IronCupcake on Ellen DeGeneres???

IronCupcake on Ellen DeGeneres??? WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT?!? But I need your help! Contact Ellen via facebook at "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"; on Twitter @TheEllenShow or on the website, http://ellen.warnerbros.com/. Tell them you want to see IronCupcake hit the national airwaves! With the local challenges and the upcoming launch of IronCupcake:Earth, year 2...there is no time like the present. The more who ask, the more likely it will happen!!!!

xoxoxo

Where is the Earth Blog????

Fear not. The IronCupcake:Earth blog is not gone. She is just getting a little make-over before tomorrow's launch of year 2! Like any lovely lady, she wants to make a grand entrance! So, come 12:01 a.m. she will be alive and kicking with the first challenge for year 2, and the reveal of our awesome prize donors as well!

If you signed up for IronCupcake:Earth over the hiatus, you will be sent your welcome letter in the coming days. In the mean time, feel free to start thinking about your ideas for the first challenge. Again...the challenge and the prizes will be revealed at 12:01 am on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1!

Would you like to join? Hooray! It is very simple. Just email me the following information:

• First and Last Name
• City, State, Country
• Blog Address

Take Me Down To Cupcake City

I have been dying to tell you all about this. It was all summer in the making. It hit newsstands a couple of weeks ago. But...until I could provide a link for those of you outside of Milwaukee, I didn't want to blog about it. Now...finally...its live and I can!
Every city has its magazine, and Milwaukee is no different. Glossy, trendy, only the most timely of topics. The October issue of MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE features 3 pages of, well, how else do I say this...IRON CUPCAKE! Complete with a campy photo of me and quotes from Chef Jeff, Ashley (aka Miss Cupcake) and Susie (Susie's Homemade). Yes, the folks from Milwaukee Magazine have cracked the hard news of Iron Cupcake and now you can ALL read about it.

Project Cupcake Makes It Work!

Fashion plus cupcakes equals a perfect marriage. Its the road to the alter that makes you wonder how it will all turn out. First of all, my apologies for not blogging about Saturday's Project Cupcake at Goldi sooner. Its been one of those months, and just as I thought it was wrapping up, I found out that a baker had dropped out of the event for Saturday. I couldn't let there be only 2 bakers for the event, so I woke up super early. I used the ingredients I had in the house and whipped up some simple almond cupcakes with Mascarpone Buttercream. I even managed to figure out a close solution to Tiffany Blue, to top my Breakfast at Tiffany's cupcakes.


Ashley brought us a totally edible inside view of Barbie's closet, complete with belts, Chanel bags, sunglasses, shoes, gowns and more. Even Barbie's dress is fondant! The cakes were cherry with a chocolate kiss of a topping.


Susie broke out some 80's memories with her Leather & Lace creations, including hand-embossed fondant to emulate the lace and chocolate studded "leather."


Susie and Ashley (with Goldi's manager Kehri by my side) have been IronCupcaking since the very early days, so when they found out that I baked, they were actually glad that I was participating.


Well, they may have rethought my being in the running by the end of the day, as our judges; Mark (co-owner of Goldi), Erinn (from Survivor season 18) and Stefani (from "Beauty" salon) actually declared ME the winner. What? Me? But I just whipped those little blue babies up mere hours before the event. Well, I was embarrassed and touched, and even more so when Susie and Ashley were happy for me as well. I do miss baking a bit...so this got it out of my system for a while.

Once again, we were so thankful that the talented Jim Conway of James Conway photography was onhand for the entire event. Check out the awesome slide show of the day, including the fashion challenges below:

Serious Shoes for Serious Cupcake Chicks

From hipsterchick.com: Get that psychobilly style with these adorable and dangerous peep toe heels by Iron Fist. These cupcake Print Peep Toe Shoes come with Triple Mary Jane Straps & 4.5″ Stiletto Heel on a 1″ platform, and a cute triple bow detail over the vamp in yummy, sweet, pastel pink, baby blue, and lime green. This unique pair can be yours for $42.

