Mini Cupcake

Who says that wedding centerpieces can only be made from flowers? While floral arrangements are the norm, there are plenty of other possibilities for wedding decorations. One of the most fun and memorable ideas is to created wedding centerpieces with food.



Using food for your centerpieces does not necessarily mean that your guests will be eating the table decorations, though it can if you want. Non-edible food based centerpieces will often be selected based on their seasonal appeal and great colors. Edible centerpieces will often be used when the couple is looking for a great conversation starter, as well as something that their guests will enjoy more than the typical bouquet of roses in a vase.



The key to making non-traditional centerpieces work is to select ones that tie in with the general theme or style of your wedding. For instance, if you were having a tropical themed wedding, the sort where your attendants will be wearing monogrammed shell bridesmaid jewelry, then a centerpiece of chocolate dipped tropical fruit (pineapple, etc.) would be fantastic. The fruit can be arranged on stems in a vase, almost like a regular floral arrangement, only much tastier!



If your wedding is to be a more traditional one, with the bridesmaids in pink dresses and pearl bridesmaid jewelry, a perfect type of edible centerpiece would be a display of dainty petit fours on an ornate tiered stand. Choose white and pink petit fours dusted with an edible pearlized powder and topped with tiny frosting flowers. This would be adorable for an afternoon wedding with a feminine flair. Set the stand on lace tablecloths for the ultimate in romance.



Another terrific idea for edible wedding centerpieces is stacks of pretty cupcakes. These cupcake towers are a popular alternative to the traditional grand wedding cake. Putting one tower of treats on each table will spare the expense of floral centerpieces. To make it look special, select a decorative stand, or dress up a simple one with a ribbon or patterned fabric around the base. You could also sprinkle a few flowers around the cupcake tower to make the table design even prettier.



Perhaps you do not want your centerpieces to disappear into the mouths of your guests over the course of the reception; there are still some great ideas for food based centerpieces that are not designed to be eaten. One of the best ideas is to use fruit that either introduces your wedding colors to the tables or that ties in with the season. A winter wedding, for instance, could be decorated with gold painted pears. This is an extremely elegant look that is also extremely easy to put together yourself. The golden pears would be particularly nice for long rectangular reception tables. Lay down a runner with a metallic embroidery, and arrange clusters of golden pears and ivory candles along its length.



The same idea could be used with red apples on a more casual cloth for an autumn wedding. If summer is your season, tall clear cylinders of brightly colored lemons and limes make vivid and affordable centerpieces. As a bonus, you can use the citrus fruit to make fresh squeezed lemonade and limeade at the brunch the next day. Just bring plenty of sugar to mix in with the tart fruit.



There is something refreshing about using unique elements for your reception centerpieces. Edible centerpieces and those created with seasonal fruits are a fantastic way to do something a little out of the ordinary at your wedding. Best of all, these unique designs can often be created with a minimal investment.

For today’s modern bride, nothing is off limits.  It seems now, more than ever, that trend has begun to play just as big of a role as tradition in today’s wedding planning.  In  Martha Stewart Weddings2009 summer issue, there is an article appropriately titled, “Let them eat Cupcakes,” which reveals how cupcakes can make a divine substitute for a wedding day favorite.  These ooey, gooey delights are stacking up the competition and leaving all spectators in a state of satisfaction.

While cake is the traditional standby, most newlyweds and their guests look foward to indulging at the reception, cupcakes are proving to be just as tasty and beautiful as their more popular counterparts.  They can be dipped, dolloped, shellacked, sprinkled and stacked any way a bride sees fit. Whether a couple is going for over the top or under the radar, cupcakes can give one incredible presentation at any wedding reception celebration.  The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

Since each cupcake is its own individual part, brides and grooms don’t have to be limited by flavor or design.  They can easily provide a smorgasbord of vanilla, chocolate, caramel swirl, strawberry surprise and every taste in between without worry.  There is everything from cupcake towers that could humble even the most ornate cakes to customized creations that are as simples as they are sweet.

