Heyo, I just wanted to write a message full of my infinite gratitude to all the supporters who helped my RAFA donation order go off without a hitch. Helpers I expected didn’t show and unexpected helpers did; it was all really smooth through production, clean-up, delivery, presentation, and CONSUMPTION!!! Boom even helped put together a pretty sweet foam core sign last minute! I tried to document along the way. I coasted through two evenings of late night baking with great company and sailed through the event day on a total high, delirious with joy and fatigue. In the end RAFA had about 500 participants and the staff eagerly took home the leftover cupcakes. I didn’t staff the food are of the event but the volunteers said the cupcakes were the most popular. I didn’t put out many business cards and I did get some email addresses on my newsletter sign-up. Special thanks to Jenny, Gloria, Patrick, Nasser, Lars, Joy, Dad, Mom, Auntie Gabe, and everyone who helped me make it happen by coming to my aide in a big way!
So during the aftermath, it feels sooooo good to have a success of that scale under my belt. It taught me how to organize, execute, delegate, and I think it really helped me see my technique. Now I’m trying redirect all that energy and organize my to-do list. First I list, later I’ll get to the prioritizing, most of them will be concurrent anyway:
write recipes/experiment
try to cater a wedding this season (promote me, suggest to brides to be-I’ll give a friendly discount)
find a venue for recurring Gimme Dem Cupcakes beit house shows, farmers markets, gallery openings, or something else small and community based (send me your ideas: wait-listed at Falls Church and Mt. P farmer’s markets)
prepare my first ever cupcake workshop for the after-school program at James Lee Community Center!
There’s always so much to do, but I am so pumped! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you all!
Though I’ve been super productive with all my cupcake projects, I haven’t had the opportunity to reconvene Gimme Dem’s Busy Bees. Some of you may have noticed an announcement going over the wires, Gimme Dem Cupcakes is donating 600 minis to the excellent cause of literacy through the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia’s annual event for children 2-12 and their families, Reading a Family Affair. See pictures from 2009 on the LCNV flickr… That was a mouthful. The cupcakes will be, too! Since I avoid the traditional flavors but it’s a kids event, I’m doing S’more, Chocomint, and gluten-free Jelly Donut. A lot of people think I’m crazy (what’s new?), but I’ve started to make a really simple plan and some of my local, lady bakers wanted to help, too.
So why go to all this trouble? A). RAFA is a great way to support a great cause, adult literacy. B). I love sharing and I love baking. I hope to document the whole project and definitely give full credit to any Gimme Dem supporters. C). Gimme Dem exposure. I’m going to put out a sign-up for a “Welcome to Gimme Dem Cupcakes E-Newsletter” that’ll be a better return on investment than shelling out a ton of my pretty moo cards and still get the word out on how Gimme Dem came to be, who helps, and what it offers. D). The experience. I have to say placing a direct order to Bob’s Red Mill is one of the most thrilling feelings I’ve ever had. I feel like the dream is becoming a little more real. It’s an excellent exercise in what running a real business will be like with cost benefit analysis, timing, scale, and general organization. When I initially set my prices, I mainly focused on being an economical alternative to competitors, but through this I actually looked at retail prices of the ingredients I buy and priced it out, added the cost of labor at minimum wage for one person and this order will come out to over $450 worth of donated munchies.
Pretty wild to see it on paper! I have promised 600 minis, so with a fudge factor and taste testing along the way, I’m shooting to bake 27 batches (9 each flavor). I want maximum freshness, so I have a 4 stage plan:
#1. pre-pack dry ingredients and prep icing anytime the week before
#2 bake the first 13 batches in the wee hours Friday morning
#3 bake the remainder and decorate Friday after 5PM (when I’m outta Artie’s)
#4 packaging will be ongoing.
