Thursday, March 31, 2011

Eat a cupcake day!!!

I am still on a sugar high!!

Tuesday I baked two different treats in honor of this wonderful holiday - eat a cupcake day. My Candy Cupcake:



I blogged about the other day. I Just love these. And so easy to make when you have a Babycake Cakepop Maker.
My second one was a lemon lemon cupcake:


a lemon cupcake with a lemon cream cheese frosting. So yummy!! And just the right amount of lemon. Which makes me very happy because I thought I put way too much lemon extract in the frosting.
I love lemon. But not everyone does. That's also what's great about the Babycakes Cupcake makers. You can make a few of something for one person and something different for yourself. I did this for Thanksgiving this past year. My husband hates
Pumpkin pie (I don't understand this) but I love it and I haven't made one since we've been together. I'm certainly not going to make a whole pie for myself.
So now I'm able to make cherry mini pies for him and pumpkin mini pies for me. Perfect!
Hmmm... Now I want pie. :)
Happy snacking!!!

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

What are these you ask?







I have to admit - I've been dying to make these!!! They aren't my brilliant idea but one from the one and only Bakerella - the cakepop queen. But with the Babycakes Cakepop maker they are so much easier and the time is cut in half to make these little cuties!!
These adorable little cupcake cakepops are a cakepop on top of milk chocolate "liner" (made from a medium size peanut butter chocolate mold) then dipped in pink melting chocolate and topped with sprinkles.
I used the vanilla cakepop recipe from the Babycakes Cakepop maker booklet. Very yummy!!





Then as these cooled I melted the milk chocolate wafers in the microwave to make the "liners".
Right after you fill the chocolate mold place a cakepop ball on top and pressed down slightly.





This part can be tricky. Don't over fill or you will get a "lip". It's not awful and you can still trim the the extra chocolate off.





Place in freezer for about 10 minutes. BE PATIENT!! I wasn't and lost a few. Poor little things :(
Then melt the other chocolate melts that will be your "icing". I chose pink! Dip your cakepop and swirl around so you get an even coating and it meets the "liner". Then decorate as you like. I used colorful sprinkles. So cute and tasty too!!





Please note: these are easier if you work in batches because as the chocolate melts start to harden they get difficult to work with. I did six at a time. Hope you enjoy!
Happy snacking!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Cakepops

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Puppy pancakes!!

I really do use my Babycakes Cupcake Maker a lot!! I love not turning on my stove or oven and still being able to cook and bake.
These little pancakes are made from a regular pancake batter. I never understood "silver dollar" pancakes until now. These are so cute. And perfect for dipping in a side of syrup!!


I call these puppy pancakes because they are one of my dogs favorite treats!!


So obedient!! Not!!
Happy snacking!!

Location:Breakfasts, puppies

Friday, March 25, 2011

A new holiday to celebrate

A few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me an invite for March 30th. It's for "Eat a cupcake day!!!" What a great little holiday!! But I feel everyday is eat a cupcake day especially when you can make them so quickly in your Babycakes cupcake maker!!
So I'll be busy making two different cupcakes in honor of this day. Not sure what yet- though I am in the mood for lemon. Stay tuned!
But in honor of this day I thought these would be cute for "eat a cupcake day". I found these at Target! Love it!








Aren't they cute!!! And just in time for Wednesday's celebration!!
Happy snacking!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Cupcakes

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Cake pop update!

I LOVE my new cake pop machine!!!
I just finished the cake pops and they are sooooo good. And cute too.
I used the rest of the batter from this mornings donuts that I made. I am feeling a little under the weather so the last thing I wanted to do was make 4 dozen cake pops and have them just sit there with no one enjoying them. So I made a dozen just to play around. Not bad for my first attempt.





It's so easy to use. Just be careful not to over fill the wells. But since you are covering them with chocolate or a glaze don't worry about any mistakes or if you do have to trim some extra cake off the side. You won't see it.
I dipped my cake pops in melted chocolate chips. Regular melting chips would work better for they melt a little smoother I believe. I can't wait to really start using this and coming up with flavor combinations - like carrot cake with a cream cheese filling dipped in white chocolate or a lemon cake pop with raspberry filling (I LOVE the filling injector) dipped in a lemon glaze. It's endless!
Happy snacking!!


