This is my very first blog post: Date: 2/28/14. While I haven’t changed a word I did add a few additional photos. How time flies… 🙂 One needn’t be a beer fan to become one of these luscious, spongy delights. These Chocolate stout or Guinness chocolate cupcakes are dense, flavorful and moist. The frosting, also…
Tag: desserts
Black & White Cupcakes & a little cookie history
Black & White Cookies aka Half moon cookies, half and half cookies and in Germany Amerikaners have always been an elusive, personal favorite of mine. Why elusive? Mostly because they are so difficult to find! However, when I do unearth them, I snatch up a dozen of the soft, hand-sized, yin and yang frosted shortbreads,…
Strawberry Creme Shortcake Cupcakes
Strawberry season is on the horizon and these charming, petite, portable shortcakes are an ideal treat for family get-togethers, parties, BBQs, bridal showers or even an afternoon tea. They are very easy to put together and the secret is to place fresh sliced berries in between the frosting—the sweetness from the frosting serves as…
How to Properly Eat a Cupcake & Making Boxed Cake Taste Like Made From Scratch
Today’s blog is somewhat of a repeat from a few posts ago, but in the theme of cupcake week, wanted to include the recipe for making boxed cake taste like homemade with the “how to eat a cupcake” tutorial–isn’t she a sweetheart? All home bakers want to learn how to make boxed cake taste like…
S’mores Cupcakes Featuring Chocolate Marshmallow Buttercream
As we continue with cupcake week I wanted to introduce you to a shop favorite. I was asked to put these together by a dear, kind man with a massive sweet tooth! His comment was “Lana, I love S’mores and adore your cupcakes—how can we make both?” Today’s recipe is my solution and they were…
Raspberry Filled Yellow Fairy Cakes with Lemon Buttercream
So, what are Fairy Cakes anyway? Fairy cakes are not, as their name might imply, themed cakes designed and decorated to the liking of mystical, fantasy enthusiasts. They are, simply stated, smaller versions of cupcakes. They’re widely popular in the UK, and tend not to pile on the icing in the same way that American…
Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes & a little history
Pineapples have been around forever, right? Yes! Well, almost. In reality, canned pineapples that we use in our beloved upside down cakes were not available until 1903 when Jim Dole of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (now Dole Pineapple) perfected a way to tin them. So where did people get the idea of putting fruit at…
Thai Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango: Kao Niow Mamuang
I know of no way to end a perfect Thai meal than with this conventional sweet rice cascading with a healthy fringe of ripe, sweet, juicy mango. Don’t forgot to save a bit of the sweet coconut milk to drizzle over the top of it all…Amazing ending, indeed. Ingredients  2 cups long-grain white sticky rice,…
Amish Baked Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal with Toasted Pecans
Baked oatmeal is a traditional, comforting Amish breakfast casserole served warm or at room temperature with copious amounts of cream or milk. Unlike regular oatmeal; made on the stove-top or microwave which has a porridge-like consistency, baked oatmeal is made in the oven and in many ways is similar to bread pudding. There are never-ending…
Gelato! Ice Cream vs il Gelato; There IS a Difference!
If you’ve ever visited Italy, you’ve more that likely had the pleasure of experiencing velvety, luscious Italian gelato or possibly an icier version similar to American ice milk gone Italian ice. Maybe you assumed the only reason it seemed richer and more flavorful than American ice cream was because you were enjoying it in the…
Once Upon a Spice 