I know, the Gimme Dem Cupcakes blog has been quiet, but you understand. ”Momma’s Always on Stage.” Someone asked me what I was proud of in 2011, and I’m definitely proud of my baking. Thank you all for your support.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,000 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.
-another wonderful year with the Literacy Council, promotion to bartender at Artie’s and most of all, my new part-time baker position at Sticky Fingers!
Guess who got (another) job!? That’s right, the haphazard kt machine is gonna try a new combination of crazy starting this weekend as I start baking PT for Sticky Fingers in DC. It’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up! Learning from pros who totally took em down on Cupcake Wars?! No brainer.
What does that mean for Gimme Dem Cupcakes? GDC will be making it’s last for profit appearance this weekend at the Mt. Pleasant Farmers market in collaboration with V Picnic Club. To prevent a conflict of interest with my Sticky Fingers friends, I will only continue baking cupcakes for current friends and loved ones who already have my contact information. In the future, I still plan to take part in local events like the Capital Area Cake Show as well as collaborate with friends on other ideas, so you’ll still be able to catch some sweets or an empanada here and there. I’ll keep you apprised as the blog is re-purposed into a solely personal outlet.
Happy occasions have caught on like wildfire at my office. It seems like every other day someone is announcing a baby, an engagement, or a big move! The kind of news that makes you smile SO big and kind of tear up. Life is change, and while I’m riding the waves more than picking the beach, sometimes I get to see someone else do it. I’m not the sorta girl who fantasizes about when I might get married yet… I’m more likely to fantasize about the next time I’ll be barefoot, eating something delicious, playing with Cocoa Bean, watching X-Men and/or being a general goofball… even though I have found my very own Prince Charming, wedding stuff is far away in my mind. In the meantime, I love helping other people celebrate and every special occasion deserves cake! Even more, I really love weddings.
Last week, GDC got it’s first official order for wedding cupcakes, so be on the lookout for work in progress blogs on how GDC does tasting, pricing, how-to-build your own cupcake stand and the super rad young bride who ordered them!
Many blessings to the all the wonderful couples sharing the growth and gift of love!
Hi Friends. Sorry, I’ve been busy relishing in summer.
After the farmers market in May, I decided to refocus on relaxing in a bigger way! While I haven’t been baking or writing much, I have been having SO. MUCH. FUN. Making new friends and celebrating the ones we already have; travelling; running with my puppy; sweating it out on roadtrips; laughing; crying; and eating delicious, delicious food. Thank goodness for all the wonderful people in my life making all this possible! Click on the likn below and you’ll see my Mom’s business (Harmony Gardening and Sustainable Solutions), Joy’s new puppy (Sookie), my trip to Laramie to move Becky, Family Style Cantonese dinner for my birthday, #malletsarefortourists Barn Party and Crab Feast:
and some pics just from our trip to Asheville:
Some of you may be wondering where you’ll see Gimme Dem Cupcakes next, and the truth is… YOU NEVER KNOW! I’ll definitely be making an appearance at the either DC Veg Fest or DC Cupcake Camp and a Grey Market in the fall; and there have been a few other events and opportunities I just couldn’t make work yet. But as the GDC kitchen prepares to move to the district spring 2012, I’m hoping to set roots and partner with a storefront or kitchen in the area. Let me know if you have any ideas! Maybe August will actually help me get back to work… In the meantime, keep checking back here for updates and I’ll still be doing made to order!!
Hi Gimme Dem Cupcakes supporters!!!
Customers and friends may have already receieved this via email, but for the wider Gimme Dem viewing audience:
I hope you’re all reveling in the good weather and even better company as everything warms up this season! Warm weather means it’s time for markets to reopen! That said, Gimme Dem Cupcakes is about a month away from participating as a vendor for the first time at Grey Market DC on May 21st!
What is the Grey Market?
“The DC Grey Farmers Market is a private membership club that serves as an incubator for small food vendors who can’t yet afford to be licensed.” How can you support Gimme Dem and other vendors?
Show up and buy stuff May 21st at our host venue, Local 16 (1602 U Street)! For now, the venue and day are set, but time is TBA. Sign-up on the Grey DC website to get the skinny on confirmed vendors, estimated numbers of participants etc. and other reminders!
Why should you support?