Packaging and transportation are probably my biggest concerns right now. I’m pretty sure I’ll go with flat plastic containers because they’re sturdier than gift boxes and recyclable. Hopefully by Saturday morning, I’ll be ready to run around with all the little kids and Clifford! In the meantime, if you’d like to join the Gimme Dem baking party on the 19th, send me a message!
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.
So to prevent burnout, after the crazy LCNV/Artie’s combo Monday, I took Tuesday morning off to hang out with Cocoa Bean, Dad and my kitchen. We had a great time. End result: The Grumpy Grizzly, Ginger Bread, and Thai Tea Cupcakes. They were very well recieved when I shared at the office and the restaurant. Here are some pictures
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…
Homies, last week was a little emotional to say the least. But at the root of the matter, a totaled car can’t stop the haphazard kt machine. Even though Can can, the sex machine that she is, has aged gracefully, one good punch can lay any of us out. While I wait for the inspection sticker to expire, I wonder if I really need a car at all and maybe even I can quit Artie’s… In the end, everyone is safe and in the mean time Can can’ll get me around for local cupcake deliveries and work, so I’ve got no reason not to smile.
So let’s start with the happy making! Yesterday I got to visit my bestie, Becky down in Harrisonburg, and it was a gorgeous drive and a great day for birthday celebrations. Of course I made cupcakes. Dad lent me his car, I had the wonderful company of Jaz. We were starving when we got there so we all went out for a great brunch. Afterwards, Dean and Becky kicked our butts at Balderdash. (Flamingo balls and slow dancing). And who knew Adventures in Babysitting was such an awesome coming of age in a racially and class divided Chicago!?
I plan to let the rest of the week continue the trend of giving, sharing, and loving. Tomorrow, I have baking night with my favorite Artie’s bakers. Wednesday, I have two cupcake orders in the bag (Chocolate Peppermint x2 and Dreamsicle) and I plan to start my break early and do a half day Wednesday so I can relax before I have all my family together Thursday. And Saturday, I dedicate to my lovely Jenny V who is home from grad school. Even though I’m busy, who can’t love life with so many lovelies to make cupcakes for.
It’s true, I’ve been dishing it out Mama B style… relentlessly. I’m not the garden variety bag lady. You can’t catch me at da’club ’cause when I’m not feeding you cupcakes or working like a dog, I’m chillin with my homies at the grocery or kicking it in the kitchen… that’s how I do me. I’m on a first name basis with the late night stockers at more than one Safeway. I love grocery shopping after a long shift at Artie’s. Being surrounded by colorful plenty puts me at ease.
So, what’s cinnamon got to do with anything? Pumpkin cupcakes, that’s what. And I’ve been experimenting. I’m all jazzed for Autumn after pureeing fresh pumpkin and going apple picking. Green to gold against these grey skies makes me crave a long morning in bed and endless nights in the kitchen making delicious meals and sweets.
Here are some pictures from some of my favorite October things… Crafty Bastards, pumpkin prep, apple picking, pumpkin cupcakes, and saltenas for RB’s baby baptism!
So, I work at a mid-sized restaurant in Fairfax and I’ve really grown to love the staff… In fact my favorite greeting when I walk into the kitchen is a nice raw shouting match between myself and the Exec Chef, Mike Gallagher: “Where’s my cupcake, bitch?!” It’s so full of love.
The restaurant has been a great place to share and learn about food. In fact the GAR’s test kitchen is in Artie’s, so I officially get the professional opinions of chefs from all over the GAR company/Fairfax sampling my creations. There’s also the opinions of the rest of the staff, too.
Then that got me thinking…
I’ve been dishing out, now it’s your turn. Tell me about your favorite thing to bake, or even a favorite memory of something someone’s baked or shared with you. ‘Cause that’s what it’s all about. The experience: of sharing, the look on a face, new and old friends, a little icing in the corner of your mouth… whatev! Send me your songs of triumph and bitter failure.
BTW, not vegan but delish: Artie’s has some of the best desserts in the company AND we have the White Chocolate Bread Pudding back for Fall…
