No power = No Babycakes

Who has ever heard of a snow storm before Halloween??? Well we had one in Connecticut yesterday and we lost power TODAY!!!! Needless to say I'm a little mad at mother nature and my power company.
So there will be no Babycakes recipes made today. I did try to use it in my car with my car power charger - but it doesn't work. :(
I have SO much to bake so I'll keep you posted on my power situation during the week. Oh but here's a sneak peek:





Happy snacking!!

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Apple Cherry Oatmeal Cookie Crisp

Well my hubby and I (and puppies too) are at the end of our wonderful vacation. It was a great week visiting family and friends and the weather was
perfect for Fall - sunny crisp days and chilly nights.
So that is what inspired my recipe for today. Plus I have so much apple and cherry pie filling left over from making my pie cookies - if you can believe it! No I didn't eat them all. Pretty close though.
I also had oatmeal cookie dough in my pantry. Hmm.....
Can an apple crisp be made in Babycakes cupcake maker?
Yes indeed!

What you need:
Oatmeal cookie mix (or from scratch) and ingredients
Apple pie filling
Cherry pie filling
About 1/3 cup each filling
Pam cooking spray
Cupcake liners

What you do:

I had to experiment a bit to see what would work best. So I made up the cookie dough per the directions on the package.
Then I made the crisps three different ways:


1. With a cupcake liner sprayed with Pam. Here I used the dough like a pie crust - some on the bottom and sides. Then added some apples and cherry pie filling and then some dough on top. This took a little time to get the dough to stick to the sides but was doable.
2. Like the first except with out the cupcake liner. I did use Pam so it would come out easier.
3. With a cupcake liner but here I only put the dough on the bottom, added the pie fillings and then added some dough on top.
I cooked each about 10 minutes
or until the cookies were just golden brown but not over cooked.

Results:

All three were great. I would recommend using the liner though. The one without the liner came out ok but was a bit messy. And the ones with the liners come out of the liners perfectly.
Add some vanilla ice cream and enjoy!




Happy snacking!!!!

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Treat pop tray and vacation week

I finally have figured out how to combine my loves - Babycakes treats and my Etsy shop Buttercup Marketplace.
Introducing the Treat Pop tray.



A beautiful hand painted (in your choice if color) wooden tray with a styrofoam insert for displaying your cake or pie pops or the newest craze push pops.
And you can remove the insert to use the tray for other treats too from mini cupcakes or treat bags full of goodies or to serve beverages. Great for weddings, birthday parties or Halloween dessert tables.
See my Buttercup Marketplace shop for more details.

Well my husband and I (and our puppy dogs) are on away on vacation this week. So there is no new recipe for me to share today. We are up early to get to the Washington Redskins game. But this got me thinking about tailgating snacks (ok I'm always thinking about snacks really doesn't matter what type they are). What are your favorite football time snacks?
Don't worry- I'll be back mid week with a recipe to share.
Go team!!

Happy snacking!


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Test Kitchen: Whoopie pie maker

Happy Sunday everyone!

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. As you all know I love get "double duty" out of my Babycake treat makers. Nothing upsets me more when people say "it's just a cupcake maker". Ugh!! No no no!! These treat makers are SO much more than that.
So this morning while lying in bed instead of sleeping I was thinking - yes about my apple pie cookies. But also what else could I make in my Whoopie pie maker.
Of course!!
Quesadillas!!! Oh my!!!
So needless to say I was up at 8 am making quesadillas.
Again super easy - love!!
And very yummy!! Also love!!

What you need:

4 Flour tortilla shells
1 10 inch shell will yield 6 to 7
circles.
Olive oil
Fixins':
Cheese, chicken, green onions, olives, diced tomatoes, anything you like
Round cookie cutter the size of the Whoopie pie maker well
Sour cream
Salsa

What you do:

Cut your tortilla shells with your cookie cutter. Brush with the olive oil. Place in your Whoopie pie maker.




Cook about 2 to 3 minutes and flip and cook for 1 more minute.
Add your cheese, chicken, etc...
Not too much (though if only doing cheese I would add more. I love melted cheese ;)
Continue to cook about 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.




Take out, add your sides, and begin munching!! (what was I thinking with only making 3????)

Happy snacking!