Five Secrets to the Perfect Cupcake

Photo, Henry Spencer / Getty Images.

by Jennie Yabroff, Newsweek.com

Cupcakes inspire a surprising amount of animosity for what would seem an innocuous dessert item. Ask most anti-cupcakists about the bases of their objections, and you’ll hear the same thing: cupcakes are dry, flavorless sugar bombs. But according to Pam Nelson, owner of Butter Lane Bakery in Manhattan, there’s no reason a cupcake can’t be moist, delicious, and not-too-sweet. “Our mantra in developing our recipes was less sugar, more flavor,” she says. A few secrets to perfect cupcakes:

• Use the best butter you can find. “A lot of commercial bakeries use a subpar fat like margarine or shortening,” says Jen Aaronson, an editor of Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes, because these ingredients are cheaper than real butter. But what you save in expense, you’ll sacrifice in taste. “If you don’t use butter, you’re going to have to overcompensate with sugar,” she says. At Butter Lane, Nelson and her partners go through 150 pounds of organic butter a week.

• Whenever possible, use real ingredients: seeds of vanilla from vanilla beans, lemon from the fruit, not lemon-flavored extract. “A cupcake is a small version of a cake, not just a vehicle for frosting,” says Aaronson, and deserves the same quality ingredients you’d use for a full-sized cake. And, it should go without saying, don’t even think of using a mix.
  

• Cocoa belongs in a cup, not a cupcake. Butter Lane’s chocolate cupcakes start with blocks of bittersweet chocolate, rather than cocoa powder. “It’s not cheap, and it’s a pain in the ass,” Nelson says. “It means we have to have someone standing over a double boiler, melting chocolate. But it’s worth it, because then our cupcakes have that moist, almost molten quality.”

• Frosting doesn’t need to induce sugar shock. “People do love frosting, and they tend to think the more you pile on, the better it is,” says Aaronson. But that doesn’t mean it has to be teeth-achingly sweet. Nelson says she managed to reduce the amount of confectioners’ sugar in her frosting by nearly half by adding a bit of cream cheese. “If you put in the amount of sugar you want for the taste, you need to double that amount to get the consistency you want. Cream cheese lets us use the amount of sugar we want and still have a pretty cupcake.” And when you add the sugar, do so slowly. Creaming it gradually into the butter will prevent the frosting from becoming gritty and grainy.

• No naked cupcakes! Whether you plan on frosting them or not, wrap your cupcakes within 30 minutes of taking them out of the oven, says Nelson. Her store uses plastic wrap for the vanilla cakes, and aluminum foil for the chocolate—she’s not sure why, but finds different flavors require different wrappers. The cakes aren’t iced until serving, which prevents them from drying out.

He's Bringin' Sexy - Cupcakes - Back...

Sexy Justin Timberlake spotted outside of a CRUMBS cupcake shop in LA.
Wouldn't you just LOVE to be Justin Timberlake's thumb. :-)

IT'S OFFICIAL - Chicago Forecast...SPRINKLES

Will Chicago support a chain cupcakery?? With so many magnificent independent cupcakeries in the Chicagoland area, I can't help but wonder if this will fly. Looks like we are about to find out!

BEVERLY HILLS (September 23, 2009) – Candace and Charles Nelson, owners of Sprinkles, The Original Cupcake Bakery, announced today the impending opening of their first Midwest retail location. This highly-anticipated opening will bring the country’s most coveted cupcakes to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile district in March 2010.

“Ever since we were featured on Oprah in February 2006, we’ve felt a special connection with Chicago,” owner Candace Nelson said. “Chicago has led our online poll for the next Sprinkles location for the past three years. It has taken some time to find the perfect spot, but we are incredibly excited to finally bring Sprinkles cupcakes to all our fans in this great city.”

Since opening in Beverly Hills in 2005, Sprinkles, the first cupcake-only bakery, has been credited with inspiring a national cupcake craze as reported by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, NBC’s The Today Show and ABC’s Nightline.

Sprinkles Chicago, to be located at 50 East Walton Street between Michigan and Rush, will be the company’s sixth retail location. In addition to brick and mortar boutiques in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and Palo Alto, CA, Dallas, TX and Scottsdale, AZ, the Sprinklesmobile, a mobile cupcake truck, was launched in Los Angeles this summer.

Like It Or Not...Fall is Here!

mummy halloween fondant edible cupcake topper, originally uploaded by The Artisan Cake Company.

mummy halloween fondant edible cupcake topper
http://artisancakecompany.etsy.com

Disturbed, VERY Disturbed

My friend, John, sent this to me, well, 'cause there is a cupcake on it. But...really? SERIOUSLY? You would ink THAT onto your body to last the rest of your life?!?!? Image comes from thechive.com.

Article Alley...take me away!

