The Little Monsters

You know, Lady Gaga calls her fans "Little Monsters".

This is not about them (actually it's not "them", it's "us"). I am a Little Monster... see?

But they could be... 

These are little monsters... Oops, I said that before didn't I?

These are little space monsters actually. I was inspired by Liz who found my Sesame Cupcakes so cute she whipped up a batch for her son's classmates. Liz wasn't able to find any single-colored sprinkles so she used colored sugar for her cupcakes. Amazing isn't it? So instead of sprinkles, I'm following her lead. Colored sugar it is!

These little monsters are pretty easy to do.

1. Whip up a batch of cupcakes

2. Make vanilla frosting

3. Make colored sugar - super easy, it's sugar mixed with a drop or two of coloring

4. Pipe a big dot of vanilla frosting onto your cupcake

5. Dunk the cupcake to the colored sugar. Clark Gable once said "Dunking is an art" to Claudette Colbert once. That was one of my favorite movies.

6. Pipe the eyes - can't be any easier than that!

These little monsters may not know who Lady Gaga is, I'm betting my bottom dollar they will be Lady Gaga's Little Monsters once they hear her amazing music.  Rah rah rah ah ah....!!!

Happy Cupcaking!
Aikko

Can you doodle with Snickerdoodles?

Apparently not.

But nibble on some you could! And boy did I do just that.

It has been a long day today. At least it is for someone who has been lazying around for the past few days doing nothing short of nothing.

First off to a garage sale near our place, I was quite excited to go and hoping to find cookbooks and some rare kitchen finds. In the back of my mind, I was hoping someone would be selling a slightly used fire engine red Kitchen Aid mixer for a fraction of its cost. A girl can dream, can't she?

However, I wasn't able to find anything. Better luck next time!

Then, we went to Intramuros. I haven't been there to explore the place in awhile. It still is magical. Intramuros, was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself. By the end of World War II, much of Intramuros has been damaged but it has been restored since then.

Then off to lunch. It's just mid day but I'm looking forward to siesta already. But before that, I'd love to get my hands on some cookies first. Snickerdoodles doesn't seem hard to make. After all, who can't resist a cinnamon and sugar combination?

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Snickerdoodles

From The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 tablespoons sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon for sprinkling

In a small bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and the sugar until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla, and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Wrap the dough tightly in a plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. (The book recommends leaving extra room between these cookies because they spread more than most.) Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon-sugar mixture Bake for 12-14 minutes.

Cool the cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes, and the remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Happy Cupcaking,

Aikko

Green Tea again?!

I can't get enough of green tea.

Let's see, I have paired it with...

Cream Cheese

White Chocolate

Strawberry Yoghurt

So far... so good... but I still want to see how far I can go with this flavor so I decided to pair it with another tea... Red Rose Tea. They are these dried little rose buds which smells so heavenly. You'd only need to steep 2 to 3 buds a cup and you're all set to enjoy an afternoon tea.

Green Tea Cupcakes with Rose Tea Buttercream

Green Tea Cake

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons Matcha green tea powder

1 1/4 cups white sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 cup plain yogurt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 9 inch round pans. Sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking soda, salt, and green tea powder; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the yogurt, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes before turning out of the pans.

Rose Tea Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter

1 pound powdered sugar

2 tablespoons cooled steeped rose tea (from 2-3 rose tea buds steeped from 1 cup hot water)

Steep 2 - 3 rose tea buds in a cup of warm water. Set aside to cool 2 tablespoons and enjoy the rest.

Cream butter for 1 minute and add the powdered sugar slowly.

Add cooled rose tea water until well combined.

Happy Cupcaking,

Aikko

One Lazy Girl's Crema de Fruta

It has been rainy week.

The kind of week where you just want to snuggle in bed and pretend you didn't hear the irritating sound that is your alarm clock.The kind of week where you wish it was the weekend so you have the time to make sinigang, sopas or bulalo and finish it off with something sweet. The kind of week where despite the creative ways of motivating yourself to bake something, you simply can't.

So what's a girl to do? Make the Lazy Girl's Crema de Fruta.

