I Dream of Cupcake

Frosting For The Cause

2011-10-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

I wish I knew how to link posts. To be honest, I don't. And it has been a very, very long day. My Punk had an infection. We spent 8 hours actually in the ER today hooked up to IV's today to help her get better. When I got home, we found out her friend also has an infection. But due to her MITO, it is much more serious and may require some surgeries. Why am I telling you this? What does it have to do with cupcakes? Today my post for FROSTING FOR THE CAUSE was published. I was so excited. Anything to help. But sitting in an ER literally all day, it really hit home what people go thru when those that they love are sick with cancer, MITO, or any other disease. So take a read, hug the ones you love the most and make them some cupcakes. That always brightens someones day!!!

Get Better Punk, I miss your SPUNK!!!

Have you met my mortal enemy?

2011-10-07T08:45:00.001-07:00

Good day everyone, Have you met my mortal enemy? The BMI chart. I have many reasons for my disdain for this chart. Before everyone gets up in arms, this is just MY opinion. I get that it has a purpose and I get that it is a GOOD thing. But everything is good in moderation.

Here is part of my reason. On more than one occasion I have gotten a call, "Hello, I would like to order some cupcakes for my child to bring to school for their birthday." But thanks to that LOVELY chart above and tons of new rules, most schools no longer allow this. So I advise the parent to call the school and ask if this is still allowed. I have yet to be wrong.

When I was a kid, we got to have cupcakes, cookies, or if you had the super cool mom, a Hoodsie!! I like to think of it as harmless fun. It was a break from the normal day. I learned some social skills and the birthday kid got to feel special for 15 min or so. Sometimes we even skipped recess for it and no one ever complained. If it was a big month for birthdays, they picked a Friday and everyone celebrated the same day. What I never realized until recently was that for the children who had struggling parents, that WAS their birthday party. All their friends were there, they had their cake or other treat and it was a happy time, no matter how short. Now a days, kids hand out pencils or other whatsits which is really nice, I mean you can always use another pencil. But are the memories as awesome? Is it REALLY that big of a deal a cupcake? And no I am not getting into the whole allergy issue here....

So thank you BMI chart for robbing MY children of those memories... Looks like they will get their baked goods and warm fuzzy fun here at home with me, where the only thing you are used for, is a dart board!

Who we are....

2011-10-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Recently we have been compared several times in public instances to a local bakery named Kick Ass Cupcakes and I would like a chance to respond to that.

I was once told if you don't have anything nice to say, shut the hell up. So this is NOT a post to trash them. It is more of something to show people who VCVC is. When we set out, we did not want to be another cookie cutter cupcake shop. (say that five times fast). I have no formal training and having just been thru a divorce where my house was taken from me and I was starting over from rock bottom. I was trying to make something amazing from that. I needed more income for me and my children in addition to working in the daytime, but I had to be home while they were sleeping because I could not afford more childcare. I baked to soothe myself. But for fear of eating ALL of what I made I would give them away. First to J's co-workers and then to my friends and co-workers, then to the barristas at Starbucks and then to strangers. All who told me "Sell these!" And so VCVC was born.

With no formal training I wondered how I would hold up. But then I remembered how much I baked with my Gram. It was a lot. The kitchen in my house on Main St was a central place for us. I would do homework while she baked and I would go as fast as I could to finish so I could help. She was strict in her baking. Everything had to be just so. One of her rules stood the same, there should be as much frosting as there is cake! Much of my inspiration comes from her. She keeps me grounded.

In her image, each batch is hand made, just as she would have made it. No machines, no big commercial mixers. Just an old school kitchen aid. At one point I even used a 1950's sunbeam mixer that my Grandpa had given Gram. I don't use it for VCVC any more because I am afraid I will wear it out, but I still use it for family stuff when we bake at home with the kids. So our cupcakes are made 24 at a time, with the same ingredients you would find in your fridge (maybe a few fancy extras ;-)). I remember watching Cake Boss one day and seeing a machine that they put gallons of batter into and it squirted cupcakes into pans that were fed below the machine and thinking, "GROSS". I promised myself to never ever do that.

I also love bringing an 99.995% eatable cupcake to the table (sans paper holder). We will try to create just about anything you wish. I am limited by licensing, but we try to work around that when we can. I adore the look on the client's face when they see what I have made them. They light up. I am not sure if Kick Ass does this, all I have seen them make is paper on tooth picks. Which in it's own right is a fun and good idea when you are moving a high volume.

