Kate, the Cupcake Queen.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

This week, we have been blessed with the amazing visit of Kate Eardley, our dear friend all the way from England! We first met in Africa several years ago through the Salvation Army and have since kept in touch … in fact, many of you may remember her mom, who we fondly called Nanny Elaine when she lived here last year for a time. 

Poor Kate though. She’s a young girl in her 20s, no kids and lives a very awesome life of travelling around the world with World Vision. She just returned from Uganda and now here she is, stuck in the Gauthier home of Pinkness and surrounded by coughing children, barking dogs and early bedtimes. 

 

But so far, she’s held up okay! Today she wowed us all with her cupcake-awesomeness …. back home, she’s dubbed the Cupcake Queen. I think we shall give her the same title. 

 

The start of a very long process in cupcake making … when you bake with three kids, it does take a while. Not to mention, we, er, SHE made sugar cookies, icing, banana muffins ANNNND cupcakes all in one day!

 

Lacey and Kate, cracking a mean egg …

 

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… and moving on to the fun part! DECORATING!

 

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Lots of finger licking going on. We kept those cookies for the kids. 

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Working her magic …

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And Lyla’s magic …

 

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Oh dear. 

 

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Giddy with the final results!

 

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Aren’t they lovely?! And ever so tasty!

Kate used this Wilton recipe for her icing – I’m going to use it next time, as well!

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
  • 2 tablespoons milk

 

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Ahhh, guests from England and such scrumptious cupcakes make me completely happy. 🙂 *sigh*

personal

by Gigi

11 comments

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February 8, 2010 - 2:15 pm

Kim – i so love your blog! the little girl licking the icing off of her hand–too cute!
where were these shots taken? crazy question…
any way i could find out that cool green paint color in the kitchen?

February 5, 2010 - 2:56 pm

Tanya – I always use the Wilton recipe too…it’s no fail!! We did snowflake cupcakes for my pumpkin-girls 1st bday and the icing did not disappoint! Cute pics 🙂

February 5, 2010 - 12:35 am

admin – Claire, the bottles are from the Pampered Chef! Here’s the link:

http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=13835&catId=122&parentCatId=122&outletSubCat=&viewAllOutlet=

And Sherri, those are silicone cupcake holders – they hold their own shape and don’t need to go inside a pan! Kinda handy, eh? 🙂

February 4, 2010 - 1:26 pm

Claire – I always read but never write, but I have to ask where did you get those cool kid-friendly squeeze bottles for the icing?

February 4, 2010 - 10:42 am

Sherri Smith – Love that they are hear-shaped. Are the cupcake forms hard, or do they just liners that need to be inside a pan to keep shape while cooking? I really like that they are different sizes too.

February 4, 2010 - 8:14 am

Beate – Looks good enough to eat!!

February 4, 2010 - 1:31 am

Rachael – Yummmmy!

February 4, 2010 - 1:14 am

Tabitha – YUMMY!!! Looks like so much fun!!!

February 4, 2010 - 12:22 am

Mom – Those are absolutely the most wonderful and beautiful cupcakes! Good work, girls! Nanny Elaine would be very proud! xoxo

February 4, 2010 - 12:01 am

Tara – YUM YUM YUM!!!! makin’ me hungry!

February 3, 2010 - 11:49 pm

Jennifer – Mmmm! Scrumptious! Looks like a wonderful day!

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