense for my liking, but they were tasty little suckers. The only thing that didn't fare well was the frosting. I used the store-bought kind as I knew I'd be strapped for time, and it melted into a gooey, sticky mess come party time.

Good and Bad


Here's my ever-reliable vanilla cupcake recipe from Chockylit (don't you miss her? I super do) who got it from Magnolia Bakery cookbook:

Vanilla Cupcakes from The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
12 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Beat butter on high until soft, about 30 seconds.
2. Add sugar. Beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beat for 30 seconds between each.
4. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl.
5. Measure out milk and vanilla together.
6. Add about a fourth of the flour to the butter/sugar mixture and beat to combine.
7. Add about one third the milk/vanilla mixture and beat until combined.
8. Repeat above, alternating flour and milk and ending with the flour mixture.
9. Scoop into cupcake papers about half to three-quarters full (depending on whether you want flat or domed cupcakes).
10. Bake for 20-22 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.

Packed and Stacked

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Eliza Frye, Will You Marry Me?


I am achingly enamored by Eliza Frye and her work, I want to marry her even if I'm female, straight and happily married. I can't stand looking at her work for too long because I ache with the beauty she produces -- I'm not even kidding. She sells hand-printed mini books, her paintings and other beautiful stuff. I want, I want.