Kick ass is a great company. I think they have found a nifty niche in what they do. When I was there a while ago they even had cat and dog cupcakes! But VCVC is nothing like them. We don't have the industrial equipment, the many employees, the toothpicks or the storefront. We don't have cases of cupcakes sitting there for however long waiting to be bought. We have me, in my kitchen and a great product made with love just like your Grandmother (if she was a really great baker) would have made, just for you, the way you like it. I care about each client, because each order that I send out my door has a story and somewhere along the line, those cupcakes become a part of a memory. I want to make that memory as delicious and as full of love as possible.

Cupcakes for Cancer

2011-09-29T19:34:00.001-07:00

We are FROSTING FOR THE CAUSE!!!!!

On October 16th I will be posting a recipe here and at Frosting for the Cause!!! On that day we will be featuring 3 flavors (TBD... do I smell Punkin?). 50% of all proceeds and 100% of all tips will be donated to the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. Good food AND a good cause?? It really does not get much better than that!!!

Where are you?

2011-08-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

I know some of you are shocked I uttered the word. "Closed!" But not for good. Just for 2 weeks. My family has put up with growing pains and having me awake working 24/7. Before I got laid off I worked so much I hardly saw the people who lived in my house and when I did have "free time" I was so tired I could not even imagine doing anything. So as a thank you to them, I am taking 2 weeks to run away and focus on them. Just us.

First my kids. They can go to summer camp, where I went as a kid and where their Nana went. It is truly heaven on Earth and for one week a year they get to go there. I could not be happier for them. If I could go back there I would. It is truly the most wonderful place on earth. Safe, beautiful and wholesome. This year we are so lucky to have Nana and Gram staying with us. (My mother and grandmother). 4 generations in 1 house. It gets hinky at times but I would not trade it for the world. Memories are so important and in the end no matter what I lose, we will always have these memories.

The next week they go on vacation with their father, and I run away with my fiancee. He who has been so patient with me. He who has watched me laugh and cry, who has encouraged me and calmed me. He who has fixed computers and made spread sheets and invoices and deliveries. We run away together just the 2 of us for the first time in a very very long time. He needs this. We need this. So I am sorry that the frostitution has to wait. But as I go along my journey here I am tasting and being inspired by sights, sounds, and tastes of the local areas that I visit. And I will bring them back to you, in cupcake for so that you can make your own memories, accompanied by cupcakes.

See you soon!

Helping Hearts

2011-07-21T15:12:00.001-07:00

I have recently had the fortune of being shown how truly lucky I am in life. I have a wonderful truly wonderful and healthy children. I have a roof over my head and food in my fridge. I have friends and family and a phone to call them with. So I am faced with a question, how do I say "thank you" to the Universe for all of this? I give back.

So VCVC Cupcakes is getting involved with Frosting for the Cause. Our guest blog date is on October 16, 2011! I am super excited. So many people in my life have been touched by cancer. My father died of it and my Gram is currently going through chemo cream treatments for skin cancer. We also we more than happy to deliver cupcakes to a patient going through some chemo treatments. When she got to the door her face lit up. For that moment, I saw a spark of happiness in her. A was in the car and said to me "Mumma she has a nice smile." I was glad that a pink box full of frosted treats could coax out that smile if even for a moment.

Giving back is important to me... and to VCVC... What is important to you???

Long Time No See

2011-05-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

It has been forever since I last posted. So many things have gone on. I am not even sure where to start. If I go all the way back I could write a novel. So let's keep it recent.

VCVC Cupcakes has taken off like a shot and 99.5% of the feedback is amazing. Some people are just grumpy in life and that is their place. I, on the other hand, could not be happier. We have had the most amazing feedback from our community and are doing what we can to support the activities around us. We sponsored the Melrose Run for Women on Mothers Day and several other small events.

One could say that a negative in my life has been being laid off from my day job. I suppose it depends on how you look at it. While I am disappointed because I always gave 110% no matter what, everything happens for a reason. I truly believe that. So another chapter in my life begins and I look forward to it. I now have time to let my cupcake creativity flow...... and from there, who knows.

So that is where we are today... Long story short... I will try to keep you updated on the growth of VCVC.... any myself.

Post-Turkey thoughts

2010-11-29T18:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Post-Thanksgiving y'all. When I was thinking of everything that I was thankful for this year, one of the things that was on my mind was all the support I have received from friends and family to start this adventure in my life. Thanks to a company called EVERSAVE .VCVC Cupcakes sold about 98 "saves" and our name really got out there. I have enjoyed meeting so many new clients and working with them to create the frostitution of their dreams. Thus far the feed back has been wonderful!!

