Kate and Oliver are not only a handsome couple, sexy pair of brains, and all-around good-time, but they are excellent hosts. Lars and I got to celebrate his birthday this past weekend with them as well as fellow DCers Patrick and Niva. I’ve been thinking all week about writing a thank you to them, but you know how I like to share stories, so Gimme Dem is the chosen venue.
Before March, other than passing through on trips to other destinations, I had never really stopped to visit NY. All the hype about its big-time-ness has really turned me off over the years. This weekend totally opened me up to its possibilities. Staying in their home nestled in a humble little neighborhood off the 2/3 train in Brooklyn washed away all my reservations and let us really enjoy some quality time with our homies. We had great dinners with Kate’s family full of pizza, great wine and conversations fueled by inspiring personalities. We had way-too-much fun eating and shopping our way through the Brooklyn flea. (So in love with my new boots). We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon walking through East Village. And every night we talked into the dwindling hours of morning. It wasn’t the typical NY experience, but it was just right for me. I loved the feel for the creative DIY community and just regular people hanging out. People come from everywhere and make it home, make it comfortable and worn in. NY kinda feels like a good pair of jeans. It was so relaxing and a really nice way to celebrate Lars’s birthday. Who wouldn’t be happy after eating pizza almost every day?
So, this is my thank you. Kate, you have a beautiful family and I felt very fortunate and pleased to be included. Have a super amazing and safe time in Dubai this week! Oliver, thank you for being so gracious when I almost killed you with nutty cupcakes! I hope the Blue Apron cupcakes were an acceptable replacement to Gimme Dem…
Both of you inspire me to visit more cities filled with friends I should see more often. Merci beaucoup!!!
For those of you who don’t know, I love music. I used to DJ at school and always find great joy in listening to lots of different types of music. And what do you get when you put the haphazard kt machine and music together? A band-mom, ready and armed with a shoulder to lean on/load with musical equipment, some hoot’n and holler’n for hype, and a box of goodies to nourish you on those long road trips.
When did I know I wanted to be a band-mom? Maybe at about age 4 when I’d go berserk signing “Love Shack” realizing I had no business pursuing a musical career. But I definitely support musicians. I got my first stab at the band-mom business during the Yigga Digga Tour in ’05 wth Sentai, Mathematicians, and La Mi Vida Violenta touring New England for a week. My first tofurkey sandwich and night roaming NYC. Breakdancing, birthdays and break-ups. It was an amazing trip full of a frenzy of creative energy that made me feel like I was part of a traveling band of gypsies. Eternal hearts for my favorite Ruffians.
I’ve also been known to take on house guests. Other than seeing shows, I haven’t been doing much mothering lately. So, when Cole asked me to bring Gimme Dem to the Cherch, it was no question. I took 100+ mini’s in variations of vanilla, chocolate and banana cake with cream cheese icing, chocolate ganache, mint icing, banana icing, and love. And of course you know what that means, The AmeriCAN Dream. Total success. Everyone should see every show the Cherch has to offer because it’s thumping with great music and local love. I gave out a bunch of my business cards and for a few days, my page went viral through the adverts of the show. Yeah interwebs! Music was great and Theo Angell liked the AmeriCAN dream! I hope to offer goodies at more shows for the Cherch and the artists they host. In the meantime Cristina, I look forward to seeing some pics of cupcake carnage.
So yeah, mad love for the Cherch, friends and music. If you’re interested in having Gimme Dem Cupcakes at your house show/party/next viewing of The Room/romantic date with Darth Vader, check out the menu and shoot me and email at beckmaka@gmail.com.
Sometimes, or maybe all the time, I like to take a big ole gnarly bite outta life and just see how far I get. Today was not an exception. With the wear of winter making me ache to be out in the uncharacteristically warm 60 degree weather we had here in VA, I spent all day in the office or on my way to a workplace. The office and then a little pinch hitting for registrations before I had to somehow make it to Artie’s for our quarterly top-to-bottom-clean-til-you-can-eat-off-the-toilets-inspection… gah.
Who am I to complain? My coworker and managers at Artie’s were nice enough to work with me through the office emergency and I made it to registration. Of course as I settle in to speak to the students, I had the socks knocked off me. When we register students we get them to fill out some paperwork and then we take them aside for a one on one conversation test in English. We have students ranging from no comprehension (nodding their heads with vacant expressions) on up to quite literate but with poor speaking skills. Being in the admin side of things, I’ve missed student contact, so when I get to test, I frequently get a window on the tireless but driven adults who immigrate here to kick ass and make a life for themselves. Even when they can’t speak fully, it’s just a moment to people watch. One of the questions I read frquently was “What do you like about living in ___?” Frequently there is an expression of confusion mixed with awe. One woman said “It’s beautiful” with that amazing Central American accent where it sounds like “bee-you-dee-full.” Well crap, IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE. Those little moments stir the crankiness right outta me. It was the same as I got to Artie’s. I wasn’t there for the money, but to repay the debt and get to work with my generous coworkers. I was greeted by my favorite dishwasher, a giant El Salvadorean guy who looks like he could have been a short WWF wrestler. He throws his big tough cracked hands up for a high five and hug while I greet him saying “Hola, Papa Oso!” That’s the stuff of life, seriously. We could find reason for resentment and irritation so easily, but there are all these small and relatively insignificant moments that tie us to purpose nd people.
