Its no big secret that I'm a Martha Stewart fan. Say what you will but Martha has taught me more about cleaning, cooking, decorating, and being polite than my mother ever did.
Chances are if you want to braise beef, make flan, or throw a dinner party you can find out how to do it from Martha.
Granted... sometimes it seems she's just a "bit" out of touch with the majority of us (like when the materials list for those tree decorations included $137 cookie molds) but for the most part the creativity and techniques in her books and magazines and on her TV show are totally inspiring.
Her Cupcake book is no exception. Mine came in the mail yesterday and I've been distracted ever since.
As always... the book itself is beautiful and colorful and the full page photos are exquisite.
The book is divided into sections as per type of cupcake... Swirled and Sprinkled, Dipped and Glazed, Simple and Sweet, Filled and Layered, Piped and Topped. Further sections include recipes and ideas for birthdays, holidays, and celebrations. The back section covers the basics, ideas for displaying and giving, plus the templates and clip art for making the special little touches. There's also a resources list for everything in the book from special ingredients to fancy tools (including the damn cookie molds).
There are cupcake recipes to please literally everyone. Everything from old favorites (chocolate, buttermilk, applesauce spice) to fruity (strawberry with buttercream, raspberry marble cheesecake, blueberries and cream) to decadent (tiramisu, Black forest, German chocolate, sticky toffee pudding) and over the top (spun sugar crowns, candied hazelnut with spiky nuts that look just dangerous, and chocolate faux-bois disks).
Granted, I haven't yet made any of the recipes (check back with me this afternoon) but I read through the book page for page and must say that even the super gourmet cupcakes seem perfectly do-able provided you can get all the ingredients. The instructions and pictures are very helpful and complete.
Most of the recipes are average baker friendly. Its just a matter of mixing and sometimes chilling and the occasional whipping. There are recipes for just as many mouth-watering frostings, glazes, and fillings. Some of the recipes offer suggestions for different frostings and finishings.
One thing that draws me to Martha-everything is her knack for taking something simple and adding a tiny touch of something else and ending up with something marvelous. Even simple yummy cupcakes are made super special and worthy of celebrity with the ideas for decorating, serving, and presenting.
The only thing I found that you need to be on the lookout for is the number of cupcakes a recipe makes. Some only make 12 or 18 while others make 42!
All in all... I give it a big frosting covered thumbs up. Whether you have a hanker'in for a plain cupcake with a little frosting on a weekday afternoon or want to make something super fancy for a party you'll find it here.
I'm heading off to make my grocery list and I'll leave you with a few images from the book.
PS... I recently was informed that sending homemade snacks to school for special days, any days, and birthdays is totally welcome in our district. That's the charm of living where the average graduating class is 90 kids. Of course, considerations are made should there be any kids with allergies in a class. Also, the high school kids and the elementary kids all still ride the same bus meaning my little kids will be accompanied by my bigger kids when school starts in the fall. I'm pretty sure Tater will be kindly escorted to her room each morning by a sibling or 2 at least the first few days. I'm easing into the whole "the kids are going off to school" thing and cupcakes really help.
Sheep cupcakes! Eep! And those spun sugar ones...wow. I may need this book...thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!
Posted by: Laura | June 06, 2009 at 12:12 AM
I have a love/hate with Marfy. Sometimes I think she makes it too complicated--but I appreciate her for bringing crafting/homely arts to the masses and making them "cool."
I'll be back to driving thru her hometown everyday again this fall...I can see why she ended up so creative...hee hee...there's nothing better to do!
Posted by: bezzie | June 04, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I was just going to ask the same thing!!! SHEEP cupcakes???? Oh I HAVE to make those!!!!!
:-)
Posted by: Amy | June 04, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I still love Martha too. I made sheep cupcakes similar to those that were in one of her Baby magazines about 8 years ago. I made them for my Gram's birthday. What else do you make for a knitter.
Posted by: km | June 04, 2009 at 11:15 AM
OK... YUMMM!!!
Sheep - CUTE!!
And were those monsters and weird creatures?? My boys would love love love them!!
And the chocolate cupcake on the cover is a winner in my book.
Posted by: Kara | June 04, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Wait... were those SHEEP cupcakes? Too funny!
And dammit, now I want cupcakes...
Posted by: trillian42 | June 04, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I couldn't help but laugh at Martha being a little out of touch.
When I was little, I watched a Martha special about making Ginger bread houses. I was so amazed at the spectacular house she had built that I talked my Mom into helping me make my own. Somehow our icing went all wrong and it wouldn't "glue" our pieces together. We had to hot glue them.
Needless to say, it was a far cry from the perfect ginger bread house with twinkling lights in the windows...
Posted by: Ashlee | June 04, 2009 at 10:12 AM