G'day Mate!

Typically this blog is all about my culinary endeavors, but my sisters went to Australia without me. Yep. Without me. So when they came home, I had to make sure that they felt welcome. So this is what they saw when they walked in the house!

And of course there was also some baking involved! Keeping with the Australian theme, I couldn't resist making an Australian treat into cake. That's right, I am calling Vegemite an Australian treat. And, even though the cake would have been sufficient, I stumbled across the cutest picture of a Koala cupcake, and had to add my own spin to that and make it my own!

The koalas are almost too cute to eat.... except that they were so tasty, so it had to be done. Even the crocodile agreed!

Neapolitan Ice Cream in Cupcake form? SAY WHAT?!?!

So Martha Stewart is a genius. That's right. I am calling Martha a genius. Who else could possibly come up with Neapolitan cupcakes. Half chocolate, half vanilla cupcakes with strawberry buttercream icing (made with real ground up strawberries- yum!) These cupcakes are not only tasty but also really nice to look at. And surprisingly really easy to make. After my experiments with cupcakes this past weekend I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to go back to using cake mixes. Making them from scratch adds so much more to the baking experience. Messier, but better!

Mint Central

Do you like mint?? Well, if you do, then these are the cupcakes for you! They seriously pack a HUGE minty punch. Thanks in part to having a York Peppermint Patty baked right into the cupcake, mint flavored icing, and then a slice of a York Peppermint Patty to top it off. Add a cute lime green giant sprinkle and you have some of the greatest mint cupcakes ever! Chocolate goodness. And Cute too! My only problem I had with this recipe is that I think I put too little baking powder and baking soda in. I didn't realize it till they were in the oven, so they ended up not being as soft and moist as I would have liked. (At least I'm blaming the lack of baking powder and soda for it). But even then, these were so yummy. Can't wait to try out some more recipes that I have recently come across...... top secret location at this point. Can't give away all my secrets! I've already shared Bakerella with you, what more do you want from me?!?! : )

Could they be any "S'MORE" tasty?

All I can say, is delicious! Sugar rush central but so very very very very very good. Especially right out of the oven. Nice gooey s'more goodness. Thank you Bakerella! I'm considering possibly selling specialty cupcakes at a farmers market this summer. So let me know what you think. Would you be willing to pay for one of these delicious looking & tasting morsels?

YUM!

A Sphere Cake Pan = AMAZING!

For Christmas this year, I got some amazing baking supplies. Including a sphere cake pan. So of course, when it was a friends birthday, I had to try it out! Super cute huh? The best thing is that you can make any ball you want! Since my friend plays basketball, of course that was the obvious choice. I can't wait to experiment more with this pan. I see a snowman in the future.... of course, that won't be till it snows again, so look for that next winter!

Classic Chocolate Cupcakes

Every now and then, you just need some chocolate. And what is better than a classic chocolate cupcake, with chocolate icing. Simple and delicious!

A Bouquet of Cheesecake!

So I made more cake pops. Cheesecake pops.

They were basic, covered in white candy melts & colored sprinkles.

Cut out some cute paper flowers, add them to the pops and voila!

CUTENESS!