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Cake pops and donuts, oh my!!!

So last week for my birthday I received the Babycakes Cake Pop maker from my husband!!!
Love love love love it!!!
I know I will eventually buy all the treat makers but I really wanted this one first. Why??? If anything because of this:





A filling injector!!! OMG!!
I also wanted the Cake pop maker to jump on the cake pop bandwagon. They are "popping" (that's bad) up everywhere. Even Starbucks has them now. But please note - the Babycakes Cake pop are different from the other form of cake pop, or cake truffle, out there.
The Babycakes Cake pop is just that - a round piece of cake on a lollipop stick. While the other cake pops or truffles are made from cake (fully cooked) and mixed with frosting so you can shape into - well - pretty much what ever you'd like them to be. One great site to visit is Bakerella.com. It's amazing what she has done for the cake pop industry. Both are coated with candy melts or a glaze.
I favor the Babycakes version because they won't be as sweet as the truffle kind. Plus I also wanted the cake pop maker to make mini donuts. Which is what I did this morning!!
I used a box yellow cake mix - it was easy and I just had to see if it would work. Which it did quite nicely. I have to get use to filling these wells just right but my first batch of donuts came out great. I filled them will raspberry jelly.


(yummy) and rolled them in powered sugar.


I may never visit Dunkin donuts again!!
The Babycakes Cake pop maker also comes with: a cake pop stand for cooling, a two-pronged fork to safely remove the cake pops from the maker, the filling injector, cake pop sticks, and a recipe booklet. I'll be trying out one of the many recipes from the booklet later today. Stay tuned!!
Happy Snacking!!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

St. Patty Day "Sam"rocks

HaPpY St. PaTrIcK's DaY!!!

Being that I am half Irish (with the other half being Russian) I feel the need to celebrate this holiday by wearing green, decorating my house with shamrocks and eating corned beef - minus the cabbage.

So in honor of this holiday I wanted to come up with great little appetizer. St. Patty Day "Sam"rocks!! Little corned beef and pastrami sandwiches (for hubby who doesn't like corned beef) with toasted rye bread, thousand island dressing or mustard and swiss cheese. Yummy!!

What you need:

Rye bread
Sliced corned beef
Sliced pastrami
Sliced swiss cheese
Thousand island dressing
Mustard
Olive oil
Shot glass or biscuit cutter

First cut your rye bread using either the shot glass or biscuit cutter. Brush each side with the olive oil.








Place bread rounds into your babycakes maker and grill - about 5 minutes each side.

After these are a nice golden brown spread either thousand island dressing (for the pastrami) or mustard (for the corned beef) on the top of the bread rounds. Put some pastrami or corned beef on top of the dressing then a little slice of swiss cheese. Use as little or much of the above ingredients as you like.
Grill for a few more minutes until the cheese has melted. Take out and enjoy.






Happy (St. Patrick's Day) Snacking!!
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A much needed break

I've had my own business forever.
As I stated in my last post I started my first business when I was 6 years old making, well what I thought, greeting cards. I still remember this one lady in my neighborhood buying my whole supply and I thought I was a success!! And what did I do with all my money? Spent it all on candy! Well I was only 6!!
Later after college I started a wedding and party favor company called Favorables. Which grew to Just in Case Gift Kits - wedding emergency kits to Quickits - fun emergency kits. I like kits.
But the last few months, well have been the first few months I haven't had a business. Stuff just happens and life points you in a new direction I suppose. It hasn't always been easy - in fact it's been anything but easy. But it's allowed me to focus on other things like this blog and making great snacks and treats. And now I have a group of wonderful followers who too share my passion.
I am also in the process of starting a new business. It's in the very early stages and you'll be the first to know so stay tuned.
A little hint - it has to do with the Babycakes treat makers and this little bow.


Happy snacking!!


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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Versatile Blogger Award


I'm such a newbie to this whole blogging thing. I didn't even know you could get "awards" for blogging. But you can and I did!!! I have thank Jennifer from one of my favorite blogs Vintage Gwen - http://www.vintagegwen.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much!! I'm really honored.