Crema de Fruta is my all time... let me cross that out... second all time, next to mommy's chocolate cake, dessert. It's fairly simple to make but we usually make it only during the Christmas holidays. But this weekend, I am making an exception. It's my way of celebrating the start of the Christmas season...It's the 'ber months so you know Santa's lurking just around the corner (subtext: Santa? Ahhemmm.... I've been exceptionally good this year. You know how I've always wanted a Kitchen Aid. )

For those of you unfamiliar with this delicious guilty pleasure, it's a dessert made up of soft, light sponge cake (I use Taisan) for a base, with creamy custard spread all over, sprinkled fruit cocktail and poured gelatin.

It's a very refreshing dessert, the type where you can have seconds or thirds (or fourths if you wish) and you still want to have more.

If only we can have this everyday of the year, then everyday would feel like Christmas wouldn't it? Me likey.

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One Lazy Girl's Crema de Fruta

Ingredients:

Cake Layer:

Store bought Taisan Bread (as many as you want)

Custard and Fruit Cocktail Layers"

1/2 can condensed milk

3/4 cup cold water

1.7 oz Jell O Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (that's half an envelope of the 4 1/2 serving box)

1 1/2 cups whipping cream (I use Avoset Pour and Whip.. no need to add sugar)

1 can fruit cocktail (reserve syrup)

Gelatin Layer:

1 box Alsa Gulaman

Directions:

Layer taisan in a pan (rectangle, square or circle... it's your choice)

To make the custard, combine cold water and condensed milk. Mix well. Add pudding to the milk mixture and beat until mixture thickens. In a separate bowl, whip cream until stiff then fold pudding mixture to the whipped cream. Spread custard over the taisan bread.

Open the can of fruit cocktail, drain and reserve the syrup. Assemble the drained fruits over the custard.

Cook the gulaman per package instructions substituting the fruit cocktail syrup for water. Pour gelatin over the fruit cocktail spoonful by spoonful to avoid unwanted bubbles.

Refrigerate for 2 hours, and enjoy!

Happy Cupcaking!
Aikko

Bake Happy Recipe Requests

I have been receiving requests to post the recipes for some of my old posts...

Forgive me for not sharing them before but sometimes I feel rather lazy typing them out as sometimes, I get them from magazines or the good ole books.

So my new project would be to update the more popular posts to include the recipes I used.

Do you want to see a recipe from a previous post? Just holler, okay?

Happy cupcaking!

Aikko

Chocolate Chip Peanut Banana Loaf

I particularly liked the top most part of this loaf. It's like all the banana gooey goodness concentrated on the top part which made me want to eat only the top part.

Of course, you can not go wrong with banana! Throw in a little peanuts and chocolate chips, now that's what I call an awesome combination. Thanks Magnolia Bakery for this recipe.

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Chocolate Chip Peanut Banana Loaf

from The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

½ cup sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas

1/3 cup milk

2 cups sifted self rising flour

½ cup finely chopped, unsalted peanuts

¾ cup chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, on the low speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and the sugar until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the mashed bananas and the milk. Mix in the sifted flour until well combined. Stir in the peanuts and the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

Let cool for 20 minutes before serving.

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Happy cupcaking,

Aikko

Yellow Velvet Cupcakes for Tita Cory

Yeah, we're close... as any two people can get. But you know I'm only dreaming.

So why cupcakes for Tita Cory?

Flashback to 1986...

That's me. Pudgy ole me in the center. Would you believe me if I say one of my earliest memories was when my family and I were in one of Tita Cory's rally with me sitting on Pop's shoulders chanting "Cory! Cory! Cory!" after each long pause in her speech flashing the "Laban" sign. Back then, I didn't understand what it was all about or what she was fighting for. But it sure was fun to be surrounded by the positive energy, people seeking change and all things yellow.

Flashback to one year ago...

Then Senator Noynoy Aquino announced Tita Cory's passing away. It was a sad day for the Philippines, everyone mourned the death of the Lady in Yellow who epitomized freedom, democracy and courage.

