my attempt at basketball cupcakes

Apple Cupcakes

Flaky Apple Pie

This I made really quick.  The apples are cooked in butter, brown sugar, lemon juice & a little all spice (couldnt find my nutmeg & cinnamon).  I cooked it until it all melted and soft then I added flour to thicken it.  Not a good idea. My nana says that if you're going to add flour for a thickener, do it while everythings cold so there are no lumps.  I did manage to get all the lumps out & covered it so the apples could soften.  I layed a few sheets of phyllo dough on the bottow of the pan (butter between each layer)and then tucked a few on top and tried to ruffle them as best as I could.  It tasted great. The lemon in it just gave it a different taste to apple pie that I wasn't used to.  I would definitely try this again!

Long Journey to Food 4 less :)

So yesterday I told my Nana that I wanted to learn how to make greens. So after our trip to Michaels ,we stopped at Food 4 Less and picked up some Collards,turkey neck/wings & ham hocks & fresh Tilapia.  I grabbed a few apples & peaches as well so I could make a fresh apple pie and peach cobbler.  When we get home I felt like I was a little kid ..watching her every mood and asking a million questions.  So now I would say I am a certified greens expert! (not really) but I will be :)  .. We coated the fish in corn meal and seasoning , and fried them.  When everything was done we cooked us a sweet potato and made our plates.  EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! Might of been the best I've ever had?   hmmm  , (sorry mom, have to give credit to the original) 

Trip to Michaels

Heres Everything I got :

1. Cake comb
2. Bucket (yes bucket) of Wilton's white decorating frosting
3. measuring cups & spoons 
4. paint brushes  (small size)
5. chocolate cup mold
6. Wilton's butter cream frosting mix
7. Candy Melts (white and milk chocolate)
8. Wilton Practice Board (for icing)
9. cake leveler
10. Stickers that say "Home Made"
11. Wilton's Designer pattern press set
12. Edible Markers

phewww!  and food 4 less was right next door.  :)

Mixed Berry Tart

This was very easy to do.
I saw it on the Pillsbury website.
All you need is a can of crescent roll biscuits , some vanilla pudding mix & pie filling & some fresh or frozen mixed berries.


I took chunks of the dough rolled it in a ball then rolled it out with a glass jar (cant find rolling pin) and put them in my Texas sized cupcake tin. I flattened the dough on the bottom, then smushed it up the sides to form a cup.  I cooked it for 8 minutes when I took it out it was all puffed up & looked nothing like a cup, so I got a small measuring spoon flattened the bottom and sides to reform the cups and cooked it for 5 more mintues. Let it cool then added the pudding & put it in the fridge.  After that I got my frozen mixed berries . sprinkled them with sugar put them in the microwave for like 10 seconds added more sugar then put them on top of the pudding.

Double Vanilla Cupcakes With Lavender Buttercream Frosting

Cupcakes:
3 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
12 tbs (3/4) cup of unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 lg eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
2 tsp vanilla ( I didn't measure)

Preheat oven to 350.   In a medium bowl mix dry ingredients throughly.  In a mixing bowl beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Then add eggs 1 at a time.  Then beat in vanilla.  (I did about 1/4 cup of double strength vanilla , you'd do better eye balling it) .  after you've done that beat in dry ingredients slowly.  (a little at a time).  Until thoroughly mixed.  Make sure to scrape the sides in between mixing.  Fill cups half full (batter will be somewhat thick). & Bake for 12 minutes.



Frosting:
I started out making a regular buttercream frosting

you need 1 cup of butter, softened
1 cup of granulated sugar
4 tbs of all purpose flour
1 cup of milk
1 tsp vanilla extract (once again , I used more)
1 tbs crushed lavender
red food coloring
blue food coloring
purple sugar crystals

The first thing I did was, with a mortar and pestle crush the lavender, to be sure all the flavor is released when you put it in the milk.  I poured the milk and then the crushed lavender in a sauce pan and cooked on low for about 15 minutes. until the lavender scent became somewhat strong. (do not overdo the lavender, it will overpower the frosting & the oils will effect how the frosting comes out)  When it is done strain out the lavender, put milk back in the pan and add the flour. keep it on LOW.  It takes a while to thicken, but make sure to keep stiring.While you are waiting on that, in a mixing bowl mix together the sugar and butter until fluffy , then add vanilla mix well , then add the lavender flour mixture.  blend well. (it should be sort of thick & creamy)  I added 3 drops of blue food coloring and 2 red.  I wanted it to be a real faint purple .  Then I sprinkled the top with sugar crystals



DO NOT REFRIGERATE FROSTING! 
I refrigerated the frosting to use the next morning and in the pictures you can see , it made my frosting all discombobulated.   When I first made the frosting it was perfect.  so I dont suggest refrigerating the frosting for more than 5 minutes, depending on how cold the fridge is.  I think once the cupcakes are frosted , n put in the fridge itll be okay but dont refrigerate the frosting by itself, The oils from the butter & lavenders changed the consistency

Vacation In The Valley

I've been keeping my Nana company in Pomona since sunday. My Aunt Liz & Aunt Barbara are helping me :).  We've been having a great time! anywho I didnt get to do any actual cooking until today.  I made a White Chocolate Cake with lemon cream filling.  Using my new baking utensils!!  It tasted great but I did have a little trouble.  The cake release that I've heard so much about didn't work as good as I thought it would (I used too little) . the sides of my cake stuck to the pan.  I covered up the mess with Mascarpone frosting.  It was all yummy. The cake came out like a poundcake and the frosting with the fresh lemon & everything was just "mmm".   I would definitely make this cake again.

Saturday Mornings are the best!

When I used to live with my dad I would wake up early and cook the whole family breakfast EVERY Saturday.  But I don't really do that anymore. Mainly because I'm not hungry in the morning and because I'm the only one who's up around that time but this morning I'm babysitting my nephew so I decided to make us hash browns and strawberry shortcakes!!!    I sliced up strawberries and put them in this sour cream, sugar and cream cheese mixture then spooned it in the biscuit. yum.

One Day = Sooo much!

I have decided to give up on the fondant until.. A) I buy the store bought one or B) I have been properly trained.
I had some cake drama yesterday with laying the fondant over the cake. First it was too little of an amount, then it was too dry (kept cracking).  It was just a big mess & I couldn't even bare to look at it . .so now it is sitting in my sisters fridge til' further notice!! :). I did however, take a trip to Michaels and see a bunch of  cake decorating things,  fondant included so I might give that a shot some time in the future.  Later that day I made monkey bread, which is just like a sticky bun?  but a bunch of balls covered in sugary yummy goodness and you pull it apart.My nephew Kaleb's taste testing for me   & after that I covered some cake balls my sister had made, in white chocolate.   Those came out good and helped me get my mind of the fondant :)  .