Already cut and all ready to serve, wedding cupcakes also make a great do-it-yourself project for the more hands on bride.  Not to mention, their “aww” factor is off the charts!  There’s just something about mini versions of anything that makes people go gaga.  And although they may be miniature in size, they are still powerful in taste, making these one-of-kind mini cakes a catchy trend in 2009.

More often than not, every time a person goes on a diet to lose weight, one of the first things to go out of the window are sweets. Yes, cakes, cupcakes, chocolates, cookies, brownies, muffins, and all that is divinely saccharine are branded as forbidden food during the weight loss period. However, depriving one’s self of such delectable pleasures will only add fuel to one’s sweet cravings once the diet is off leading to a vicious diet cycle and a yoyo weight. So how do we lose weight and get to eat our sweets, or in this case, cupcakes, too? Here’s a simple recipe for cupcakes that can very well fit into a weight loss regimen and still taste quite delicious.

Diet Soda Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 egg white 1 can diet soda (preferably a Diet Coke)

Steps:

1) Preheat the oven according to chocolate cake mix directions. Place cupcake liners on the cupcake pan.

2) In a bowl and using an electric mixer with the paddle attached, beat the chocolate cake mix, egg white, and diet soda until smooth in consistency.

3) Pour the cupcake batter into prepared cupcake pans with liners.

4) Bake cupcakes according to chocolate cake mix instructions. Cupcakes are done when you insert a toothpick into the cupcake and it comes out clean.

Variation: If you want your diet cupcakes to be of the vanilla kind or of non-chocolate origin, substitute the chocolate cake mix for white or yellow cake mix and the diet soda for a clear diet one. These diet cupcakes basically have 120 calories or less per piece depending on the cake mix you are using. With such low calorie count for a dessert, these cupcakes are definitely good for weight loss watchers who still want to maintain some normalcy in their diet. Remember, with innovative recipes like these, you can lose weight and still eat your cupcakes too!

With cupcakes being one of the hottest desserts around, you can surprise your family and friends with cupcakes you make yourself that will compete with anything at the local bakery.  Our choice today is a chocolate cupcake with a surprise; chipotle.  The recipe also includes one for a cream cheese frosting to top these yummy cupcakes.

CHIPOTLE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

1 pkg (2-layer-size) devil’s food cake mix

1 1/4 cups sour cream

3 eggs

1/3 cup canola oil

2 tbsp instant coffee granules

1/2 to 1 tsp ground chipotle chili pepper (amount according to how much spice/heat you want.)

1 pkg. (11.5 oz) semisweet chocolate chunks

2 tsp all-purpose flour

1 recipe frosting (below)

2 oz. chopped semisweet chocolate

1/4 cup whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 dozen muffin cups with paper liners and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, sour cream, eggs, oil, coffee granules, and chili pepper. Beat with electric mixer on low speed to combine. Beat on medium to high for 2 minutes. This will be a thick batter.

In another bowl, toss chocolate chunks with the flour. Fold into the chocolate batter. Spoon evenly into the muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until the tops spring back with lightly touched. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from the pans to completely cool. When cool, frost with the frosting recipe below.

FROSTING RECIPE:

8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 to 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Beat in the vanilla. Start gradually beating in the confectioners’ sugar until you reach the desired consistency. Frost cupcakes or dip them into the frosting.

To make chocolate drizzle for garnish, place chopped chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream to boiling. Pour the cream over the chocolate; do not stir. Let sit for 5 minutes then whisk until smooth. Place chocolate in a zip-top plastic bag. Snip a small piece off one corner of the bag. Drizzle chocolate over the cupcakes in a pattern of your choosing to decorate.

Enjoy!

Kitchen toys provide ideal tools for kinesthetic learners to develop skills. Kinesthetic children learn by doing an activity rather than by reading or listening to how the activity is done. Moving, standing, and working to manipulate objects are vitally important to the kinesthetic child.

Even though the primary purpose for play kitchen toys is for play time, it is not uncommon for items that not intentionally designed for educating to help develop skills in a child. A real kitchen is full of wonderful things for kids to learn. However, a real kitchen is not a safe place for kids without very close adult supervision. This is where toys such as a measuring cup, rolling pin, and whisk offer a safe teaching experience for the child.

