Martha Stewart's One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes Make for Happy Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to Lesley, Chris and Kate...our March birthday stars! I know how much Kate loves Martha Stewart's One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes...so I made them for everyone!



Adding Martha's Mocha Buttercream Frosting made the cupcakes taste like Starbuck's drink! YUMMMMY!



I don't know how we're going to top this for April birthdays.....But, you know how much Layla loves a party!



Have a great week....CQ

Layla Does It For Her Boys: Fear the Turtle Cupcakes

You may know that the Cupcake Queen and Laya are ardent fans of the Maryland Men's Basketball Team...the Terps...well, they lost to UVA last night, and now they are going to have to win the whole &#$*&! ACC Tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament!




Layla and I quickly whipped up some "Fear the Turtle" cupcakes because we're so nervous! Nothing like a good cupcake when you're nervous....These are dark chocolate cupcakes with either vanilla or chocolate frosting, topped with a chocolate turtle and a candy basketball.


Layla loves her Terps...and these cupcakes!

Have a great week!

CQ

The Cupcake Queen's Birthday Bash!

This past weekend we celebrated the Cupcake Queen's Birthday which was officially on Friday, Feb. 22. It all began with lunch at the University of Maryland Golf Course with Autumn (who came all the way from Ohio), Catherine, Margaret, Nancy, who all work with the Cupcake Queen....and Diane Louise and Grannie (who drove all the way from Syracuse)! We had so much fun and laughed ourselves silly....and, of course, a couple of us enjoyed a couple of gold margaritas! Nancy...we promise we won't say anythng about that guy on the airplane...you know the one whose leg you grabbed!

Then, Friday night...the Cupcake Queen was taken to dinner at Il Pizzico on Rockville Pike that was to die for...the Queen was accompanied by Laura, Diane Louise and Grannie!



The feasting continued on Saturday with the most awesome Italian subs from Marchone's Italian Deli...then, a fantastic queenly Italian dinner that includes 48 meatballs driven to Rockville from Syracuse...homemade canellone, ceasar salad, much champagne and all the tremendous desserts that you see on the entry.....
Catherine made the three layer chocolate cake and presented the Cupcake Queen also with the very nice cherry pie from Wholefoods...which CQ dearly loves...Grannie made the lemon bars...Kate brought the Starbucks' cupcakes...and....Princess Robin...CQ's sister...who also brought CQ's mom to spend the night...one BIG SLEEPOVER!!...made the adorable raspberry-filled cupcakes!



What a nice birthday CQ had! Hope you have a great week!

Rock On!

CQ

Update to on Terps Cupcakes!

CQ recieved this email from the Maryland Men's Basketball team:

"On behalf of the team and coaches… thanks for the cupcakes. The guys & staff loved them….Greivis must have eaten about 5!"

Good luck tonight, Terps!

And remember...It Never Rains in College Park!

CQ

Layla Takes Care of Her Terps!

Layla helped me make cupcakes for the Maryland Men's Basketball Team to eat at their Thursday night dinner tonight! We made vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and chocolate buttercream frosting.



These are a few of Layla's boys!



We made the cupcakes with everyone's numbers for Valentine's Day. The chocolate cupcakes had chunks for bittersweet chocolate in them and dark chocolate frosting. Layla was so tired from all the baking,...she's back in her bed right now catching up on her sleep. The last thing she said was that she wanted to register for Gary Williams Basketball Camp!



The vanilla cupcakes had vanilla paste in them so make them extra vanilla-ee...and the vanilla frosting has chunks of white chocolate shavings in it. OMG!



Maybe next time Nigie will help us...he was out in the yard chasing chipmunks last night!

Super Duper (GO GIANTS!) Chocolate Overload Cupcakes

Dark chocolate cupcakes with mini-marshallows, mini-chocolate chips and Godiva Chocolate Liquor with Godiva Chocoalte Liquor Frosting!

This all started out with a double chocolate cake mix! Then I just went cupcake crazy...adding a box of instant chocolate pudding, a cup of yogurt, mini-marshmellows, mini chocolate chips...well, you get the picture, right?




They were so moist and, OMG...chocolat...E! I made Laura take them to her office...I COULD NOT have them around the house. There's just something about chocolate.



And, Layla...what can I say about Layla...she is such a good doggie. I had had had to give her a big kiss after this photo shoot because you know dogs cannot have chocolate...I did, however, give her some pieces of sliced apples which to her seem to have the same affect that chocolate has on me....drool!


Stay Tuned for next week...big contest announcement...for Starwars Transformers...what does that have to do with cupcakes...not a thing...well, maybe a little thing.

Special SHOUT OUT this week to my sister, Robin...she's havng a relationship crisis right now...so, if you see, give her a BIG hug!

Have a great week...and be sure to "ROCK ON"...

CQ

SAM'S BIRTHDAY!!! We've Had Lots of Birthdays This Month!

We've had lots of birthdays this month....this one is for Samantha...she lives in Pittsburgh with her mom...Steffi...and her dad...Chris...and her sister...Ali. Sam and Ali's grand pop (my brother!) sent me this recipe. Just the opportunity I needed to use my Silly Cups that I got for Xmas! Happy Birthday, Sam! Your box is in the mail!



These cupcakes are called Italian Cream Cupcakes...they are loaded with butter and cream!








Layla...aka drooling dog...at least got a tiny taste of the frosting!

Have a great week!

CQ

Only Martha Stewart's BEST for ARAY's 30th!

Today's is ARAY's (aka Autumn) 30th birthday! And, unfortunately, she won't be able to eat these lovely cupcakes made in her honor because she has moved to OHIO...does Ohio have a primary?...and because she cannot eat salt...I would have made her something different if she was right here...no kidding...even tho I'm against changing the chemistry of the tried and true cupcake!




I made these cupcakes from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's....it the White Cake Mix ($11.99) and it makes 28 cupcakes....and I must tell you that it is amazing! If you want to check it out: this is the link.



Then I made Martha's "fluffy vanilla buttercream" frosting...recipe of which is on the box. OMG! It is just about the best thing since sliced bread. I know that even ARAY would have to have a bite of one of these cupcakes!



Don't worry...these babies won't go to waste...my daughter, Catherine, is taking them to an AIGA meeting tonight. She said all the designers love homemade treats! They may even sing Happy Birthday to Autumn.



Layla, who got a little bite of the frosting because she's the best sous chef I've got, is wishing ARAY a Happy Birthday, too.

Happy Birthday, ARAY....and we miss you!

Rock on, CQ!