Your Basic Chocolate Cupcake with Vegan Fluffy Buttercream Frosting

Cookbook * Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World
Recipe * Your Basic Chocolate Cupcake with Vegan Fluffy Buttercream Frosting
Yumm or Yuck? * Yumm

I need to find some neighbors with a healthy cupcake appetite. Not, mind you, because these cupcakes are bad, but rather because they are so damn good I'm destined to eat the whole batch. This is the universal problem with baking sweets, right? Back to the cupcakes. These are awesome, no words do them justice. Fluffy and tasty with creamy icing that holds up for piping. They put a smile on my face, my husband's face, and my dog's face...well, she didin't get to have any, but its the thought that counts, I mean she was Wonder Woman for a day so she can't complain. Annatto seed extract gives the icing a nice orange Halloween color, even though it doesn't ring true in the photo. "Vegan cupcake world domination?" I think so!

Kudos to the PPK gang for catapulting "vegan cupcake" into the foodie lexicon and for creating a cookbook with a user guide. Cookbook developers note - Every cookbook should have a practical user guide.I can't tell you how much I appreciate the front material on dos and don'ts and even a section to help you trouble shoot problem cupcakes - you know the ones :) On their recommendation, I purchased an oven thermometer for my average cookbook tester oven and even invested in a cheap, shiny, aluminum cupcake pan the better to bake with my dear. The only thing holding me back is patience and restraint..."I will not eat the icing before I ice the cupcakes, I will not eat the cupcakes before they are iced, I will not ice the cupcakes until they are cool....repeat...I will not.."

Cupcakes, getting a job, mac n' cheese, and staying balanced... and the kitchen sink.

Cookbook * Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World
Recipe * Cappuccino Cupcakes Filled with Espresso Creme
Yumm or Yuck * Yumm

I got a job in January and moved house in February - in the process I have been a bad blogger and even worse cook! I am reminded through this experience that you can only have so much thai take-out, deli food and (oh -gasp) frozen dinners. I really do miss cooking - it is a fun/creative type outlet for me and I enjoy the process of cooking as much as eating. Plus, I think it is far easier to balance your diet when you cook at home.
Below are some photos taken over the last few months that I haven't had a chance to blog on.

First, cupcakes made by a good friend here in Seattle. She isn't vegan, but loves the Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World cookbook - which of course makes any good friend a great friend, especially when they make cupcakes for YOU!! These were sooo delicious!


Cookbook * The Real Food Daily Cookbook
Recipe * Mac n' Cheese
Yumm or Yuck * Yumm

And here is a pic of my new favorite mac n' cheese recipe taken from Real Food Daily. The cheese sauce is amazing - I might add less agar next time so it isn't as thick. Wondering what agar is - here is a pic below. Far better than the Vegan Planet recipe - I think. Good stuff!

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemony Buttercream Frosting and Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Cookbook * Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

Recipe * Chocolate Buttercream Frosting and

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemony Buttercream Frosting

Yumm or Yuck? * Yumm

What to do when Seattle's weather is acting up? Write a duo cupcake review, of course. I added coffee extract to the chocolate buttercream and added an espresso bean on top - its what caffeine dreams are made of! Pipes nicely, tastes good. Now, the lemony buttercream frosting is equally as good and the lemon zest and fresh lemon juice keep it nice and tangy without being too sweet. The gingerbread cupcakes were perfectly spiced, but maybe a bit too sweet. I found the texture to be sticky although this may be my "average oven", not the recipe. The chocolate cupcakes have already been reviewed - they were tasty, too!