Play kitchen toys are not always easy to find in retail stores but they are easy to find online. The Kidkraft kitchen line has items including complete kitchen appliances including a stove, sink, and refrigerator along with baking sets, toasters, coffee pots and more. These types of products are ideal for the kinesthetic learner by providing the much-needed hands-on learning process.

A play baking set is a great example of how these toys help kinesthetic learners. Allowing a child to use a pretend baking set to bake cookies teaches the child to follow instructions, measure ingredients and stir. Play kitchen toys such as baking sets usually include a rolling pin, cooking pan, measuring spoon, nonworking mixer, spatula, and plastic chocolate chip cookies. Even though these are toy instruments, they still have a lot of functionality. For example, the Kidkraft kitchen rolling pin actually works and can be used for cut-out cookies. Learning how to multitask is another positive benefit of baking “cookies” using kitchen toys.

Another learning opportunity is found with using pretend cookware toys. These sets usually contain a frying pan with lid, plates, cups, and utensils. These sets allow kinesthetic learners to role play all of the steps involved in a complete meal preparation. Kids then use the toys to create a table setting and serve their meal. For added fun, the toy utensils and table setting can be used with a real lunch of sandwiches and chips.

Another learning opportunity comes with using a cupcake stand set. These sets usually contain plastic cupcakes with a stand. Letting your kinesthetic child pretend to measure and mix ingredients, bake the cupcakes, then arrange the cupcakes on the stand teaches many valuable skills for lifelong activities, including balance and coordination skills. For added fun, the toy stand can be used to hold eight real cupcakes for dessert.

Playing with kitchen toys creates a sense of responsibility and pride in a child. As they cook and serve “dinner,” they get a sense of accomplishment and great pride in their efforts. With activity based learning, it is important to teach kids to complete the activity all the way. A great way to motivate them to complete the activity is by praising their accomplishment and their efforts to learn. There are still more learning opportunities awaiting them at the end of the meal preparation task. As every chef knows, preparing and serving the meal is followed by clearing the table, then washing and drying the dishes in ordinary soap and water. Learning to manipulate the washcloth or sponge on the kitchen toys helps her coordination skills. Additionally, she will learn the importance of cleanliness, especially in kitchen products. As an added benefit, kids might even take more interest in helping with the real meal process.

Playing with kitchen toys helps kinesthetic learners develop important skills without even realizing it. Learning the way things go together in a hands-on manner teaches lessons that will stay with the child as they grow. The key is keeping them physically involved in their education.

In this article i am about to show you how make delicious cupcakes step by step. Cupcakes are best for summer pick-nicks , parties, children fun , birthday gifts, weddings,outdoor fun and for general eating .

Let start with the cupcakes recipe

Step 1

Pre heat the owen on “190 C Degree” and if you are using fan Owen then “170 C Degree” is OK Or Gas Mark 5

Step 2

Line up 12 cupcakes cases of any color in to metal bin tin .

step 3

Cream 170 g butter and 175 caster sugar until light and fluffy into a mixing bowl with help of cooking beaters.

step4

Now Add 1 tea spoon vanilla essence and 3 eggs into the cream and start beaten gradually .

step5

Now add 175 g self raising flour and half tea spoon of baking poweder into the above mixer

step6

Now with help of large cooking spoon gently stir the mixer until mixer easily drop of the spoon if it doesn’t add little milk and keep stirring.

step7

Now add the mixer into cupcakes we lined up in step2 almost 3/4 quarter fill in each cupcake.

step8

Put bin tin in pre heated owen for 10-12 minutes or so until cupcakes get brown . After baking take them out of owen and leave them for cool .

step9

In this step we make icing for our cupcakes . Combine 500 g icing sugar with 5 table spoon water and stir until its reaches its smooth consistency. Divide icing into 3-5 small bowls and mix your favorite food color into icing.

step10

Now top each cupcakes with icing and with the help of spoon. You can also put put cherry or sugar flowers on topping and leave the icing to set.