My fabulous Fiance has loaned me his iPad, and my mother is working with me to help with my accounting. So post-it-notes have disappeared and been replaced with organization and I am feeling much better about how things are running. Again, thanks to the wonderful support of my family.

I also wanted to thank everyone who ordered cupcakes for Thanksgiving... and for those who were patient when they were turned away because we were so busy. We do our best to make sure we get everyone their dream cupcakes... so question... what is your dream?? Tell us... Christmas is coming... order early, Santa eats enough cookies... try leaving cupcakes!!!

www.vcvccupcakes.com

Officiall Official!

2010-10-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

We passed our inspection and today we got all of our permits finalized!!! So VCVC Cupcakes is up and running in the city of Melrose MA!!! I am so excited and so happy. It has been a long road to get this far. But so worth it. Thanks to all who supported me, and gave me a shot. Now order some cupcakes to celebrate!

www.vcvccupcakes.com

FIND US ON THE WEB

2010-09-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

NEW WEBSITE

WWW.VCVCCUPCAKES.COM

or email your order to info@vcvccupcakes.com

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB PAGE

2010-08-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Because I have not printed new business cards yet. **I will soon I promise** I just want to remind everyone to visit www.vcvccupcakes.com . Now that we are back from the Cape and a wonderful family vacation we are back to business.... ORDER UP!!!!

Incredible Day

2010-07-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am so busy today. But I wanted to share some wonderful news with you all. VCVC Cupcakes teamed up with Doms Sausage of Malden this am to help out with the cupcake part of their catering!! Also we launched www.vcvccupcakes.com today... that is now our official webpage. I am so excited I could burst!!! Check it out and pass it on!

BIG CHANGES

2010-07-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

There are some HUGE changes afoot. VCVC Cupcakes has been established!!! It is officials. Today I worked with a great graphic designer who created this wonderful logo for me. I really like it!!! I also signed on with a wonderful girl to create me a wonderful website. I can't wait to launch that. I am so excited. On top of all that I am looking forward to working with a very popular local business and helping them with all of their cupcake needs :) Things are really looking up for VCVC Cupcakes. For now please "like" us on Facebook and spread the word. (just search for VCVC Cupcakes because I don't know how to shorten our URL on there). Word of mouth is the best form of flattery, even if it is talking while full of frosting :)

Dancing the Days Away

2010-05-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

Days are simply flying by between planning the engagement party, family, work and trying to start the cupcake business. Several big steps have been taken thought. First off, I received my ServSafe Certification. I am pretty proud of that, some of the things I learned were pretty frightening. Also a name has been decided upon. VCVC Cupcakes. Do you like it? I do!!! It is my initials. After the name was decided upon, business cards were printed!!! This is all becoming so real!! I am also working on getting a formal website with ordering info on it, prices, flavor combination ideas and a decent portfolio on it.

So with that I shall leave you with some pictures of some recent project photos. I really enjoy doing this. A passion that I sort of fell into. I never thought of myself as creative, maybe I was wrong... maybe I found my talent. PS... the ballet cupcakes... were a HUGE hit!!!

Just when you thought the water was safe....

2010-05-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

I went for my ServSafe certification on Saturday. I am super excited. Another big step towards the shop. Well ok, maybe a small step, but a step I can take now! On Sunday I had to work for a few hours and then I had a challenge... in Weston a water main broke. Long story short my town is under a "water boil order". This means under no circumstances should you ingest any of the tap water. No drinking it, washing your dishes, brushing your teeth, washing your hands etc without special precautions, which can be seen here http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/cdc/mwra_water_break/water_break_faq_gen.pdf Of course, I had cupcakes to make!! The teacher appreciation luncheon was fast approaching and they HAD to have some vanilla cupcakes with strawberry frosting... of course!! So I did my research, sanitized EVERYTHING and went to work. It was so much fun. I was psyched. About 3 hours later I found out that the teachers luncheon was postponed until further notice. Bummer. And they were so cute too! But I do have to admit, it was interesting.

At this point I am glad I do not have the shop. Even the major companies like Dunks and Starbucks are hurting. They can not make coffee to sell, it just is not safe. So while people are worried about the pain in the butt of having to boil water or the panic of finding bottled water because they are too lazy or afraid to boil water, there are businesses out there who could lose their lively hood. I hope they don't.

So cheers to clean water... hopefully in the near future. I am off to find someone who is hungry for a cupcake... and not a teacher. :-)

Spring is here!!!

