Cupcakes for Any Occasion, Reviewed

 

Cupcakes for Any Occasion by Rachel Lindsay, a.k.a. “Caked by Rach” to her over three million social media followers, is a delightful and inspiring guide that transforms cupcake baking and decorating into an accessible, joyful experience, and this is something I do not say lightly. As someone who typically dreads baking — I do it, but I don’t like it — I found myself genuinely excited to try the recipes and designs in this book. Without hesitation, I can say this is the best cupcake book I’ve encountered, perfect for novices and seasoned bakers alike.

The book features 20 delectable cupcake and frosting recipes, paired with over 50 creative decorating projects tailored for holidays, birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and more. From whimsical Halloween ghosts and festive Christmas trees to charming butterflies and even playful spaghetti and meatballs designs, Lindsay’s creations are as imaginative as they are approachable. (Her skull cupcakes really spoke to me.)

Each project is accompanied by detailed, step-by-step photography and straightforward instructions, making complex-looking designs achievable for bakers of all skill levels. If you’ve ever wondered how to properly use a pastry bag, your questions are answered here — that alone, in my opinion, is worth the price of the book.What sets this book apart is its focus on simplicity and affordability. Lindsay uses basic tools and techniques that anyone can master. The recipes for cupcake bases and buttercream frostings are versatile, allowing endless mix-and-match possibilities to suit any occasion. Her clear guidance on essential baking and decorating methods ensures that even those with no prior experience—like myself—can produce stunning, professional-looking results.For added value, pairing the book with Lindsay’s online videos (Instagram and YouTube) enhances the learning experience, offering visual demonstrations that complement the written instructions.Cupcakes for Any Occasion is a foolproof guide that delivers. Whether you’re a reluctant baker or a cupcake enthusiast, this book will leave you eager to whip up your next batch of show-stopping cupcakes. Highly recommended for bakers of all ages and skill levels!

You can order your copy here.

 Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Does holiday prep have you in a tizzy?

There are times when I wonder if I have lost my mind; there are other times when I’m certain of it. There’s something about the comfort of late nights and wonderful solitude that doesn’t (and by that I mean shouldn’t) pair with online shopping.

I was wondering what I was going to do this year for my Christmas table (bear in mind I have no parties planned) that would be vastly different from what I’ve done previously. I happened upon this set of dishes on Amazon for 69% off (They still are at the time of writing.)

   Soon, not only were the dishes in my cart, but they were joined by the mugs (25% off), matching chargers, and salt and pepper shakers that were so cute I thought it would be a disservice to myself to say ‘no.’ (The pattern, by the way is Lenox Balsam Lane.)

 The next thing I knew I had placed my order not only for the dishes, but for six cans of aqua spray paint. Why the paint, you ask? It’s because I decided that these dishes would look wonderful at a table with chairs to match.  Does this sound like the definition of crazy to you, because it certainly does to me.

   At any rate, the dishes arrived, (I love them), and over the weekend, because it warmed up into the sixties, I backed my car out of the garage, and started spray painting the first chair.  Let me explain something about the chairs. These are inexpensive Windsor-style chairs that I have owned through two husbands. The crossbars have become weak, so I decided to upgrade to black Windsor chairs from Pottery Barn, that look the same, but are much better quality, just ask my backside. I was thinking about donating the old chairs, when I came upon the idea to paint them. I mean, why not? Surprisingly, I have quite a few sets of dishes and stemware that will look beautiful with this color come spring. They will also go nicely with a variety of greens, and make neutrals setting pop.

Rest assured when I get everything done, and the table set, I’ll be certain to share it with you. (FYI the chair color matches the dishes much better than it appears here.) Meanwhile, go to bed early and don’t shop online after midnight. You've been warned.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Boozy Cherries

 

What is it about fruit and booze that just screams the holidays? Honestly, it may seem strange, but it’s true. At no other time of the year am I as keen on soaking fruit in alcohol than I am around the holidays. If you feel the same and are looking for a tantalizing new recipe, you’ll find one in Abrams’ new release, Arty Parties, An Entertaining Cookbook by Julia Sherman, creator of the charmingly cute Salad for President.

