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.

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.

Life After Cupcake Wars: Day 5 & 6

In the words of Ice Cube (and my husband Kevin) Today was a Good Day! But Whew!!! It was busy. Phone calls, interviews and constant requests. Im typing now, 10 at night, but Im sure I still have a few hours of  work to go...
Rewind to yesterday...First there was my morning walk. I only got as far as putting my sneaks on, when the phone rang, its Atlanta Journal Constitution wanting an interview. So much for the exercise! BUT, since I do taste everything I bake, I need to walk, so put that back on the list. What happened after the interview was a blur but I definitely remember hearing something about my website shutting down, no orders coming through and please check and/or empty the voicemail on the company phone. This was not on the "To Do" list today. My list was simple:

Enjoying some cake with Bill & Will of Strawn Brewery
and cupcake loving customers at Oz



Walk 3 miles

Bake & deliver 500 cupcakes

Make guest appearance @ 1pm

Call longtime, loyal friend Patrice in TN

With phone orders and voicemails backing up I'm seriously considering looking for some help. Any suggestions on where to look? A cooking school downtown maybe? Since my day was about 40 hours long, let me just cover the highlights:

Signed my first autograph (rockstar status!)

Appearing on Good Morning Atlanta July 12th (My publicist Liz is good..)

Saw 100 cupcakes fly out the door while I was delivering them. Awesome!

Didn't walk or call Patrice - but I am going to call my friend right now while I'm walking..bye!

More cupcake experts!

Fans of the show