Didn't quite get there but did rediscover Red Velvet!

Sadly I haven't quite finished the tutorial I was making about creating that perfect dome........ I will have to push it further up the priority list!!!

Yesterday however, as it was pouring with rain, I had the urge to bake.  As Valentine's Day is nearing, I decided to make red velvet cupcakes.  Now I have made them before and with success, but failed to taste that wow factor about them, until yesterday!!!  

I decided that I was going to create "my" ultimate red velvet cupcake, a taste that I would fall in love with!  So after a bit of searching, I came across these 8 simple rules for the authentic Southern Red Velvet speciality:

1. There should be some cocoa. 

2. Use red food coloring. 

3. Must have cream cheese frosting.

4. There should be pecans. (this I didn't know and didn't use on this occasion!!)

5. Use high-quality ingredients.

6. Precise measurements and meticulous attention to detail.

7. Use a hand-held electric mixer so as not to over-mix the batter.   

8. Use vegetable oil.

So I tweaked my old Red Velvet recipe and method to incorporate the rules above and made a batch.   It wasn't long after piping on the cream cheese frosting, that I discovered what all the who-ha was about.  These cupcakes were so moist, so soft, so red and ooooohhhh so delicious!

My "ultimate" red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting

Lemon drizzle is going to be the next flavour I am going to rediscover.  I may just find it in time for Easter at this rate!!

Another week of Planning

I can't believe it has been just over a week since my last post!  Where is the time flying too.......  there has been so much planning and research happening at the moment with regards to the direction Darcy's is headed this year.

My BBF and I have been going to wedding fairs that have been taking place during January. We have enjoyed all the choice that is now available to brides that we never had when we got married 12-15 years ago!!!   We also started to show our age when we fell in love with one of the entertainers there, So Sinatra, crooning away with his piercing blue eyes...... (he was not a young fella and I could just imagine how someone in their twenties would be saying eeeewwww!!).  Mentioning wedding fairs and the photo below, gives you a clue to one of the directions Darcy's is going in 2012.

Wedding dummie cakes awaiting Darcy's creative touch

This week I have also started to get with the spirit of Valentine's Day and have got this year's Collection finally on paper.  To find enough time in the day to transform them into the cupcakes is another matter!!  I seem to need more hours in a day to get everything done at the moment!!!! (at least I have the cupcake cases sorted!).

Starting to get creative for Valentine's Day

I have finally sorted out a bag of ribbons I have been hoarding to make space for more of Darcy's "stuff".  I had many ideas in mind for the ribbon but I now accept, lack of time means I will never get round to using them.  I ventured into the world of "ebay" and will be listing little bags of ribbon for sale.  Hopefully I will sell enough to cover the cost of a new mould I have my eye on!!!

This is a mixed bag of ribbons

There are also bags for sale which have ribbon which are the same colour and lengths - perfect for crafts, scrapbooking, and even cupcake cases like I have used above.  

This is a bag of ribbon the same colour and length - great for
making bows around cupcakes!!

On that note, til next time, keep calm and have a cupcake! xx

The week that was ......

Last week was filled with mainly admin to get the new year off to a good start.  There was some "limited" time for caking stuff in between.  I don't usually mind doing paperwork, but there has been a bit of a move about at home during the last week and my Darcy's space was affected.  I lost my creative station/desk, which meant that everything was piled up all over the place.  Trying to do any work was proving a real test of my patience!!

Well it all changed on Friday night!! My darling husband transformed my Darcy's space into a workable place again *huge smiles all round*.   A few months back, he produced this fantastic storage unit for all my caking stuff.  Last night, he created a desk for me with my new storage unit underneath.  Works a treat and I feel so lucky to have such organisation to my stuff, making everything so accessible.

Just love to be in Darcy's space!!

My creations last week included a selection of purple birthday cupcakes for a great Nana and this meant I could practice my rose making skills too (gone very rusty!!).

Love the way the brooch worked out on this cupcake!

I have a three tier wedding cake booked in June for a very special friend and the design has over two dozen roses!!!

Rose Cupcake

During the past week I have also been designing a Spring Vintage Chic Wedding Collection.  

Vintage Chic Wedding Cupcakes

One of my new year's resolutions was to be organised in my space and proactive by planning ahead!!  I am usually one of those people leaving everything until the deadline is on the doorstep before I kick into action!! I started by organising the things around me, of course I mean all my Darcy's stuff (the rest of the house can remain in organised chaos for a bit longer - well I have another 11 months to work my way through that to achieve my resolution!!).

Just love my equipment being so organised and accessbile!!

 So on that note, time to go til next week!

New Beginnings for Darcy's Cupcake Creations

As the new year has begun, 2012 is the year of new beginnings.

Happy New Year!!

Darcy's Cupcake Creations has been a hobby for the past two years, creating cupcakes (and the odd wedding cake and celebration cake) for my family, friends and their families and friends.  The juggling of running a home, bringing up my two little darlings and the late nights spent in my Darcy's space, are all worthwhile when handing over my creations and seeing the delight on their faces.

So after much admiration of other beautiful cake makers, I want to grow Darcy's Cupcake Creations.  With the persistence and belief from those around me, the outlines of a plan have started to form.

I decided to use this blog as a place to highlight my progress and to share in my passion of all things cupcake (and cake!!).  I am frequently asked on facebook www.facebook.com/darcyscupcakes about my creations and thought this would be another great reason to start a blog!!

On that note, here's to 2012!!

A glass of champers to celebrate