Pretzelpalooza - Friends and I got together earlier last week for a stuffed pretzel tasting, compliments of Kim & Scott's Pretzels. Check out the sweet and savory flavors we tried and how they rated against our tastebuds...
Gospel Brunch with Zatarain's - My friend Eva was visiting from out of state and I treated her to a unique brunch at the House of Blues. Full of food and music, this was definitely a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon...
Ina Garten in my kitchen! - Thanks to readers and comments on their Ina Garten recipe faves, I spent a good part of the weekend in my kitchen trying out her recipes and putting my own spin on them. Check back throughout the week to see what sweet and savory recipes I've made and how I changed them up! One of the recipes I made over the weekend included a Lemon Vanilla Yogurt Cake with a Lemon Blackberry Glaze.
I really enjoy the weekends because I have the time to do some fun culinary events for myself and my group, What's Cookin, Chicago. Next weekend is already on my mind because I'll be hosting a Chicago Cupcake Crawl. We're hitting up 15 cupcake shops around the city to see how they all stack up. Now although there are 15 stops, it doesn't mean we will be gorging on 15 full cupcakes at each! We plan on splitting a cupcake among a few of us, savoring a bite and moving on to the next stop. We hope to get through them all unless the sugar coma hits us hard and holds us back.
Thinking about the upcoming cupcake crawl inspired me to come up with this week's foodie freebie. It seems like many places around the country are experiencing their own cupcake craze with cupcake shops and boutiques popping up. To share the spirit of our cupcake crawl with readers, this week I'm giving away a....
Farberware Nonstick 12 Cup Muffin Pan
and the reader's choice between...
Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Cookbook
OR
Hello, Cupcake! Cookbook
and the reader's choice between...
Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Cookbook
OR
Hello, Cupcake! Cookbook
I hope a lucky reader will be able to enjoy a cupcake crawl of their own, as they create various cupcakes from one of these cookbooks! So how do you get in on the cupcake action? Read on...
Some guidelines:
- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my international readers!
- You must check back on my blog on Friday to see if you've won so you can claim your prize!
- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my international readers!
- You must check back on my blog on Friday to see if you've won so you can claim your prize!
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:
- What is the most interesting cupcake flavor you've tried or would like to make in the future?
Deadline: Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
ONE WINNER will be randomly chosen by Random. Org's Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, September 18, 2009. Good luck!
The most interesting I've tried is honey tangerine. One day I'm hoping to make key lime cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to try s'mores cupcakes for awhile now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about interesting, but the tastiest one I've tried is pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ventured into making any unusual cupcake flavors - but I think my favorite cupcakes are black bottom!
ReplyDeleteI'm first? Wow! I adore cupcakes and can use all the help I can get learning to decorate them!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try a hot fudge sundae flavor in a cupcake... creamy with warm fudgey goodness in the center!
I love red velvet cupcakes and can't wait to try and make them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had anything too interesting, but I can say that I'd love to try the a margarita cupcake one day!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to make the fake out hostess cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the opportunity to try any out of the ordinary cupcakes, but I am hoping to maybe have the chance when we go to NYC at the end of the month. I would love to take a stab at making an apple pie cupcake.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I've had too many crazy and/or different cupcake flavors, so I guess red velvet would have to be the most interesting, sadly.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to make a tiramisu flavor one of these days, if I could figure it out! It's my husband's favorite, and I just like the challenge to it.
I love a classic spice cake and cream cheese frosting since it reminds me of our wedding cake!
ReplyDeleteOne of the most interesting ones I tried was the Irish Car Bomb cupcakes with Jameson ganache filling, Guiness batter and Bailey's frosting. Yummy!
ReplyDeletelol meatloaf cupcakes or margarita cupcakes
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I have every tried any that is interesting, but I do want to make some pumpkin flavored cupcakes with cream cheese frosting this fall :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen margarita cupcakes floating around a lot this summer and I'd love to try them. I just need to find the time! Perhaps this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your cupcake crawl!
I've seen margarita cupcakes floating around a lot this summer and I'd love to try them. I just need to find the time! Perhaps this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your cupcake crawl!
I hosted a cake party in July, and one of my friends brought an array of amazing cupcakes, including rosewater cupcakes and (my favorite) banana cubcakes with peanut butter buttercream decorated with dried banana chips. They were amazing!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love a cupcake?!?!?! I think my favorites are somehow chocolate related or a red velvet one is nice too!
ReplyDeleteHaven't made anything out there yet, maybe Kahlua cupcakes and buttercream but I'd love to try the lemonade ones, really trying to work on making my regular flavored ones look more pretty at this point!
ReplyDeleteMost recently, I'd never had coconut cupcakes that I made, which were outstanding. I'd love to try Clara's White Chocolate Mocha cupcakes!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for an excuse to try blackberry lime cupcakes for a while now...
ReplyDeleteI would like to make a half chocolate and half cheese cake cupcake with a raspberry buttercream.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to make a raspberry lemonade cupcake for the summer, but that has come and gone. But it should be ok for the fall right?
ReplyDeletei love cosmopolitan cupcakes from a local bakery here. i've got a hot cocoa cupcake recipe just waiting for winter weather - can't wait!
ReplyDeleteMargarita
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to make Katie's Pina Colada cupcakes, cuz they look so darn cute!
