The Cupcake Addict's Cupcake Collection The Cupcake Addict's Cupcake Collection

eating cupcakes since the late 60's
    • Author Archives: MLea

      • New Cupcakes from Dahlia Bakery

        Posted at 6:10 am by MLea
        Apr 15th

        So after a useless doctor’s appointment, I felt a little “cupcake-y”.  I had to pick up Mr Shuck downtown and Dahlia Bakery was on the way…

        Orange Vanilla Cupcake from Dahlia Bakery

        The Orange Vanilla cupcake looked much better at the bakery.  I obviously didn’t exercise enough care in the car and my cupcake turned over in the Chinese takeout container.   The cake was a little dense and chewy, but still moist with mild orange flavor.  The icing, I think an Italian meringue butter cream, had stronger orange flavor from flecks of zest.  The cake was garnished with a strip of candied orange zest and curls of white chocolate.   My rating: ♥♥♥.  I’d gladly pay for this again, but I probably wouldn’t drive out of the way.  I like the way they coordinate their flavor with the liner.  I’m not willing to pay extra to dress my cupcakes in pretty liners since I they are definitely a labor of love not profit.  White liners are cheaper.

        Rocky Road Cupcake from Dahlia Bakery: Click to enlarge

        The Rocky Road cupcake wasn’t very rocky.  I think I experienced only 2 or 3 nuts.  Not very much crunch there.  The cake was was moist and full of bittersweet chocolate flavor.  The marshmallow meringue was nice and fluffy, but a bit grainy, like the sugar hadn’t dissolved completely.  In spite of the lack of nuts and some graininess, I enjoyed this cupcake.  My rating: ♥♥ 1/2.  I might get it again if I was in the area.  It would depend on what else they had instead.

        On a side note…I drifted into Yellow Leaf because Mr Shuck was waiting for me next to their bakery.  I was hoping for something spectacularly yummy like Pancakes and Bacon, but they didn’t have anything new or exciting today.  Maybe next time!

        Posted in Miscellaneous Bakeries | Tagged Dahlia Bakery, orange, rocky road, vanilla
      • Random Cupcake Camp photos

        Posted at 2:39 pm by MLea
        Apr 14th

        As always, click to enlarge

        Yet More Random Cupcakes
        Healthy Entry by Spitfire: Banana Almond Drama

        Tree Hugger Apple from javaCupcake
        The table before the onslaught

        Cupcakes with Sprinkles
        More random cupcakes with Mrs Shuck’s in the center

        Root Beer Float
        Slice of Cake Cupcake Pop from Confection Concoctions

        Millie’s Root Beer Cupcakes
        Sustainable Cupcakes by Bella Bella

        Bella Velvet and Irish Kiss from Bella Bella
        Cranberry Walnut Carrot Cake with Avocado Icing

        Lemon Ginger from Bella Bella
        Almond Pistachio Raspberry from Radical Cupcakes(?) maybe

        Cupcake Camp Trash
        Sustainable Cupcakes from Bella Bella

        Is this a war pig?
        Marionberry after Milllie took a bite

        Uptight Seattlite

        Cupcake Pop from Confection Concoctions
        Finger lickin’ good

        Seattle Skyline
        Mocha Me Up from Spitfire Grill

        Unhappy Hipster
        Immortal Bakery

        More random cupcakes
        Cupcakes and Coffee

        A bunch of drumsticks going home with someone
        Random cupcakes with Mrs Shuck’s included

        Coffee Cupcake by the Cake Diva
        Heidi Phillips’ 5 Spice Parsnip w/ Cream Cheese and Candied Kumquat

        Chocolate Peanut Butter from Little Miss Cupcake

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • My experience at Cupcake Camp

        Posted at 9:43 pm by MLea
        Apr 12th

        So, you’ve already heard about my experience baking for Cupcake Camp… I will be more organized and not forget ingredients next year!