(I know spring is a super busy time of year for everyone but, this is a very big deal for me and the other vendors!!!) Gimme Dem has been trucking along with short seminar classes, fundraising events like RAFA and the World-Wide Vegan Bake Sale as well as made to order sales, BUT I think events like the Grey Market will help me explore its viability as a full-time business. This is a great opportunity to move toward the next step. I encourage you to please forward this email to locals in the DMV area that might be interested Gimme Dem goods or the market!
Want more vegan !?!?
I’m trying to gather people intersted in promoting vegan culture. Several of my clients are interested in starting a business like a storefront, restaurant or a cooperative. I have contacts at several businesses (Harrisonburg’s The Little Grill Collective or The Friendly City Food Coop, or other city’s gem’s like Nashville’s The Turnip Truck). I think would be good models for us. I’d like to bring in diverse talents and interests to the conversation, so please, If you’re interested in learning more email me and we’ll arrange a meet-up asap!
Thank you all for your love and support! I hope to see you at a Gimme Dem event soon!
Holy, moly. What an event. And I was only there for Saturday! The National Capital Area Cake Show was AMAZING! I’m so glad my friend Yuli encouraged me to go! After an evening baking with my family Friday, I started my day with an 8 AM class with Norm Davis on how he runs his shop and manages clients for his award winning cake business The Sweet Life. Afterwards, I met up with my friend Morgan and we let the sweet smell of baked goods guide us. There was a lot going on: more classes; vendor expo; entries for the wedding cake, themed, and divisional cake decorating contests; cookies; cupcakes; a live cake challenge with celebrity pastry chefs; free demonstrations and so much philantrhopy! Right up my alley! I was really impressed with the sense of community as well as the professionalism of the bakers, especially amateurs! Next year, I’m definitely taking more classes and loading up on the swag as much as possible. (full photo album of what we saw here.)
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
But my very favorite part was the Cupcake Cocktail Hour and Cupcake Challenge which Gimme Dem proudly participated in with what my sister like to call the “Plump and Juicy Fuzzy Navel Cupcake.” It was long week with the addition of bar training and spending time tweaking my recipe… but Friday night, with the help of my family, we nailed it. It took a lot of Schnapps and peach puree to get the recipe right, but we finally got a standout peach flavor to pop against the intensity of the orange zest.
I had a great time meeting spectators and sharing with the other bakers. On top of all that, I was shocked and surprised to get an email telling me we won second place in the amateur division! I am not ashamed to quote the email here:
We are writing to congratulate you on receiving a 2nd Place Award in the 2011 NCACS Cupcake Challenge! The results are posted on the website at www.cupcakechallenge.org . Please send your mailing address and I will mail you the ribbon!
Thank you so much for competing and I hope that you will be returning next year to defend your title. The judges noted that not only was your cupcake delicious, but you did it with all vegan ingredients, which shows an added level of skill. They were very impressed! (For your personal bragging rights I will also note that your numerical score tied the winner in the professional category.)
Congrats,
Melissa Westervelt & Megan Ferrey
Cupcake Event Coordinators
along with the 2011 NCACS Committee
There were probably over a hundred entries and 40 or so bakers professional and amateurs. I got a lot of really great feedback and really feel like I got the opinions of my peers. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have won and I definitely wasn’t even expecting it. Gimme Dem wouldn’t be here without all you and it really shows. That said, I think a Gimme Dem Cupcakes and Empanada party is in order!!! Shooting for April 16th, I’ll confirm and send invitations this week!
So, I’m expanding my skill set. At the restaurant I have started training to be a bartender. Can you see me slinging beers and shaking up martinis?! Banter and booze. Yup, I can see it, too. So far, it’s really fun. I finished the first stage of training, and now I’m in the behind the scenes bar doing drinks for the main dining room every Sunday night until we coordinate a training schedule for the main bar. I haven’t mastered shooters or all the less frequently ordered mixers, but I understand the standard pours and I have all the basics for Artie’s favorites fairly mastered like martinis, cosmos, mojitos, and margaritas. I think I’m at the same stage with Gimme Dem where I’ve established my foundation of strong recipes and my method of service, and now, it’s time to expand!! I want more! I can do large scale production, I can deal with allergies, and I can make you smile. Now it’s time to take it to the next level! And maybe add a shot or two to brighten up our spirits.
About a month and a half ago, I registered for the National Capital Area Cake Show‘s Cupcake Cocktail hour tasting and competition. I’m working on a new Vegan Fuzzy Navel Cupcake (thank you barnivore!) just for the event and I can’t wait to see what else is out there! Orange you glad!?!?! Bwah! I hope you’ll consider coming out to support your favorite vegan cupcakes!!!!
