Shoes!

When designing a cake for my friend Anne's flirty thirty birthday there was only one theme choice - shoes!

This project was made in two parts; the shoe box is a large double fudge brownie, while the shoes are made from rice krispie treats. Both are decorated with butter cream icing, with the shoes receiving miniature M&Ms for a little more colour.

The shoes were carved from blocks of rice krispie treats, the below photo sequence shows their creation.

With the basic shapes created I moved on to frosting them. I used black icing to highlight the show box cover, and to outline the shoe's in-sole, outer-sole, and straps.

I hope you enjoyed the shoe cake, I know Anne loved it! :)

Vegan Chocolate Stout CupCakes

It's been a while since I last posted a recipe... I've been very busy dealing with the aftermath of hurricane Igor (flooded basement), so just starting to get back to 'normal' now. This treat was made for my friend Anne's birthday.

Ingredients (CupCake):
1 1/2 cup soy milk
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 cup & 4 tbsp flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup stout
2/3 cup canola oil
3 tsp vanilla extract

Ingredients (Topping):
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp canola oil

To make the cupcakes: blend together the soy milk and apple cider in a bowl, then allow it to curdle. In a separate bowl sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Next, add to the soy milk mixture the stout, sugar, oil, and vanilla - mix until foamy. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, in small amounts, then beat the whole mixture for two minutes.

The topping is a simple sifting of the flour, cocoa, and sugar together in a bowl. Oil is added and then you toss the mixture until crumbs form. You can use your fingers to break down any larger crumbs. Once the crumb topping is made you just need to sprinkle some on top of each cupcake - it should just rest on the top of the batter. Bake the cupcakes at 350F for 25 - 30 minutes (should make 18 large cupcakes).

I hope you enjoyed these Vegan cupcakes, there somewhat sweet and the stout flavour is very subtle so don't worry that it'll taste only like beer.

Butter-Pecan Cookies

After a long weekend full of events this cookie night turn I went for a very simple cookie recipe, butter-pecan cookies.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
2/3 cup chopped pecans
Extra whole pecans for decorating.

To begin this cookie mix the flour and salt in a bowl. In a mixer combine the butter and sugar until beat smooth. Add in the flour and salt to the mixing bowl, then add in the egg yolk. Beat until fully combined. The chopped pecans can now be added, then mixed into the batter.

These cookies are baked as simple drop cookies. The batter will spread out however so space each drop at least three inches apart. Press a whole pecan into the center of each cookie drop. Bake at 325F for 15 minutes.

I hope you enjoy these cookies, their buttery and sweet!