Cupcakes

(You can find this print on Etsy)

So, I've decided that I love to make cupcakes.  There are two problems with this:  1)  If I make them too much, I will then weigh 547.5 pounds.  Not good.  2)  They have been the 'it' baking item for a while now and I don't really like copying people or going with trends too much. 

But, they're so pretty, so very, very pretty, and fun to decorate, and fun to eat, and...did I say, pretty?  So, to heck with the problems.  I'm going to make cupcakes until my fingers fall off.  I will need help with #1, however, so if you ever want a cupcake, I'm more than willing to share with you.  :)

First up, Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes.  Um, I died and went to baking heaven after I ate one of these.  Seriously, it's the best cupcake I've ever had, period.  The recipe calls for Raspberry Extract and I couldn't find it, so the raspberry flavor in the frosting was very faint.  But, they were still the most delicious cupcake ever and the frosting was creamy and yummy and tasted like a professional made it. (was that a run on sentence?)   Next time, I will be scouring the Twin Cities to find that extract, come heck or high water.   Ahhhh, life is good. 

My Raspberry Lemon cupcake, all decorated for Easter

This is a Dorie Greenspan recipe, but I found it on the blog My Baking Addiction.  Seriously, I will never make a cake from a box again.  Well, that might not be totally true...I'm weak, what can I say.  :)

Vic Firth...Not just for drumsticks

So, did anyone else realize that Vic Firth (a popular maker of drumsticks and other drumming items) also makes rolling pins, pepper mills, and other kitchen items?  How fun!  I would absolutely love the French Pin, I mean that would have to increase the quality of my baked items by a hundred fold, right?  Being married to a musician, I just feel compelled to buy something in the near future.  Of course, I'll probably be nervous to use it the first few times, wouldn't want to mar the beauty, but I think I can get over it. So, feel free to peruse the Vic Firth Gourmet site, you may find some great items for yourself or for the musician in your life. 

The Beginning

So, I've wanted to start a baking blog for months, but was always a bit hesitant about it. Until now.  Here I am ready to share decadent baked goods with you.  For some reason, I always choose indulgent and rich recipes.  So, get out your fat pants, you'll need them after I get done with you.  Ha!  I'm also in love with vintage cookbooks.  I read them like novels.  It sounds cliche, but they give you a glimpse of history.  In addition to vintage cookbooks, I'll also be baking and posting recipes from other sources including but not limited to: blogs, cookbooks, online recipe websites, friends, and magazines.  I'm sure I will also include non-baking posts too, because let's face it, this world is large and there is lots to share!