If you are one of those people who pounce on cherries as soon as they’re available in the summer and freeze them, I hope you froze at least one and a half pounds of sour cherries in order to make this delicious treat. They last in the fridge up to a year, and make mixed drinks, ice cream sundaes, and Sunday morning pancakes extra special when topped with one of these. If not, I tried it with well-dried frozen cherries, with good results.

Boozy Cherries

1½ lb. sour cherries
1½ c. light brown sugar
6 whole cloves
1 t. black peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole star anise
1 large strip orange zest
1 c. vodka

Wash the cherries thoroughly, leaving attached stems in tact and removing any loose stems from the bunch. Pack half of the cherries into a large glass mason jar, being careful not to squish them.

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, 1½ cups of water, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, star anise, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes until reduced by half. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Add the vodka to the cold syrup. Pour the mixture over the cherries to just cover (spices and zest included). Fill the jar with the remaining cherries and top off with the hot liquid. Allow to cool, then seal and refrigerate. The cherries will be ready to eat after two weeks.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of Arty Parties from Abrams books as a member of their 20 21–22 Abrams Dinner Party.

Eggnog Pancakes

This post contains affiliate links.

I mentioned earlier that I had two small gatherings in celebration of Christmas. For these gatherings, because I knew my guests enjoyed eggnog, I bought some. Then, as often happens when I’m enjoying myself, I forgot to serve it. 

I was looking at that bottle the other day wondering how I could make use of it. My dad used to love eggnog. He would get out his 1940s malt mixer (that I now proudly own) and make up a malt using eggnog ice cream, malt powder, and eggnog. It was so thick he could have eaten it with a knife and fork. How my dad kept his boyish figure I’ll never know, but I digress. 

I ended up turning a portion of that eggnog into delicious pancakes. If you happen to have any left over from the holidays, I strongly suggest that you try these. This recipe makes a lot of pancakes, but it can be easily cut in half. If you have any pancakes left over, spread them out onto a baking sheet, pop them into the freezer until frozen solid, and then put them in a Ziploc freezer bag. They reheat exceptionally well in the microwave for about a minute.

 The best pancakes call for the best pancake syrup. This one is pricey, but it’s one I do highly recommend.

 

Eggnog Pancakes

 2 c. flour

4 t. baking powder

1/2 t. kosher salt

1/2 t. freshly ground nutmeg

2 large eggs

2 c. eggnog

3 T. butter, melted

1/2 t. rum extract

1/4 c. dark rum (I used Bacardi)

Preheat an electric griddle or skillet to 350°F. While it is preheating, in a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Make a well in mixture; set aside.

 In a separate mixing bowl, beat eggs until blended. Whisk in eggnog, butter, extract, and rum, until combined.

Pour wet mixture into well in dry mixture, and whisk just until combined (small lumps are fine). 

Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto oiled griddle. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, and then flip over and cook until golden brown.

Serve warm with butter and top with your favorite maple syrup.

Makes 12-15 pancakes.

 

 

Here Comes Santa Claus Tablescape

Despite the direction in which I take it, no matter how I decorate my table at Christmas time, Santa always plays a part. It may not be a big part, but if you look close enough he’s always there.

In this table he takes center stage amidst silver houses, reindeer, "snow," and a darling little red truck cookie jar with lid removed, toting a miniature pine tree.

It’s festive, it’s fun, and young and old will both enjoy it.

Sources:

Tablecloth & Plaid Plates – Williams-Sonoma

Red plates, napkins & Truck Cookie Jar – Pier One

Leaf Chargers – Gift

Santa cups – Fitz & Floyd

Reindeer – Pottery Barn

Green glasses – Villeroy & Bach

 

 Sharing with:

Tablescape Thursday

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How to Make Candy Cane Vodka

I am a fan of minty deliciousness, so when I saw a post on the Home is Where the Boat Is blog on how to make candy cane vodka, I had to give it a try. Now I am not a vodka fan, per se. People like to assert that vodka has no taste, but it definitely does have a taste. If you've done any traveling out of your immediate surroundings then you have become aware that even water has a taste, so vodka certainly does as well, and not a particularly good one from my standpoint. So, in my opinion, flavored vodkas are genius.

This is a fun little project. It is also unbelievably easy, immensely practical, and a great little seasonal gift.

