Garden Cupcakes

Here are some adorable garden cupcakes my mom and sister made for their Master Gardener's Meeting last week. I love how they turned out and wanted to share them on here. They got the instructions out of a Cupcake Book. (Sorry, can't remember which one, exactly!?)

Sunflowers

Here is part of a large order I did this weekend...

2 Sunflower fondant sheet cakes

Sunflower cupcakes

Sunflower sugar cookies (with oreo cookie middles)

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Hibiscus Cookies

An order of a couple dozen hibiscus cookies I did this week:

TWD - Fresh Mango Bread

This week's TWD recipe was chosen by Kelly of Baking With the Boys. You can check out her blog for her take and the recipe as well!

I was so glad to see a non chocolate, non cake/cookie recipe! This is semi healthy, right?!

My daughter loves mangoes, so she is always BEGGING me to buy them at the commissary. She was so bummed when I finally brought one home, only to find out it was not for her! Sorry!

I loved how quick and easy the recipe was... and it required no mixer which equals less dishes!!! My mango only made me about one cup, so I went ahead and halved the recipe. But I used 2 whole eggs, and zested the entire lime, instead of half... why not? My only concern was my super stringy mango!
I debated on making muffins, but since I had just had a Pampered Chef party recently, I decided to break in my brand new stoneware mini loaf pan! Yay! My halved recipe made 3 mini loaves! They took exactly 30 minutes in the oven and came out nice and golden brown. I let them cool a few minutes before turning them out onto the cooling rack.... and only waited until the steam stopped rolling off of them before slicing into the first loaf to try it out!YUMMMMMMM! I LOVE IT! And after having my first slice, the mango was tender enough that the strings break right up in your mouth... no gagging when you swallow! And I loved the spices in it! Some people commented that it was too much spice.... but I loved it! It probably doesn't hurt that I love gingerbread cookies....

Red White & Blue Cupcakes & A Little Cupcake Experiment

In lieu of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, I decided to have a little fun with some cupcakes! I wanted to make them red, white and blue!!! Some friends and I are getting together tonight, so I thought I'd try them out!

I made up some white cake batter, and then divided it into thirds. Using food coloring, I colored one third of the batter red, one third blue, and then left the last third white.

Once the cupcake liners were in place, I started dropping a spoonful of blue batter at the bottom of each liner. Shaking down the pan so that it was level and covered the bottoms of the liners. Next, I dropped in a spoonful of the plain white batter. Again, shaking it down so it was level. Last, I spooned in the red batter. This should fill up the liners to about 1/4 - 1/3 from the top or so.

They went into the oven, cooled, were topped with buttercream and some fun patriotic sprinkles, and voila! I loved how they turned out!

As for the experiment.... after Easter, I found some mini Cadbury Chocolate eggs! Yum! I wondered what they would be like in a cupcake? I would have really liked to have made them with chocolate cupcakes, but since I had a little white cake batter left over from my red, white and blue cupcakes, I decided to just try it out to see how they melt!

I topped them with with my usual buttercream icing and sprinkled the tops with chocolate shavings.

The cadbury eggs sunk to the bottom, even after waiting for the cupcakes to bake a few minutes in the oven before dropping them in. But I'm sure they will still be super yummy! But think of how much better they would be in chocolate cupcakes?!?!

Team Ugly Angels Round 8 RoundUp

Here is the roundup for round 8! I still have not received photos from some of the members, so I will add them when I receive them!! Thanks to all the members for joining Team Ugly Angel! I appreciate all that you did for our Marine! Round 9 is coming up next, so be sure to check the Baking Gals site for details if you want to participate again!

Audrey

Tamara, Jennifer & Denise (Angela not pictured)~ Alaska

These gals rocked out a huge spread of goodies! With a tad bit of drama, this package had better make it to it's destination with all the hard work these gals have put in!
Chocolate Chip, Orange, Peanut Butter & Iced Sugar Cookies PLUS loads of extras!


Debbie ~ Nevada

www.thefridayfriends.blogspot.com
Chocoalte Crunchies &
Ghetto Toffee/Rumstick Crunch
Julie ~ Hawaii
Fudge Crinkles

Kim (Me!) ~ Hawaii
Great Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies

TWD- Tartest Lemon Tart

This week's TWD was chosen by Babette of Babette Feasts. There have been so many 'tarts' lately, I have been hitting myself for not going out and buying a pan. This week I just made it in a pie pan... and some mini tartlette dishes (as I'll call them).

I made this tonight after the kids had supper and were 'winding down' (aka tearing up the family room before bedtime). I was surprised at how easy the assembly was!

However, I didn't care for the taste. Too bitter from using the whole lemons... but that was strictly my own opinion!


Go check out Babette's website for the recipe!