Thursday, May 9, 2013

Calling all cupcake fans! Cupcake Camp Boston is here! Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 30 from 11 AM to 4 PM, Rain or Shine!

This year's event will be held outside at the beautiful Hogkins-Curtin Park, located on Holland Street between Paulina and Simpson in hip Davis Square. General admission is $7.00 and all proceeds will benefit the fantastic Somerville Winter Farmers Market!

This year's sponsors are the City of Somerville and 3 Graces Productions.

We are urging you to get your advance tickets now! We can't wait to see you all there!

Monday, May 21, 2012

FAQ

Below are responses to some questions we've received about CupcakeCamp.

Can I take cupcakes with me when I leave the event?
NO. Cupcakes are meant to be eaten inside the venue at the event. Anyone attempting to take cupcakes outside the event will have those cupcakes confiscated.

How does General Admission work?
General Admission is purchased at the door. You MUST bring cash if you did not purchase a VIP ticket (No bills over $20). We cannot accept any other form of payment. General Admission is first come-first served. The line forms quickly.

Will there be gluten-free/vegan cupcakes at CupcakeCamp?
Bakers have registered to bring gluten-free and vegan cupcakes. We have asked them to label these clearly, but we personally cannot vouch for the ingredients.

What else will be available at the event?
Milk will be for sale at the Armory bar. Beer and wine will be for sale for guests 21+.

Parking? 
Parking is available on the street or in lots located at 112 Central Street and 75 Belmont Street (after 6pm).



Thursday, May 17, 2012

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Jade from Wicked Sweet Creations

How long have you been baking?
I began to enjoy baking at a young age. I loved the anticipation of my sweet creations and making a big mess in my parent’s kitchen. However only in the last few years after being inspired by a friend did I begin to really focus on baking and cake decorating.

What is your favorite thing to bake?
Cupcakes. They can be spur of the moment magic or very detailed little works of art. I love creating new cupcake flavors inspired by someone’s favorite candy bar, gourmet dessert and my absolute favorite is making cocktail inspired cupcakes. Best of Both Worlds!

What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
A multi tiered fondant covered birthday cake that I made last weekend. It was my first attempt at a multi tiered fondant covered cake and I was literally exhausted when dropping it off to the party on Sunday morning. I had wonderful reviews of the cake – design and taste which eased my tired arms.

What is your favorite ingredient?
My favorite ingredient is Honey. It is such a delicate yet wonderful taste.

What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
I pull recipes together from multiple locations but my favorites are from by old Betty Crocker cookbook and epicurious.com. I usually take the cake section from one recipe and the frosting recipe from another and then add a little bit extra to really push the envelope of the recipe.

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
Wicked Sweet Creations

How long have you been blogging?
Not very long and the blog is under a total redesign.

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
My cupcakes – My Pink Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream!

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Pink Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream and Carrot Cake Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

Feel free to include any additional information about yourself, your baking, your favorite baking story, etc
My name is Jade Giacoppo resident of Somerville (Union Square area). I love baking, face painting, and party planning. I love being able to create a sense of magic and awe to a child or adult. I can take an idea and make it come to life. My blog that is under construction will be for party planning, cupcakes and face painting services for both child and adult parties, private and corporate events.

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Christina from All's Fare Food Blog

How long have you been baking?
Umm, since I was a teenager. It’s always been my stress relief. During exam times in high school and college, I would always make cookies or brownies. Now, when I have a stressful day at the office, I come home and make a couple dozen cupcakes to feed my co-workers or my wonderful husband!



What is your favorite thing to bake?
What else? Cupcakes!

What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
A caramel apple cheesecake. It was my first cheesecake ever. My husband and I had just moved into a new apartment and I was learning the stove and oven. First, my cheesecake rose really high in the oven – nearly touching the heating element – and it freaked me out. Then, when I was trying to make the caramel topping, I learned the lesson that “butter burns.” I soon found out we have a very good smoke alarm system in our apartment!

What is your favorite ingredient?
I love using weird ingredients – like vegetables in desserts and then people don’t know they’re good for them. For instance, the other day I made cookie dough dip that was dairy-free, sugar-free and made with cannellini beans. But, it tasted wicked amazing! I’ve also had great luck with beet cupcakes. I just think people need more veggies in their lives.



What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
I LOVE my America’s Test Kitchen cookbook. I’m a kinda big nerd so I love all the science behind why things work in the kitchen or the different chemical reactions in foods. Whenever, I’m looking for a good starting point, I pull out that cookbook. Recently, I’ve found tons of great recipes through Pinterest. It’s a food lover’s paradise!

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
All's Fare Food Blog

How long have you been blogging?
Oh wow, a trip down memory lane! It will be two years in July. It came in quite handy when I lost my job in Aug. 2010. Now, that I’m fully employed again and, unfortunately, dealing with some health issues, I haven’t been able to give it as much attention to as I’ve hoped in the past six months.