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A great giveaway!!!

While I don't usually advertise my business -  buttercup marketplace - on my Snackgri-la blog - this giveaway was too good to not tell you all about it!!
See below for details on how to enter:


A few days ago I posted a photo at xobuttercup.blogspot.com from this amazing little girl's, Ella, 1st birthday party. Well if follow the link below you'll read all about the wonderful details and how you can win a wonderful giveaway filled with amazing vendors from the party valued at $600.00 dollars which includes a $25 gift certificate to Buttercup Marketplace!!! Good luck!
http://www.itwontbelikethisforlong.com/

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Snacking!!

xo,
buttercup (karen)

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New products and Apple pie cookies

While at work the other day we received a shipment of new a Babycake brand product: PIE POP MAKER!!!!





It's the cutest little thing!! And it's PINK!! Anything on a stick is just so cute.
Babycakes is also coming out with a heart shaped mini waffle maker and a mini pie maker (think pot pie size). I think I need a bigger kitchen!!! Check all of the products out at www.thebabycakesshop.com.

So while looking at the pie pop maker I was thinking I could make something similar in my Whoopie Pie maker. Now mind you really can't add a stick to these as you can in the pie pop maker (there is a cut out for the stick to rest) but I also love to get double duty out of products.
So I am calling these Apple Pie cookies.
So super easy, quick and delish!
I am very happy with how these come out and you will be too.

What you need:
I took the easy route:)

1 can of apple pie filling
1 pre made pie crust
1 egg
Flour
Wax paper
Rolling pin

What you do:

Put two sheets of wax paper down as lightly flour the sheets. Place your pie crust down and roll out - just a little not to thin.





Next using a cookie cutter similar to the size of the wells of the Whoopie pie maker cut out 24 circles. Note: I had to reuse the scraps and reroll the dough to get the amount but you can get 24 circles from 1 of the 2 pie crusts that come in a box.
Next open the pie filling and on a plate take about a 1/3 of a cup of filling and cut the apples up in to little pieces.
Place 12 circles in the Whoopie pie maker. Add about a 1/2 teaspoon of filling to each them and then top with the other pie crust circle.





The next step is very important. Go around each of the pies and press the pie crusts together with your fingers. Now go back to each with a lollipop stick to seal a little more and make the little ridges like a real pie.




Then crack open the egg and separate the whites from the yolk. Mix up the whites a bit and brush over the pie crusts. Plug in the Whoopie pie maker and let them bake.
These cook in about 12 minutes.
Please note my pie crusts did start to separate and a little of the filling was trying to escape at about minute 7. But all I did is go around and reseal a bit. They are very forgiving.
Take out and enjoy!



Now I just need some vanilla ice cream. :)

Happy snacking!
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Babycake cookbook

Well now I know I have been busy - for I just purchased my copy of the Babycake cookbook the other day.





This book is amazing!! 175 recipes!! I don't know where to begin. It has great desserts, breakfasts, lunches and dinner recipes as well as great snacks.
However I am still in a cheesecake craze so it will be one of those - probably pumpkin now that fall is here (yet feels like summer again). But mine will be with a gingersnap cookie crust and cinnamon whipped cream. YUMMY!!!

On to the kitchen to test some recipes!!

Happy Snacking!!

Cheesecake brownie bites

Since I have finally made the perfect little cheesecakes in my Babycake cupcake maker I'm on a little bit of a cheesecake kick.

I've been wanting to make these for a while and I'm so glad I did!
These are very decadent but delicious!!
One note in making these - timing is very important - as I suppose it always is when you're cooking.
But with these you don't want to over cook the brownie. They have to be semi cooked so you can add the the cheesecake batter so both will finish cooking together.

I have to admit I used a mix for the brownies. Sorry. But it is easier.

What you need:

Brownie mix of choice and ingredients to make them

8 oz. Cream cheese - room temp.
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 teas vanilla

What you do:

Make the brownie mix according to the directions on the box.
Set aside.
Make the cheesecake batter.
Mix the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla in a medium size bowl. Set aside.
Put the paper liners in the Babycake cupcake maker. Spray each well with cooking spray so the cheesecakes won't stick.
Add about a teaspoon of the brownie batter to the liners. Cook for about 4-5 minutes - NOT all the way.