So this is how it works:

I share 7 facts about myself and then give the award to 7 other wonderful bloggers to join the fun. So here we go:

1. Today's my 40th birthday!!

2. I started my own business - making greeting cards - when I was 6 years old.

3. I was in the Connecticut Grand Opera when I was a child. I love to sing!

4. I love mini foods- mini hamburgers, mini cupcakes, mini anything!!! That's why I started my blog!!

5. I love the Thanksgiving Day parade - it's the day Santa "arrives" and I put my Rudolph antlers and red nose on my car. I have bunny ears and nose too!



6. I love retro style - clothing, make up, hair styles and music.

7. My husband and I have two wonderful "dogers" or "fur babies - Spike and Elphaba.



And here are my 8 blogs I am awarding:

Cupcake procedure -
cupcakeprovocateur.blogspot.com
Jadite Kate - jaditekate.blogspot.com
Little sooti - littlesooti.blogspot.com
Cupcake social -
www.thecupcakesocial.com/blog
Miss priss - http://www.mrspriss.com/
Baked by Rachel - http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/
Pink Cherry Momma - http://www.pinkcherrymama.com/pinkcherrymamas_daily_tid/
Josiahs nest - http://josiahsnest.blogspot.com/


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Friday, March 11, 2011

Pizza Rolls

So you thought I was joking about the pizza thing in my household? Nope.
These are a variation of the popular pizza rolls you can buy in the frozen food section. Not that these aren't totally delish but they probably aren't the best thing for you to eat for they are fried. These are made with wonton wrappers and baked in your little Babycakes cupcake maker. Makes 16 rolls.

What you need:

16 Wonton wrappers
1/2 cup Tomato sauce
1/4 Mozzarella cheese;
shredded
1/4 Parmesan cheese; grated
Italian seasoning
Garlic power
Olive oil
Cooking spray for Babycakes wells
Water for sealing wonton wrappers

What you do:

Mix tomato sauce, cheeses, and spices together in a bowl. Set aside.
Pour a little olive oil in a small bowl. You don't need a lot.
Next take one of the wonton wrappers. Using your finger dab a little oil on each side of the wrapper. Next add a 1/2 of tablespoon of filling in the center of each wrapper.






Fold over one side of wrapper and then the next side and seal with water. Then dab the sides with water to seal and cut the ends so it looks like a pizza roll. See photo below.






Make up the other rolls. Spray each well of your cupcake maker and put the rolls inside.
Cook 10-12 minutes turning every few minutes so each side gets a nice golden brown.






Take out and enjoy!

You'll notice that I tried other ways of wrapping each pizza roll but the rolled way I show above tasted the best. Perfect amount of wrapper for the amount of filling.
Happy snacking!!

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

How to have your house smell like a pizza parlor?

Make little fresh tomato and onion mini pizzas!!!









Ok if you haven't figured it out by now - we love pizza in our household!! A lot!!!
We have it every Friday (on a cycle of frozen, homemade, and takeout) and I make little mini ones - like the recipe below- all the time. These are different from my deep dish pizza. These are made with pie crust but you can make these with pizza dough too. Just roll out with flour and cut with a shot glass.

What you need:
Pie crust
Olive oil
1/4 cup tomato; chopped
1/4 cup onion; chopped
I usually sauté my onions but tonight I wanted to make these quick so I didn't. Either way is good
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Italian seasoning

What to do:

Roll out the pie crust (defrost if necessary.) Using a shot glass cut 16 circles. These will fit perfectly in the Babycakes cupcake maker wells. Brush on a little olive oil on each crust. Toss on the onions, tomato, cheeses and seasoning. I like a lot of cheese on mine but use what you like.








Cook for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Take out and enjoy!
Happy snacking!!






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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wait to you see what I found!!!

So yesterday I received an email from Select Brands - the company that makes the wonderful Babycakes Cupcake Maker!! They love my blog ( how sweet!! :) but they had some wonderful news they wanted to share with me and all the other Babycakes cupcake makers out there. Are you ready for this!!!!

Introducing the Babycakes Cupcake Maker WEBSITE!!!
http://thebabycakesshop.com/

I'm so excited!! Wait to you see what they have!!! They are launching new machines (cakepops, donuts, and woopie pies!!!) and accessories. The site also has recipes and we as babycake followers can add our own too!!!

I'm so excited I can't think straight!! Dj and Eric - I think you know what I mean!!

Enjoy!!!

Happy snacking!!!!

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