Wedding cupcakes and gifts

I recently had the honour of being asked to make some speciality cupcakes for a friend’s wedding; I made Gluten Free Vegan cupcakes for the guests with allergies. Specifically I knew one of the Bride’s friend’s children was a celiac, and hate the idea of any child missing out on cake at a wedding when everyone else can have some. I decided to stick to simple flavours to please the crowd, so made lemon cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes, I think these cover a range of taste (I only know of one person in my life who doesn’t like chocolate).

 

As an unexpected present on the day I was given this gorgeous Cupcake themed cookbook stand, this is the absolute best gift I could ever think of! I actually don’t own a recipe book stand and struggle between trying to balance the pages open and not get cake mix splashed all over the book. This also folds down nicely and fits in a draw.  

Tonight I am using it whilst making Ms Cupacke's Blueberry and almond muffins, ( again theses have been made gluten free,) for my Mr to take with him to London tomorrow to share with anyone he meets at the Buddhist centre.

Doughnutsssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Inspired by my friend and fellow vegan Cassie {TeaBeardsandCake} I bought a 6 hole doughnut oven pan from Amazon and used this recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie to make vegan krispy Kreme doughnuts!

 

I was kind enough to test out the first batch on my omnivorous family, who absolutely loved them!

 

I am not the best person to be a critic of doughnuts, as in my 7/8 years of being vegan I've only had 3 doughnuts and 2 were from this batch!

 

The only other doughnut I have had was on my first visit to Ms Cupcake in Brixton, where I waited for one to come fresh out of the fryer and it was warm and deliciously sugary! Mmmm!

 

I checked with my family and they said you cant really tell that these are baked and not fried, they aren't as oily as fried would be but they are perfectly sweet and soft.

 

 

On my second attempt I threw together a chocolate icing {seen above}, which was so delicious and even after a few days {how did they last that long?} they still tasted amazing, the chocolate icing seems to melt more into the doughnut! Definately my favourite.

 

In my trials I realised the way to add sprinkles to an iced doughnut isn't to throw tiny colourful sugared balls all over you kitchen, but in fact to cover a plate with sprinkles and press recently iced the doughnut into them, who knew!?.  

 

Ms Cupcake Golden Syrup Cupcakes and a Roller Marathon

After the long awaited release date I finally got my hands on a copy of Ms Cupcakes recipe book.

 

Ive been a fan of Ms Cupcake since my first encounter when I stopped off there before visiting a Roller Derby game in London, Ms Cupcake was at the game too, as one of her staff was a roller girl too.

I don't get to visit as much as I like, but I am always looking at the tasty photos of their treats online.

I have always been really impressed with their cakes, especially the Gluten Free ones, as they taste equally as good as the wheaty ones.

 

Golden Syrup Cupcake recipe by Ms Cupcake

 

This weekend I skated 26 miles for charity as part of the South Coast Roll at Goodwood motor circuit. Our team Basingstoke Bullets skated a total of 583.2 miles and raised £500 for the Youth Sports Trust. It was hard work to skate 26 miles but I was so happy to have the support of my team.

As the tradition seems to go, I make a batch of vegan GF cupcakes for all the gang.

I have been eyeing up my new cupcake book for a few days and eventually made my choice.

 

 

 Im really addicted to golden syrup porridge and the smell of it sends me into a frenzy.

I thought about making vanilla cupcakes as anything too fancy might not suit everyones taste buds, (cinnamon haters) but when I saw this Golden Syrup Cupcake Recipe I knew I had to make them.

 

Icing using a plastic bag, next time I will be using real icing kit.

 

The best things bout Ms Cupcakes book (apart from the beautiful 50's style photos) is the English-American ingredients translation, as I have never known what to use in my frosting/buttercream as a shortening, the book suggest Trek, which is pretty solid at room temperate which makes for perfect frosting on a sunny day.

 

Jaffa Cakes and Turkish Delight Cake are high on my to make list as well as custard icing!

 

Ive already spurred a few friends curiosity to buy the book with my cupcake photos on Instagram DropkickNoMercy.

 

 

You should buy Ms Cupcakes book and then join a Roller Derby team; this sport seems to come with vegan cakes (and sometimes vegans too).

 

Healthy times

After a Trip to Ms Cupcake in London on Saturday before the Roller Derby Bout, I bought the long drooled over Appetite for Reduction by Isa, the amazing co-author of Vegan Cupcakes Take over the world, Veganomicon, Vegan with a Vengeance and Cookies Invade your Cookie Jar.
Since then I have been trying a new method to cooking, namely making a few days worth of something healthy for lunch and dinners.
I started on Sunday night with making a chickpea, spinach and tomato curry, finished off with some coconut milk. And preparing my lunch on Monday, I used the forgotten bag of Quinoa (Isa Raved about eating it lots) and it’s much better for you than couscous. So cook the Quinoa and when it’s cold add to a bowl of grated carrot, chopped tomato, cucumber, radish, coriander, pepper and spring onion.


I hope this doesn’t sound like a Craig David song but;
I made enough salad for lunch on Monday,
Taco’s with chilli soya mince, refried beans and salad for dinner on Monday,
Tuesday lunch leftover taco mix salad,
Tuesday Evening night Curry with Quinoa salad. Pudding of stewed rhubarb with vegan custard.
Wednesday lunch Quinoa salad with humous, lettuce and two tasty gherkins
Wednesday dinner, Thursday lunch, Thursday dinner, Friday lunch, Friday dinner to go!

Ms Cupcake and Roller Derby

Last weekend, I was heading to london to see a Roller Derby Bout hosted by the London Roller Girls. On our way we stopped at the newly opened (5weeks) for a few sweet treats. The lovely shop in Brixton, is very easy to find from the station and the staff were lovely.

Got there in time for a freshly made Vegan Doughnut, I urge any visitors to get one..or two!

The Strawberry Cheesecake cupcake was my first choice, and I tried a few samples too of the Crunchy Bar Cake and Ferrero Rocher Gluten Free.

The Gluten Free options are just as good!

Ms Cupcake herself attended the Roller Derby Bout.

I had a great time at Roller Derby and cant wait to go to the next one, the girls are amazing Skaters!