I have no idea why I decided to bake these cupcake...I think I just wanted to buy this cool bottle of Galliano! It's beautiful and it's so frenchy. Earlier in the morning I had come across the recipe for the cupcakes in Ann Bryn's Cupcakes From the Cake Mix Doctor. Yes, I do read cupcake books...I know, it's so bad...but I just can't stop.
So, I went to the Montgomery County Liquor Store in the Cabin John Shopping Center to buy the Galliano. They only had this very tall bottle which was way more expensive than I really wanted to pay...hmmm...what to do? Just buy it! They said I could go to another one of their stores, but I was so hot (it was about 95 degrees here yesterday) and I just wanted to go home. I'd already been to work out, Montgomery Mall, Giant and this was my very last stop. I asked one guy there if there was a smaller bottle available and he looked at me like I was crazy...he'd never heard of Galliano...luckily...or not...the other dude working there heard our non-conversation and put in his two cents about the other stores. 
In the end, I plunked down my money...and I also bought a bottle of pink champagne so it wasn't a totally unfulfilling excursion.
We served the "Harvey" cupcakes at a brunch we had today, and later this afternoon, Laura and I were chatting about the Harvey Wallbanger drink or should I say "cocktail"?...and how we used to drink it way back when...and I remembered too much about it, but we won't go there...I"m sure my brother remembers THOSE days...but I regress...back to Laura;s and my conversation...we couldn't remember exactly what they tasted like...so we whip out the laptop, get the recipe, grab the vodka, Galliano, two glasses and some ice. Ahhh...magically, I was transported back to the good old days of watching Redskins at my parents' place with my family and acting all crazy! I can even remember this dark burgundy dress I used to wear. Who would have thought that cupcakes could do that?
Theme of the week: “Every exit is an entrance somewhere else” (Tom Stoppard) but this has nothing to do with cupcakes....on the other hand, I guess it could.
Hope you have a great week...next week I head to Vegas for a conference and a meet-up with my family!
Rock On, CQ
P.S. Layla says hi and she's sorry she didn't get in the cupcake photos this week...she was just too worn out from the heat. Here she is napping the afternoon away!
Oh, Harvey Wallbanger Cupcakes...Thanks for the Memories!
Fire Up the Grill for Hamburger Cupcakes!
Saw these on the web and couldn't resist trying them. They were actually very easy to put together.
And, the funny thing is that everyone thought they were real "sliders"...your eyes tell you they are really hamburgers!
You make 12 white cakemix cupcakes and 12 chocolate cakemix cupcakes. When baked, you cut the top off the white cupcake...and the bottom, essentially leaving the middle to be eaten asap. Then you make the "hamburger" part with the middle of the chocolate cupcake.
The lettuce, catsup and cheese are colored frosting!
Just look up "hamburger cupcakes" in google and you'll find the recipe. It was lots of fun!
Hope you have a great week...rock on, CQ
Cupcake Queen Interviewed by Maryland Newsline!
Surcie and Peggy: Thanks for your kind words!
Cupcake Queen was interviewed a couple of weeks ago by Tamra Tomlinson from Maryland Newsline. Here's the link to Tamra's article: newsline.umd.edu/etcetera/cupcake_queen050808.htm.
And, this is the video that Tamra shot showing the set up of the 50,000 cupcakes here the night before Maryland Day...Tamra's graduating today from the School of Journalism!
Thanks for the interview, Tamra. I really enjoyed meeting you.
Rock on, CQ
Move That Cupcake!
This was just for fun...little people moving cupcakes. I found these guys at the hobby store. 
Then I made Lemon Ancho Chile Cupcakes with Vanilla Lemon Frosting....I dug out the middle of the cupcake and put in a spoonful of lemon curd. It was quite a combination!
Then I took everything out to my driveway and created the scene. It was so much fun!
Here are the boys all finished loading the cupcakes onto the tray!
And, of course, here is Layla...being Layla...so stoic...and what a good girl she is!
Have a great week....Rock On!
CQ
Twin Cupcakes Welcome Anna and Logan to the Cupcake World!
My colleague and buddy, Brian (above) and his wife, Angie, recently had twin kidlets Anna and Logan...they...the babies...that is, are still in the NICU. 
I heard from Brian that Angie likes yellow cupcakes...and I got inspired to make "twin cupcakes" for the new mom!
The twins were born on April 28th! They should be ready to go home in a couple of weeks.
Here's a link to the twins' web site...their dad, Brian, is a computer geek...the twins even have a blog! Brian is the best video editor I've ever worked with...and he has a sense of humor just like mine! Yikes....
Have a great week...and remember...Happy Mother's Day...and ROCK ON!
CQ
Rocky Road Cupcakes with Starbucks Mocha Dark Chocolate Frosting for May Birthdays!
#1 BIRTHDAY IN MY BOOK: My Mom...She is 85 years young to day...pictured with Nigel!