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
I would probably have to say my Chocolate Zucchini Cuppies with Peanut Butter Frosting. It was the only time I’ve seen people hoard my baked goods! I guess once I get zucchini in this year’s CSA crops, I’ll be making that one a few times.

Are you on Twitter? If so, what is your Twitter name?
@crelacion - It’s full of random food links and Disney love. I’m a huge Disney fan! (Some would say freakishly so). But, there’s a lot of Disney food porn on my blog, too.

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Going along with my theme of weird ingredients – I’m making Chocolate Mashed Potato cupcakes with a chocolate buttercream and topped with chocolate-dipped potato chips. I made them last week for my co-workers and they exclaimed it was the best frosting they’ve ever tasted and that the cake was super moist. I hope people will like them as much as the folks I work with!

Feel free to include any additional information about yourself, your baking, your favorite baking story, etc
I’m really excited to be a part of Cupcake Camp again this year. I was a bit intimidated last year – as I had just moved back to Massachusetts and didn’t feel that my baking was that good. But, I’ve taken the past year for tons of ideas and I hope it pays off. I can’t wait to connect with more bloggers and cupcake lovers out there. So, I hope you stop by and see me!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

CupcakeCamp in the Boston Herald!


Check out the piece on CupcakeCamp in the Boston Herald today! Many thanks to Kerry Byrne. Full article here.

Meet the Bakers: JannaBee's


Another cupcake that I distinctly remember blowing me away at CupcakeCamp 2011 was the Banana Nut mini cupcake with cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with honey brittle dust from JannaBee's. Even if you think you don't like banana cake, you should try this. The cake was moist and caramel-y with tangy cream cheese frosting and a delightfully sweet honey brittle. Their signature bee decoration completes the presentation of these adorable mini cupcakes.


JannaBee's, founded in April of 2011, is a bake-to-order business co-owned by sisters Jannine Fisk and Bridget Collins. Jannine is an award-winning baker and Bridget is a professional pastry chef with twenty-five years of food service experience. This year, JannaBee's is bringing to CupcakeCamp their Chocolate Honey Mini Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream, above, and Raspberry Lime Rickey Mini Cupcakes. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Laurie from Food is Beautiful

How long have you been baking?
As long as I can remember! When I was little, I would stand on a chair at the counter and watch my mother. I always loved helping to decorate the sugar cookies for Chanukah.

What is your favorite thing to bake?
I love baking cakes with rich fillings and frostings.

What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
I’d have to say the guitar birthday cake I made for my daughter’s six year old birthday party.

What is your favorite ingredient?
Butter! But bacon runs a close second.

What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
Currently it’s Dorie Greenspan’s “Around my French Table”. I’ve been making my way through it with the other members of French Fridays with Dorie blog

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
Food is Beautiful

How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging about motherhood almost nine years ago.

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
I suppose it would be my cakes

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes with Banana Buttercream

Feel free to include any additional information about yourself, your baking, your favorite baking story, etc
Here are pictures of a couple of my birthday cakes

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Jess from Cupcake Daydreams

How long have you been baking?
I was always the smallest helper in both my Mother and Grandmother’s kitchens, so forever ever? Well, my passion for sweets was piqued a few years ago when started bringing gifts from the heart to holiday parties and such. I just didn’t want to bring another bottle of wine... The blog kicked off shortly after that when Cathy and I started an annual Halloween Cupcake Bar tradition at our office. The rest is history...

What is your favorite thing to bake?
Cheesecake. It’s one of first things my Mom taught me how to bake and continues to be one of the few things that I can make without measuring a single ingredient. Also, who doesn’t love something that needs a special pan?



What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
A two tiered (three layers in each tier), two flavored, hibiscus flower-themed bridal shower cake (since then, cakes are only reserved for my four year old nephew’s birthday parties - that’s it). The baking part was fine, the fondant parts were painstaking and unforgiving and ended up not tasting as good as I wanted them to, but at least it was pretty...Seriously, I’m sticking to cupcakes from here on out.

What is your favorite ingredient?
Almonds, coconut and ginger. I like the sneaky ingredients that don’t punch you in the face with flavor, instead they leave you wondering “hmm - what was that amazing flavor?” Oh, and also any sort of alcohol - Stout makes chocolate cake pop. It’s just a fact.



What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
I use Epicurious and Martha Stewart for recipe starters, then usually add my own twist. I also love Pinterest for decorating ideas!

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
Cupcake Daydreams

How long have you been blogging?
April was our 1 year anniversary...aww - such a pup.

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
I’m not sure there’s one specific flavor, but I’d like to be known for having more personal (and delicious) touches in my cupcakes. I like to incorporate the recipient’s favorite flavors, beers, ingredients and superheros.