2010-03-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Officially the calendar says that spring is here! Mother Nature seems not so sure. But with all the rain we have had I figured some pretty cupcakes would brighten everyone's mood. Since I last wrote so much has happened. I went away to Costa Rica with the Editor and he proposed while we were there. I was in heaven. Of course I could not help but think about what to make for engagement cupcakes. While I was there I had no access to baking but I did have a dream about how I was going to make some Mario Cupcakes for a friend's son's birthday when I got home. Then when I got home I found out that he changed his mind and was going with Spiderman. No problem. I am also working with lactose free and gluten free on this order. It will be interesting but I am optimistic. I like a challenge lately.

Today I made some Easter Cupcakes. Easter is one of those holidays that always seems to sneak up on me. Since it is never on the same day each year and can even change months it seems to pop out of nowhere for me. I had fun today though. The kids seem to like how they came out. So here they are!!!

To All My Valentines-

2010-02-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

What a weekend! At one point in my life Valentines Day meant nothing. But The Editor changed that around for me! This year he treated me to 2 dozen roses at work, tickets to New Kids On the Block (yes I know I am sooo 90's). He also treated me to a Chocolate Buffet at the Ritz Carlton in Boston. Oh my what an experience. We sat in a decadent lobby watching all sorts of people wander in and out of the hotel. People watching is my 2nd favorite hobby (following closely behind baking). They had a table all decked out in chocolate. Chocolate milk, strawberries, home made marshmallows with sauce and truffles. There had to be at least 30 kinds of chocolate there. When the chef came out I chatted her up for a few, she recommended the mouse. It was so light and airy, like angels wings. Simply amazing. I think I tried everything that was there, some twice.

Before I was treated to this decadence, I spent all day finishing off the last of the Valentine Cupcake orders. I made 3 kinds of cupcakes, I did Mocha with mocha butter cream, lemon zest with lemon butter cream, and "better than sex chocolate". I had tried several chocolate cupcake recipes, but had not found one that I truly loved, until I came across Katie's page at The Cupcake Project. Boy was she right!!! These are *almost* better than sex chocolate cupcakes. But as far as cupcakes go... I think they are amazing. I chose not to put the chocolate chips into them for now, but I can't WAIT to try that.

The recipe is as follows, definitely worth a try if you have time **if not call me, I will make them for you!! ;-)**

Makes 16 regular cupcakes.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1-1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined. Measure the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into a small sized bowl and whisk to combine. Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

I am off to finish some of the cleaning and laundry I have neglected while I have had fun filling orders for friends and family... for now, here are some pictures to enjoy.

Mission #1 complete

2010-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

I made it through my first order pick up! It was a tad hectic, but we made it! My friend T called and asked for some cupcakes for her boyfriend's birthday. He wanted 12 strawberry "OMG those are big ass" cupcakes. Since he likes to hunt and is a tad redneck I decided he could not just have pink cupcakes with white frosting. NO WAY! This is a guy who goes camping and likes to hunt!! Heck he kicks my butt at Big Buck Hunter whenever I am over. Anyhow I decided he needed camo cupcakes.

The first batch I was not a big fan of. I used a few too many egg whites and cake flour. So on the 2nd batch I used more pureed strawberries and regular flower and of course fewer egg whites. Perfection!! And much to my shock, I loved how my camo came out. Even the editor was impressed!! T sent a picture of the birthday boy chowing down on his cupcake and said they were a huge hit!! The batter tasted like strawberry ice cream and the cuppies were fluffy and tasty. So for now I leave you with some pictures. Drool... then email me and tell me what I can make for you!

Cupcakes for a King Y'all

2010-01-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

Yup I know. I slacked on posting, what can I say? Life gets a little busy around here sometimes.

My Mom and Gram have always backed me, even when my choices were not the best. I have to admit there was about 7 years when I am sure they were afraid to pick up the phone. Some of those calls included "I'm getting married!" then the "buying an house" call and of course few months later the "we are moving up the wedding day about 9 months because I'm having a baby" call. There was also the "I quit my job and I'm not going back after the baby" call and the "baby #2" call and of course the crushing "I'm getting divorced and will need more help then ever before" call. So when I called saying I was thinking about trying to start a cupcake business, Gram jumped on board right away, so did Mom. I mean hello, who better as taste testers right? Well after tasting some of my cupcakes gram had one suggestion "BIGGER" she said! Bigger is almost always better right? While in Laconia she went to an outlet store and got me some "Texas Size" cupcake pans, as well as TONS of other supplies to help me on my journey into the cupcake world. I had planned on going to the MassICEs convention today. But do to budget restraints and wanting to spend a little more time with the Editor, I decided not to go. But he had hockey so I decided to do a little therapeutic baking with all my new toys. So in honor of Gram I made Valentines cupcakes, lemon zest with pink lemon frosting-- Texas Size Y'all!!!
PS- when recipes say "yields 24 cupcakes" they have never "been to Texas" in Texas 24 means 9!!!