Now add about a tablespoon of cheesecake batter top the semi cooked brownies. Cook another 4-5 minutes until the cheesecakes are cooked. Take out and chill in the fridge overnight.
Enjoy!



Happy snacking!





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In remembrance

We will always remember - September 11, 2001.

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Mini cheesecakes

Hi all-

Well me and the family are stuck inside for the weekend waiting for our dooms day (aka Hurricane Irene) so once again I am trying to make mini cheesecakes in my Babycakes. What? Isn't that on everyones hurricane to do list?

Anywho - I have tried many different recipes, different cooking times, with sour cream, with heavy cream and with out any of these creams. You name it I've done it. And not one really lives up to my expectations.
But let me explain. You must first realize my expectations.

I am VERY VERY - did I mention VERY - picky about cheesecake.
It has to be super creamy not too tart and can not taste sour.

My favorite cheesecake is Juniors Cheesecake in NYC. It's perfect!!! And every time I go to the city I have to get the $7. slice to take home on the train. I savor it for days. It's that good!!!
One thing I'd change is their's has a vanilla cake not graham cracker crust which is what I prefer. So that's what I'm striving for here.
Is that asking too much? Perhaps. A Junior's cheesecake is made in an oven in a waterbath. But I'll keep trying.

I have come close with a recipe once I made in a mini muffin tin in my oven and that is the one I have used today. Ironically - it's the same recipe in the Babycake booklet you get with the treat maker!!!!
The one thing I did differently was make a graham cracker crust. The vanilla wafer cookie thing never worked for me.
And I also tried a sweetened sour cream topping on some of them. Love this too!!

Verdict: these came out PERFECT!!! Great flavor and texture!! Enjoy!!

What you need:

For crust
3/4 cup of Graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter melted

For filling:

8 oz. Cream cheese softened
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

For sour cream topping:

1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla

What you do:

To make crust-
Melt butter
Mix graham crackers crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a medium size bowl.
Put paper liners in your Babycakes treat maker.
Spray liners with cooking spray in each of the liners to prevent sticking. Fill each well with about 1 tablespoon of crumb
mixture and spread out in the well.





For filling-
Mix softened cream cheese, the egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Fill each well with about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoon of filling.
Cook the cheese cakes about 5/6 minutes.

If using the sour cream topping:

Mix sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together. Spread on the semi cooked cheese cakes and bake for another minute or 2. Do
Not overcook!!!!






If you aren't using the topping just cook the cheese cakes an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

Take the cheesecakes out and put in the fridge to cool for a few
hours to overnight.
Then take out and enjoy!!






Happy snacking!!

I've been a very bad blogger...

I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I've been a terrible blogger.
No excuses.
Life just got in the way.

It's not that I don't LOVE my Babycakes - I still use it almost everyday!! Twice a week alone I make my mini grilled cheese bites - my fave by far!!!

But I've also been busy relaunching my shop - buttercup marketplace and starting a blog there too - xo,buttercup. I know I know. I can't write on one blog how will I do two?? xo,buttercup is a more personal blog than Snackgri-la. Plus on Snackgri-la I have to test all the recipes before I add them to the blog so I know they will come out perfectly everytime.

I'd love for my Snackgri-la followers to join my xo,buttercup blog too.
I'll be doing giveaways, talking about new products I'm making, and giving discounts too. And just for my Snackgri-la followers - you'll save 20% off your order and automatically entered into any of our giveaways too!

But I'd love to hear what all of you have been making in your Babycakes treat makers?
I still have yet to make the perfect cheesecake. I've tried a few but with no success. As we get ready for the hurricane maybe I'll give it a whirl once again. Isn't that on every ones hurricane to do list? Right under flashlights and canned goods?

Stay tuned!

Happy snacking :)



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I'm BAAACK!!

So sorry for the lack of posts. It's been a crazy few months here and the last three weeks with the flooring being done were no better. I thought I was losing my mind!!

Long story short - we ended up redoing the "handyman special" the previous homeowners left us - not just the floor of our music room but the walls and a new drainage system too. And you know that saying
"when it rains it pours?" Well it does and about 3 inches of that rain was in the room one night.
My husband and I had our very own Katrina right in our house.
Thank god for the shop vac!!
Anyway it's behind us - just some painting to do and put the furniture back and it will be back to normal - hopefully!