Tonight, or rather this morning, I can’t promise a coherent stream of thoughts. I’m trying, as my brain keeps clicking away in the pre-dawn darkness. This post is about taking stock of where I am now, my goals, and my resources.
It starts with the promises I’ve made myself. This year, for New Years, I told myself I’d be working on saying “No.” So far, so, so… It’s like the federal budget; things need to change or even be cut out of my life, but it’s impossible to make a good decision without considering the affects of change, the hidden costs. I wasn’t really sure I’d participate in lent this year having fallen to lapsed Catholic habits, but it seemed like the perfect opportunity to refocus. To aide my search, I decided my sacrifice and prayers would be honed through the guidance of a book I found while I was at the Ten Thousand Villages in Richmond a few weeks ago, Living More with Less by Doris Janzen Longacre. The book is a collection of anecdotes,opinions and facts that challenge what it means to truly live up to one’s beliefs and intentions with a deeper awareness of those who suffer. As I leaf through the pages, it isn’t easy to put ones actions in context of the world community and not feel room for improvement. I’m sure I’ll have a favorite quote every page for every day, but yesterday I was struck by this, “To make ‘do justice’ a standard is to live by both reason and compassion.” These words do so much to close the gap between belief and action.
So thinking about what Living More and my life, where am I? Some days I feel like a super hero because I cover so much ground and do so much work, and others I wonder if I’m just completely delusional and all me efforts might be more circular than forward moving. It’s hard to say which is true because I don’t give myself much time to think about it. I’m spread too thin. Two jobs, a cupcake dream and a family with more responsibilities than I know what to do with… They’ve all settled into the norm rather than the exceptional circumstance. I’m complacent and almost happy in my routine until it’s challenged by more than a day or two off work and I’m overjoyed to the point of tears. I’m happiest when I can provide something to someone, even better when it’s from the kitchen. And I’m stubborn as a mule. How does a blind person see themselves?
So, where would I like to go, or what would I change? When I find myself truly questioning my progress as a human being, I open myself up to possibility and if I think something is truly right, I make a wish. Here is today’s: I wish that I could balance my time, my feelings, my responsibilities, and my aspirations so that I could reach another level of ability. I know ability sounds vague, but I think I do many things half as well as I could if I could only have a little more time to focus. How could this happen? I’d like my family to have a close bond, but for each person to celebrate a healthy sense of individuality and autonomy. I’d like my professional confidence to be matched by financial security with enough time to enjoy what I work for. I need more time with my family and friends.
Sunday night, I got out of Artie’s earlier than usual and I talked to my mom for over 2 hours. I know a lot of women who talk to their parents every day. If you know me, you know how unusual that is. Dad lives with me and I don’t see him every day. Mom and I had a really really nice conversation. We hadn’t talked in a while, and it’ s not because we’re incompatible people, but because of our strange family dynamic has strained our connection. I didn’t realize how much I missed her and it was so wonderful. I hadn’t reach out to her in such a long time and it was just a really open conversation about the things we care about. Different things but the same in spirit. Mostly talking about the kinds of life we’d like to build with the support and love of the ones we care about. I told her about my vacation to Nashville and the difficulty of getting back into my normal manic life.
This is what I need more of. A couple hours of unplanned time to think about life and how I’ll get where I need to be. I’ve gotten really good at crisis management, now I’d like to be good at living well.
Not that everyday should be vacation, but everyday should give you some opportunity to enjoy yourself. While I was in Nashville I celebrated a wonderful combination of old friends, new places, and lots of one of one with my man. You know how much I love my man.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Check out that Tiramisu (remember how hard I was working to perfect it!)! That’s what I’m talking about people! Not excess, but celebrating the moments of togetherness and satisfaction of things coming together. I hope you’ll send out happy thoughts and good intentions When I get caught up in routine, call me on my BS. Please! Especially challenge my baking repetoire.
I hope you all know how much I appreciate you. Customers and friends, be on the lookout for a Spring Vegan Empanada Party (End of March or sometime in April?!)!
Belated Valentine’s post! I know it isn’t everyone’s favorite holiday, but I’m glad for any moment taken to appreciate one’s relation to the world around them. Love is in the air. People are taking great pride in their nation, their community, their families, their significant others and themselves.
I’ve been very excited about two projects near and dear to my heart:
#1. Vegan Tiramisu wedding cake for one of the nicest couples on the planet
#2. I finally did it! I got the tattoo of my dreams.