        In spite of my difficulties in preparation, I was really excited about Cupcake Camp.  I thought I could take some cool cupcake photos and maybe meet some other bakers.   I already had my volunteer assignment, which was helping at the children’s craft table, so I knew I wouldn’t get to see ALL the cupcakes.  Mr Shuck, who I’ve already established is an angel, was volunteering with me (one of only 2 male volunteers listed) so I didn’t have to choose between him and cupcakes.

        We arrived at 10am to drop off my cupcakes.  It was nice that there was plenty of fairly inexpensive parking ($5 for all day).  It was also nice that there was a coffee shop right across the street so we could kill some time before our volunteer shift started at 11am.  We ran into my friend Millie (who baked) and her husband Geo (also a great guy for spending a a couple of hours at Cupcake Camp).  If I had known how the day would end up, I would have spent the hour photographing what I could…

        When we arrived back at just before 11, there was already a line developing, so we squeezed past the people in line so we could take our place at the children’s craft area.  The craft activity was decorating blank cupcake wrappers, provided by the presenter, Bella Cupcake Couture, with markers and stickers.   There were also temporary tattoos advertising the event charity, The Hope Heart Institute.  We met our fellow volunteer, Orly, and got oriented to our area.  Crafting had a slow start, so I took a few minutes out to go and take a few pictures of displays by professional bakers.  I assumed I’d have a chance later to go back in and get more pictures of the amateur bakers wares.   I was able to catch a few pictures of plates that attendees had filled with cupcakes and wondered how they’d eat those without becoming sick.

        Average Plate of Cake: Click to enlarge

        I also was able to get a photo of my name on the schedule.  I know it’s lame, but I was excited!

        Cupcake Schedule

        I went back out to my assigned area and hung out with the kids for a bit.  After 11:30, I thought I’d go in and check to see if my cakes were out yet.  I was aware of the line, but when I got up to go in, I wasn’t expecting this:

        Throngs of cupcake lovers

        When I got to the table, I was thrilled to see people interested in my cupcakes.  (I realize that these people were cupcake rabid and probably the flavors didn’t matter, but still…)  As I said above, I’m easily excited.

        Mrs Shuck's Cupcakes: Drumstick and French Toast

        I couldn’t get around to my box of Caramel Popcorn cupcakes, I did see them on a couple of plates that passed by though.  Made me happy that someone was about to try them.

        Cupcake Plate with Caramel Popcorn on it: Click to enlarge.

        I was also excited today to be mentioned on the Bella Couture blog.

        So enough of my rambling…. I had fun presenting my cupcakes to the public.  Thanks to Alla and Millie for wearing their TheCupcakeAddict.com T-shirts to the event.  Thanks to the presenters and sponsors for all their efforts.  There were a few kinks (like running out of cupcakes and some overcrowding), but it sounds like they are already thinking of ways to improve next year.

        And now for some random photos:

        Making cupcake wrappers: Click to enlarge

        Cupcake wrapper tools

        Support from a friend

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • More about Cupcake Camp

        Posted at 8:12 pm by MLea
        Apr 11th

        Cupcake Camp was a gathering of cupcake lovers to benefit the Hope Heart Institute.  It was presented by Bella Cupcake Couture who make designer cupcake wrappers.

        Hope Heart Institute Temporary Tattoo: click to enlarge

        The cupcake extravaganza started at 11am on Saturday, April 10th.  Some professional sponsors included Trophy

        Trophy's Cupcake Dress. Photo by Millie.

        and Wink…

        Wink's Display

        and New York Cupcakes…

        New York Cupcakes

        and Cupcake Royale….

        Cupcake Royale's Salted Caramel Cupcakes

        and Bella Bella Cupcakes…

        Bella Bella Cupcakes

        I had an Almond Joy from Bella Bella and it was very tasty.