So this evening’s cupcake meandering is dedicated to the grumpy grizzly moments; when you’ve got so much to do and things pull you in all directions. Maybe that grizzly bear has a really soft center and nice crumb, a little graham topped by a nice vegan caramel, maybe a spiced pecan to top. We’ll see what we can get for results in the morning. Flickr pics coming soon.
If you hadn’t heard, the east coast got rocked by Thundersnow 2k9 and I have to say, at first I was pissed. I was frustrated that when I’ve got so little time cut out for the people I love, we were snowed in and not able to spend it together.
But you know what, f*#% that bah humbug bull-honkey. I’ve got the world’s cutest sidekicks to taste test while I bake away my frustration. Results: spumoni, chocolate chips, and sugar cookies, 2x sweet potato coconut pies, a couple batches of cupcakes and a really great Christmas.
So, though the Motown and Soulfood party has been post-poned, thank goodness this is VA, so even 2 feet of snow melts quickly. I’ve gotten to enjoy a lot of time with friends and family I don’t see often enough. While I get back to work, please know, that if I missed you, please call or write me. I hope you’ve had the joy of spending time with people you love, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This is my favorite time of year. I’m hoping to get my tree up tonight so I can sit in the dark with the lights twinkling while I try to drag Cocoa Bean away from the beckoning ornaments!
So far, I’m having a great time! So much celebrating! I enjoyed a flawless family Thanksgiving + Lars and I got a little weekend time with my homies back from grad school , too. And upon reflecting the future challenge of life without Can Can, my wonderful Corolla DX wagon, I went on my usual existential bend and concluded my life purpose is to concoct and share cupcakes. (It’s getting real: business cards are ordered and I’m working with a friend to write up a business plan!) Meanwhile, we had a great 2009 Holiday Party for our community of volunteers, students and staff here at the Literacy Council, Cocoa Bean enjoyed her very first snow, and I was again blown away by the culinary feats of the Perry House homies at Friendsgiving. (:
All these ooey gooey sharing caring events have my cupcaking noggin churning ideas for new cupcakes and business ideas… thinking about what I need to do to certify my kitchen for commercial use, how to market more effectively to people I don’t know, how to do community service with cupcakes… Could GDC hold workshops for the community or be totally structured as a non-profit? We’ll see…
today was one of the most frustrating days i’ve had in a long time. so much so, i’m gonna go old-school kt and use no caps, because caps are like yelling and i feel like whispering. but back to the point, today has ultimately inspired a cupcake, and this post will be about that meandering thought process.
today was not my routine… summary: a pseudo-stranger thought i was engaged to my ex and my sister’s bf had a fender bender in my car while doing me a favor of picking her up while i was at work . wtf? i think that’s as much back story as you need to know it messed up my zen-master training.
as i resume focus just left of center, i realize, when i’m sad i like to think of moments when i’m falling in love. so i’d like to concoct a cupcake that captures that concept. something that’s both fragile and dense, but that somehow has a quality of light. sensual and dark but oozey and delicate. serious and silly. i’m picturing a dark chocolate almond flour cupake with a rasbperry coulis center and some kind of mousse instead of frosting … i want i to be messy. something that might be fun to smother in a friends face or lick off your thumb. and i’m going to call it the Bastard Cupid. yes, it required caps.
it’s happenin.’ i have to get more sugar and such, but be on the lookout for pictures tomorrow night or friday.
Results: You guys are so predictable… A billion of you were into vanilla and chocolate combinations, sometimes with fruit, and sometimes topped with sprinkles. Less dominant were the classics like carrot cake with cream cheese, red velvet, lemon+blueberry, and the dreaded funfetti. There were a few more interesting selections like white chocolate, smore + peanut butter, but overall nothing much original. I was hoping people would be more adventurous. But I was reminded, cupcakes are sentimental comfort food. People want their childhood favorites and the their mom’s (Betty Crocker’s) recipes. So, while you are comfortably nestled in your cardboard box favorites, I’ll shake in a little ginger, hibiscus, coconut, lychee, green tea, marzipan, and all the ideas I have that might break you out of your shells! You know, stuff like this.
I love movies as much almost as I love being in my kitchen. So when I’m doing something menial at my computer, I’m often streaming something on Hulu or Netflix. So, whose seen Stranger than Fiction, raise your hand? I’m not a huge fan of romantic comedies, but it struck the right chords with it’s underdog-type characters. I love it, especially the cheesy scene where Harold wins over tempetuous baker, Ana Pascal.