Are you on Twitter? If so, what is your Twitter name?
@cupcakedaydream

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Banana’s Foster Cupcakes and Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes. Yum!

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Jessica

How long have you been baking?
I’ve been baking since I was a little girl, using boxed cake mixes and frozen cookie dough to make sweets for my mom’s church meetings. As I grew older, I started baking from scratch and it’s been a hobby ever since!

What is your favorite thing to bake?
Hmm, tough – cheesecake with cinnamon crust or my red velvet cupcakes


What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
I took a pastry class and the chef taught us how to bake crème puffs. Since then, I’ve tried to make them on my own – not as good as I did in class!

What is your favorite ingredient?
I LOVE Mexican Vanilla Extract – I received it as a gift and hoped it would never run empty!

What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
PINTEREST, lol. The pictures, oh my!

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
My signature goodies are my red velvet cupcakes.

Are you on Twitter? If so, what is your Twitter name?
@Jeska1109

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Those red velvet cupcakes.

Feel free to include any additional information about yourself, your baking, your favorite baking story, etc
My little sister Janice and I are ready to be a part of this baking world and are excited about what’s in store!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Melinda from Sugar High Baking

How long have you been baking?
In the past few years, my baking has reached a new high. I started baking back in elementary school but really got the “itch” after I settled into my first home.

What is your favorite thing to bake?
Without a doubt, my favorite things to bake are cupcakes. I love experimenting with new recipes, flavor combinations and decorations.

What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
The most challenging thing I’ve tried to bake to date – soufflé. I can’t seem to nail the timing and my soufflés tend to fall after cooling. I’m going to keep trying though!


What is your favorite ingredient?
I love citrus flavors. Citrus taste clean and refreshing! I love incorporating those flavors into my frostings for a little “kick.”

What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
Though I still adore the Hello, Cupcake and What’s New Cupcake books, my recent trend has been following David Lebovitz’s blogs and reading his cookbooks. His chocolate recipes alone are worth the trip to Google.

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
Sugar High Baking

How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging in March 2011. I wish I had time to make it a full-time obsession, but unfortunately, I have a day job!


What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
My Key Lime Cupcakes are a big hit with family and friends right now. I’ve been told they are “the best [I’ve] ever made” so perhaps that will be my new sensational hit!

Are you on Twitter? If so, what is your Twitter name?
@Melinda_Lynne

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
I am going to be testing out some of my citrus cupcake recipes on the crowd. I am bringing my Key Lime Cupcakes, Lemon Zest Cupcakes and if I can find some in-season blood oranges at the grocer, an Orange Chocolate Cupcake.

Feel free to include any additional information about yourself, your baking, your favorite baking story, etc

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Jack

How long have you been baking?
All my life. I started cooking and baking with my Mother over 40 years ago.

What is your favorite thing to bake?
Chocolate Chip Cookies. I have many variations with “secret ingredients” as my family calls them.

What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
Anything from my Mother’s recipes. I’ve never been able to match her cooking.



What is your favorite ingredient?
Vanilla… I almost always use more than a recipe calls for.

What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
The internet... Blogs have been my greatest source of recipes and inspiration.

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
Not yet... Haven’t had the time that it takes to really blog.

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
We’re back to my cookies... My own recipe for chocolate chip cookies… it’s a secret… but I share it... LOL

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting… and Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream... It is my first time at camp so I thought I would stay classic.



Feel free to include any additional information about yourself, your baking, your favorite baking story, etc
I am a 50 yo father of 3 grown boys, I have always cooked and baked for my family. I am also a professional Firefighter and enjoy cooking for my guys at the station.

Meet the Amateur Bakers - Sara from Chompzone

How long have you been baking?
I’ve been baking for more than a decade.

What is your favorite thing to bake?
Cupcakes – of course!

What is the most challenging thing you've ever baked?
I recently had to give up gluten for health reasons. Gluten free baking is challenging but with persistence and practice, I’ve learned to master the different flours.


What is your favorite ingredient?
High quality vanilla and chocolate – it makes a huge difference!

What is your favorite cookbook or recipe resource?
I love anything written by Julia Child and Erin McKenna (author of Baby Cake cookbooks and owner of the bakery by the same name). I’m also a huge fan of the blogosphere and Epicurious.

Do you have a blog? If so what is the URL?
www.chompzone.com

How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been food blogging for about 4.5 years.

What is the one baked good you're know for or would like to be known for?
Definitely cupcakes.

Are you on Twitter? If so, what is your Twitter name?
@saranoonan

What will you be baking for Cupcake Camp?
Gluten Free Shirley Temple cupcakes. When I was growing up, my grandmother used to take my brother and I to a restaurant that served Shirley Temples. We’d always order them with extra maraschino cherries. When I discovered they could be made in cupcake form (and gluten free to boot!) I was ecstatic. The best part is you can’t even tell they’re gluten free!