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • Lemon Marscapone at Cupcake Royale

        Posted at 12:25 pm by MLea
        Apr 11th

        Coworker Michael went a couple of blocks out of his way while picking up lunch to pick up a cupcake from Cupcake Royale for me.
        He probably shouldn’t have.
        I think I’m going to stop trying to find something redeeming about Cupcake Royale’s cupcakes. I know that’s harsh. I’ve given them MANY chances to delight me. (And they have twice)
        I don’t even think a photo is necessary. The icing on the cupcake was barely lemony. The cake was fluffy as described on their website, but was dry and the flavor was nondescript.  Rating: ♥1/2.  I probably wouldn’t eat this again, even if free…unless I was really hungry.

        Posted in Cupcake Royale | Tagged Lemon marscapone
      • Cupcake Eating contest at Cupcake Camp Seattle

        Posted at 8:16 pm by MLea
        Apr 10th
        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • Before Cupcake Camp…

        Posted at 5:13 pm by MLea
        Apr 10th

        I know it’s hard to believe, but Mr Shuck had to rush out to the grocery store again today.

        I started to make the icing for Caramel Popcorn and it just didn’t work!  I made the “gravy” for the flour based icing Thursday night and put it in the frig.  When I opened the container, it was runny, not mostly solidified like usual.  I poured it into the butter anyway and hoped for the best.  The Best didn’t happen.  I ended up with a clumpy greasy mess.  I pondered for a few minutes, then decided (at 8:30 this morning) to try for a caramel meringue butter cream….as I intended when I first worked on the flavor.  I had used all made in advance caramel on the trashed icing, so Mr Shuck ran out to Thriftway to pick up some cream…so I could try to make some more.

        A few minutes after he left (without his cell phone again), I realized that I had used the last of the butter too.  He was surprised to hear himself paged over the loud speaker at the grocery store, but realized immediately that I had run out of something else.  By the time he returned with the cream and butter (and a jar of Fran’s Caramel Sauce…just in case…), I had whipped the egg whites, boiled the sugar syrup and pureed some caramel popcorn in the food processor.   While I finished the icing, Mr Shuck boxed up the other two flavors for me.  I piped the caramel popcorn icing and he garnished with a kernel of Uncle Woody’s.

        A rushed through a shower and blow dry, pony tailed my hair, and we were out the door and to Camp by 10am!  Whew!

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • More drama…

        Posted at 10:25 pm by MLea
        Apr 9th

        So I forgot to put the sugar cone crust on the bottom of the vanilla cupcakes for Drumstick.  The whole French Toast sugar fiasco got me all out of whack.  I am giving up for tonight and doing the icing in the morning.

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • As I’m baking for cupcake camp….

        Posted at 9:13 pm by MLea
        Apr 9th

        Things were going so smoothly.  I shouldn’t have even said it aloud.  Cakes for caramel popcorn were done and in a container.  French Toast cakes (mini bread puddings really) were cooling.  I had a bit of a rest… Then I went to taste the French Toast.

        No sugar!  I went back and read my blog entry for the day I fabricated the recipe.  I didn’t mention any sugar!  There was supposed to be sugar!  So…a tear ran down my cheek.  Mr Shuck, the saint, ran out to Thriftway to buy more bread.  Unfortunately, he didn’t take his cell phone as I realized right after he left that we were also out of foil cupcake liners.  When he got back, my wonderful husband left again to retrieve cupcake liners.   While he was out, I started the batter for the vanilla cakes for Drumstick.  I got them in the oven, then remade French Toast…

        Sugarless French Toast cupcakes: click to enlarge.

        I realized as I looked at the mounds of cupcakes around me (2 batches of 48 and a batch of 60) that I ended up with more than 150 cupcakes.  I could have been a Cupcake Camp sponsor!  I thought that 150 wasn’t doable.  Apparently I was mistaken.  TheCupcakeAddict.com could have gotten a bit of publicity and I could have gotten a poster.  Darnit.  Maybe next year…

        PS…for anyone who attempted that recipe and thought it was crap, I apologize.  I have updated the post to include sugar.

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
      • Almost time for camp!

        Posted at 9:11 pm by MLea
        Apr 8th

        Click for camp info....

        Posted in Cupcake Stuff! | Tagged Cupcake Camp
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