Ana is my hero. I love imagining her arriving at the bakery at 4:30 or 5:00 strong-arming a yeast beast so fresh bread is ready for afternoon sandwhiches. I love that it’s a community with smiles, friends, and neighbors including bums hanging out and getting free food. What baker can handle the storefront and the baking? While my own conncoctions have been my nocturnal retreat, I hope one day to live the dream of punk baker. Not only does Ana have the most charming bakery, bad ass philanthropic zeal, and a great open kitchen, but that’s probably the most romantic gift I’ve ever heard of.
Last night, I reorganized my kitchen. Gutted the cabinets and all. Wiped out all the flour, dust and shmutz while cursing the gremlins that stole the mates for all my plastic containers. In the end, I had an emmaculate kitchen and a satisfied sense of order. There’s a place for all my favorite appliances, tins, pyrex, and dry goods… I realize I have 8 flours and 3 starches… maybe one day, I’ll meet the real Ana Pascal.
Dad was watching the Today Show as usual (he’s turned into a teary pouty middle-aged woman) and Ann Curry barreled through the announcement that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. ::Gasp:: Everyone’ surprised, and at first I was realing.
I’m glad I had baking time set aside to process. The AmeriCAN Dream cupcakes are almost grotesque, I love it. It so suits my reaction to the Nobel Committee’s announcement. I called my two best friend Joy and Becky to hash it out. Did I miss something? When was the last time Obama went on a hunger strike? But that isn’t the point. It’s not really about the man, or his actions exactly. It’s the messages and how they moveothersto make a better life. It’s about how he represents a shift in attitude and approach; dignified posture that sheds the shameful, neanderthal approach of the Bush administration and gets back to approaching leaders and talking instead of shooting. I have to agree, he must be stretched thin, and not that much policy has changed, but he’s leading a movement, he’s changing minds. Maybe he hasn’t gone on strike but he’s made moves, and moreover, I’m he’s sacrificed. He’s going to make so much more possible. I worry that as this award is somewhat premature, it amplifies the expectation we all place on him. Can he really save us?
Mr. President, free cupcakes for life. That’ a promise. Just say when.
I’m glad I got to churn out these awkward litle lovelies on such a special day.
cherry, backberrry, blueberry
Until the President calls, I’ll have to share elsewhere.
So today, in celebration of the new class of AmeriCorps surviving their first registrations. I made the Tiramisu cupcakes. Then I found out Courtney has a gluten allergy. Va bene… after tonight’s registration, I stopped at Wholefoods and picked up All-Purpose Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour. I was hoping that’d give me what I needed for a gluten-free Babycakes or VCTOTW recipe, but I was short all sorts of ingredients like arrowroot and potato starch among other things. Too many things that I couldn’t control the ratio of.
I looked at the GF flour package and it claimed to be able to substitute 1:1 with regular all-purpose flour, even better if you add Xanthum gum, which oddly enough, I did have. I went for the vanilla cupcake recipe and did 3/4 c. GF flour, and 1/2 c. almond flour and almond extract. I was planning to top it with an almond chocolate ganache. I did a dozen mini-cupcakes and then there was batter for 4.5 regular-sized cupcakes.
Even I burn cupcakes. I knew, but forgot, never use the bottom rack. The minis were on the bottom and turned before I knew it. The regular sized ones came out fine. I ate the .5 size for taste testing. The cupcake wasn’t what I hoped and it didn’t have the body or flavor to stand up to the ganache (though it was delicious: semi-sweet chocolate chips, almond milk, almond extract, almond butter). Alternative, fill with cherry preserves and top with the cream cheese almond icing. We’ll see how Courtney likes them. I’m looking forward to trying gluten-free again with the right ingredients.
In other news, I also made a specia batch of chocolate cupcakes for a cople of my favorite guests at Artie’s. They’re an elderly couple that come in twice a week usually. They are the most vivacious, well-travelled, sharp witted, sweet people. The husband does most of the talking, not out of a sense of dominance, but love; his wife had a stroke and mostly wears a sweet reassuring smile while she nods approval to his responses. They come into Artie’s after her physical therapy appointments. We’ve talked about our love of chocolate, people they’ve met, languages, traveling, anything. When they come in, they usually get a icecream sundae with hot fudge or a chocolate waffle. They love their chocolate. They definitely deserve cupcakes, and I did the VCTOTW chocolate but subbed in some almond flour. It made the texture of the cupcake somehow softer and richer. Then I used the ganache and garnished with sliced almond. The ganache cools to a nice shell to maintain the moisture of the cupcake and the amlonds add a crunch. The modification was dynamite and will be repeated.
that’d give me what I needed for a gluten-free Babycakes or VCTOTW recipe, but I was short all sorts of ingredients like 
