I know, the Gimme Dem Cupcakes blog has been quiet, but you understand. “Momma’s Always on Stage.” Someone asked me what I was proud of in 2011, and I’m definitely proud of my baking. Thank you all for your support.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,000 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.
-another wonderful year with the Literacy Council, promotion to bartender at Artie’s and most of all, my new part-time baker position at Sticky Fingers!
Guess who got (another) job!? That’s right, the haphazard kt machine is gonna try a new combination of crazy starting this weekend as I start baking PT for Sticky Fingers in DC. It’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up! Learning from pros who totally took em down on Cupcake Wars?! No brainer.
What does that mean for Gimme Dem Cupcakes? GDC will be making it’s last for profit appearance this weekend at the Mt. Pleasant Farmers market in collaboration with V Picnic Club. To prevent a conflict of interest with my Sticky Fingers friends, I will only continue baking cupcakes for current friends and loved ones who already have my contact information. In the future, I still plan to take part in local events like the Capital Area Cake Show as well as collaborate with friends on other ideas, so you’ll still be able to catch some sweets or an empanada here and there. I’ll keep you apprised as the blog is re-purposed into a solely personal outlet.
I have to say, this like many recent posts, is going the long way ’round before we ever get to the cake… Today was Katie Beckman day, aka my 26th birthday. Where am I? Who did I enjoy my birthday with? While I usually spend most Independnce days and birthdays with my immediate family or closest friends; today I was in Georgia with my boyfriend and his family. I got to meet his mom, dad, brother, sister in law, and her two little sisters (flickr album). This is my first time in GA, first time meeting his family, first time meeting a family that lives so far from me.
I’ve spent a little over a year getting to know Lars, and as much as I love him, I knew he was part of a family of good people. Our first night and day of vacation was in Athens, and while I was immeditely drawn to the open and inclusive culture of one of the country’s best college/music towns, I found myself at the edge of my seat with excitement as we drove to his family’s home in suburban Atlanta. As I entered the door, they immediately hugged me hard and made me feel so welcome and so loved. I can’ fully describe how good and how complete each moment has been, but I feel incredibly blessed. I hope for more, but I’m so satisfied for what is now.
We’ve had a wonderful few days, and today, they celebrated my birthday with me. Lars’s mom has been very accommodating to my dietary decisions, and today was no exception. She prepared a gorgeous cake, the oh so decadent Death by Vegan Chocolate cake from The Grit cookbook. Accented with blackberries and served with one of the delicious teas, I was surprised to open a great collection of records to accompany the new record player from Lars.
The evening was punctuated with family stories, music, and delicious food. I can’t believe we leave Wednesday, but I feel like this has been the most relaxing vacation I can remember. Every year feels like I’m more and more me, and I’m lucky to have the company of such wonderful, wonderful people. I hope I remember how much I love them, however long they’re in my life.
I hope as you read this post, maybe you can have some idea of how special it is to love, and then fall in love a little deeper. Please remember, I love you all and know I send you lots of happy thoughts! As soon as Lars posts bday pictures, you’ll have a better idea of the cake and Jude’s wonderful culinary skills.
Today, I went to work feeling exhausted which has kind of been happening too frequently. The fatigue has been slowing down my productivity at the office and it isn’t really helping me smile at the restaurant. Everything is ok. Everything is routine, I just know I’m not operating at my best. What could be wrong when I’m pursuing the righteous path of the cupcake calling?
Well, Easter quickly approaches and I’m feeling disappointed in my efforts this Lent. My Lenten promise was very modest this year (15 minutes of time dedicated to reflection or prayer), but in actuality I really flat-out failed. Most days I bolted from bed to get ready for whatever each day was packed with. Especially compared to more successful efforts in the past, I kind of know I missed the boat. Lent’s a time of reflection and worship, and I feel as if I’ve enjoyed so many other opportunities without taking responsibility for my spiritual health. I’ve missed church almost every Sunday since winter started. I don’t feel obliged to participate in the Catholic faith just because of my membership; I chose it because I believe in it. I like having a place and a community and the routine and comfort of ritual. But lately I haven’t chosen it as often as I’d like. I feel good about my relationship with God, I know He knows I care and that He cares for me. It’s more that His house and the rituals offer me the mental switches to recalibrate; and I haven’t. So I feel a bit out of tune. Some might say I’ve very liberally cherry-picked what are morally right and wrong traditions to follow, especially in the eyes of the Catholic church; and it’s true. I think there are many ways to seek truth. Maybe I lack the inner divinity to be at peace any old where. But I like being Catholic and the ways I celebrate my faith. I like the sense of belonging and peace I have even when I go to the 8:30 mass and fight the heaviness in my eyes or struggle to understand the accent of my Haitian priest when it’s his turn to lead mass. I like the social justice activism, the bilingual newsletter, and shaking hands with relative strangers, and how it all fills me with a sense of renewed love for the world around me.
