The Cupcake Courier

Well, my kids were on vacation from school this week, so not much baking took place.  We had a week full of movies, play dates, sleepovers and a visit to Bounce U.

Since my plan is to post at least once a week, I decided to dedicate this one to another one of my favorite inventions,  The Cupcake Courier.

Now I don't know about you, but when I make cupcakes, I usually get at least 24.  For some reason, most of the cupcake carriers I've come across are either made for 12 or 18.  This totally solves the problem because it can hold up to 36!

This has 3 removable trays for cupcakes, muffins or even small cups of jello, pudding, fruit salad, etc.
You can also use just the bottom tray if you need to transport a cake!

It also comes with these inserts to transport cookies and brownies!  I don't know how I ever managed without it!  I had seen it on amazon, but I came across it at Costco and just couldn't pass it up!
Now I need to fill it!  I don't think that should be too hard!

Monkey Muffins

My son Max loves anything cinnamon flavored.  It's kind of hard to keep anything in the house because when he knows I have something, he will eat it all in 1 day! 


Well, he was invited to sleep over his best buddy's house and I wanted to send him with a little treat.  I came across a recipe on allrecipes and adapted it a little.  Hopefully they will be a hit!

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).  Grease 6 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

Separate biscuits and using kitchen shears, cut into 6 pieces.

Combine cinnamon and sugar in a plastic bag;  add biscuit pieces and shake to coat.

Divide coated pieces between muffin cups.

Combine brown sugar, butter, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil until the sugar is completely dissolved,  2 to 3 minutes.  

Spoon the mixture over the biscuit pieces.  Bake 8 - 12 minutes. 

Icing

1 tablespoon cream cheese

1/4 cup confectioners sugar

1 tablespoon milk

Mix all of the ingredients until smooth.

I transfered the icing to a ziploc bag and cut the corner off.

Then I drizzled the icing over the top.

This recipe makes 6 muffins but as you can see, there are only 5 in the picture.  My daughter, Ava, just couldn't wait to try one!  I hope the boys like them too!

Hot Chocolate On A Stick

Remember those marshmallows I made last week?  Well, I was dying to use them and knew exactly how!  I purposely tinted the batter pink so they could be used for a special Valentine's Day treat!  The original recipe comes from the King Arthur website.  It really was simple!  You will need:

1/2 cup heavy cream

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

3 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli)

4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate

wooden sticks

Directions

Line an 8" x 8" pan with foil.

Heat the cream and condensed milk over low heat until steaming. 

 Remove from heat and add chocolate; allow it to melt.

Return chocolate mixture to low heat.  Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick and shiny.  Add a few drops of flavoring. (I used vanilla)

Pour the mixture into the pan; shake gently to level.   Set aside overnight to set up.

Turn out onto cutting surface and slice into cubes.

Place a marshmallow on top of each cube and insert a stick through the center.

VOILA!!
 Just dip and swirl them in a cup of hot milk!

Here they are all packaged up for Max to give his friends for Valentine's Day.  I got the tag idea from makeandtakes.com.  

Now you can go ahead and warm someones heart!

Cranberry Bliss Bars--a la Starbucks

I was soooo excited to try out this recipe because I was able to use one of my favorite inventions . . . . .

The Magic Brownie Pan!

If you don't have one yet, I highly suggest you get one.  Unlike almost all the other "As Seen On TV" items, this one really works!  It makes perfect brownies and bar cookies every time!  Well,  enough of my infomercial and on to the good stuff!  The original recipe for these can be found on www.mrbreakfast.com but I played around with it a little and was happy with the results.  My husband ate two of them before I could even take pictures! To make these, you will need:

• For Cake Base:
• 2 sticks butter--softened
• 1 1/4 cup brown sugar--packed
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup minced dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

• For Frosting:
• 4 ounces cream cheese--softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

• For Garnish
• minced dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips--melted

Preheat oven to 350 and spray pan really well.

Beat butter and sugar together, then add eggs and vanilla, beating until fluffy.  Add dry ingredients, beating well.  Fold in cranberries and white chocolate.  Spread the batter in the pan and press the divider down. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden.

When cake is cooled mix all frosting ingredients together

and then spread a thin layer on the cake.  Immediately sprinkle with minced cranberries and drizzle with melted white chocolate.  When you release the divider, you end up with 

these . . . . .

Perfect every time!  Now,  I've never tried Starbucks and after making these, I don't think I'll need to!

Marshmallows

Well, as some of you may know, here in Connecticut, we've been hit pretty hard by snow this winter.  Now, I love my kids dearly, but it seems like they've been home more than they've actually been in school!  This recipe is in honor of them because after all of their adventures in the snow, they've been consuming gallons (it seems) of hot chocolate.  What better to go with it but home made marshmallows!  I've been dying to try them and after lots of research, I went with Alton Brown's recipe which you can find here: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html.  I must admit, I was a little nervous, and had visions of my kitchen being covered in a sticky, marshmallow mess, but it was surprisingly easy!  I followed the directions EXACTLY (something I don't always do!) and had great results!  The ultimate test was would the kids like them.  They got rave reviews and even my husband and neighbors said they tasted just like marshmallows.  Now that I know how easy it is, I will definitely be making these again.

I hope you try them. . . . .you know you want to!