An interview

Well, I'm bored at work, and Cupcakes Take the Cake hasn't called me yet to interview me about my love for cupcakes. I'm pretty disappointed about this, but decided, I can at least interview myself, and then when they do finally call me, I can say, "see my blog, I did that two years ago."

1. Why did you start your blog and how did you get interested in cupcakes?
Well I have some extra time at work that allows me to surf the internet. I kept coming across these amazing cupcake blogs and thought it would be so much fun to be a part of the cupcake community. So I started a blog, and while, I don't think I'm a part of any cupcake communities, yet, I'm hoping that it just takes time. As far as being interested in cupcakes, well, ask anyone that knows me well, and I'm a dessert fanatic. Who cares what's for supper, what's for dessert? But sometime this past February I wanted to do something nice for my friends and family so I made a bunch of cupcakes and delivered them to their doorsteps. After that I realized everyone loves cupcakes and they are so easy to make and decorate, and they taste amazing.

2. Which are your favorite OKC cupcakes that you've tried so far?
Unfortunately, I live in Oklahoma City and we don't have any cupcake bakeries. So I'm going to be biased and say that I have the best cupcakes in OKC.

3. How do you think the OKC cupcake scene compares to cities like New York or LA? Is there anything that's missing from the OKC bakeries you'd like to see them offer?
Since we don't have a cupcake scene in OKC, it doesn't compare at all to New York or LA. I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a town, with so many cupcake options. I really think that OKC could support a couple of cupcake bakeries. I like to dream that in a few years, I'll be one of those bakeries.

4. What do you think makes for the perfect cupcake?
Excellent question. I think cupcakes are a balance between frosting and cake. Some places that I've been put way too much frosting on the cake part (this could be blasphemy to some people), but when the frosting is piled so high that there is more frosting than cupcake, I just feel overwhelmed by it all. So a nice size, moist cupcake, with a nice helping of gooey sugary frosting is awesome. I'll take one now if you have one...

5. How often do you eat cupcakes?
Hmmm, not really sure I should answer this one. Well I probably bake cupcakes once a week...seriously can't do it, none of your business, how many times I eat cupcakes in a week.

6. What's the best thing about making cupcakes?
Cupcakes have endless flavor combinations, so many different ways to decorate them, that I never feel bored, like I'm making the same cake over and over again. It's a different cake every time.

7. What's your favorite type of cupcake?
I love strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting. So good. But I love cupcakes that are colorful, have sprinkles, and not just vanilla or chocolate, but something that makes it unique. Granted, not too unique, because then my 5 year old taste buds kick in, and say "no thank you," see previous posts concerning those cupcakes.

8. How do cupcakes compare/contrast to other baked goods for you?
That is a hard question. I love cupcakes a lot, but I also love chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, truffles etc. But as far as making those items, my cookies never turn out right, I've never made ice cream, and I'm not a huge fan of tempering chocolate, so cupcakes WIN!

9. Is there any innovation you'd like to see made to the cupcake that would improve it for you?
I can't think of anything right now, except I would like a Kitchen Aid Mixer, my Sun Beam Mixer is great, but doesn't have quite the power that the Kitchen Aid is known for. But please don't buy me one, those things are heavy, and I'm afraid you wouldn't get the right color.

10. Do you bake your own cupcakes? Or (even better) have someone who bakes them for you?
I love baking and decorating my own cupcakes, and I'm not sure that I would want someone to consistently bake the cupcakes for me. But I will admit that it is my secret desire to have someone provide a cake/cupcakes, not from the frozen bakery section, that is been beautifully decorated and taste amazing. Now don't get me wrong, I've been grateful and very happy with all desserts that have been provided for me, but I've made quite a few cakes/cupcakes for other people and would love to know how it feels to be on the receiving end of it.

11. What's your first cupcake-related memory?
You know, I can't really think of any childhood cupcake memories. I do remember my first cake memory though. For my 5th birthday, my parents got me an Annie cake. It had Annie and Sandy (her dog) airbrushed on it, and I don't remember how it tasted, but I remember I thought it looked amazing.

12. What's the most fun you've ever had with a cupcake?
That's a tough question. I really enjoyed discovering the cupcake bakery, Sprinkles, with some of my dessert loving friends. Making the owl cupcakes with my Thursday night friends was a lot of fun too. Making the cupcakes for my friends and delivering them to their houses, and hearing people's reaction to finding cupcakes on their doorstep was probably the best. I really felt like I was making the world a better place one cupcake at a time :)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes awhile ago, but am just now getting a chance to add them. I remember that when I told my husband I was going to make cupcakes, he said "why are you doing that, the kitchen is clean, you'll just mess it up." He is so ungrateful sometimes :) He must not have been too upset about it because he came into the kitchen several times asking when he would be able to have one.
Onto the cupcakes, I had originally intended to use a peanut butter frosting and dip them in Mercken's chocolate and create kind of a Reese's peanut butter cup, but the frosting was too thick and it just wouldn't spread. But I'm glad that didn't work, otherwise it just would have been way too rich. So I made a peanut butter cake, added chocolate chips to the batter and baked it. Once they had cooled I dipped them in the chocolate and let the chocolate harden. Then I used my secret peanut butter candy recipe (it isn't really a secret, I would tell you if you asked me) and made sort of a Hershey's kiss design on the top. They turned out very tasty and I would definitely make/eat them again. Once again, my picture is blurry...but now that I remember, my husband took the photo, so we will blame him.

That is not a cupcake!

A new addition to the nasty cupcake list/ideas has been found:


What is this colorful new creation you ask? It is a meatloaf "cupcake", with mashed potato "frosting", and green pepper "sprinkles." I'll be honest, I'm not a big meatloaf fan, so of course I'm even less thrilled with this creation, but when the frosting is dyed red to make it appear even more like a dessert, it just grosses me out. Once again, don't call it a dessert name if it isn't a dessert.