Crazy for cupcakes: the classic childhood treat makes a comeback with sophisticated new flavors.I always thought that the word "cupcake" had a really nice ring to it, be it a bite-sized moment of bliss or a sweet preface to one's name. I asked my friend to call me "cupcake" when he phoned to see if it had the connotation con·no·ta·tion n. 1. The act or process of connoting. 2. a. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: I thought it would, and it did conjure up conjure up Verb 1. to create an image in the mind: the name Versailles conjures up a past of sumptuous grandeur 2. little thoughts of something tiny, very sweet, and not too much but just enough. It was lovely, but not me at all, seeing how I am neither very tiny nor very sweet. In the world of culinary desires, cupcakes are safe, and it always seemed okay to have one of these smallish desserts rather than a piece of cake or even a slice of pie, almost like it didn't count that you ate one ... similar to my belief that drinking a Tab after devouring de·vour tr.v. de·voured, de·vour·ing, de·vours 1. To eat up greedily. See Synonyms at eat. 2. To destroy, consume, or waste: Flames devoured the structure in minutes. a Twinkie Twinkie® defense Forensic psychiatry A legal tack in which a defendant claims that a criminal act resulted from chemical imbalances induced by 'junk food,' and not criminal intent. canceled out any caloric caloric /ca·lo·ric/ (kah-lor´ik) pertaining to heat or to calories. ca·lor·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to calories. 2. Of or relating to heat. intake. I had a high-school friend who told me this, and I believed her. She is a nutritionist nu·tri·tion·ist n. One who is trained or is an expert in the field of nutrition. nutritionist Dietitian, see there now and appears on TV every now and then with more tips for healthy eating. Go figure. The cupcake is a small commitment of calories that can take you right back to your childhood with only one bite. You can't help but smile, remembering perhaps a Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. party treat in elementary school elementary school: see school. , usually a chocolate one with fluffy fluff·y adj. fluff·i·er, fluff·i·est 1. a. Of, relating to, or resembling fluff. b. Covered with fluff. 2. Light and airy; soft: fluffy curls; a fluffy soufflé. white frosting white frost n. See hoarfrost. and a plastic heart stuck on top. Halloween brought on the bright orange frosting frosting the slight graying of the haircoat around the face, particularly muzzle, in dogs with aging and as a regular feature of some breeds such as the Belgian shepherd dog. crowned with chocolate sprinkles or candy corn. These were the grocery store variety, and after one bite the Crisco icing was so stuck to the roof of your mouth that the plastic decoration on a pick was required to scrape it off. But if you were lucky enough to have a room mother who brought homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. cupcakes, it was a blissful moment. The frosting-to-cake ratio was just right, it required no utensils, and it was completely suitable to lick lick 1. a stroke with the tongue, normally used in cleaning the coat or ingesting a substance from a flat surface. See also licking. 2. a mixture of salt plus other macro-elements, especially phosphorus, trace elements, vitamins and other feed additives, fed loosely in a box your fingers or even the paper cup it came in. Cupcakes definitely have that retro [Latin, Back; backward; behind.] A prefix used to designate a prior condition or time. feel to them, and what's not to love about a bit of nostalgia combined with a bit of trendy? This year, more than ever, cupcake shops are all the rage General Public's All the Rage was released in 1984 by I.R.S. Records. Track listing
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Chicago, and San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . The flavor combinations are heavenly, and the tastes are simply decadent dec·a·dent adj. 1. Being in a state of decline or decay. 2. Marked by or providing unrestrained gratification; self-indulgent. 3. often Decadent Of or relating to literary Decadence. n. . The shops are appropriately given whimsical whim·si·cal adj. 1. Determined by, arising from, or marked by whim or caprice. See Synonyms at arbitrary. 2. Erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability: a whimsical personality. names like "Sprinkles" and "Swirls" and, one of my personal favorites, "Hey, Cupcake." The varieties seem to be never-ending and are sophisticated without being pretentious pre·ten·tious adj. 1. Claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified. 