Life After Cupcake Wars: Day 30!

I made it, Day 30 has come and gone! What did I get done? So much has happened... 30 days ago I thought I would just have a small party, my phone would ring a little more and I would busier for awhile. That is so not the case! I'm not even sure what I am doing right now. My little commercial kitchen might not be enough soon. I have been approached about opening my own store and I'm seriously considering doing it! But who's got time to plan a store when you are trying to bake 3 giant cakes and 500 cupcakes for a big telecommunication company with only 2 days notice? That's my life right now..


Well, its been fun, most of it anyway. Going on Good Day Atlanta  Appearance: Good Day Atlanta was an awesome experience and host Karen Graham made the interview go so quickly, I don't even remember what I said. Of all the different newspaper that interview me, South Fulton Neighbor was the best. Article: Jacobs Daniel wins Cupcake Wars Nneka, the news reporter they sent was a real person and truly interested in my company. I have learned so much and met so many people along the way. Atlanta loves a tasty treat and it's nice being in demand to provide a great food.

Life After Cupcake Wars: Day 27

Day 27,
Only 4 days left to make my mark on the baking world! Youtube is next on my list. Before I made it to "Cupcake Wars" I was also a "Coupon Queen" and made hundreds of videos on YouTube explaining how to cut your food bill in half. I still use coupons when I shop..I live by saving money on groceries, because food costs too much but everybody deserves to eat. I have 4,000 moms and dads interested in whats on sale this week. But starting this week, I'm going to find out how many people are interested in baking their own creations. You can start looking for me to produce videos about how to bake better recipes, how to make your cupcakes more attractive and whatever else I think is worthy. I'm also taking suggestions, so let me know..

Top 10 Tips for Beginning Bakers

Are you new to baking cakes?

1. Temperature -All ingredients should be at room temperature. That includes milk, butter and eggs.

2. Always Pre-heat! Turn the oven on for at least 15 minutes before you will be using it, so it has time to reach the proper temperature.
3. When Recipe Says “Cream” Butter & Sugar
   To cream butter with sugar, beat it at high speed on an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, or until it is fluffy. You cream the butter and sugar to dissolve the sugar crystals for one thing. For another you need to make it look like a "batter" so it will be all fluffy and nice before adding any of the dry ingredients
4. Wet and dry measurements aren't the same. Use dry measures for dry ingredients and wet measures for liquid ingredients. Measuring cups for dry ingredients come in individual sizes (1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup). You fill the cup completely with dry ingredient and level it off with knife. For liquid, simply pour to desired amounts line.
   
5. Unless otherwise stated, eggs used in baking recipes should be the large size.
6. When measuring sticky ingredients such as molasses or honey, lightly oil the inside of the cup first.
7. You must sift flour for cakes and powdered sugar (confectioners) when you're using it in icing. For cakes, sift the flour, measure it, then sift it again with the dry ingredients.
8. Melting Chocolate. Chocolate must be melted over low heat or it will burn.
   Double boiler method – Melt in heat-proof bowl over pot of boiling water.
   Microwave method -You can also put it in a microwave-proof container and heat on 70 percent power for 1 minute. It should still be lumpy when you remove it; keep stirring until it is smooth. If it is still lumpy, return it to the microwave and heat in 10-second increments at 60% until smooth.
9. Use the size of pans indicated in the recipe. When you change sizes, you change the thickness of the cake and the amount of time needed to cook cake properly.
10. Be Patient! Cakes should cool completely in the pan before being inverted onto a plate or cardboard round. Run a small knife between the cake and the sides of the pan first to loosen it.

Hey.. Im not sending out the recipe for my Strawberry "Short" cupcakes anymore! You can click the link and get it there in all it's glory. Enjoy!!!

http://wap.myfoxatlanta.com/w/main/story/67206035/

Life After Cupcake Wars: Day 23

Yesterday...All I did today was watch people who know a nifty thing when they taste it purchase our desserts and leave with big smiles. It was very gratifying. I also recieved approval to deliver my cupcakes to 2 new locations in Douglasville and East Point, GA. Move over Betty (Crocker) So Cosmo is taking over the baking scene! Do you think Tyler Perry will put me in a movie now?

Life After Cupcake Wars: Day 16

This last week has been a blur. I might have said that already, but I guess thats how it is when you are a cupcake queen (I have been crowned "Queen of Cupcakes" by Karen Graham of Fox 5). After meeting with business owners, city officials, the dept. of agriculture, preparing for my 'Good Day Atlanta' appearance, and finishing an interview this morning with Nom Nom-Nneka, all I have to do now is simply deliver a thousand cupcakes, today. "Been there, done that!"