You're Mocha'ing Me Crazy

2010-01-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

So my friend Anna S. went to the Mall today and sent me these pictures. Yup, you're not seeing things. It's a Cupcake Camper! How cute is that? Not to mention it is a Old School Airstream type camper. I adore it! What a great idea! Cupcakes are all the rage. The more I look and see what is out there the more I am astonished by the ideas that people have. I only hope my creativity can keep up with theirs. Today I made Mocha Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream frosting (See a theme here?) I used Starbucks Via brew for the coffee taste in the Mocha. It is a strong flavor but one I really like. Via Brew is a favorite product of mine because I can literally keep coffee in my purse. As if I need more places to keep it. I can drink it anywhere that has water. Anyhow enough about my Starbucks addiction, I am taking the cupcakes to work tomorrow because I don't want to fill my kids with coffee and sugar and all that and then watch them bounce off the walls. If I am going to do that I will wait for the summer when I can send them to the park. Who knows maybe there will be a Cupcake Camper at the park too!

Todays Samples:

Editor's Note: An Editor's job is never done. 12am midnight and I am up helping HER post about Cupcakes! Something tells me I will have plenty to eat this weekend. None of which will be healthy for me!

Our Day Off

2010-01-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

My idea of a day off generally consists of a slightly shorter than normal list of things to do. With a few chores for others tossed haphazardly in to make like slight less convenient. But this weekend is not most. This weekend. I planned nothing. Literally nothing. The Editor and I decided to sit on the couch/bed all day for 48 hours and watch TV. And 26.5 hours in, we are pretty successful! We have only left The Editor's apartment to procure breakfast at Denny's, a Blu Ray player at Wally World and a candle at Walgreens. That was it. We have sat and watched TV. The Editor doesn't have the tools of the trade like I do at home. But unable to sit still for that long and a slight fear of couch sores made me get off my butt and make some white chocolate cups with chocolate pudding and fruit. Said fruit was growing fur in the fridge and I think it talked back to me when I took it out. So I substituted some frozen fruit instead. They came out pretty good. Easier than I thought. I would prefer to use some custard type filling and some fresh fruit. But like I said, this is a start. Boy is it fun.

I talked to Little Bear about what he thought about opening a cupcake shop. He said it was a good idea, and he would be my chief helper. We love to watch Food Network Challenge together. So who knows, maybe this will develop into a family thing. The lemon zest cupcakes went over really well. Gram suggested they be bigger and I have to agree with her. But a start is a start.

Editor's Note: They were good. Very very good. Especially considering they were only our 2nd meal of our incredibly productive day.

Legalized Frostitution

2010-01-11T19:32:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my site-

My name is Cathy and I have huge Cupcake dreams! I have decided that I want to open up a cupcake and coffee café. The name and slogan have yet to be decided but I am taking suggestions. I am on the slow track… working on the 5 year plan here. I am a single Mom with 2 kids, Punkin *girl age 4* and Little Bear *boy age 6 almost 7*. I also have a boyfriend a.k.a. The Editor. I write the Blog, he makes it sound good. We also have a cat, Fuzz *almost 2*. I currently work in Medical Billing, my job is well… undefined. But I like it. I work for the OBGYN Department mostly. The Editor lives about 75 miles away but we are incredibly close as a family. Closer than most I would say.

All things considered I tend to be a little short on time quite often and I am careful with costs. So culinary school, is well, OUT. Wait does 2 hours of FOOD NETWORK a day count as Culinary school? If so I should have a diploma by now! Other than that most of what I know comes from watching my Gram as a kid, reading cookbooks and recipes, reading other cupcake blogs and Courses 1 and 2 of Wilton Cake Decorating at Michaels Craft Store. Yes I bow at the alter of Wilton. Is there any other cake decoration alter?

Thus far I have attempted Peanutbutter cupcakes… which were too dry. Must figure that one out. But gosh darn it smelled good. Gram asked for some lemon cupcakes. So I made some with lemon buttercream frosting. Thanks to the Editor who got me a Kitchen Aid *a HUGE surprise, I may or may not have squeeled like a little girl for hours* they came out much better. I used my traditional butter cream frosting recipe and it just tasted better and fluffier. Much nicer consistency. Not nearly as heavy.

See for yourself

So here is a question for those of you out there… if you are out there… what is your favorite cupcake related site??? What makes it your favorite??