People are neat

I am posting about the most awesome Andrew Jive productions. While not completely cupcake related, he eats cupcakes, and is generally cool, so it counts. Also check out his bodacious blog, he posted a nice what-not about us! Check out his awesome creativity in action, and check out some of his partners in crime. This is a group to watch. Cool kids roster on his page for starters; Eric Snyder, Christy Lee Zilka, Damien Coffey, more added as it grows. Their perspective puts a smile on my face.

You too can help cupcakes rule the world!

Hugs from Bad Cupcake.

Parts of a whole

First part, I took these pictures, so they are not as pretty as they should be. We miss our talented photographer.

Next is the butterfly wings. I will pull these off the wax paper and place them in the soft and gooey ganache. I melted white chocolate that was already sweetened, and added 100% cacao chocolate pieces, and melted and mix them together on a double boiler. I had to work fast! It is the hurry up and wait for the chocolate to cool, then it is get it in the piping bag before it hardens time:) I fancied the butterflies up with nonpareils, to make it more 3 dimensional.

It's gonna be So Good!

Then the Chocolate divine cupcake. We mix it, and bake it. Simple No?

Third part. Ganache. More double boiler. Fine chocolate, 70% cacao, heavy whipping cream, and baking sugar. I love this process. It is my favorite step, making a pool of chocolate goo. If only I could take a dip in it, but that job belongs to the cupcakes.

Which brings us to part four. Dip the cupcake in said cacao goo. This is repeated as many time as desired.

Final part. Pretty part. Bestest part ever! Garnish!!!!! Time to unleash the butterfly. Top those chocolate beauties with the butterfly, and enjoy your hard work.

Not too bad for a Bad Cupcake?

~Extraordinaire Carottes~

Carrot and coconut cupcake. Simple warm fuzzies. Fresh grated nutmeg and crushed cardamom, orange zest, natural organic coconut flakes, organic carrots, fair trade crushed pineapple and it makes me happy! Topped off with a not too sweet cream cheese frosting, more pineapple with a bit of carrot added. Tastes like fall is here, and I am loving it!

S'more S'more

The Magnificent Smores Cupcake. Graham cracker crust, chocolate divine cupcake, home made marshmallow topping, sprinkled with graham cracker crumbles and a gooey chocolate ganache drizzle. YUM!

Feminist press

Auction time.

Yet another great cause to be a part of. CALYX, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women was begun in Corvallis in 1976, more than 100 years after feminist Abigail Scott Duniway began her Portland "human rights" weekly, the New Northwest. CALYX was the first West Coast literary journal with women editors publishing women's works.

We will be donating some delish cupcakes to these fine ladies this weekend. Caramel apple cupcakes, Guinness stout cupcakes and undecided cupcakes. Contenders are chocolate bacon cupcake and carrot coconut cupcake. But that could all change on a moments whim :)

Cheers ladies.

Update: All went grand! Thanks Becks for hooking us up. You, as always, rock. We went with a version of strawberry-wawa, as well as the stout cupcake, and caramel apple cupcake. They were fun and rewarding to do. CALYX is a great organization for women in literature. The ladies there were delightful, and Cynthia, the event coordinator, was warm and welcoming. Good times, good vibes. It is, as always, good to give. Here is our CALYX shout out. Whoot!
http://calyxpress.org/newsletter.html

Wow-sah!

Savory Saffron

I am working on a new cupcake. No name yet. Forest suggested Effing-good, but that is inappropriate.... Maybe saffron surprise, everything but the kitchen sink, Spanish saffron.... who knows. Suggestions??? Dreamy chocolate cupcake, peppercorns, cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, and a hint of coffee and vanilla, saffron spiced custard filling, spiced vanilla butter cream frosting, and finally strawberry puree on top. Words, are nothing. Just amazing. Thank you cupcake, I love you.

UPDATE! Alexis you are a genius. Savory Saffron it is.

I bleed frosting

Well not really.

I am very excited to not announce, and sit on exciting news, that I really want to share! There I said it, I am not telling. But it will come, and I can't wait to share. A big honor. Good things are meant to blossom, and not be plucked to early, or something. Hint- community, not just ours, delicious, sometimes nutritious, and always fantaboulous. So much preparation, and deliberation is coming. Good stuff.

Other news: We have been working in the art in the community as of late. I am thankful for Babs, Paige, and Berni (foxy fun ladies) for looking me up and giving me an opportunity to help give back.

Truly, it has been so cleansing for the soul, inspiring. What an amazing community we live in. Pegasus Art Gallery, Corvallis Art Center, ARTrageous are fantastic companies, with beautiful people at the helm. Such giving, selfless, inspired beings are all around us. We need only look.

We are rolling in the cupcakes, and it is a peaceful kinda thing. If only all life's solutions came in a cupcake liner.