Happy New Year cupcake

Hello all fans of sweets!


For the start of 2012, closing of 2011, I wanted to create a new, delicious, luxurious cupcake.
I took a bit of bubbly, red velvet and strawberries and created the New Years Cupcake, Strawberries and Champagne.
This cupcake can be for any occasion or celebration.


I took fresh locally grown strawberries, red velvet cake and combined it with Casa Rossa, an Italian sweet fruity wine.  The combination was just pure genius.  A dollop of vanilla butter cream frosting with a slice of strawberry adorn the cupcake. 


The first taste hooked the connoisseur...craving another taste.


The combination of Casa Rossa, fresh strawberry pieces and red velvet made your mouth salivate for more.

Strawberries and Champagne

These cupcakes along with the Strawberry Creamsicles are best when strawberries are in season. (December through April in Florida)

Strawberry Creamsicle

Come Celebrate with your order of  Strawberries and Champagne and Strawberry Creamsicle... Seasonal priced.

Mobile Barcode! and Links to the Sweet Cupcakes and More!

Please click on the link below to see the latest results of the Sweet baking adventures I have embarked on.

Orange Dreamsicle Cupcake

Sweets by Stepheny

Posting pictures hiccup

This week has been a bad week for trying to upload pictures of the latest and great baking creations.  I tried a few nights ago, internet was acting up, I guess AT&T said "not today".                                                         
I will try posting pictures this week... I promise you. 

Famous Mango Cheesecake!

Bake Lately?

I'd like to apologize for not updating my blog in quite some time.

I have been baking odds and ends, cookies, pies and cakes... unfortunately, I haven't posted anything!
Shame on a baker for not exploiting my sweets.

I am currently remote and don't have access to my photos, however, I will post pictures of the latest creations in the next post. Which won't be months away.

I'd like to post Sweets in pictures from the last bakes.

ooo! awesome news!!! I was asked to make an Ironman cake for a Super Hero Birthday Party!  Here's a link if you haven't heard of Ironman. www.wired.com/dangerroom/ 2008/05/the-real-life-o/

I am so excited to build this cake, especially since I am designing the cake that will feature working lights!


My birthday is in 2 weeks and I haven't decided on making a cake or cupcakes to celebrate.
Any thoughts? I want to be creative and use working edible elements. Thanks

Sweets,
Stepheny

Pumpkin Pie for "Easter"

As I was rummaging through my freezer and pantry this morning I saw one of my favourites wanting to be baked.
Pumpkin and a frozen pie shell!

What did that mean to me?  Heck, yes.. bake a pumpkin pie on a Wednesday.  A friend asked if this was a new tradition for Easter. I said Sure, why not, who doesn't like pumpkin pie.

I followed the directions on the can of Libby's Pumpkin and mixed away.  I pre-heated the oven to 425 degrees, sprayed the empty pie shell with Pam and baked it for approximately 10 minutes. I like my crust a golden brown with a crunch!
Once that was baked to "perfection", I poured the liquid pumpkin mixture in the shell and baked it for 15 minutes as 425 degrees.  After the 15 minute mark, turn down the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 48 minutes.  Before removing it from the oven, check the pie to ensure it's done. I like to use a clean knife and gently place it in the center of the pie and if it comes out clean, it's done. *if not, then place it back in for a few more minutes, Keep an eye on it! You don't want this delicious pie to burn nor over bake.

Place the pie on a cooling rack and then serve.  If you're ready to serve, place it in the refrigerator.

Here's a picture of my masterpiece. I can't wait to eat a slice!   Don't forget to add your special sweet topping, whether it's cool whip, Reddi-whip, or Vanilla bean ice cream.

Enjoy!

Sweets,
Stepheny

Saturdays are made for baking

Contrary to *my belief.. I always say Saturdays are made for Dancing a local dance clubs in Orlando.  One of my favourites is Independent Bar located in the heart of downtown Orlando.

Today is different; it's all about baking all sorts of yummy sweets.  My muse comes in various forms, this time it was a picture found in a magazine. I saw a cute cupcake in the form of the beginnings of life growing out of a shell filled with dirt.  I thought, what a great concept for a "Welcome Spring" sweet cupcake dessert.  My friends will totally Love the idea, more importantly eat the sweet creation.

I started with using Pillsbury white cake mix and used the 1/3 measuring cup to pour equal amounts of batter in each cupcake paper cup.  Baked the cupcakes according to the directions on the box and cooled them on a rack.

Right now I'm making the butter cream icing and creating the flowers using butter cream stiff consistency. 

Pictures will be posted in a later update.

If you have any questions regarding baking or almost anything, please send me an email at stephs_sweets@hotmail.com

Thank you.

Sweets,
Stepheny

baking heals the heart

Just a few days ago, I suffered a loss of a loved one and it hit me pretty hard. I have taken time off from work to mourn the loss and in this time, rather than just being sad, I have decided to bake.

Today, I followed a recipe in Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. The recipe is titled "Chocolate Chunk Cookies" on page 75.

I had to add about 1/4 cup of flour to the mixture after it was all mixed after discovering the cookies were baking flat.  Here's a picture of the first batch without the extra flour. See how flat they are? So disappointing.

So once I discovered this, I added the 1/4 cup of all purpose flour to the remaining batter.
This is how they turned out. 100% better, full, round and not thin.

In addition to baking cookies, I made 2 loaves of Banana bread.  One loaf is made with chocolate chips and coconut and the other is just a plain banana bread.  I always add cinnamon to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly before adding it to the wet mixture.

Banana bread with chocolate chips and coconut

Banana bread

These breads will be a Hit. I have made these in the past and they are devoured within no time at all.

I used Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook for this recipe, but you can tweak it by adding your own "secret" ingredients.

Happy baking.

Sweets,
Stepheny