A clean, empty bottle, box of candy canes, and bottle of vodka is all that you need. 

I used an 8-ounce spring top bottle and about a dozen miniature candy canes.  You can use fewer candy canes if you want a more subtle taste. The dissolution process takes about three hours. 

I watched intently for the first twenty minutes or so as the candy canes began to dissolve, creating a bit of a head at the top of the bottle in the process. 

Thereafter I'd give the bottle a bit of a shake every half hour or so. 

That is all you do. No straining. No nothing. 

Just tie on a tag and add it to your gift basket, take it to a deserving host or hostess, or do what I did, pour some into a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Marvelous!

This post is linked to:

Amaze Me Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Clever Chicks Blog Hop

Mosaic Monday

Tasty Tuesdays

Wow Us Wednesday
Work It Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday

Create It Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday

Show and Tell Friday 

Foodie Friday

Koulouria (Greek Easter Cookies)

Back when I had my first job, my first real, full time, not-Christmas-help-in-the-cosmetics-department job, I met a Greek man with a wonderful cookie recipe. Each year at Easter, he and his wife would bake up a huge batch of these and distribute them to everyone in the department. Because they looked rather plain, my expectations were low, but overwhelmed by his sincerity, I tasted one.  Proof positive that one cannot judge a book by its cover or a cookie by its rather simple appearance, these cookies were addicting. They are also very special, not just because they came from a friend in whose family they had been a long tradition, but for the way, through delicious food, they can illustrate the true meaning of Easter. The shapes of these cookies, you see, are to represent the crown of thorns and nails used in the crucifixion.  

This recipe makes a huge batch, but it is considered good luck to receive them, so you will want to share them with all of your friends. 

Koulouria

(Greek Easter Cookies)

1 pound unsalted butter
1 cup Crisco
6 eggs
4 cups granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
4 teaspoons baking powder
Dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Juice of one orange
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup whole milk
14-15 cups flour

1 egg
1 Tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter and Crisco. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until thick and lemon colored. Whisk in vanilla. Combine egg mixture with shortening mixture and beat to blend. Blend in baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 

Mix baking soda into orange juice and add all at once to above mixture. Add milk and blend together on low speed. With mixer still running on low speed, add flour slowly. Continue adding flour until dough is soft and pliable and doesn't stick to your hands. 

Empty dough onto work surface. To shape, pinch off walnut-size pieces and roll into a rope about 5" long and as big around as your finger. Shape into crowns, thorns, or nails. 

Whisk together egg and water to make egg wash. 

Place shaped cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets and brush with egg wash. Bake about 25-30 minutes or until light golden brown. 

Note: This recipe can easily be halved, or if you are rather clever with math, cut by thirds.  The dough can be made ahead of baking up to two days prior. The dough freezes well if you find yourself overwhelmed with cookie baking.

A Simple Plan

 Did I mention that I went simple this year?  This is not to refer to my mental state, but my style of holiday decorating. Despite my petitioning for a 48-hour day, there is just never enough time, it seems, to get everything done. How I managed, when my boys were young, to put up a unique theme tree in each of the nine rooms of our house is truly beyond me. Oh, the energy that I used to have back then, plus a husband who was gone for a good portion of the day. But I digress...

This year the mantle is a simple combination of candles and greenery with silhouettes of Scrooge and Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, along with a very dear pair of Fitz & Floyd deer that used to grace the very elegant tables of my mother's annual (for fifty years) Christmas brunch. Those sweet faces remind me of her and how happy she would be watching everyone enjoy the holiday. A Santa pillow, snuggly throw, and blazing fire add to the Christmas coziness. All I need now is a cup of cocoa.

This post is linked to:

Seasonal Sundays

Marvelous Mondays

Inspire Me Tuesday

Window Shopping

I’ve been treating myself to a little window shopping lately, but when I window shop, I don’t look at what is in the window, I look at what is on the window.  I’m looking for holiday ideas as to how to decorate the rather barren front of my house.  Frigid weather and lack of time (plus that blasted Thanksgiving being so late this year) has me days (well, weeks, if you must know) behind on getting my decorations up.  So here’s a little eye candy to inspire you if you find yourself similarly just a teensy bit behind this year.

This post is linked to: 

Be Inspired Friday

Seasonal Sundays