So what am I going to do about it? How will I refocus my efforts? Well, tonight, after a nice late supper on the balcony talking with my dad, I made banana bread for my bestie and my Nana. My sister, Lars and I will take an overnight trip to my Nana’ for a whirlwind pizza/canasta night and then an early mass at their church. So in advance, I apologize for the lack of Easter dinner for my family, but I’m so glad I will be able to carve out some time to be with them on such a special day. After that, I think I might have some new mass options. A friend at Artie’s goes to a GMU mass at 10pm which’ll be way better than the 7:30AM at St. Leo I’ve yet to make it to. And in May, hopefully, I’ll have rearranged my sched so I can have time for church and Bible study, and a whole day off. Ambitious yes, but a well centered cupcaker probably makes more satisfying cupcakes. I love you all and wish you a wonderful Easter.
Heyo, I just wanted to write a message full of my infinite gratitude to all the supporters who helped my RAFA donation order go off without a hitch. Helpers I expected didn’t show and unexpected helpers did; it was all really smooth through production, clean-up, delivery, presentation, and CONSUMPTION!!! Boom even helped put together a pretty sweet foam core sign last minute! I tried to document along the way. I coasted through two evenings of late night baking with great company and sailed through the event day on a total high, delirious with joy and fatigue. In the end RAFA had about 500 participants and the staff eagerly took home the leftover cupcakes. I didn’t staff the food are of the event but the volunteers said the cupcakes were the most popular. I didn’t put out many business cards and I did get some email addresses on my newsletter sign-up. Special thanks to Jenny, Gloria, Patrick, Nasser, Lars, Joy, Dad, Mom, Auntie Gabe, and everyone who helped me make it happen by coming to my aide in a big way!
So during the aftermath, it feels sooooo good to have a success of that scale under my belt. It taught me how to organize, execute, delegate, and I think it really helped me see my technique. Now I’m trying redirect all that energy and organize my to-do list. First I list, later I’ll get to the prioritizing, most of them will be concurrent anyway:
write recipes/experiment
try to cater a wedding this season (promote me, suggest to brides to be-I’ll give a friendly discount)
find a venue for recurring Gimme Dem Cupcakes beit house shows, farmers markets, gallery openings, or something else small and community based (send me your ideas: wait-listed at Falls Church and Mt. P farmer’s markets)
prepare my first ever cupcake workshop for the after-school program at James Lee Community Center!
There’s always so much to do, but I am so pumped! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you all!
This is my favorite time of year. I’m hoping to get my tree up tonight so I can sit in the dark with the lights twinkling while I try to drag Cocoa Bean away from the beckoning ornaments!
So far, I’m having a great time! So much celebrating! I enjoyed a flawless family Thanksgiving + Lars and I got a little weekend time with my homies back from grad school , too. And upon reflecting the future challenge of life without Can Can, my wonderful Corolla DX wagon, I went on my usual existential bend and concluded my life purpose is to concoct and share cupcakes. (It’s getting real: business cards are ordered and I’m working with a friend to write up a business plan!) Meanwhile, we had a great 2009 Holiday Party for our community of volunteers, students and staff here at the Literacy Council, Cocoa Bean enjoyed her very first snow, and I was again blown away by the culinary feats of the Perry House homies at Friendsgiving. (:
All these ooey gooey sharing caring events have my cupcaking noggin churning ideas for new cupcakes and business ideas… thinking about what I need to do to certify my kitchen for commercial use, how to market more effectively to people I don’t know, how to do community service with cupcakes… Could GDC hold workshops for the community or be totally structured as a non-profit? We’ll see…
So yesterday I got back from an overnight camping trip Pig Pickin’ 09. It was one of the best weekend getaways I’ve had in a long time. Though I didn’t take part in the pork carnage, it was the sort of event where strangers find each other mingling over delicious food and beverages while sharing stories, perhaps arguing and starting new friendships. Yeah for homemade pickles and giant pig cakes!
When I got home Sunday afternoon, not only did I miss my Cocoa Bean, I felt the huge urge to get into my kitchen and cook. What do you need when you’re in that lethargic Sunday morning food coma? Black Coffee Cupcakes. How else could I decompress than with a warm cupcake and a puppy in my lap?
Results: You guys are so predictable… A billion of you were into vanilla and chocolate combinations, sometimes with fruit, and sometimes topped with sprinkles. Less dominant were the classics like carrot cake with cream cheese, red velvet, lemon+blueberry, and the dreaded funfetti. There were a few more interesting selections like white chocolate, smore + peanut butter, but overall nothing much original. I was hoping people would be more adventurous. But I was reminded, cupcakes are sentimental comfort food. People want their childhood favorites and the their mom’s (Betty Crocker’s) recipes. So, while you are comfortably nestled in your cardboard box favorites, I’ll shake in a little ginger, hibiscus, coconut, lychee, green tea, marzipan, and all the ideas I have that might break you out of your shells! You know, stuff like this.
