more cupcakes!

Kapi and I have a photo shoot (photo shoot!?!?) planned for the weekend after next. But before that, I just had to scratch the baking itch (sorry moo!) and whipped up a bactch of red velvet cupcakes.
Red velvet cake originate from the American South, according to my research on the internet. It's actually an ordinary cocoa-flavored cake made more interesting because it's colored red. The white frosting (usually cream cheese frosting or vanilla buttercream frosting) serves to emphasize the redness of the cake.
Why is the cake red in the first place? Legend has it that during the Great Depression, the quality of the cocoa powder available in the Southern states of the US was so bad that it would react with baking soda and turn red after baking.
Whether or not the story is true, I felt the redness of the icing would suit the current All Souls' Day-feeling in the air, because it just looks bloody. (In fact, the first time I baked this several months ago, all the tasters told me to call them blood cupcakes instead )
So here they are:

 
Some geeky baking notes: After searching for several different red velvet cupcake recipes, I settled for one from the Food Network, which uses baking soda and vinegar as leavening agents (instead of the usual combination of baking soda and baking powder). This resulted in a very very fine crumb, much finer than the usual sponge-type cake that I bake. It's quite velvety in the mouth, too.
For those interested in buying, these cost roughly PhP 32 per piece. Minimum order is 1 dozen. Just text me or comment if you're interested in ordering.

the foodie quiz

I knew it! I heart food!

cupcakes!

Some of you may have figured that cupcakes–particularly baking cupcakes–has been one of the foremost things on my mind lately. I've researched on the internet about the New York cupcake wars (Magnolia vs. Buttercup Bakeshop, plus Buttercup vs. former employees who put up their own shops). I've asked Kapi to visit West Coast cupcake shops (Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, and Citizen Cupcake [love that name!] in San Francisco). I knew the time was right to bring cupcakes to Manila.

 
Green Tea Cupcakes
(A light, refreshing cake made with real Japanese Matcha powder,topped with green tea buttercream frosting)

Chocolate Bliss
(This extra-moist cake is made with real 70% cocoa chocolate–I only use Lindt or Valrhona–and frosted by a rich dark chocolate ganache. No confectioners sugar on this baby.)

They may be out of  focus, but still pretty.

Other flavors, pictures and prices coming soon:

• Manila Vanilla (muscovado-sugar sweetened cakes with vanilla buttercream)
• Coconut Lychee (East meets West in this refreshing, whipped-cream-topped cake)
• Red Velvet (a favorite of the American South. Rich red cocoa-flavored cake with tart cream cheese frosting.)
• Chai Tea (Yes, chai tea! A spicy, fragrant, dense cake that lives up to its name. Topped with cream cheese frosting.)

have a moo-filled, hoppy day, moo!

Happy happy.



I love you.

something that hasn’t changed

The past few months may have changed me quite a bit, but one thing hasn't: My Dating Persona, from OkCupid. The best place to go to on the net when you feel like not doing anything at all.

The Sonnet Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLDf) Romantic, hopeful, and composed. You are the Sonnet. Get it? Composed? Sonnets want Love and have high ideals about it. They're conscientious people, caring & careful. You yourself have deep convictions, and you devote a lot of thought to romance and what it should be. This will frighten away most potential mates, but that's okay, because you're very choosy with your affections anyway. You'd absolutely refuse to date someone dumber than you, for instance. Your exact opposite: Genghis Khunt Random Brutal Sex Master Lovers who share your idealized perspective, or who are at least willing to totally throw themselves into a relationship, will be very, very happy with you. And you with them. You're already selfless and compassionate, and with the right partner, there's no doubt you can be sensual, even adventurously so. You probably have lots of female friends, and they have a special soft spot for you. Babies do, too, at the tippy-top of their baby skulls. ALWAYS AVOID: The 5-Night Stand, The False Messiah, The Hornivore, The Last Man on Earth CONSIDER: The Loverboy Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.