began early this morning (well, early for a Saturday) when I embarked on making four dozen - count them: forty-eight - cupcakes for a New Year's Eve Party. Two dozen yellow and two dozen red velvet, with either chocolate, cream cheese or coconut frosting. First, I discovered that I only have one standard-size cupcake pan; I thought I had two. Turns out I have two jumbo muffin tins - what's up with that? So I ended up baking the cupcakes a dozen at a time. Not a big deal, because I got to try out my latest gadget!
A handy-dandy batter dispenser from the wonderful people at Chicago Metallic - the same people who make the greatest baking pans in the world. Or at least I think so. This thing is amazing! Hold it over the cupcake liner and squeeze the handle; when it's full enough to suit you, let go of the handle and move on to the next liner. No drips, no mess - no baked-on gook to scrub off the cupcake pan. I suppose you could also use it for pancake batter if you are of the pancake-making persuasion.
To keep the cupcakes from getting smashed and the frosting from being mussed, I dropped each cupcake into a small plastic cup and then into a cute holiday plastic bag and twist-tied it closed. I decided to forgo the raffia bows and tags reading red velvet - blah, blah, blah - no one would have cared that I went to all that trouble anyway. I've learned over the years that there is such a thing as overkill when it comes to taking stuff to a holiday party - people really only care how what you brought tastes. I re-purposed a pizza box into two flat trays by covering the cardboard with Santa paper. Cute - and I don't have to worry about getting my tray or basket back.
Another lesson learned the hard way...
Unfortunately, I ran out of the snappy little snowflake bags and had to resort to using some supplies I had on hand. The flowers and pumpkins are festive - but just the wrong season. We'll just have to see if anybody notices.
