Vegetable in a cupcake?!

Now this one was creative! Why put vegetables in a cake? Cake is commonly sweet and so why use something other than sugary fruits or flavors?

It just so happens that I am a vegetarian. Not by choice, that is, but that is another story we will get to one day. Being a vegetarian allows me to see the good and usefulness in many naturally grown fruits and vegetables but I don't know that I would think of carrots as a base to a cake, So why and when would someone think of carrots as an additive to cake?

Turns out, it all started in the medieval period when sucrose was expensive and hard to come by, so some smart old cook (or old woman sitting in by her cooking kettle, so I like to see it) decided to use carrots in place sugar. Turns out carrots have the second highest sugar content in vegetables. And so, Carrot Cake (or Passion cake as it is sometimes referred to) was born!

Carrot Cake takes my senses to the fall, although made year-round. This little moist cake topped with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Walnuts takes me where the wind blows and the leaves fall.

Happy Fall Everyone!

Summer's Over! The taste is not, key lime love!

As requested, the winner of the key lime dessert poll is..... KEY LIME TART.  Honestly, I was personally rooting for the key lime tart myself. So smooth, tangy yet sweet, crunchy and flaky exterior. Really - what's not to love?

What's fun with cooking and baking for me? The ability to create a menu and taste that reaches majority. Now, I don't know about you guys but over the years I have noticed and watched my taste for food change. Our pallets change, our bodies change and our minds. Then there are those select few out there that just kind of cruise through life, do the same old thing, see the same old thing, think the same old way. To each, his own! But what fun would life be without a little change, chance, new experience or new taste?

So I say, experience life and food, and love it!

KEY LIME TART.

Experience it.

for the love of CHOCOLATE.

Oh do I love chocolate. And so does desserts. When I really get that urge for something sweet and I have to satisfy, well I go straight for the sweet satisfy, chocolate! This week I've given semi-sweet and dark chocolate their shot in two delectable recipes. First, my new "it" item - Mini Pie! Here I took an old version of Mississippi Mudd Pie (and no we are not talking about Ice cream cake here, only the real version) and sprinkled some Sum love into it. DELISH!

And to the ever-so-satisfying, easy to eat, easy to dunk (in milk!) cookie! Brownie Cookies with note of cinnamon.

And so we have our dedication to our Chocolate week-o-love!

Ultimate Vanilla Bean Cupcake takes the queen crown...

Vanilla has never been a choice flavor of mine in any dessert or cupcake. This is most likely due to the lack of quality ingredients that most bakeries carry. The classic vanilla had not met my pallet with explosion, that is, until I met creamy vanilla bean ice cream and everything changed. Real vanilla derived from fresh vanilla bean is much different in taste from actual vanilla. Furthermore, the more pure vanilla bean and vanilla bean paste lend a true flavor experience unmatched by the classic imitation extract that most recipes are used with. Pure, Quality, Fresh ingredients bring us back to the flavors that this earth has been made with. On we go with this moist and light cake made with Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla and Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Bean Buttercream.

Love Chocolate Banana Shakes? You'll love this...

I am not much of a shake drinking kind of gal but then there is that occasional time where I get an itch for the ONLY kind of shake that I like, Chocolate Banana. And it, of course, has to be topped with whipped cream. I love the flavor of the two combined. I'd like to name the first baker who thought of putting these into a cupcake, Genius! This would, no doubt, be on my list of available cupcakes as it is one of my personal favorite's. I have been hard pressed to find this cake around in any bakery as it is a little more uncommon and maybe a tad bit less popular than your average flavors. Either way, it's available with me. This cake is moist, fluffy, full of air bubbles, chocolaty with a banana note. Creamy frosting tops this cake with dark chocolate shavings and a banana chip. I'm in love. A little slice here and there. Dangerous!

For those of you having trouble finding Divinity Baking Co.'s Facebook page, click on the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Divinity-Baking-Co/163260307093392

Fabulous Beginnings for a fabulous Cupcake.

I am adorned with the response from those of you who have been supporting by new venture and believe in my work. My Pumpkin and Dark Chocolate Swirl Cupcakes are flying high in the sky with overwhelming positive response. I'd say when people are splitting cupcakes into 6th's, we have a winner!!! PS. It's my favorite too :)

Gourmet, a term I don't use lightly. Gourmet is my cupcake. I believe in a sweet that brightens your pallet. I really love high quality fresh ingredient use in all cooking and baking. And so we are on to our next flavor. For those of you White Chocolate lovers that don't like a heavy cake with heavy notes, this cupcake may be for you.
Pink Champagne Cupcakes, White Chocolate Frosting, White Chocolate Shavings, Pink Salt Sprinkle.

I'll only say this, this one time: We have not been founded on the premise of copying any other Company doing this very similar thing, ie. Cupcakes! We (Divinity Baking Co.), whom by the way makes more than just cupcakes, are providing a high quality Gourmet treat. We do not want to be compared to Sprinkles or those alike. Here is why:

Anyone guess which company this Cupcake belongs to? If you have been around the cupcake world, you have heard of them! I am not out to say anything negative about their work. I walked into their store yesterday and asked the sweet faced gal which flavor was her favorite. I went with her suggestion (Strawberry). I truly wanted to understand what the hype was all about and was even excited about trying this. Simple, straight forward and a well made cupcake. And so I was able to see this: their cupcakes are here to reach the masses. Nothing wrong with reaching a large mass. It's good business. What have a drawn from this taste and texture test? I'm satisfied and happy to be creating Gourmet.

Fall Comfort in a little cake.

Pumpkin is a wonderful ingredient to bake with on its own, however, I'm just never satisfied with my creations until they have reached the gourmet playing field. This always involves added love and spice into my baking. Then there is always that secret ingredient that sets me apart from most, but I wont give up easily :). I've created the perfect fall indulgence: Pumpkin and Dark Chocolate Swirl Cupcakes, Light Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting with Dark Chocolate Shavings. I'm so excited to call this cupcake truly my own. It is delectable! I may even make these into Cake Pops (more for adults, of course). These are a great Cupcake to have for a dinner party, Birthday party, Holiday gathering or just for yourself on that day you crave yourself some pumpkin and chocolate goodness :)

These are available NOW. Contact me if you are interested. Love and Pastries: from my home to yours!