Cupcaking Competitions!!

Just returned from an amazing trip to Estonia, where we met some long lost relatives! Sadly I’ve not got a trip to NYC planned next as I didn’t win the Dr Oetker Cupcake Challenge!!!!!!!!!!! Realistically I knew I wasn’t in with a shot but it was fun to come up with some ideas for original cupcakes!!!



My favourite one to create and make was the Tea for Two. I even handpainted the pattern in my fave purple colour!!! The whole thing is completely edible (and tasty too!!).

These are very simple to make, Here’s how I did it;

Step 1 Bake or buy some cupcakes!!

Step 2 Take some ready roll icing (of course I use the Dr Oetker variety!!!) and roll out thinly. Gently drape the icing over an upturned glass, covered in cling-film, and trim with a sharp knife. Leave to harden. These will form the cups!

Step 3. Run across the road and borrow some plastic Barbie saucers from your 6 year old neighbour and use to mould the edible saucers, just like you did with the cups!

Step 4. Next roll out some ready-roll icing in your hands to make a small flat sausage for the handles. Using your cups as a guide curve the handle so they will sit happily on the cups. Leave to harden again!!



Step 5. Using edible glue, attach the handles to the tea-cups and leave to dry. You may need to support the handles with some sponges cut to size. When dried pop the cups and saucers off their moulds. Wash and return the Barbie saucers to generous neighour!!

Step 6. Pick your colours for the pattern on the tea-cups. In a paint palette add a few drops of water and a few drops of the chosen colouring to each paint grove and mix. Note; I use gel icing colourings as I think the colours work better, but liqud food colouring will work just as well, just use straight from the bottle, no need to dilute!!!! Sit down, pour yourself an actual cup of tea and get arty!!! Paint your pattern straight onto the tea-cup, using a cotton bud if needed to mop up any drips!! Leave to dry!

Step 7. Place a cupcake in the tea-cup and decide on your topping!! I used a chocolate cream, made by whipping together double cream and melted chocolate, but traditional ganache would look great too. I chose the whipped cream as I felt it would be lighter and not put too much pressure on the fragile tea-cups!!

Step 8. Finally display your fabulous creations on a tea tray with a mini version of your fave biscuit (Mine is dark chocolate caramel digestives, but sadly all we had were jammie dodgers  ) and an edible flower created in cake decorating class!!!! Photograph to your hearts content!!!!

Step 9. Devour with a real cuppa while watching ‘Revenge!’

Hope you enjoy my Tea for Two!! I thought it was an original idea but since the comp have been googling teacup cupcakes loads and discovered that others did get there first....... Oh well there’s always next year!!!



Here are my other entries, which failed to make the grade, but which entertained me for hours so himself could watch the Euros!!!!!

A bite out of th Big Apple (from the Hello Cupcake series of books!)

Up, Cake and Away!! (Modelled by Dylan!! My first attempt at basket weaving icing!! The balloon bit is Dr. Oetker mini marshmallows melted with rice crispies and shaped into a balloon!)

Fairy Cake of New York! The wings are made from Dr. Oetker edible paper. Her skirt is an up-side down cupcake and the rest is Dr Oetker Ready-to-roll icing, and their edible stars!!
Think I may have entered some others too, Will hunt down the rest of the pics!! Have a great weekend!!

xXx

March Madness

Well, we’ve had a great week here, weather glorious, although we had a return to the usual wet today...




Been keeping busy with baby~ she’s growing big, and boy~ getting more homework, baking and making.



Projects completed this past week:

• Baked Hazelnut Cookies (yes they look like dog pooh but they were yummy!)

• Made a Paddy’s Day Banner & matching biscuits (lucky teacher even got one!)

• Dusted off Knitting Needles and have whipped up 3 ears, 2 heads, 2 torsos for Tiny Easter Bunnies

• Cut Out Felt Pieces to make Gio’s belt (from ‘Team Umioomi!!)

• Moved baba to the cot and decorated a space in our room for her

Also may need to start on another knitted cupcake for swap-bot, the last one may be lost somewhere in the post. I’m waiting on a rating...



At the weekend we made the best of the good weather and went to the National Leprechaun Hunt in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital, in Carlingford. 50 leprechauns were hidden up a mountain, each worth a cash sum between 5-100 yoyos. We arrived in good time, for an Irish event, paid our 5 yoyos for our hunting licences and followed the band to the hunting ground.... So far so good...

BUT

What they failed to tell us was that it was about a 2mile trek up the mountain to the big field. This was all well and good for those without kids... Knowing it was in the mountains I had baba in her sling but many Mammies and Daddies were forced to push buggies up tiny stoney, bumpy paths to reach the top. Those of us with younger kids with little legs had to carry and stop for rests (and supplies) every now and then before we reached the hunting ground. This meant that groups of teens and families with older kids reached the destination first and by the time the rest of us arrived most of the lerechains had been found. TBH there wasn’t much ‘finding’ to be done apparently the wee leprechauns were sat out in the open on a first come first served basis.... Not exactly fair for the wee kiddies who were promised a good hunt if they dragged themselves on their wee legs to the top of the hill.... I had a very put out wee man on the way back down the mountain....



Still it was all in aid of a good cause, and we’ll know for next time. At least there’s only one little boy at our exclusive Easter Egg hunt in a few weeks time. He might be in with a chance of finding something then!!!!

Happy Pancake and Women's Day!!!

2  of my fave things~ Us girlies and yummy scrummy pancakes!!

One of my bestest best buds is coming to visit tonight but is allergic to eggs to I've been looking everywhere for a good pancake recipe containing no eggs,

Here's a brill one:
Art of Dessert

We just did a trial run and D claims they're better than regular pancakes... Hence there only being 4 remaining for Clare~ She better get here quick!!!!

I'm scoffing loads before my lenten diet, I'm off chocky and bread..... We'll see if I can survive the 40 days!!

xXx