CheerS Cupcakes Done

Celebrating Halloween is never the same without spooky cupcakes. Whether trick-or-treating or bonding with family and friends, these tasty delights are great to serve for the Halloween. Make and decorate your individual cupcake or buy it ready-made at your favorite pastry shop.

Cupcake decoration requires less effort, allowing you to be creative with it, like whipping up your delicious own icing. Admit it; a cupcake isn’t just the same without icing. It makes your cupcake more palatable and adds an extra burst of flavor to any ordinary cupcake. If you’re thinking making your homemade icing will be a tough task, think again.

In fact, you don’t have to be a pro to create your own cupcake icing. With a little imagination and passion for coming up with tasty delights, even a kid can make frosting in a breeze. If you’re interested to know how you are able to do this, read on.

The following items are needed to prepare your own cupcake icing:

4 tbsp butter, softened

5 cups powdered sugar, sifted

2 eggs

6tbsp cream

1 &1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

2 oz, chocolate, unsweetened and melted

Orange food coloring

Prepare cream butter. Next, gradually add sugar, leaving a portion to be used for another mixture. Blend well after every addition. This time, add remaining sugar alternately with the egg whites followed with 2 tbsps of cream. Blend until you reach the right consistency of a spread.

Then add in vanilla extract and salt. Distribute the frosting into two equal parts. Put orange coloring to one part of frosting and spread between cake layers.

If you want to make a pumpkin decoration, make sure to save about 1/4 of orange frosting. Then, for the other part, add in chocolate and 4 tbsps of cream, blending well until you reach the right consistency. When your chocolate frosting is ready, spread it on the top and sides of cake. You could also adorn the top with jack-o-lantern, which is made of orange frosting.

You may also use margarine as a substitute for butter. Also, an electric beater can help give your frosting better consistency and a really nice, soft fluff. If you don’t have an electric beater, you may use an egg beater. Make sure to blend all ingredients well to achieve your desired consistency.

Now you’re ready to give your holiday cupcake the frosting it deserves! Write words or put whatever design you like on your cupcakes! Let your creative juice flow. It’s that simple! Go and try it yourself. You won’t even have to break a sweat at it.

Most children absolutely love colour and have lots of fun with it as much as possible. It affects their lives and their development profoundly. Both the environment and the clothes children wear should be in tune with their growth and potential, feel harmonious and balanced, and playful in the right quantities. When you are blessed with a newborn baby this is a special time in so many ways and in preparing for your new family addition you probably paid special attention to the nursery for him or her. This approach is correct and should be carried through for their clothes and even as they grow they will continue to be very influenced by their surrounding colours. When a child is ready to start trying to dress themselves it is important to have cute, colourful Cupcake Clothes which are lovely to the touch and with a great range of suitable colours to choose from.

Babies are calmed by soothing pastel shades as they already have plenty of settling into the world to do, so this is more relaxing for them. Apart from the shades the patterns should be very simple so that they do not have to busy themselves with focusing on them! This will decrease possible hyperactivity and encourage more rested nights. When your baby becomes a toddler then it can be a nice idea to paint the ceiling in a shade such as light coral pink or light peach. By now your toddler will be looking up and this will be a comforting, nurturing feeling for them.

What about when it comes to clothes? Did you know that in the early 1900s blue was for girls and pink was for boys. The reason for this is that pink comes from red which is considered a more active, stronger colour and blue was considered paler and therefore the girls’ colour. We cannot be sure when the switch occured, although some people believe it may have happened around the time of Hitler!

Nowadays there are some people who feel that girls are being overdosed in pink. Sue Palmer who is the author of Toxic Childhood says that the total obsession with pink stunts girls’ personalities. Whereas therapist and researcher Michael Gurian says that pink doesn’t have a profound effect biologically, as this is not possible due to how we are set up. Anyhow what about a child’s individuality and personality which is developing every day? For their development it is an important thing to let them choose and express their preferences. Why not let them do this with their clothes sometimes as they are learning all the time by colours with their toys, drawings and identifying things around them.  Steer them in the right direction with brands such as Phister &Philina or Cupcake Clothes.