Have you ever just had one of those days? You know the kind...you have a full time job, maybe you have kids, but your hobby is your blog. You feel almost guilty that you can’t or perhaps just don’t have the energy to make that blog post tonight. You hate to lose traffic. You hate to disappoint your readers. Oh, the dilemma!

Only a fellow blogger, knows the pressure. Well, beyond the obvious alternatives, I found a site called Article Alley that collects article submissions about all sorts of topics...even cupcakes! There is a massive array of articles about baking, decorating, crafts, jewelry, you name it. It’s an excellent go-to for those who are always on the watch for interesting new content.

For those of you beyond the cupcake universe... they have more than cupcakes! It doesn’t matter what your focus might be, there is content for you! Motorcycles? They have it. Baby Products? Check. Bugs? Yes, even bugs!

I Need a New Car...and THIS Would Be It!

LittleDebbie is launching their own of snackable cupcakes! To celebrate, they are launching a Share-A-Thon to encourage all of us to share a cupcake with a friend. Their own custom cupcake cars will begin a national tour on October 11. First stop, Washington, DC.

Little Debbie Cupcakes can put a smile on your face and a car in your driveway. For your chance to win one of these sweet rides, a sporty smart fortwo, plus other great prizes, visit the Little Debbie website, but keep in mind...the car is MINE!

Cupcakes Rock the Arab World!

Yes, We Speak Cupcakes
New York Times, 09209: AS a young student at the multinational Aramco school in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Fadi Jaber, a son of Palestinian refugees, always preferred his American classmates’ cupcakes, brownies and chocolate chip cookies to his mother’s pastries: knafah, qatayef and baklawah.But when he tasted a vanilla-frosted vanilla cupcake from the Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich Village in 2004, it changed his life. He quit his marketing job at Unilever and used his savings to enroll in a baking and culinary management program at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan...read all about his and other cupcake adventures in Arab countries at the nytimes.com site.

I Don't Share...But I DO Drool!

Oh, my darling Olivia. You are such a good baby. You were so mellow while your auntie (me), who doesn't have/want children, VOLUNTEERED to babysit! You absolutely ROCK your Molly's Cupcakes shirt...but girl, what is up with the drool!?! LOL

Every Color of the Rainbow at ICM!

Pick a color, any color and odds are you would have found it at this week's IronCupcake:Milwaukee COLOR challenge featuring Goldi Shoe Parlor. Once again, we had an impressive crowd full of old friends, and new. And entries ranging from Colorbursts to Purple Rain, White Avocado to Gold Nuggets and everything in between! All that, PLUS, we raised nearly $100 to be donated to St. Rose Youth & Family Center!

Many who had read about IronCupcake in one of several local publications visited for the first time, and we welcome you! (However, there was one fella who got incredibly ticked off that he was not permitted to cut in line to buy his tasting ticket. He even had some overly dramatic fowl language for me. Hey, buddy...its cupcakes...take a deep breath and wait your turn like everyone else!)


While there were incredible entries, it was Natasha's protest to all color, the Camouflage Cupcake — a chocolate and mint cupcake with a homemade truffle inside – that took her the top prize for PRESENTATION. If you look real hard, you might be able to see her entry nestled in the plants.


So many people loved the way the Camo Cupcake looked. But, it was Jenna's ode to Elvis, the Blue Hawaiian Cupcake, that took home the TASTE prize. A Blue Curacao cupcake with a Piña Colada frosting, not to mention that over-the-top presenation. Again, the liquor brings in the prize. Well done, Jenna!

As mentioned earlier, our local business partner this week was Goldi's Shoe Parlor. A secret judge was on hand to choose the PARTNER PICK winner, and it was the Barbi's Jo Balls/faux snoballs, that blew the judge away. A combination of awesome presentation and a chocolaty, creamy, coconut taste to die for made the choice an easy one. Barbie took home a generous gift certificate to Goldi's for the win.

Need more fashion and cupcake fix? Be sure to join use AT Goldi this Saturday for the PROJECT CUPCAKE challenge – the ultimate fashion-themed cupcake decorating challenge. (I even have a spot open for one more baker...but you have to email me asap if you want in.)

I would be remiss if I did not point out our amazing photographer. Once again, we were honored to have the incredible talent of Jim Conway snapping away at all the amazing cupcakes. Don't tell anyone, but I am pretty sure that Jim has the cupcake bug ;-) One of Jim's (and my) faves was the Lou Ferrigno Cupcakes by the team of John & Gretchen. A pistachio creation fit for a super hero!