ReplyDeleteI need to experiment more, the most interesting flavor I've tried are Margarita cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try to make some soda inspired cupcakes. Like cherry cola or lemon lime. But I love my ole faithful red velvet with cream cheese frosting.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been very adventurous with my cupcakes. I love plain yellow or white cake with fudgy chocolate frosting!
ReplyDeleteI've found a recipe for cookie dough cupcakes...you put a ball of cookie dough in the center of the cupcake batter and it bakes around it, leaving the cookie dough uncooked and delicious. I really want to try it!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the Martha Stewart Cupcake cookbook! My boyfriend loves when I make him the raspberry cornmeal cupcakes from this book.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the margarita cupcakes I made for our fiesta get together last year! They were super cute too!
ReplyDelete[email protected]
I haven't made a lot of cupcakes, but will be making some carrot cupcakes this month for my husband's birthday!! Thanks Joelen!! ~ Yudith
ReplyDeleteI made yummy mocha cupcakes once. Mmm... I should make them again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun giveaway! I actually haven't made too many cupcakes, so I have to go with my mom's chocolate cake recipe :)
ReplyDeleteCupcakes are my favorite! I've always wanted to try a carrot cake cupcake. I've seen them places but never had the chance to eat one.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried to many. Maybe I need to change that!! I have been wanting to make the margarita cupcakes or the guiness cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteLavender and lemon cupcakes!! I would have liked to taste a bit more lavender in it, but they were good.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the most interesting cupcake flavor you've tried or would like to make in the future?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I cannot think of any interesting cupcake flavors I have ever tried besides the usual vanilla, chocolate or strawberry (which by the way is one of my favs). I would like to definitely try something different than the standard flavors. Here's hoping I win the giveaway so I can make some yummy cupcakes!
The most interesting cupcake I have tried was at a Cupcake Boutique in Houston that made a Strawberry Margarita Cupcake. It was delicious!!
ReplyDeleteI love Strawberry Margarita cupcakes...perfect for summer parties!
ReplyDeleteOh I am obsessed with Cupcakes!! My favorite flavor is from a little cupcake shop in New Orleans Beesweet Cuocakes. It is the special Saturday flavor of Coconut, Basil and sea salt. Very light and super Yummy (they call it a Hecht of a cupcake... I believe it is named for someone)
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting cupcake I've tried would be an ice cream cup cake made by one of the mothers at my daughter's daycare. It was not ice cream filled rather cake that was baked in a sugar cone. I have no idea how she did it but it was delicious. The presentation was fantastic as it was frosted to look like an ice cream cone.
ReplyDeleteAcai berry cupcake at a bakery in Raleigh, NC. Very unique and tasty!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI saw a recipe for Arnold Palmer cupakes that I planned on trying this past summer and never got around to them.
ReplyDeletePink lemonade! and they were delicious!!
ReplyDeleteSince I haven't made a lot of cupcakes in my life, I am going to have to nominate my margarita cupcakes as the most adventurous. Maybe winning a cupcake pan and cookbook will help me try new flavors!
ReplyDeleteMargarita cupcakes... good
ReplyDeleteI tried making the Guinness cupcakes with Bailey's frosting but got a little too excited about the Bailey's and added too much! OMG, I would love to win this pan - I only have one cupcake pan and could really use this!
ReplyDeleteevitawylie at hotmail dot com
I haven't been very adventurous with my cupcake flavors just yet! I love an oreo cupcake!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, red velvet cupcakes, and lemon-lime! Both are sooooo good!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any out of the ordinary cupcake flavor that I've made or tasted. I would like to try a pumpkin this fall...maybe with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to learn how to frost them like a bakery...maybe if I win this giveaway????
I'd love to try the smore's cupcakes! I made nutella cupcakes for the first time last week and I definitely will be making them again!
ReplyDeleteOOO,this is such a great giveaway! The most interesting cupcake I've had has to be a black and white chocolate cheesecake cupcake with fresh raspberries and vanilla buttercream frosting.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting flavor cupcake I've had were snickerdoodle cupcakes made by a friend. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteI recently made Jr Mint cupcakes and those turned out pretty good. http://spice-n-it-up.blogspot.com/2009/09/chocolate-fudge-jr-mint-centered.html
ReplyDeleteI would like to try creme brulee or s'mores cupcakes.
I've had the white chocolate mocha cupcakes bookmarked for a while. I think it's time to put a brave face on and just try them already!
ReplyDeleteMy niece keeps telling me to make "Snickers" Cupcakes. I'm planning on experimenting a bit this fall with that!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how interesting they are but my favorites have been the creme brulee and pina colada cupcakes I have made!
ReplyDeleteI've made margarita cupcakes (so good!) and strawberry lemonade cupcakes that were awesome! I love playing with cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting cupcake flavor I have made is banoffee. Mmmmm. The combination of banana flavor and bits of caramel is to die for! :)
ReplyDeletehmmm. I love all cupcakes. I am looking for an interesting peanut butter filled chocolate cupcake.
ReplyDeletePS I just discovered your blog. Love it.
Sadly I have only ever made cupcakes from the box. I'm hoping to branch out and make them from scratch. I like the idea of pumpkin chocolate for the fall. One of my favorite treats.
ReplyDeleteMmmm definitely smores cupcakes! Might not be the most exotic but oh so delicious! Next on my list is monkey bread cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've tried any cupcakes with especially interesting flavors...but I'd love some Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting tonight!! :)
ReplyDelete