The fun time of your child enjoying trying to dress themselves is a good opportunity for self-expression. Of course you may want to help out with a few pointers but remember that it is much healthier to let the child be as creative as she or he wishes with the colours and the combinations of clothes in the outfit. In all of this remember to enjoy the experience with your child as the day will come where you won’t be invited to be part of it!

Hallowe’en is approaching and all the youngsters are waiting to dress up like monsters, ghostly ghouls and witches. These chocolate Halloween cupcakes will be exactly the thing when it concerns satisfying those small monsters, ghostly ghouls and witches hungry stomachs. You may bake them a day earlier and store them in a cookie tin, or bake them on the same day. If your little monsters prefer to help they could be your extra hands in the kitchen. Let’s get producing these tasty chocolate cupcakes.

Ingredients

- For the cupcakes

12 paper cases

280g/10oz butter, softened

280g/10oz golden caster sugar

200g/7oz self-raising flour

1 rounded tbsp cocoa powder

6 medium eggs

- For the topping

200g/7oz butter, softened

280g/10z icing sugar, sifted

12 sugar halloween decorations

Technique

For the cupcakes

1 - Preheat oven to 190 C/Gas 5/fan oven 170 C.

2 - Line a 12-cup muffin tin with brown muffin cases.

3 - Crack the eggs into a large bowl and beat lightly with a fork

4 - Place all the other ingredients into the bowl

5 - Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until light and creamy

6 - Spoon into the cases, almost filling them to the top.

7 - Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until risen and spongy.

8 - Cool on a rack.

For the topping

1 - Beat the butter and icing sugar until smooth

2 - Spread a layer of icing over each cake

3 - Then add your sugar Halloween decorations on top

Takes 45minutes, plus cooling down (unless the little ones are helping :) - Makes 12

Tips:

• These chocolate cupcakes are themed by applying sugar Halloween decorations. This implies that you are able to apply this simple chocolate cupcake recipe for whatever occasion you desire. Merely by adding the relevant sugar decoration will make the cupcakes appeal to any occasion.

• Try adding a few drops of flavouring to the cupcake mix, like vanilla, orange or even mint.

Happy Eating.

Cupcakes are totally delectable. But what makes cupcakes more scrumptious and definitely more pleasing to the eye are the frostings that adorn their darling little tops. From chocolate, vanilla, to even fancier ones like amaretto and cream cheese, frostings truly add pizzazz to cupcakes. So what are some delicious and easy-to-make cupcake frosting recipes? Below is a list of popular cupcake frostings with steps on how to make them.

Butter Cream Frosting

(Great topping for vanilla and other light and fluffy cupcakes)

Ingredients:

5 oz softened butter

8 oz confectioner’ s or powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp hot water

Steps:

1)      In a bowl and using an electric mixer with the whisk attached, mix the softened butter with the sugar. Mix until well blended.

2)      Add vanilla and water. Mix until frosting is of smooth and creamy consistency.

Chocolate Ganache Frosting

(Fantastic with fudge and other heavy and dense cupcakes)

Ingredients:

7 oz dark chocolate

½ cup double cream or thickened cream

Steps:

1)      Break or chop dark chocolate into small pieces. Set aside in a bowl.

2)      In a saucepan, boil the double cream. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

3)      Pour boiled cream over the dark chocolate pieces. Mix until well incorporated and smooth.

4)      Let the chocolate ganache cool at room temperature. Chocolate ganache is ready to spread over cupcakes once it has cooled down and has acquired a smooth, thick, and glossy consistency.

Cream Cheese Frosting

(Absolutely perfect with lemon, red velvet, and carrot cupcakes)

Ingredients:

80 g cream cheese

60 g butter softened

2 cups confectioner’s or powdered sugar sifted

1 tsp lemon rind

Steps:

1)      In a bowl and using an electric mixer with the whisk attached, mix cream cheese, butter, and lemon rind until light and fluffy.

2)      Slowly add in sugar and continue to mix until frosting is of smooth consistency.