Tiramisu Cupcakes

I've been on quite the cupcake baking spree this last week!  Danielle, a friend of mine, is turning 30 this week so we decided to throw a birthday party for her.  We went with an Italian theme for dinner so I recommended making Italian sodas and I brought Tiramisu cupcakes.

This is a Martha Stewart recipe out of the Martha Stewart Cupcakes cookbook.  I'm never disappointed with a Martha Stewart recipe ~ everyone who tried these cupcakes (the girls at the party, my friends husband, Kyle, my in-laws, and my friend Lindsay) all loved them.  They have a rich coffee flavor and the mascarpone frosting is delicious.  The recipe was also simple to make (but does call for some special ingredients like a vanilla bean, mascarpone cheese, and marsala wine for the coffee-marsala sauce that gets basted over the top). 

If you're going to have an Italian-themed party, or if you just love Tiramisu, I recommend giving this recipe a try.

To check out this recipe, click here (will take you to the recipe on Martha's website).

Enjoy!

German Chocolate Cupcakes

I decided to make Martha Stewart's German Chocolate cupcakes for my dad's birthday last week.  This is hands down his favorite cake.  Last year I made him a three layered German Chocolate cake from scratch.  It was my first time ever making a layered cake and I've got to say, it was quite fun!  I went to go find a link to the cake on my blog and realized that was one recipe I never found time to blog (how lame).  Here is a picture I found to give you and idea of what I made:

(next time I'll try to get a picture with a slice missing that way you can see all of the layers)

These cupcakes were fairly simple to make and tasted d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.  Everyone in my family who tried them thought they were pretty good (at least, that's what they told me!).  I love how they look like a mini two-layered cake. 

If you like coconut and pecans - you seriously need to give this recipe a try.  Your tummy will thank you for it.

The recipe can be found on the Martha Stewart website here.

Happy cupcake baking, photographing, blogging, and eating (the best part)!

Garvey's Organic Traditional Scones

When I was at QFC the other day I decided to look at the scone mixes.  I've only made scones from scratch once and was wondering what the box mixes were like.  I decided to pick up Garvey's Organic Traditional Scones - it cost around $3.50. 

Last night I had a friend over for tea and scones.  She is super picky with box mixes (because they usually don't taste as good as homemade) so I wanted to see what she thought about the mix I picked up.  I ended up making the lemon variation and let me tell you we both thought they were delicious!  They were simple to make and came out of the oven golden brown and flaky (what more could you ask for?!).

Doesn't it look scrumptious?

Quick Coconut Ice Cream

I can't believe it's already mid-July and I've only made one homemade ice cream recipe!!  I've had my ice cream maker attachment (for the KitchenAid mixer) since Christmas and the only ice cream I've made is the Double Chocolate Mint Chip (it was also healthy).  This was the first ice cream recipe I made that called for heavy cream and let me tell you, it was delicious.  It was also super easy to make!

I was craving a cool, coconut treat so I searched for coconut ice cream recipes.  I stumbled across a lot of recipes that called for a list of around 10 ingredients of which one of the ingredients was coconut cream (not coconut milk).  Does anyone know where to find this??  I wasn't in the mood to search for specialty food items so I kept looking.  I then came across this site.  I was instantly excited for the recipe because it calls for four ingredients!  I left out the saffron, but I'm sure it adds a really great touch to it (like I said... wasn't in the mood for finding specialty items).  This coconut ice cream I made calls for three ingredients: heavy cream, unsweetened coconut milk, and granulated sugar.

I hope you give this recipe a try, it is delicious!  You could really fancy it up and serve on top of some sort of cookie, shortbread, cake, etc. and top with toasted unsweetened flaked coconut.  Yum.

Quick Coconut Ice Cream Recipe
*adapted from Delicious Days

2/3 cup heavy cream
1 cup coconut milk (I used unsweetened)
1/4 cup granulated white sugar

In a medium saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil (right when it starts to really boil it will look foamy and start to rise in the pan.  If you're not watching enough it may boil over so watch closely because when it really starts to go you need to go the next step).

Reduce heat (to about medium low, a 2.5 on my gas stove dial) and simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and chill the mixture thoroughly (I place the pan in a wooden bowl with ice to submerge it.  Then I stick the whole thing in the fridge.  This process usually cools the mixture in about 30 minutes.).

Once chilled, freeze in your ice cream maker according to the instructions (in the KitchenAid mixer it took approximately 20 minutes).

Some Tips/Notes:
-Make sure the ice cream maker attachment bowl is completely chilled and frozen prior to churning the ice cream (at least 12 hours).  I leave it in my freezer at all times so I can have ice cream quickly ;)
-Some ice creams require an additional "riping" period in the freezer.  This ice cream sets up really nicely in the churn process and is thick enough to scoop and eat right away.  If you freeze the ice cream after it does get harder and may require some time to soften gently prior to scooping.

Grilled Goodness

I was in quite the grilling mood last night so on my way home from work I stopped by the store and picked up some steak, a sweet potato, yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and some white mushrooms. 

I simply drizzled all of the veggies in EVOO, salt, and pepper, and grilled over medium heat until soft.  This meal was so delicious!!

What have you been grilling??

Cupcakes Cupcakes Cupcakes

 My mom hand picked the cupcakes she wanted me to make for her birthday this year.  She was looking through my Martha Stewart Cupcakes cookbook and decided to select the Coconut Cupcakes.  Here is a link to another post that includes the recipe.  The only difference between the last post and this one was in the last post I made the cupcakes with Coconut Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting and this time I stayed true to the recipe and made a Coconut 7 minute frosting.

I actually preferred the cupcake with the 7 minute frosting because it's so light and fluffy and delicious.  I also topped this cupcake with the flaked unsweetened coconut I found in the bulk food section at Central Market instead of using sweetened flaked coconut from the store.

In addition to making some Coconut cupcakes for my mom's birthday, I was also happy to help make 70 cupcakes for my niece's graduation (congrats Bree!!).

My mom really wanted to go with a smiley face theme so here is how they turned out...

Thanks to my momma for the cupcake stand and for making all of the cute graduation hats.  She made all of them with a "L" for Lynnwood High School and laminated them too so they would stay nice sitting in the frosting.  I made french vanilla cupcakes with lemon American buttercream frosting and chocolate cupcakes with banana American buttercream frosting.  Thanks momma and Shelby for all of your help frosting and decorating!!

 Aren't their little faces so cute!!

MMmmm Mmmm delicious!!

Happy cupcake making everyone!!

~Alyssa

Good Pounds

Wow these photos and this post has been sitting in my blog buffer for over a month now!  I made this delicious pound cake in early May for a dinner party with some friends.  Ok seriously, don't judge me, but I made it from a box mix - I KNOW!  It's actually really good and if you're looking for something you can quickly throw together I recommend this.  It's a Betty Crocker Pound Cake mix.  After baking mine I decided to make an orange glaze with some orange juice, powdered sugar, and some orange zest.  Just poke holes in the top with a fork, drizzle glaze, and enjoy!

Tastes the best when enjoyed with a good cup of tea!

Happy Baking everyone!