When her motorcade passed by Ayala Avenue, along with my friends, we went down from our building to go to Ayala. After all, it was the last time we will pay respect to the Lady in Yellow. It was noon and blazing hot. Many brought umbrellas to somehow help beat the heat, we forgot ours. Traffic officers announced that the motorcade will arrive soon and we should all close our umbrellas to pay respect to Tita Cory. And I was glad everyone did. After all, what's a few minutes under the sun compared to the sacrifices she made for us.

As her motorcade passed along, Virna Lisa's "Magkaisa" blasted was from the speakers, I was nearly choked to tears. At that moment, I felt truly blessed to be a Filipino. I was glad I was there to say goodbye to her one last time.

So these are for her.

Thank you, Tita Cory. Please continue to watch over us.

Happy Cupcaking,

Aikko

Welcome to the Christian World, Baby Cedric!

These are for baby Cedric, my sister's godson.

Forgive me for being a lousy blogger, all pictures and no text (okay maybe a few sentences) but it's a busy busy busy weekend. Did I mention I'm busy?

But still, I made time to do the cupcakes for this Sunday's Christening. I hope Cedric enjoys it.Wait, he's only a baby, maybe his brother Patrick, his cousin Kyla and the rest if his family will enjoy it!

The cupcake toppers
Rainbow bright
clouds and stars... they go together right?
Sunny cupcake
Butterfly topper, albeit poorly shot.

Love,

Tita Aikko

Of Typhoons, Butterflies and a Frosting Challenged Baker

Manila got hit by a typhoon

There was no electricity for two days

I had to climb several flights of stairs in darkness

Highlights of my week... but I am not complaining. Despite the inconveniences I am thankful my family's complete, safe and happy.

Typhoons and butterflies aren't exactly related... can we play the six degrees of separation here? Probably not.

Anyway, Tita Vicky was in town for a visit so I decided to make cupcakes for her.

Chocolate is a flavor that seems to be liked by many so those are the ones I've baked. But to give it a twist, I made it Devil's Food style. To give the icing a little bite, I made cream cheese frosting.

You know when sometimes no matter how you style your hair, it won't just give you a break? I did not have a bad hair day last week but I did have a bad frosting day.... There were too many bubbles, the icing was too soft it literally wilts away as soon as I piped it in the cupcake, the colors just won't blend with the frosting... but I should stop complaining... it tasted great anyway... or so I'm told.

The toppers I made were butterflies... I need practice making the faces... my butterflies' faces look like they come from another planet.

Happy Cupcaking!
Aikko

Chocolate and Sour Cream... who knew?

Why chocolate and sour cream? Why Chocolate Sour Cream Cake with Chocolate Chips?

Why not?

And besides, the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook says so. Who am I to say no?

Verdict?

Thank heavens I tried it. It was absolutely amazing! It was sooo delicious I think I forgot my name... wait I'll grab a fork and get some more cake, maybe I'll remember then.

I want to have more, more and more!

In fact, can't get enought of it, I made it into mini cupcakes.

See? Aren't they adorable?

Happy cupcaking!

Aikko

Daddy Cool

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown

Let's all celabrate Father's Day!

This is for Papa. He loves to go fishing. I remember when my sister and I were kids, Sundays mean fishing, watching Ready Get Set Go (okay, I am an 80's kid) and the simple fancy for lunch. The day would start with me, my sister and Papa grabbing our bikes and heading to the market to buy bait and then going to the nearby river and "try" to fish. Though I distinctly remember we didn't get to catch a single fish those times (I think my loud, boisterous laugh scared the fishes away), I enjoyed it immensely. Sundays were pure bliss. It still is.

The frosting is supposed to be this big big wave but if it was just frosting alone, it won't be able to support the big fondant topper so I have to use another cupcake and carve it like a big wave to serve as the support. And although there is a support, the topper is still too heavy so I have to shoot it fast in case it topples down. Which did happen... see the middle fish and the cupcake liner? There are snippets of blue frosting where it isn't supposed to be... but that's just our little secret.

Happy father's day to all the fathers out there!

Happy cupcaking!

Aikko