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.
I really wanted to pull together something beautiful and reflective summarizing 2009 and ringing in 2010 with a big messy kiss. There was some of the kiss the night of, but for you, my cupcake lovers, the words couldn’t come until Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
My cupcakes are all about connecting. I’m a hub, you’re a hub, and between us are the myriad of beautious faces and families creating all the nooks and crannies of the wonderful lives we share.
This week, I observed the tragedy and beauty of Haiti, resenting and treasuring my place in the world, far from terror and so able to give. My 18 year old sister asked me, “Why should we care?” with absolute clarity and venom. I briefly described to her the the Carribean slave trade and the revolving corruption that affects so manny developing nations. Haiti is not an extradordinary disaster compared to the history it’s suffered nor the history of other developing countries stymied by the clash of western and indigenous, other and self; a struggle that we all come to know in our dealings witht he world and people around us. Then she cared. And I hope she cares tomorrow, too. I hope that the immediate shock of the earthquake, paired with the grace of Haiti’s own people pulling it’s communities together let’s a new sense of nation and pride shake the rubble and shackles of the past. And I hope we and the world around them pay attention for as long as it takes, because everything takes time.
So, I know at this point giving to charity may seem like pouring salt over a clusterf*&! of bacteria in Haiti’s festering wounds, but tonight I dedicated my tip wages to Partners In Health. I know, I waited a week, but it’s a small island and it seems PIH is having success actually accessing thse who need their aid and supplies. That said, I am also very proud of the Fairfax County Search and Rescue who are volunteering in Haiti now. I hope the skills and compassion you share help Haitians for many generations. I also hope the media and monetary attention placed on Haiti’s disaster relief translates to eduactional programs and resource sharing that helps Haitians help themselves.
So I’m trying to help myself as well, this year and in those to come, so that I can share my health and happiness with my own hub, MLK day or not. So, being in the cupcake biz, I’m into the gooey crumbly manifestations of joy that people share and make friends with. A very intimate human experience that says a little “I love you” in every bite. I want to share love with everyone in the world… at least a little bit. So how can one sustain copious cupcake production? What managable but still challenging goals can I set for myself?
Last year was an explosion of creativity and disovery, and I hope to bring a little order and sense to it in the new year. This year’s resolution is a simple effort to improve the quality of my life: sleep at least 8 hours a day at least once a week. I think it’ll be an important ingredient to managing my interests and responsibilities. I’m also opening a bank account exclusively for GimmeDemCupcakes to keep things tidy. While I try to keep things, I always try to give, so I’ve decided to start a new part of this webpage called Cupcakes Serve, where I’ll post community events and charitable giving that interests me in the moment (hopefully a nutrition workshop at JLCC featuring GimmeDem…). Then, I’m also trying to really launch this year starting with an Etsy account to manage orders online and then hopefully gaining a following of new friends through farmers markets or some other more public avenue. And then there are the experimetnts… Lots to see and love. I hope you’l chime in. I’d love to hear from you.
I wish you a happy blessed New Year, loved ones.
Happy Holidays homies, (enjoy this Cocoa Bean e-greeting)!
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…
In the meantime, be on the look-out for Cranberry Maple cupcakes, the Motown and Soulfood party, and if you really feel like sharing your love, you can order a batch of cupcakes or be philanthropic instead of buying gifts (… but if you really want to buy gifts, these are my suggestions for the favorite cook in your life)!
yes, those are pound puppy slippers
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.
ps meet my zen master:
sike, this is my real zen master:
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!
Pumpkin tastes so good as a cupcake...
i'm getting pretty alright at braiding the tops
look out, Hallows Eve brings its own mischief.
So you may notice, I’ve veered away from the classic cupcake flavors and I’m looking for something for more pizazz. It’s easy to go flavor crazy, especially when you have the basic vanilla cupcake down and just mod flours, oils, thickeners, and obviously flavor extracts. So, I did just that last night with my new Bananaramadingdong banana cupcakes! Makes me think of my favorite Jetson’s song and the Violent Femme’s cover.