Doesn't this all sound like soooo much fun? Well, it is...and you can start an IronCupcake:Local chapter in your town...anywhere in the world!

Our next challenge, LITERARY, is OCTOBER 19th. Develop a cupcake based on your favorite book.

IronCupcake:Milwaukee
LITERARY Challenge
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 at 6 p.m.
The Irish Pub
124 N. Water Street
Milwaukee's Third Ward

THIS SATURDAY - Project Cupcake hits the Runway

Local 'Survivor' and cupcake fan Erinn Lobdell will be joining us to judge the PROJECT CUPCAKE fashion challenge at GOLDI. Joining Erinn at the judging table are none other than Goldi Miller-Fashionista & Entrepreneur; and Bjorn Nassett, BEAUTY stylist extraordinaire!

Fashion scavenger hunt, new fall fashions, discounts, drawings and cupcakes by 5 of the cities most amazing cupcake creators! FREE!

Project Cupcake
Saturday, Sept. 26
2 p.m
Goldi
4114 N. Oakland Ave.
Shorewood

ICM:Literary Challenge

Our theme for the OCTOBER IronCupcake:Milwaukee challenge is LITERARY cupcakes. Cupcakes based on your favorite book, character or plot; with our local business partner BOSWELL BOOK COMPANY.

$5 ticket gets you tons of awesome cupcakes, one beer ticket and an opportunity to win a variety of raffle prizes. PLUS!!! One dollar from every ticket will go to this month's charity, COMMON HOPE BOO BOO DRIVE. Don't forget about those yummy dollar burgers from The Irish Pub.

The October challenge will take place on MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 at 6 p.m.

As always, all bakers should pre-register at IronCupcakeMilwaukee@wi.rr.com.
You must include your book title when registering.
Only the first 20 bakers will be able to register. First come, first served. A waiting list will be created .

Everyone is welcome!
IronCupcake:Milwaukee
LITERARY Challenge
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 at 6 p.m.
The Irish Pub
124 N. Water Street
Milwaukee's Third Ward

ICM:Color - TONIGHT!!

TONIGHT!!! In honor of back-to-school, our theme for the SEPTEMBER IronCupcake:Milwaukee challenge is COLOR with our local business partner GOLDI'S SHOE PARLOR.

$5 ticket gets you tons of awesome cupcakes, one beer ticket and an opportunity to win a variety of raffle prizes. PLUS!!! One dollar from every ticket will go to this month's charity, ST. ROSE YOUTH & FAMILY CENTER. Don't forget about those yummy dollar burgers from The Irish Pub.

Everyone is welcome!

IronCupcake:Milwaukee
COLOR Challenge
Monday, September 21, 6 p.m.
The Irish Pub
124 N. Water Street
Milwaukee's Third Ward


IronCupcake:Milwaukee is sponsored in part by our friends at CakeNCrumbs.com!

So Good, I Could Take a Bath in It!

Have you ever loved the taste of something so much you said you could just take a bath in it? This line from Dylan's Candy Bar makes loving chocolate cupcakes to the extreme. Now you can take your love for chocolate cupcakes to the extreme by washing, scrubbing and moisturizing in it! Found them online at Sephora.com or visit the Dylan's website.

Big-a$$ Cupcakes with LOTS of Filling

Designed in the shape of sugary-sweet cupcakes, this set of two storage bags provides a fun way to store or transport everything from socks, pajamas, and stuffed animals to books, games, and school supplies. The bags work well for everyday use, offering more interesting storage space than the average dresser or toy shelf. They also come in handy when traveling or spending a night at a friend's house. The smaller cupcake easily fits inside the larger cupcake, and both come with a durable base that stands up on its own. The bottom "chocolate" portion unzips to reveal a large storage compartment, while the upper "frosting" portion conforms to the shape of stored contents and provides a cherry button on top with an over-the-shoulder drawstring. The medium-size bag looks like chocolate with vanilla frosting and measures 10 by 10 by about 10 inches, and the large-size bag looks like chocolate with pink frosting and measures 12 by 12 by about 13 inches.

• 2 cupcake-shaped bags for storing or transporting clothes and toys
• Smaller bag easily fits inside larger bag; over-the-shoulder drawstring
• Bottom portion stands up on its own and unzips to reveal storage area
• Upper portion with cherry button conforms to the shape of stored contents
• Large bag measures 10 by 10 by about 10 inches; medium bag measures 12 by 12 by about 13 inches
• The cupcake storage bags are available online at amazon.com for $19.99/pr.