Tuesday Tip: How to Frost or Decorate Cupcakes

I will confess--I am no master baker!  I can get by though.  For my brother's wedding, I bit the bullet and took my time to decorate and frost cupcakes.  A first for me (since culinary school at least!).  I watched YouTube videos and everything!

This is another first for me--I videotaped me decorating these cupcakes!  I know!  I'm moving up in this blogging world by leaps and bounds!  I didn't narrate, but I'll type out directions.

Frosting Cupcakes

I wanted a simple, flat frosting job for the base.  You start in the center and work your way out in a spiral.  To finish, dip your tip back into the frosting and pull off to the side.  Easy!

Decorating Cupcakes

These were chocolate overload so what was a little more chocolate drizzle?  No much.  Below you can see my drizzling technique.  Note--the best part is the chocolate paper!  Yes, I shamelessly ate the chocolate off the paper.  Don't judge.

Sorry for being MIA, but I started a new job yesterday! Plus, I'm having to figure out a new posting schedule because Blogger, Facebook, and Pinterest are blocked at work! LOL It's a very small trade-off so I'll be figuring out how to post over the next few days so please be patient with me!

PS--I'm really, really loving my new job!  They are in the midst of change and revamping so my organizational side is in overdrive!  YAY!!! 

PPS--Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway!

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Giveaway! Salt and Pepper Grinders

I am so excited to announce I am holding my very first giveaway!  I thought it was very fitting considering this month will mark my second year of blogging!  I wanted to give one of my readers a special gift as a thank-you for supporting me!

I will be giving away one salt grinder and one pepper grinder.  I received these as part of my wedding gifts almost two years ago, and I am obsessed with them!  The hubby (who loves pepper) admits that he really can taste the difference between using the already ground pepper and the freshly ground pepper.  Let's say he prefers it freshly ground!

 {Prize is one salt grinder and one pepper grinder!}

 {You can adjust the size of the grind}

 {To refill, you flip it over and unscrew the bottom!}

 {Mine sit on the back of my stove in easy reach!}

Enter using the Rafflecopter below until Monday, May 19!  

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 20!  (Only open to continental US)

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Food for Thought

So last Mother's Day 2013, I talked about how I didn't appreciate my mother sometimes, and I have to work on all the years that I didn't really appreciate her (about 20 years).

This last year, I have really noticed how much my mom is one of my best friends.  We hang out and do a lot together.  She has helped me through some tough times this last year (mainly with a bottle of wine!).  I really don't know where I would be without her!

{My mom, me, and my brother}

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

~Washington Irving

I am also blessed with the sweetest grandmother who is such a blast!  True story--she tried to explain how to hashtag to my mother and brother!  She's so cute!

My mother-in-law is great too!  She is always willing to listen and lend a helping hand when I need it.  I always look forward to seeing her!

I have a great range of women I can call mother.  I just hope that I show them how much they mean to me and pay them back for all they have done because a mother's unconditional love is truly a great gift.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

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Nutella Cupcakes

I volunteered to make the wedding cupcakes for my brother's wedding last weekend.  He wanted Nutella Cupcakes, and so I used trusty Google to get some ideas, when I stumbled across Cannella Vita's version of the cupcakes.  They were so beautiful, I knew that I had to make them!

My family has an obsession with Nutella.  My brother and I have had it our entire lives, and we are only just now getting into Nutella-based desserts.  I blame it on my mom; she's not a baker.  That's okay because I am!  (Still love you mom!)

 {Nutella Cupcakes}

 {You use two (2)--yes really 2--full jars of Nutella!}

 {Use a melon baller or spoon, scoop out some of the cupcake center to make cupcake holes you can snack on while making these cupcakes!}

{Real world solution to only having two hands}

 {Nutella-filled cupcakes (left) topped with Nutella Buttercream Frosting (right)}

 {Drizzle with melted chocolate (left) and then top with a star of vanilla buttercream to keep the candy on top (right)}

 {Completed cupcakes and chocolate paper (left)!}

Note--I am not the best at frosting and decorating cakes so I was very nervous about what I got myself into, but it was much easier than I thought!  See the tutorial here!  I'm itching to make and frost more cupcakes LOL

{Tower of Nutella Cupcakes at the wedding}

Nutella Cupcakes
adapted from Cannella Vita

Makes 24 cupcakes

A double batch of chocolate cupcakes baked with yogurt
1 stick butter, room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
12 oz powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
pinch of salt
6-8 tablespoons heavy cream
2-13 oz jar Nutella
4 oz bar semi-sweet baking chocolate
12 Ferrero Rocher candies, cut in half

1. Bake cupcakes and allow to cool overnight before assembling.
2. Using a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out a small section from the top of the cupcakes.  Set aside for another use or as a snack.
3. Fill a piping bag with one whole jar of Nutella (yes seriously).
4. Fill the small sections of cupcakes with Nutella (about 1 teaspoon each cupcake).
5. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
6. Add powdered sugar in about 6 batches, making sure to whip frosting until smooth each time!  If it looks lumpy, I promise it will smooth out!
7. Add salt, vanilla, and about 3 tablespoons of heavy cream; beat carefully.
8. If you need to add more cream to get the desired consistency, please do so.  I wanted a firmer frosting so I used about 6 tablespoons.
9. Once you have the consistency, beat the frosting on high for another 5 minutes, or until smooth.
10. Set aside 1/3 of frosting; this will be vanilla buttercream.
11. Add the second jar (yes--the entire jar) to the remaining frosting and beat on high until combined, about 3 minutes.
12. Prepare a piping bag with a large round tip for the Nutella buttercream frosting.
13. Place cupcakes on wax paper, parchment paper, or cookie sheets (something easy to clean up!).
14. Carefully create the frosting base by piping in the center and spiraling outwards (tutorial coming next week!).
15. Melt baking chocolate in a microwave until smooth. 
16. Using a spoon, drizzle each frosted cupcake with chocolate.
17. Perpare a piping bag with a large star tip for the vanilla buttercream frosting.
18. Pipe a star over the melted chocolate.
19. Top each star with a halved candy.
20. Serve!

They are a bit of work, but everyone fawned over how delicious and beautiful they were!  Music to my ears!

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