They were delish! I picked up some banana extract at Great Wall and used a little almond extract to give it a warm nutty base. I did about one teaspoon banana and a half almond. I think I might up the banana next time. The frosting though… holy moly, that’s the best part! I used a whole mashed banana, 1/8 cup of vegan margarine, 2 tsp of banana extract, and about 2 or 3 cups of powdered sugar.
As I made the frosting, the banana flavor was so intoxicating I kept wanting to lick my fingers only to realize it was just the extract and none of the sweetness. For those of you who’ve licked extracts, you know they tend to be kind of bitter. This got me thinking about chocolate…
To pull it all together, I decided my leftover ganache would be perfect sandwiched between the frosting and cake. 
It’s all oozy and delicious so this is definitely a cupcake that requires refrigeration. Boy, was I right! The banana was so fresh and and the chocolate and almond gave it just the right tones and bring it down from a Runts inspired sugar high. I definitely look forward to sharing this one soon.
In case you haven’t tasted one yet, look out, my cupcakes ooze with love. This week, I got my first commission to bake 30-36 mini cupcakes of my choosing for the Literacy Council’s Back to School Night. I decided on Choconut, Jelly Donut, and Dreamsicle. Ultimately, it was a good learning experience with a mixture of success and failure.
The event was Wednesday night, so Tuesday after a marathon day at the office, staffing both James Lee registrations, I set out to the grocery store. On the way I checked my voice mail only to find I did not get the little puppy pending adoption at Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Then, I of course only found imitation almond extract and forgot to buy more cupcake liners. Woe is Kt B. When I got home, my sister and I mourned the puppy while we crushed most of a 500 piece puzzle. 
At about 11:30, I went about my preparations, seeing I’d have just enough if I didn’t make any mistakes. 
Then, struck by the mood to improvise, I tried subbing out my regular unbleached all-purpose for gluten-free flour with a little almond flour as well as subbing coconut oil for vegetable. I rushed a little and put regular size cupcakes in with the mini pan. You can see where this is going. I was starting to lose my steam especially since I was sad about Ty the puppy. The end result was less delicious, slightly deflated crumbly cupcakes. 
Not something I’d be proud to present as my first sale. So, a little more defeated, I went to bed wishing happy thoughts for Ty and his new owner(s) and brainstorming what I’d need to do in the AM.
I got up at 8 and decided to use some sick leave to collect my self and make some redemption cupcakes. I stopped at Safeway hoping to find a 2nd mini-cupcake pan and the almond extract. No pan, but I tried Micheals in the same shopping center. They were sold out, but they did have the this cool pearl stuff I ‘m thinking of using for another project. At home, I resolved that Ty is a beautiful puppy and though I’m sad and allowed to be sad, it showed me the kind of bonding I’d like to have with a dog I do adopt. I also decided there wasn’t a second mini pan because I needed to go at a slow pace and be a little more careful and loving.
Nailed it. I think I made the best buttercream and cream cheese icings in kt-history. I also nixed the gluten-free urge. I did use real vanilla beans for the batters and did find the pure almond extract. I did try to candy an orange peel 1. by baking 2. by simmering it in sugar water until i forgot about it… Whoops. baking made a really dry rind, so in the end, I opted to use rthe candied ginger I had. 
End result: gorgeous black and white Choconut, melt in your mouth Dreamsicle, and classic Jelly Donut. Moreover, my office-mates were thrilled they got to eat my “mistakes.”
Then came the last dilemma, Suzanne insisted the Council pay me. I had no idea how to price it so I handed her the receipt from Safeway for a reimbursement on supplies instead. She argued with me but ended with a grin and hug, proud and happy for the sweet little tins we put out for the volunteers. Whew.
Next project: the “American Dream” cupcake… <3
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