Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Deluxe version of Monkey Cupcakes for B-day Boy

Decided to give the monkeys a make-over for the b-day boy's actual birthday.

I like the fuzz.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Cupcakes for Monkey Boy's B-Day

September is the time of year we turn to all things monkey...what am I saying, we are always about the monkey. But especially for Estevan's bday. Made these sweeties up for his class tomorrow. I think they'll enjoy.

I used Nilla Wafers for the nose (original size) and minis for the ears (snip the ends off with kitchen shears so they fit flush). Markings on nose made with edible markers. Eyes are mini marshmallows snipped in half with a chocolate chip poked in tip first. Couldn't be easier.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

An Oldie but a Goodie!

These are great when you need a quick, easy cookie. Four ingredients!
Here they are:
Cake mix (any flavor)
1 egg
1/4 c oil (I use canola)
1/4 c water

That's it! 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

I used a cherry chip mix for this batch and added M&M's to the top just for fun.

I use my small icecream scoop and get about two and a half dozen out of the batch.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Pumpkin Muffins

Fall is in the air...can you smell it? Time to break out the pumpkin! Be forewarned however, at this time of the year, it is difficult to find in stock at most stores. Stores usually don't start carrying regularly until the end of September, beginning of October. So if you are lucky enough to find some, stock up! And then bring me a can, won't ya? ;) 
This muffin was kind of a fluke, but a yummy discovery. I had heard of mixing a spiced cake mix with a can of pumpkin to make muffins and wanted to try it, but all I had was a box of Pillsbury Sugar Free Yellow cake mix that I had purchased to try.
I am a skeptic when it comes to taking the sugar out of my sweets and claiming that they still taste great, but since it was all I had I tried. To replace the spice, I also added a few tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice. Ok, I added three of four, but my spice was cheap and not very flavorful. The end result...heaven! So yummy, moist and pumpkiney, is that a word? If not, it should be! I added a few chocolate chips just to the top to add some sweet, but not enough to damage the "sugar free" of the cake mix. I had eaten a couple (yea right) when I remembered that they were semi-sugar-free and they still tasted great! Who knew?

So to recap...here is the recipe:

Cake mix, 15 oz. can 100% pumpkin (not pie filling), Pumpkin pie spice (to taste),
plus a few semi-sweet chocolate chips to sprinkle on top before baking.
350 degrees for 17 minutes.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Latest Teddy bear Cake pan Escapades

This August a friend of mine had a b-day party for several family members, since all of them were “Leo’s”, we decided a lion was the way to go.  Since one of the b-days boys was turning one and not to tolerant to dairy, we decided to keep his cake frosting and mostly decoration free, so the small teddy bear cake pan was actually used as a teddy bear, (I think the first time ever!) A few easily removed fondant pieces and the b-day boy could smash in style without any nasty repercussions.

Loved the Leo cake, easily one of my favorites, before his main he was a pretty smashing cougar too, think I may have to make a cake one of these days for my own alma mater.  With dark fudge cake and peanut butter and chocolate frosting, he tasted pretty good too!

He's Baaack! More Tales of the Teddybear Cake Pan

 
Continuing our chat on the Teddy bear cake pan…
The teddy bear cake pan has been working overtime at my friend Katherine's house and I wanted to show you all of the lovelies that she has created with it. Each work of art represents a rival football team to her beloved USC, Katherine and her fellow Trojans then take great joy in impaling the cute cake with their traditional sword at each home-game tailgate party. Great fun, good football, but more importantly awesome cakes! 









And how darling are these b-day cakes???

 

Lost in Cyberspace


4th of July cake pops, just found this photo. These were so good! Did my normal cake pop thing, but added Rum (just flavoring my friends) although you could add the real too. ;) and voila...
instant rum ball on a stick. So yummy! I added blended maraschino cherries in the next batch for an even more traditional rum ball taste. (Yes, there was a next batch) The kiddoes loved them and thought they were delightful “bubblegum” flavored. If that’s what they want to believe great, bring on the bubblegum!