Birthday Cupcakes for Kirby!

Posted on by Abigail

For my second Cupcakes for a Cure endeavor, I was asked to make birthday cupcakes for a coworker’s sister’s birthday party. We decided on Red Velvet + Cream Cheese Frosting and Devil’s Food + Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Frosting. (All courtesy of the Martha Stewart Cupcakes Cookbook, of course.)

I’m told the birthday girl, Kirby, likes all things girly (my kinda girl!), so I made cutesy fondant flowers to top the Devil’s Food Cupcakes and white chocolate stilettos and tiarras to top the Red Velvet cupcakes.

This was my first time concocting Martha’s recipe for Red Velvet. It was fairly easy, and even included somewhat of a science experiment (baking soda + vinegar = foamy fun.)

The recipe for Devil’s Food cupcakes is quite similar to the one I used for the Iron Cupcake competition back in February. So needless to say, I had some practice whipping that up.

Happy Birthday, Kirby!! I hope you enjoy them. ;)

To donate to my Crohn’s and Colitis fund please visit my Running for a Reason website.

Opening Day Brewers Cupcakes.

Posted on by Abigail

Batter-up!!! I’m a born and bred Milwaukee gal, so I can attest to the excitement of the Brewer’s Home Opener Game. Although some folks are busy finding ways to effectively call in sick to work and catch the first pitch at Miller Park, others find ways to celebrate at the office. At Laughlin, employees gathered for a lunch-time tailgate party, complete with hot-dogs, crackerjacks and … cupcakes!

I made both devils food and yell0w-buttermilk cupcakes topped with a simple butter-cream. The cherry on top was a home-made baseball sugar cookie. This was my first time outlining and flooding sugar cookies with royal icing. I found a really helpful video online that explained the process step-by-step.

I might add that this was my first Cupcakes for a Cure fundraiser. I asked coworkers to make a donation to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America for their cupcake. I was ecstatic to raise $65!

To donate to my Crohn’s and Colitis fund please visit my Running for a Reason website.

1st Birthday Cupcakes

Posted on by Abigail

My darling nephew, Landon, turned 1-year old in March. Being the baker in the family, I was asked to make the birthday cake.


I opted for cupcakes, not because they’re my current obsession (wink, wink) but because I thought they would be a convenient option for the youngsters. I made a devils food cupcake and yellow cupcake with vanilla bean. Both were topped with colorful fondant discs with engraved L’s for Landon. ;) I got this idea from the lovely Ms. Martha Stewart. It was my first fondant experience, and it was surprisingly easy!

The cupcakes turned out to be a huge hit… Even though more of the birthday boy’s cake ended up on his face, high chair and those brave enough to stand near him. ;)

Girl Scout Cookie Heaven

Posted on by Abigail

Pretty sure Girl Scout Cookie Delivery Day should become our newest National Holiday. No jokes. Banks should close. And mailmen everywhere should kick back their feet and make way for adorable little girls in vests to pull their cookie-filled wagons to patiently-awaiting customers.

If you can’t already tell, I just received my Girl Scout cookie delivery and am deep in Samoa-induced happiness. That said, I went a little over-board with all my Girl Scout cookie ordering. (Yes, I may fall into the category of “Girl Scout Cookie Hoarding”).

I’m taking suggestions. What do you do with your Girl Scout Cookies? Do you immediately let the binge begin, freeze them for a later date or put them to use in a secret recipe?

Bring it, Iron Cupcake!

Posted on by Abigail

I can’t believe the Iron Cupcake is only a few days away. There are a few things I wanted to remind you of before I go into a baking coma in preparation for the big day.

1.) GET THERE EARLY – I know Sunday is your day to sleep in, but seriously get there early. Especially if you didn’t pre-order your tickets online. Since online ticket sales are now CLOSED and they only have 900 tickets to sell at the door, they are expecting to sell-out. I’d suggest getting there around 9:30 at the latest. Doors will open at 10.

2.) SAVE YOUR EGG CARTONS – (Or hit up your local hoarder and borrow one from them). Egg cartons make the perfect cupcake holders. Plus, you get a free cupcake for being green and bringing an egg carton.

3.) BRING CASH – The event is cash only. So swing by the ATM on your way in to make sure you’re not SOL.

