Baking For A Cause

On Friday March 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan unleashing a tsunami which crashed through Japan's eastern coastline sweeping buildings, cars, homes, boats, and people for miles inland.  In efforts to support the recent tragedy, I have donated my baked goods to a Japan Disaster Relief Fundraiser.  All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross . 

I baked up Red Velvet cupcakes, Cookies n Cream cupcakes, and brownies.  There were some yummy Snickerdoodle cookies and Peanut Butter cookies too!

Take a peek (sorry for the bad quality = cell phone pics).

You too can donate!  Please visit http://www.redcross.org/ to make a donation that will help those that have lost their homes, family members, and are living in shelters without basic living needs.

Cupcake Camp Inland Empire!

This weekend was the big cupcake event Cupcake Camp IE held at the GORGEOUS Mission Inn Hotel and it was a great success! Bakers from all around brought their delicious treats for a great cause, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  Each baker had their own cupcake "booth" and patrons paid a donation of $10 which included 4 cupcakes of their choice.  Let me first start off by saying I couldn't have done this without the help of my awesome sister!!! She was a great assistant (and may I add a great baker too!)
The minimum for "amateur" bakers was 60 cupcakes (professional bakers had to provide at least 300 yikes!). Initially I thought that would be way too many for me to make, but I started baking on Tuesday and by Friday I have over 80 cupcakes! The flavors I went with were:

Red Velvet w/Cream Cheese
Snickerdoodle w/Cinnamon Buttercream
Cookies n' Cream w/ Cream Cheese topped with a mini Oreo cookie!

The morning of the event was a bit hectic in the Sweet B household. I left the frosting for the very last minute (working with cream cheese I've learned it's VERY temperamental and could melt at any time and just look like a big white blob).  Ok, so cupcakes were frosted and ready to go. As we arrived, people everywhere with boxes of yummy treats! As we unloaded I realized some of my red velvets had tipped over and frosting was ruined :(  I lost a good 10-12 cuppies. DAMN! ( I used two different red velvet recipes and of course the ones that came out better were the ones that were ruined effffffff) So set up was fun, there was pink everywhere!! It was so cute! Some people had awesome stands, colorful, creative, it was great.  This being my first "real" event I had no idea what to expect (but I picked up some awesome tips for next time that's for sure).

Doors opened and in came the herd of people. It was PACKED! The most popular flavor was Cookies n' Cream, they went like hotcakes! In fact I ran out of those.  Then the red velvet (that seemed to be a pretty popular flavor with all the bakers) those were gone too.

It was a great event, I LOVED being a part of it and am so glad I participated.  During the event I was asked several times for my business card and was also asked if I wanted to participate in other events! (woohoo!!)

AnyHOO,  here the pics from the event. Enjoy!!! ( I know I did!!)

My table sign 

My red velvets and topper

My Snickerdoodle

My Cookies n' Cream and toppers

My Cupcake Tree with all of my goodies! 

My Table

Here are some pics of the other booths:

Gettin' Ready...

So I'm preparing for the big cupcake event this weekend Cupcake Camp IE! Just 4 days til' the big day and I'm getting ready!  I've started baking cupcakes tonight (gotta make at least 60) and after lots of back and forth, I've decided on the following flavors:

• Red Velvet w/ Cream Cheese
• Snickerdoodle w/ Cinnamon Buttercream
• Cookies n' Cream w/ Cream Cheese (topped with a mini Oreo cookie!)

We also have the opportunity to "dress up" our booth with a few things so I made these signs

 and I made these cupcake toppers!

I also came up with a really good idea and am going to ATTEMPT to make my own cake plates. (wish me luck haha). I'll post the pics! 

Ok, back to the kitchen, gotta keep baking!  

Cupcakes for the Cure!

I'm SO excited about this upcoming event - Cupcake Camp! It's a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and I've signed up to be a baker!!! (ok what did I get myself into ha!)  I will have my own little booth of cupcakes that can be "purchased" for a doantion.  What an awesome event.  They have these in cities across the country (apparently I just missed the Orange County one last month..RATS!!) but I will be ready to go for the Cupcake Camp Inland Empire.  Here's the info.  Come one, Come all! Stop by and say hello :)

CUPCAKECAMP COMES TO THE INLAND EMPIRE

There may be no sweeter way to help join the fight against breast cancer than to participate in the inaugural CupcakeCamp Inland Empire! An event for cupcake lovers to bake or buy cupcakes to bring -or- just come to eat and help a good cause. Why? Because who doesn’t love cupcakes!

On November 7, 2010 1pm-4pm, the event’s Official Sponsor, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, will open its doors to cupcake enthusiasts from around the Inland Empire. The event will bring together local cupcake companies and the public to showcase their products as well as raise money for the Inland Empire Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, which is dedicated to combating breast cancer on every front. Imagine life without breast cancer...

CupcakeCamp Inland Empire is a gathering born from the desire for people to share and celebrate cupcakes, community and creativity in an open environment. And, what better place to have this celebration, than at one of the Inland Empire's historic landmarks, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside.

http://www.missioninn.com/

There are many different ways to participate in CupcakeCamp Inland Empire: bake or buy cupcakes to donate, come and eat cupcakes, help raise money for a great cause. Charity never tasted sweeter! This year's activities will include a cake auction, baker’s competition, raffles and more. The competition will be judged by Special Guest Judges.

For more details, visit http://www.cupcakecampie.wordpress.com/