Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Ooooo, Shiny!

  Do you ever want to make a new flavor cupcake, you go online to find the perfect flavor for you and you see the pictures of this beautiful cupcake with the super dark and shiny chocolate frosting  You think, ya right, that's not going to happen.  Mine never turn out that good.

It is time to learn to make a beautiful shiny frosting.  It really is very simple.  It dose take a little time so if you are crunched for time you might want to save this project for another time.

  I have made a pistachio cupcake with a whipped cream cheese filling and super shiny fudge frosting!

 So here we go.

  One of the keys to shiny chocolate frosting are a few key ingredients, corn syrup and butter!  They help the chocolate keep it's sheen.  

Shiny Chocolate Fudge Frosting
12 oz. Dark or semi-sweet chocolate
1   C.  Heavy Cream
3. Tbs Corn Syrup
5. Tbs Butter (cold and cubed)

Instructions:
1. In a small pot heat up the corn syrup and cream until boiling,stir constantly to keep the cream from scotching, then remove from heat.

2. Place your chopped chocolate into a bowl and pour the hot cream over the top and add the vanilla.  Let sit for a minute or so then stir, starting in the center of the bowl slowly making circular strokes, moving out to the edges.
                                                         
3. When chocolate is melted and completely incorporated it will be shiny.  Then slowly add butter pieces a few at a time, letting melt, then adding more until all the butter is incorporated.  At this point it is perfect for glazing, simply place your cake on a wire rack over a sheet pan and pour it over the cake.  Or dip your cupcake tops and let set.


4. Place chocolate in the fridge if it is warm or on the counter if it is a mildly cool day.  Let set and check on it until you stir it and it holds it's shape.  At this point it is ready to use in a piping bag to frost your cupcakes or to decorate cake.  
                                            

 You also can take the cooled frosting and  using a mixer and whip it up for a lighter texture and color.  Any of these methods are great and so versatile. Used to glaze yummies, shiny frosting or whipped up for a fluffy frosting.  Get yourself into that kitchen and start cooking!  

You can do it!
                                                                                                  
Pistachio Cupcakes
24 cupcakes
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups cake flour
1 Tb. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
1 ¼ cup half and half
4 egg whites
1 stick butter, room temperature (1/2 cup)
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp. pistachio (or almond) extract
1 cup ground pistachios
Green food coloring if desired



Preheat the oven to 325 degree F. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside. Whisk the half/half and eggs together in a separate bowl and set aside.
In an electric mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the extracts and mix well. Alternate adding the dry mixture and the wet mixture into the sugar mix, until all are combined. Stir in the ground pistachios and 1-2 drops food coloring.
Fill cupcake liner 2/3 full and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
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Whipped Cream Cheese Filling
Ingredients:
4 oz.    cream cheese, softened but still cool
1/2 c.  powdered sugar
3/4 c.  heavy cream (use the ultra heavy 40%+ cream if you can find it)
1 tsp     vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Sift the powdered sugar and add the cream cheese and vanilla to the bowl of your mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat them thoroughly until fluffy and completely smooth/lump free. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream to nearly stiff peaks, then add the whipped cream into the cheese mixture, scrape down the sides of your bowl and quickly and briefly beat to combine. Do not over beat. 
                                                   







Super Saturday

Sometimes in my crazy life in the midst of all the pretty cakes, I need an outlet of creativity of a different kind.

  I love making home decor for holidays and have a long history in the arts and as such I have been given a calling in my church, to be the activities chair, this give me the opportunity to plan and put on fun activities.  

  This month my committee and I have decided we would have a super Saturday. This activity is when woman get together and do all kinds of crafts.  The committee gathered last night and put together some really cute crafts for each of the next few holidays.  This is so we can take them with us to church to display, giving woman an opportunity to choose their crafts.  

We will collect all the supplies and have a great time creating with others on this Super Saturday!  We are very lucky here in Utah to have a great inexpensive source for these great supplies.  The Wood Connection.

You can buy the pre-cut wood and create your own style craft or you can buy their kit and make it look just like theirs.  



It;'s time for those holiday fun crafts. This is a creative process that is generational in my own family. Mom, sister, aunts and cousins with a few friends traditionally have one time a year we gather, laugh, talk and create (eat).We have such fun seeing each different end creation. It's amazing how different each is.

Make a tradition in your own circles. It can be a wonderfully joyful memory. Make sure to take pictures. They are precious.

You know when an event is successful when people leave with a smile and a bit of excitement from creating something they have never tried.

Thanks For Visiting.
Darcy
(385)209-8249
http://www.silverspooncake.com/
silverspooncake@gmail.com


Saturday, August 9, 2014

A Summer Sunflower Wedding

A Sunny Summer Wedding with Chef Darcy of Silver Spoon Cakes.

A tall four tiered cake is embellished with hand colored crystal rock candy and sunny summer sunflowers.

Each layer is a different flavor and has a different filling:
Lemon cake with fresh strawberry filling, 
cinnamon spice cake with cinnamon whipped cream filling,
peach cake with lemon curd filling 
vanilla bean cake with fresh raspberry and fudge filling. 
Whew.....

Thanks to Issac and Sara. May your life together be as varied and sweet. Darcy



Friday, August 1, 2014

The Sweet Taste of Pink with Silver Spoon Cake

 As an artist it is always a privilege and challenge to create a one-of-a-kind cake for a special event.

I was excited to work with Brian and Michelle on their wedding cake. And it is especially wonderful when you have the opportunity to work with very nice people. And have fun too.

This cake was so lovely I have actually made it my blog icon picture.

Thanks Brian and Michelle.
Darcy Jackson
Silver Spoon Cakes Salt Lake Valley Utah


Brian and Michelle's Review of their custom cake.

When we met with the director of the reception center, she gave us a couple of options for bakers that she uses for her guests’ wedding cakes. She warned us, however, that wedding cakes are baked not for taste but for aesthetic appeal. 

Wedding cakes are baked differently for structure and designed for visual appeal and the taste will be flat. We left a little disappointed thinking our wedding cake will be tasteless. We had hoped our wedding cake would be a highlight of our wedding: not only how it looks but how it tastes. 

Well, through a mutual friend, we met Darcy. We emailed and talked on the phone discussing flavors and wedding cake ideas. We had a couple of flavors we wanted and asked for her suggestions. She was fantastic and easy to work with. Whatever flavor we wanted, she could do and then she had some tasty combinations of cake and icing which she suggested. We were thrilled with the combinations we came up with and she set up a cake-tasting party. She baked mini-cupcakes in all the flavors we wanted to try, and she had bowls of different filling and icing flavors. 

We completely enjoyed the afternoon: frosting cupcakes with different flavors and jotting down our best combinations. We came away from the cake tasting absolutely excited and completely confident our cake was going to be delicious. 

Our hopes for a memorable wedding cake were completely fulfilled. The director of the reception center couldn't believe how fantastic the cake looked and (more importantly) tasted! As we walked from table to table talking to our guests, everyone one of them complimented us on our wedding cake. 

The cake was moist and the butter cream icing was delicious. Our flavor combinations were the following: coconut cake with chocolate ganache filling, peach cake with lemon filling, chocolate cake with salted caramel filling.

We highly recommend Darcy for any special occasion you have. She is an amazing chef and baker. Her pricing is very affordable, and her product is heads and tails above the rest.

Michelle and Brian 
Salt Lake Valley, Utah
 Chef Darcy at Silver Spoon Catering

Thanks For Visiting.
Darcy
(385)209-8249