When things are intense at work, sometimes I feel a travel bug is just about to get me. I feel like meandering. The Cupcakeologist knows how to pull at my heartstrings. I need not wander when I have memories of Italy flooding my eyes. Ahh, Firenze, how I miss The Oil Shoppe and Perche No! and Vivoli… Curling up in my homestay on Piazza Santa Croce to watch Roma,Citta Aperta. Better yet, I remember walking to the edge of the city and coming back from the markets with fresh fruit, cheese and bread to share with the birds while I layed out on the legs of the Ponte Santa Trinita, writing poems instead of working on my thesis. Don’t judge, but Sfizzi Pizza, a watermelon, and a jug of wine do make the perfect summer night full of dancing and searching and getting lost only to walk two blocks out of the way to be driven a block home by a creepy artist. It was a good place to learn about beauty, the-not-so-pretty, and passions that make life feel meaningful…. such a long time ago and such a short 2 months, but thinking of it makes me feel all fuzzy and warm.
This all inspried by The Cupcaketologist, one of my very favorite cupcake aficiandos. She make nuts sexy. For every cupcake, there’s a stunning image and a terribly romantic story. It’s not a kitsche collection of anything, just a really tasteful life reflection presented through confection. Beck, that’s a good blog. I love getting lost on the internet…
Not as sexy, expect to see a Spumoni in the test kitchen here shortly.
In case you haven’t tasted one yet, look out, my cupcakes ooze with love. This week, I got my first commission to bake 30-36 mini cupcakes of my choosing for the Literacy Council’s Back to School Night. I decided on Choconut, Jelly Donut, and Dreamsicle. Ultimately, it was a good learning experience with a mixture of success and failure.
The event was Wednesday night, so Tuesday after a marathon day at the office, staffing both James Lee registrations, I set out to the grocery store. On the way I checked my voice mail only to find I did not get the little puppy pending adoption at Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Then, I of course only found imitation almond extract and forgot to buy more cupcake liners. Woe is Kt B. When I got home, my sister and I mourned the puppy while we crushed most of a 500 piece puzzle. At about 11:30, I went about my preparations, seeing I’d have just enough if I didn’t make any mistakes. Then, struck by the mood to improvise, I tried subbing out my regular unbleached all-purpose for gluten-free flour with a little almond flour as well as subbing coconut oil for vegetable. I rushed a little and put regular size cupcakes in with the mini pan. You can see where this is going. I was starting to lose my steam especially since I was sad about Ty the puppy. The end result was less delicious, slightly deflated crumbly cupcakes. Not something I’d be proud to present as my first sale. So, a little more defeated, I went to bed wishing happy thoughts for Ty and his new owner(s) and brainstorming what I’d need to do in the AM.
I got up at 8 and decided to use some sick leave to collect my self and make some redemption cupcakes. I stopped at Safeway hoping to find a 2nd mini-cupcake pan and the almond extract. No pan, but I tried Micheals in the same shopping center. They were sold out, but they did have the this cool pearl stuff I ‘m thinking of using for another project. At home, I resolved that Ty is a beautiful puppy and though I’m sad and allowed to be sad, it showed me the kind of bonding I’d like to have with a dog I do adopt. I also decided there wasn’t a second mini pan because I needed to go at a slow pace and be a little more careful and loving.
Nailed it. I think I made the best buttercream and cream cheese icings in kt-history. I also nixed the gluten-free urge. I did use real vanilla beans for the batters and did find the pure almond extract. I did try to candy an orange peel 1. by baking 2. by simmering it in sugar water until i forgot about it… Whoops. baking made a really dry rind, so in the end, I opted to use rthe candied ginger I had. End result: gorgeous black and white Choconut, melt in your mouth Dreamsicle, and classic Jelly Donut. Moreover, my office-mates were thrilled they got to eat my “mistakes.”
Then came the last dilemma, Suzanne insisted the Council pay me. I had no idea how to price it so I handed her the receipt from Safeway for a reimbursement on supplies instead. She argued with me but ended with a grin and hug, proud and happy for the sweet little tins we put out for the volunteers. Whew.
At about 11:30, I went about my preparations, seeing I’d have just enough if I didn’t make any mistakes. 
Then, struck by the mood to improvise, I tried subbing out my regular unbleached all-purpose for gluten-free flour with a little almond flour as well as subbing coconut oil for vegetable. I rushed a little and put regular size cupcakes in with the mini pan. You can see where this is going. I was starting to lose my steam especially since I was sad about Ty the puppy. The end result was less delicious, slightly deflated crumbly cupcakes. 
Not something I’d be proud to present as my first sale. So, a little more defeated, I went to bed wishing happy thoughts for Ty and his new owner(s) and brainstorming what I’d need to do in the AM.
End result: gorgeous black and white Choconut, melt in your mouth Dreamsicle, and classic Jelly Donut. Moreover, my office-mates were thrilled they got to eat my “mistakes.”
gimme dem cupcakes 