So many May Birthdays! Mom, Carol Ann, Margaret, Dianne, Rick and Harry (Catherine's french bulldog!). The sugar cookies were made from a Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix (they recently sponsored a cookie recipe contest called "Bake Life Sweeter")...very easy to use and quick to make. 
This fellow only has eyes for Rocky Road Cupcakes with Starbucks Mocha Dark Chocolate Frosting!
I used Starbuck's new Mocha Dark Chocolate: "rich, dark chocolate meets the citrus and cocoa notes of Guatemala Cai Cielo coffee for a delightfully sublime indulgence"...it gave the frosting a rich, deep flavor!
This is Harry's very own cupcake...but of course, he can't eat it...no dogs were harmed during the photo shooting of these cupcakes!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MAY BABIES!
Rock On~
CQ
50,000 Cupcakes for Maryland Day!!!
Maryland Day - the University of Maryland's annual open house - is 10 years old! We're baking with 50,000 cupcakes to celebrate - and the entire Washington, D.C. region has been invited to join us! The day kicks off with a grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. in Hornbake Plaza featuring WMAR's Mary Beth Marsden as the host. Shhh - don't tell anyone - but Testudo has a special surprise in store.
Update: 4.24.08: we're test tasting the Maryland Day cupcakes this afternoon!!!!
The Cupcake Queen has been invited to be one of the judges for the Cupcake Decorating Contest on Maryland Day!
Here's the recipe for the 50,000 cupcakes provided by our Dining Services folks:
White Cake Recipe
1415 lbs cake flour.. sifted..
78.33lbs baking powder
46.33 lbs salt
707.55 lbs high ratio cake shortening
1769lbs granulated sugar
177 gallons 2% milk
2.5 gallons flavoring
117.93 gallons fresh eggs
Total weight 6,392.15 lbs
Icing
4275 lbs 10 x sugar
541.5 lbs Margarine
541.5 lbs Icing Shortening
912 lbs water
1.75 gallons flavoring
Total weight 6,284 lbs
This video features our president...Dan Mote and his wife, Patsy, beginning the baking process:
The Cupcake Queen will have to show up with four stitches in her cheek to do her judging...what do you think happened to her? Several good stories have been put forth:
CQ was sleep walking and tripped over Layla. (Deb)
CQ was working out on her treadmill, dropped her ipod and hit her cheek on the handrail. (Meg)
CQ was in a car accident. (Barb)
Somebody said shut-up and CQ thought he said stand up. (Mac)
CQ fell in the hallway...tripped over the cat...hit face on floor. (Millree)
CQ got bite by her dog. (Beth)
CQ was outside on her deck..it was raining...she slipped on the stairs and hit her cheek on the railing. (Peggy)
Something hit CQ. (Joanne)
CQ was out mowing her lawn. Her mower handle caught a tree branch and the branch swung back and hit CQ on the cheek. (Brian)
CQ walked into a pole. (Herb)
CQ heard a noise outside in her backyard. Layla ran out to see what it was. CQ picked up a dustbuster and a cupcake and went out to find Layla. There was an extraterrestrial vehicle in the yard and little ET things running around. They got scared when they saw CQ's dustbuster and shot her in the cheek with an ET laser thinggie. And, then they flew away! (Ellen)
CQ got bite by a dog. (Tom)
CQ was watching Law and Order with a friend. The friend got so carried away during one scene that he/she punched CQ in the cheek. (Dave)
CQ was gardening and fell on a hoe. (Holly)
Mo says that CQ hit herself with something...then Mo says that sounds goofy, doesn't it!
anonymous said...I think CQ was fast & furiously icing cupcakes when the icing spatula slipped from her glazed fingers, flipped in the air, and came crashing down on her tender cheek.
bro said...I think CQ was jumping on the bed and her brother pushed her into a radiator.
cupcake queen said...bro...that is the BEST laugh I've had all day...and you are so right...however, this time it was left cheek!
sam said...LOL...too funny! Thanks for sharing and wish I could be there for the cupcakes!
CQ tripped on on something in the yard (Sapienza)
CQ was hit by a kitchen cabinet (Brodie)
CQ got smacked by Laura (Bonnie)
What do you think happened to CQ??? If you can, come to Maryland Day and find out!
The truth will be revealed in CQ's next posting.
It's About Time for Some Cupcake Bling!
You just have to love this bracelet!!! I'm not going to say too much about it...but just look at the detail. 
When I wear it to work, everyone asks me about it...where'd I get it...so cute...you know!
The cupcake is from Wholefoods...it's a mini chocolate!
The cupcake bracelet is from Rockerjewlz. I ordered it onlline at Etsy.
..made by a jewelry designer in Union City, near San Francisco! Here's her blog: rockerjewlz. Go see her and say the Cupcake Queen says hi!
You'll love this bracelet!
No cupcakes this week...the BLING is enough!
Rock ON!
CQ