So this past week at work (Kohl's Department store) a customer came up to me in our housewares department asking for the Babycakes Cake Pop maker but we were sold out. I was telling her how great all the Baby Cake products are not in just baking cupcakes, cake pops, Whoopie pies, and donuts but other items as well.
And that's what I did today!

Pancakes in my Whoopie pie maker!!

OMG!! So quick, no burning, and perfectly shaped silver dollar pancakes. Love Love Love!! And the puppies do too.

What you need:

Any pancake mix will do

What to do:

Mix up your mix
Pour about a tablespoon in each well.





Pay close attention - these cook QUICK!!
In about a minute to a minute and a half - with the tops of the pancakes just about dry - flip over the pancakes to lightly brown. Take out. Top with butter and syrup and enjoy!!





Happy snacking!!!

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Location:I'm BAAACK!!

Please forgive me.

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last few weeks. Life sometimes gets hectic. Between being away, having company, busy at work and my refrigerator dying - I needed a little break. One more week of "stuff" - floors being redone at our house - and then I'll be back to making snacks in my wonderful Babycakes at makers.
But have any of you out there made any new snacks in your Babycakes? I'd love to hear about them!!
Happy snacking!!!



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Whoopie Pies!!!

So this past weekend - being it was Easter - I was going to make carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting in my Babycakes cupcake maker but instead I used my brand new Whoopie pie maker!!!


OMG!! I'm in LOVE!! These came out terrific!!
I used the recipe from the Babycakes Whoopie Pie maker using a cake mix and the marshmallow filling. Absolutely wonderful!!
It does take a little time to get use to the machine and timing the pies - they cook very quick!!!!! The last batch cooked in about a minute and a half.
But over all so super easy and very yummy.
Now on to different flavors. I'm thinking strawberry cake and cream cheese frosting. Or maybe a chocolate chip cake with a chocolate filling. I know I'll be making a pumpkin ones for the holidays. It's endless!! Babycakes has done it again!!
Happy snacking!!


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Location:Whoopie pies

My collection is almost complete!!

Look what I received in the mail today - a Babycakes Whoopie Pie maker!!


A few weeks ago I received a call from Laura of Select Brands - the wonderful company that makes the Babycakes treat makers. They love my blog and all the great snacks that I make in my cupcake and cakepop makers. I told her I will eventually have all the treat makers and she was kind enough to send me a Whoopie Pie maker to get me closer to that goal!! She also sent me some of the Babycake cupcake liners and cake pop sticks as well to try out.
I'm so excited!!
I was going to make carrot cake cupcakes for Easter Sunday but now I might make carrot cake whoopie pies!! OMG - my head is spinning with all the wonderful treats I can make now!!!
Happy snacking!!


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Location:Whoopie pies

Vacation recipe part 2 - Crabby Balls

These are kind of like the ones I just had at Dick's Last Resort only they are baked not fried. Very tasty especially with the Chipotle dipping sauce.



What you need:

6 oz crab meat
1/2 egg; beaten
4 tbs bread crumbs
2 tbs chopped onion
Old bay seasoning
Hot sauce
Paprika
Chili powder
Olive oil or spray oil

What you do:

Open and drain the can of crab meat. Put crab into a large bowl and fluff with a fork. Add egg and bread crumbs. Mix well. Add seasoning to taste (from the above list or whatever else you'd like to add). To make balls take a spoonful and shape into a ball in your hand. Spray each well with cooking spray or brush with olive olive oil. Place balls in the cake pop maker and cook about 5-6 minutes. Brush tops with olive oil then turn balls and cook about 5 more minutes. Take out and enjoy with the spicy chipotle sauce - recipe below.

Chipotle dipping sauce:
From Group Recipes.com
http://www.grouprecipes.com/91186/chipotle-dipping-sauce.html

Happy snacking!!



