Mobile Recipe Box? There's an app for that!

Ok you're probably sick of that slogan but it's true! haha

If you're anything like me, you rely on your cell phone for MORE than making calls (in fact I hardly use it AS a phone as I barely make calls.  No it's not that I don't have friends either - haha)

Ive been having a tough time finding a place to "store" my recipes and in this day and age, a recipe box just isn't convenient for me (paper? what is paper? hehee) So of course I pull out my trust iPhone and found an app! Most apps they have are actual recipe apps where you can look up several different recipes and save them, BUT this is different. This is JUST a place to store recipes. I LOVE IT! You can customize everything from recipe category, add pictures, look up measurements, etc. It's called My Recipes. There's a "lite" version that is free, however, it doesn't have as many options as the full version which is only .99 cents (c'mon what's a buck in the name of making baking easier right? get on it).
Here are some screen shots (not mine but you get the picture):

Now when I need a recipe, I pull out my phone. 
Need my Red Velvet recipe? BAM, pull out my phone.
Oh what's that?  You want to know what's in my pumpkin bread? BAM, pull out my phone.

In the words of Ben Stiller "DO IT", "DO IT".

**In no way am I an Apple representative and I'm not getting paid to endorse this app ( I wish I was). DO IT.

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:

Make Your Own Cake Plate!

With the CupcakeCamp coming up, I had to figure out how I'd display my cupcakes.  I have 2 cupcake plates and a cupcake tree but with the amount of cupcakes I'm making no way will that be enough.  So the other day I was browsing one of my fav stores The Dollar Tree!  I ran across a section of glassware and I saw some plates. Then later I saw they sold glass candle holders and DING DING DING a lightbulb went off in my head (yes, that's what it sounds like when a lightbulb turns on) and I thought I could use the two to make my own cake plates!

So I bought a couple candle holders and 2 plates and IT WORKED!
Check it out:

my stuff (hey what do you expect for $1 fine china?)

 Trusty ol' glue gun

 make sure its on tight, flip it upside down and push down hard for a few more seconds.

 and VOILA!!!!

how awesome is this? 2 cake plates for 4 bucks! and we all know cake plates are NOT cheap. Can't wait to take pics of all my cupcakes on them, frosted and ready to go!

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!  

Happy Halloween!! BOO!!

HALLOWEEN is here!!  I was so excited to bake goodies for this ghoulish (heehee) occasion.

Since cupcakes are always a hit, I decided to make Wicked Witch Cupcakes and Evil Spider Cupcakes. Chocolate Devil's food and Buttercream frosting.  
First off let me tell you, they were SO much fun to make. All items used were 100% edible and yummy yummy yummy!

Ok so here's a shot of all the ingredients used:
Black Licorice, Candy Corn, Black Sugar Sprinkles, mini M&Ms, Marshmallows, Sugar Cones, Lollipop Sticks, Edible Food Marker, and of course Cute Baking cups!

I picked these up, they are Wilton Halloween cups:

Edible food marker on a marshmallow:

 Little Jack Skeleton faces :)

Cutting the licorice to use for the spider legs and witch's hair:

All baked and ready to decorate!:

After frosting, roll the cupcakes in black sugar sprinkles

Used red mini m&ms for the eyes and voila!! Aren't they the cutest!! I mean, scary, boo! 

Here are all the goodies! 

Witch cupcakes are awesome. Sugar cone hats, M&M eyes, licorice hair/eyebrows, candy corn nose

Candy Corn toppings:

 
I'm pretty happy with all the goodies and they were deeeee-lish!  They went like hot cakes!
Now on to the next holiday, Thanksgiving ha!

Cupcakes for the Cure! Think Pink!

In honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I baked up these goodies.
These fun baking cups, candy toppings and cake plate were birthday presents.

They are Lemon cupcakes with vanilla cream frosting. They were so moist!!

Pumpkin, Witches and Ghosts, Oh My!

Halloween is just around the corner and I'm FINALLY pretty settled in my new place so it's BAKING TIME!!! and what better occassion to bake than Halloween!!! There are so many fun items I want to make so I'm trying to narrow it down. Good ol' pumpkin bread is on the list for sure but I'm itching to make something fun.  I'll keep you posted as I'm going to hit the oven over the next several days! Yay time to bake in my new oven!!!!