2. Making or marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious. See Synonyms at showy. . "Life is uncertain--eat dessert first!" is the slogan posted in the front window at the Buttercup buttercup or crowfoot, common name for the Ranunculaceae, a family of chiefly annual or perennial herbs of cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Bake Shop in New York. Creating the perfect cupcake is as simple as following a recipe, and you don't want to skip steps because it is just a cupcake. Take your time and make it right by letting your butter and eggs n. 1. (Bot.) a name given to several perennial plants having showy flowers of two shades of yellow, or of yellow and orange, such as Narcissus incomparabilis in Europe, and the toadflax (Linaria vulgaris come to room temperature, sift dry ingredients together, and add the eggs one at a time to produce the most tender crumb on your cake. The frosting can be light and fluffy, creamy, or ooey-gooey, just not dry and hard. The frosting tops can then be dusted lightly with cocoa or powdered sugar, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate-covered sunflower sunflower, any plant of the genus Helianthus of the family Asteraceae (aster family), annual or perennial herbs native to the New World and common throughout the United States. seeds, or espresso beans. (For more ideas on decorating cupcakes, see "Cupcake Couture," pg. 46.) Espresso cupcakes filled with chocolate ganache ga·nache n. A rich icing made of chocolate and cream heated and stirred together, used also as a filling, as for cakes or pastry. [French.] and topped with coffee-flavored cream cheese frosting, gingerbread gingerbread In architecture and design, elaborately detailed embellishment, either lavish or superfluous. Though the term is occasionally applied to such highly detailed and decorative styles as the Rococo, it usually refers to the hand-carved and -sawn wood ornamentation of cupcakes accented by tangy tang 1 n. 1. A distinctively sharp taste, flavor, or odor, as that of orange juice. See Synonyms at taste. 2. A distinctive quality that adds piquancy. 3. A trace, hint, or smattering. 4. lime icing, and lemonade-infused cupcakes perfect for summer are just a few of the fresh varieties waiting to be added to your basic repertoire. All are yummy flavors to indulge your senses with their heavenly scents and fluffy goodness. As in the espresso cupcake recipe, the middles of these modern treats can be stuffed with sweet or tangy fillings, adding yet another layer of texture and taste to the delicate crumb of the cake and creamy swirl of frosting. A bite of childhood is good for the soul, even if it involves Crisco icing. You can, however, remedy that culinary train wreck train wreck Medtalk A popular term for a multiproblem Pt in critical condition of a memory with any of these very chic recipes, or make up a combination of your own for this classic dessert. Put a tasty smile on someone's face when you bake them a batch of cupcakes, and remember that moderation is the key, the food police are on vacation ... and drinking a Tab really does Warren Trotter, better known as Really Doe, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is affiliated with Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music family and label. Discography Songs
wipe out Twinkles! I do love food memories. LEMONADE ANGEL CUPCAKES AND LEMONADE FROSTING This is a simple recipe from Cupcakes! From the Cake Mix Doctor by Ann Byrn. 1 box angel food cake mix 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed Lemon drop candies, chopped, for garnish Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Place cake mix, water, and lemonade in a large mixing bowl. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds, then scrape down the sides. Increase mixer speed to medium, and beat for 2 more minutes. Scoop batter into each cup, filling almost to the top. Bake cupcakes for 20-22 minutes, and remove from oven. Cool cupcakes on racks. Top cupcakes with Lemonade Frosting, and sprinkle with chopped lemon drops. Yield: 24 cupcakes. LEMONADE FROSTING: 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 3 cups confectioner's sugar 3 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed Zest of 1 lemon Beat all ingredients with a mixer until light and fluffy. CARROT CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 4 eggs 1 1/2 cups oil 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour, sifted 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups carrots, grated 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped 1 cup raisins Additional grated carrots for garnish Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and prepare two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs, oil, and sugar together on high speed until light and fluffy. Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together, and add dry ingredients to batter on low speed just until incorporated. Slowly add carrots, walnuts, and raisins, and mix until smooth. Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool on wire racks, and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. Top with grated carrots. Yield: 24 cupcakes. CREAM CHEESE FROSTING: 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 6 cups confectioner's sugar 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Beat all ingredients with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. COLORADO CUPCAKES WITH SNOWFLAKES BUTTERCREAM FROSTING 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups buttermilk Grated white chocolate for garnish Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin cups with paper liners, and spray with baking spray. