A Perfect Day for a White Wedding

Well - my baby brother did it!  He and Christine are officially Mr. and Mrs. Huber.  I cannot believe the wedding has come and gone and they have begun their life as a married couple.  

I spent two days before the wedding making 150 sugar cookies and 350 cupcakes: vanilla with vanilla buttercream, chocolate with Oreo buttercream and red velvet with cream cheese frosting.  Two days of baking up a storm!  It was so much fun, and I nearly got it all done under the wire.  I had to enlist some last minute help from the cousins to finish the hearts on the cookies.  Everything turned out really well, thank goodness!

I knew the day would be emotional, but I wasn't expecting all of the tears that

flowed.  It started with my sister going in search of water - she returned with tears in her eyes.  I asked what was wrong, she responded with "I've never seen a more beautiful bride."  Of course, my dad got choked up, then I got teary eyed.  The ceremony was beautiful.  More emotional than I expected.  Once one Huber started with the water works it was a chain reaction down the line!  I couldn't help but be overcome with tears - after all, the baby of the family has grown up so quickly - married, with a baby of his own.  Andrew - I am so proud of you!  May your wedding day be beautiful memories that will last a lifetime and always remind you of the love you and Christine have for one another.  Congratulations, baby brother.

Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes with Oreo Frosting


Red Velvet Cupcakes
Ingredients:
2 Cups flour
2 Cups sugar
3/4 Cup Ghirardelli Cocoa Powder
2 Teaspoons baking soda
2 Large eggs
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Cup buttermilk
1 Cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 Cup boiling water
Red gel food coloring


Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Mix all ingredients with the paddle attachment on medium speed until blended.  Add as much red food coloring until you reach the desired color.  Pour into cupcake tins (pour batter 3/4 high).  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Test with a cake tester. 

For a 9x13 in cake - bake for one hour.

Let cool on wire racks.  Frost and decorate.


Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (Use Philadelphia or another top brand here, don't use a generic)
1/2 cup European style butter, softened
Confectioners' sugar (you'll use anywhere from 3 cups to 7 cups based on the consistency you want)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese and butter.  Mix in the vanilla, then gradually add in the confectioners' sugar until smooth.  Frost cupcakes and refrigerate.

A Blissful Wedding Shower

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of baking for my brother’s fiancé’s bridal shower.  The menu was chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream (my specialty), vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and heart shaped sugar cookies.  I had a lot to do for one Saturday afternoon!  Thanks to the family troops who helped me pull it all together.

I honestly cannot believe the time has come – we are now just two weeks away from the wedding.   This last year has absolutely flown by.  It seems like only yesterday my brother popped the question and now one of the greatest days of their lives is about to happen.  My little brother, getting married.  No surprise there.  I knew one day he’d sweep a woman off of her feet, but who knew it would happen so quickly. 

They asked me if I would be willing to make cupcakes and sugar cookies for the bridal shower and their wedding.  I said yes, of course, honored they would even ask.  As a shower gift, I had a cake knife and server set engraved.  I thought it was only fitting since I was doing the desserts for the shower and the wedding. The dessert table looked beautiful, decorated with sugary treats and homemade paper flowers.  A wonderful weekend to jump start the wedding festivities.

Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
3/4 Cup Ghirardelli Cocoa Powder
2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
2 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Boiling Water


Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F  Mix all ingredients with the paddle attachment on medium speed until blended.  Pour into cupcake tins (pour batter 3/4 high).  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Test with a cake tester. 


For a 9x13 in cake - bake for one hour.


Let cool on wire racks.  Frost and decorate.


My Vanilla Buttercream:
2 pounds confectioner's sugar (1 package)
2 sticks butter (European style preferred), softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk, as needed for consistency 


For Vanilla cupcakes, omit the cocoa powder and add 1/2 cup all purpose flour.

Sugar Cookies
For the sugar cookies I use Wilton Roll-Out Cookie Recipe

Fire and Ice

It’s that time of year again, the annual Fire and Ice party!  Every year my dear friends host their Fire and Ice party around the 4^th of July.  Fire breathing, ice shots, flaming shots – if it is related to fire or ice, you can bet it will make an appearance. 

Thinking: Fire or Ice?  What to bring?  No matter who is hosting, or what type of party, for some reason I always feel compelled to bake.  I love baking – it is my hobby after all.  I do wonder if there will ever be a day that I’ll just pick up a 6 pack or a bottle of wine instead of going to the great lengths of whipping something up in the kitchen.  Doubt it.  It’s way too much fun.

Last year I made cupcakes – regular vanilla with vanilla frosting.  I did red and blue sprinkles to stick with the fire and ice theme.  This year, I wanted to get more patriotic.  The 4^th had already passed, but sticking with the signature tune of stars and stripes, I decided to make my famous sugar cookies – in a star format of course!  Red, white and blue stars it is.

The Cooking Channel was on in the background.  Giada De Laurentiis – looking all smooth and styled and beautiful.  Here I was just after a workout, gym shorts and a tee, hair pulled up.  Why can’t  I look like Giada in the kitchen?  My roommate and her boyfriend were sitting at the kitchen counter keeping me company as I rolled out sugar cookie dough.  He says: “you and Giada look like you’re doing the same thing (she also happened to be rolling out dough).  You should have a show.”  If only!  A lovely compliment, but I don’t think I’ll ever be in the same realm as Giada.  That will be the day!

As we all watched Giada serve up a delicious meal, I was cutting out stars, baking feverishly so the cookies would be done in time.  Just over 4 dozen stars were baked, cooled and frosted.  I took them all to the party with me (so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat more later) – not a single cookie was left by the end of the night!  That always puts a smile on my face, knowing the baked goods I made were eaten AND the guests thought they were delicious.  

Roll-Out Cookies 
Color Flow Icing