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Location:Cakepop maker

Vacation recipes part 1 - Hush Puppies

So my husband and I are on vacation this week and we went to this great restaurant in Baltimore's Inner Harbor called Dick's Last Resort. A great place for apps and drinks. The whole premise of this place is that the waitstaff are boisterous almost obnoxious but that's their shtick. Very different but a fun place non the less. And the place was packed on the outside deck (it was 87 degrees :)

Anyway, we had this great app called "crabby balls". So good and it got me thinking I could totally make these in my Babycake Cakepop maker!!! (Stay tuned!!)
But these reminded me of Hush Puppies - a southern kind of corn bread but with onion and deep fried. So Yummy!! Now to try these two recipes out!! Hush Puppies first.

I found a great baked Hush Puppy recipe from the Deen brothers (Paula Deen's sons). I made one batch which made 24 hush puppies. The first 12 were exactly the way the recipe called for.



Which were great! Not exactly a true hush puppy. But they aren't fried so they wouldn't be the same. But they aren't like corn bread either. I made a honey butter to go along with them and that was a perfect spread for them.
The next 12 I spiced up a bit with Old Bay, paprika, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. I, as did hubby, liked these better.



The color looks more "fried" but they had a nice kick to them too. For these I made a chipotle dipping sauce which has a kick to it also but has a sour cream base so it's not so spicy. Overall I will be making both of these again. Very tasty. And making them in the Babycakes Cakepop Maker was so super easy!! Love it!!

Follow below for all the recipes.

Baked Hush Puppies from the Deen Boys:
http://pleasepassthepie.blogspot.com/2009/12/hush-puppies-deen-boys-half-baked-idea.html

Babycake Cakepop maker instructions:

What to do:

Spray each well with cooking spray with flour included. Fill each well to rim. Cook about 5 mins turning once.
Take out and enjoy!!

Chipotle dipping sauce:
From Group Recipes.com
http://www.grouprecipes.com/91186/chipotle-dipping-sauce.html

Honey butter:
3 tbs butter softened
1 tbs honey
Mix together - so easy!!

Spicy Hush Puppies: add the following to half of the above recipe. Just double it for the the whole recipe.

What you need:

1 tbsp hot sauce
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp old bay seasoning
1 tsp red pepper flakes

What you do:

Spray each well with cooking spray with flour included. Fill each well to rim. Cook about 5 mins turning once.
Take out and enjoy!!
Happy snacking!!


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Location:Cakepop maker

Test kitchen - frozen cookie dough

So while cleaning out the freezer (in my continuing effort of Spring cleaning my house) I came across a box of frozen oatmeal raisin cookie dough all the way back in the freezer.


These cookies are really good and big when baked. And ALOT came in the box. Anyways they had been forgotten about until today.
Because I'm Spring cleaning that meant the oven is also being cleaned so I couldn't cook the cookies in there. So wanted to see how they would come out in my Babycakes Cupcake Maker.
I cut them up - and got 4 mini cookies per normal size cookie.


Baked them 4-6 minutes. And YUMMY!!


Bring on the milk!!
Needless to say the box of frozen cookie dough is now gone and happily in our bellies!
Back to cleaning!!
Happy snacking!!

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Location:Cookies

A bad week

Sorry I haven't been posting the last few days. My husband and I had quite a bad week - our tv and dryer died.
The dryer we could understand- it's probably 15 years old. But the tv is only a little over two. So with the tv not working and being reduced to our "postage stamp" size one for a week needless to say the Babycakes cupcake maker hasn't been preparing any treats either.

But .....
Today all is good again!
Dryer - fixed!!
TV - fixed!!!!!
Babycake cupcake maker - making treats!!
Just a usual - well at least in this house - Buffalo Chicken Flowers!!
It's also perfect that everything is working again because we start our vacation today. And in honor of that my hubby got me a present I just had to share.





It's a cupcake wine glass!! Love it!! It so cute!! And now I have something to accessorize with my cupcake apron and keep me refresh when I make cupcakes in my Babycakes!

Stay tuned - I have lots of new treats to make while I'm on vacation next week!
Happy snacking!
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Love it!!! Great find of the week!!

So today I found the cutest little cupcake stand. I found it at a store called Homegoods. I just love it!! A. It's soooo cute - a white stand with red and pink polka dot ribbon. But I can change the ribbon for holidays or to match my cupcakes and snacks!!! B. It was on clearance for 3.99!!! And C. It's the perfect size to show off all my Babycakes treats!!
Love it!!
Happy snacking!!


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Location:Love it!!