4.) SAY HI – My booth is #16. Make sure you swing by for a cupcake. :)

5.) VOTE FOR ME - Okay, this isn’t a must. You should honestly vote for whoever’s cupcake you think is best… But mine will obviously be the best, so it kinda works out.

6.) TWEET - For all the tweeters in the house, if you plan on tweeting about the event use @IronCupcakeMKE or #icmwmseduff

Most importantly, Thank you all for your freaking awesome support and for making me believe that I could actually do this. Competing in the Iron Cupcake has been on my bucket list since the first time I tasted the bacon cupcakes a year ago.

Still have questions about the Iron Cupcake? More info here: http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com/2011/01/clash-of-cupcakes.html

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza 2009

Posted on by Abigail

Being the kitchen creature that I am, for Christmas this year I opted to bake cookies. For those of you who haven’t spent much time baking, this was neither an easier nor cheaper route than buying gifts. It took 72 hours, 25 pounds of flour, 25 pounds of sugar, 18 pounds of chocolate, 43 sticks of butter, 6 dozen eggs and heartfelt research to create 15 boxes of cookies. When it was all said and done we had made 12 different kinds of cookies. A grand total of over 700 treats. And they weren’t just any treats.. each batch of cookies was made for a specific person based on their favorite cookie, cupcake, candy or bar. My final website for my web design class links to each of the recipes and gives a brief description of why we chose the cookies we chose for each of our friends and family.

Pearfect Pie.

Posted on by Abigail

I’m being published! Here’s a clip of my Peafect Pie recipe which will be featured in Whitewater’s Recipe Book!

I find it interesting how the definition of happiness varies from one person to another. My boyfriend finds his happiness in a tie-breaking triple play for the Brewers’ win. My mom finds her happiness in a challenging game of Freecell. My best friend finds her happiness in an exhausting, yet invigorating run.

I happen to find my happiness in the kitchen. There is something magical about the way flour diffuses into the air, creating a kitchen full of clouds, as you sift it into a measuring cup. And, what could be more wonderful than the scent of vanilla, seeping through doorways to intoxicate the entire house? After all, isn’t it magnificent knowing despite the many uncertainties in life, you can rest assured when you combine five parts powdered sugar and one part heavy cream, your by-product will be a finger-licking frosting.

Baking has always been a way of life for me. In particular, I’ve always been partial to cookies – Chocolate chip, peanut-butter, oatmeal scotchies, and sugar cookies of every shape and design. Recently, I challenged myself to branch out of my baking bounds and attempt to create a pie. Pies are not like cookies. In my opinion a pie isn’t just “made” it is “created.” Pies are an art-form with the crust as your canvas.

It didn’t take long for my pie-making passion to evolve. Like an artist molding clay, I would create intricate patterns with the crust. And pray to god, it tasted as delicious as it looked. Unlike cookies, pies are a surprise. There’s no opportunity for a taste test on the first batch. With pies you must have faith that when you cut into your master piece,  open your mouth and close your eyes it will tickle your taste buds and melt away. This Pearfect Pie will do just that, and undoubtedly spread the utmost happiness.

Hate to break it to you, but you’re going to have to wait to read the rest of it! Cook books will be sold at the Sweet Spot in Whitewater’s Triangle District. Shoot an email at justabs06@gmail.com (that’s me) or whitewaterrecipebook@gmail.com if you’re interested in purchasing one.


My first turkey.

Posted on by Abigail
Abi's Rating 4.5/5

Abi's Rating 4.5/5

My definition of Labor Day- no work, no school, no mail. There are good movies on t.v. and that’s about it. So as I laughed hysterically to Adam Sandler’s The Wedding Planner for the umpteenth time I decided to challenge myself with something new in the kitchen. Drum roll please…. I ventured out to make my very first turkey. Although I was nervous at first, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be! And holy leftovers! We’re set for the rest of the week.

A few tips…

  • The recipe said the turkey would “completely cover” the stuffing. It won’t so don’t be discouraged. It still turns out delicious.
  • I added carrots and green beans to the stuffing for *circus.
  • I don’t believe in right or wrong ways to cut a turkey. I was a bit overwhelmed at first, but if you just go at it – you’ll be fine.

Get the recipe at Kraft Foods

*Circus: Adding ingredients to make a dish more colorful. My mom taught me this term and I use it in my cooking vocabulary often. For example… “Wow! That Salsa has so much circus!” It’s fun.