About the cake:
I know it’s not the center-piece or anything, but I want it to be perfect, and most importantly, I want it to be them: charming, playful, warm and intelligent. I don’t know how a cake can be intelligent, but I think I can do the other stuff! Karen sent out a call t her friends to bring together a collection of about 8 homemade cakes instead of a giant one. So smart. The wedding is in the far far away land of Nashville and my kitchen skills travel better than a cake…. Thanks to the wonderful networking abilities afforded by the intertubes, I will be baking with one of the other cakers the day of the wedding! I’m so excited to meet her friends and work on cake together! I don’t want to make too much of a horrendous mess in their kitchen/nail the design so I have been practicing different steps about once a week. I have chronicled the learning process on flickr. Lars and I are stoked for a week long of Nashville adventures and friend celebrating starting next Monday! There is a lot to do yet, but I think I’ll be ready when the time comes!!!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
About the tattoo:
Many of you may be wondering why your favoritre kt b got a tattoo. If I have to explain it all to a grandparent or child, I guess we’ll just have to meet on the values of self-expression and do the best we can. Beyond that, some of you may have known I was stewing on it for years, but for those who do not, here is a little meandering description of the whole deal. As I tell it, there is no fantastic narrative to tie everything together. And to be honest, I’m not obssessed with the inked body,and I don’t envision panels of images stretching the span of my back. And it’s definitely not an act of rebellion. It’s on a pretty personal space, not like I’m trying to be cool (though I am very proud of Rob’s work). So why did I get a tattoo?
I know people get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. But here was my basic criteria:
1. Whatever idea I get has to stick after at least a year of ruminating in my head.
2. The phrase or image should be in a place I can see it so it’s for me and not just other people to look at.
3. Most importantly, the phrase or image should represent me.
4. And lastly, it’d be nice to have original artwork.
I had the idea about 3 years ago and found an artist last year for the drawing. This year, I found an artist for the actual sitting Rob L. Smith, II at Caspian Tattoos in Lynchburg, VA.
I think tattoos can be beautiful, even if certain motifs may have less meaning to the general viewer because of their repeated use. But that’s the thing, regardless of the image, tattoos are personal symbols the individual chooses that aren’t just about what others see on skin, but what the image represents to the body’s owner. I needed that. I needed to do something for just me. I generally channel a good deal of my effort into things intended for others. Testing students, training volunteers, waiting tables, baking at midnight, paying bills… Don’t get me wrong, I still love all those things, especially making you cupcakes and helping people learn English; I just needed to remind myself of me.
Hippos are such a funny dichotomy between the doughy, friendly things humans like to idealize, and the actually massive, territorial, dangerous animals that they are. It doesn’t hurt that they are vegetarians! I came upon the hippo as a gift at the end of high school, just as I was just starting to figure myself out. After all this time it stuck with me, first as a joke then because I really identified with them. Maybe it seems like a dramatic move, maybe part of a big exhale after a lot has changed. I do know that when I look down and see it etched onto my waist, it feels absolutely right. It feels like me.
——
Thank you all for all the constant support in things I love to do!
I hope you’ll celebrate the compassion and understanding you share with others every day! Happy Valentine’s!!!
We don’t all have fairy god mothers, magic shoes, or leagues of talking animals to help us along our way. What we do have is our own free will and the wonderful people we meet to help us make the days full of love and laughter. After a very long and hard September, I had a weekend with good friends to refresh me.
Lars, Becky, and Jenny with me, I had a chance to enjoy the fresh air, campfires, and lots of delicious food. These kinds of weekends are more magical than any movie.
Now that I’m back to normal, after my weekend getaway, how do I continue to celebrate the everyday? Well, I realized, a day without good food doesn’t make for a very good day. I’ve been trying to keep Mondays reserved for family dinners. So yesterday, I bought some herbs de provence for a roast for the fam and fennel for some savory lentils. To round out our first autumn meal together I concocted a new cupcake recipe: the Red Rose. It’s a combination of my favorite everyday tea and rosewater. Sweet, warm and simple, the Red Rose is fit for the everyday princess in all of us.
[This batch was gobbled... New batch and picture coming soon]
Now, tucked in bed "over the river and through the woods." Great evening w/ my Grands: wine, pizza, choc chip cookies and playing Canasta. 22 hours ago
Enjoyed today's conference for VA Literacy Leadership. So greatful for our advocates (Jeannie Baliles, David Baldacci, Delegate Kim, etc.) 22 hours ago