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat together butter and sugar in a separate large bowl with a mixer. Beat in vanilla and eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low, add buttermilk, and mix until just combined (mixture will look curdled). Add flour mixture in 3 batches, beating until just combined after each addition. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Cool cupcakes on racks. Top with Snowflake Buttercream Frosting, and garnish with grated white chocolate. Yield: 24 cupcakes. SNOWFLAKE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup good-quality white chocolate, melted Beat butter until light and fluffy, then add remaining ingredients. Mix until smooth. TOASTED COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH SEAFOAM ICING 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups sugar 5 large eggs, at room temperature 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 14 ounces coconut, toasted, divided Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running on low, add eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add vanilla and almond extracts, and mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Begin adding dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately to the butter-sugar mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Add 7 ounces toasted coconut, and stir until combined. Line a muffin tin with paper liners, and fill each cup to the top with batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tops are browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks. Frost cupcakes with Seafoam Icing, and sprinkle with remaining toasted coconut. Yield: 18 cupcakes. SEAFOAM ICING: 3/4 cup sugar 2 large egg whites 2 teaspoons water 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract In the top of a double-boiler, combine sugar, egg whites, water, and cream of tartar. Over simmering water, beat with a hand mixer until mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove from heat, and beat at medium speed until mixture forms soft peaks and is very fluffy. Add vanilla, and beat to incorporate. GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE AND LIME CURD FROSTING (above) 1/2 cup self-rising flour 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup milk 3 1/2 ounces butter, softened 1 egg, beaten 2 tablespoons corn syrup Lime zest for garnish Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners, and spray with baking spray. Sift flours with baking soda and spices. In a mixer, combine flour mixture with brown sugar, milk, butter, beaten egg, and corn syrup. Divide among baking cups, and bake for 30 minutes. Cool on wire racks, then top with Lime Curd Frosting. Garnish with lime zest. Yield: 12 cupcakes. LIME CURD FROSTING: 1 pound cream cheese, softened 3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 1/2 pounds confectioner's sugar 4 tablespoons lime curd (available at gourmet food stores) Zest of 1 lime Combine all ingredients in a mixer, and beat until smooth. ESPRESSO CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND COFFEE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted 1 large egg, at room temperature 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons espresso powder, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water Chocolate-covered espresso beans for garnish Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla, melted chocolate, and egg, and beat for 4-5 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix water and dissolved espresso mixture. Add flour mixture and water-espresso mixture alternately to butter-sugar mixture in 3 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until fully combined. Spoon batter into cupcake liners, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top of a cupcake springs back when lightly touched and a wooden toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks. While cupcakes are baking, prepare Chocolate Ganache Filling. Scoop Filling into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch metal tip. Insert tip into top of each cooled cupcake, and squeeze bag until about one tablespoon of ganache has been piped into center of cake. Top cupcakes with Frosting, and garnish with espresso beans. Yield: 12 cupcakes. CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLING: 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Place chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Heat cream until bubbles form around the edge of the pan, then pour over chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir until combined. Add vanilla, and stir. Let cool to room temperature, and beat with a hand mixer till fluffy. FROSTING: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 ounce unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup strong coffee, cooled 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted Combine cream cheese, butter, coffee, and vanilla in the bowl of a mixer, and beat on high until mixture is smooth. Reduce speed, and add confectioner's sugar, beating until well incorporated. |
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