Making perfect buttercream

Ingredients:
250g soft butter
500g icing sugar
Splash of milk
Teaspoon of vanilla extract/ paste

Method
Cream the butter until soft then add the icing slowly ( I use a kitchen aid but you can use a hand mixer or use a wooden spoon)
Once all the icing is mixed in use a splash of milk to loosen the buttercream and then add the vanilla.
I always use a disposable icing bag... Snip off the end and pop a nozzle in the end! Star shape works well for buttercream swirls.
Starting from the outside of the cupcake squeeze the bag and work anti clockwise working your way around to the inside as pictured!
Practise makes perfect with buttercream .... This should cover about 12-16 muffin size cupcakes... Now decorate !!!
Delicious :)

Cupcakes for Sir David Attenborough

Last year many of you may remember that I made cupcakes for Sir David Attenborough I had to make 100 cute penguin cupcakes for his preview at the Mayfair hotel.
Well this year I was again asked to make them this year 100 cupcakes were made for his documentary about the Galapagos islands. So I made 50 turtles and 50 lizards to go on the 100 cupcakes and took them down to London!!!
Eeeek exciting :)
My sister Amie came with me in the train and we had a great day obviously had to pop to Hummingbird Bakery ... I've been a few times but Amie never had.
So so excited to be asked again and was told that Sir David himself ate one of the cupcakes so more than chuffed :)

Not Goodbye.... Just See You Soon

I sat for a while today thinking how do I tell everyone the following news and decided the best way was in my blog....

I have decided to close my shop ! I know I'm heartbroken. But the truth of the matter is I just physically, emotionally and financially can not do it any longer. 

Many of you know me and you know my family and circumstances, for those of you that don't know I am a mummy of 5 children two with additional needs.
Charlie has a big year ahead of him next year he has cerebral palsy and needs a series of operations and lots of physio. I run the shop mostly on my own during the week and after 16 years together my husband and i separated 6 months ago.
Its been such a tough year for me I'm drained....

I love my shop and all my customers and you've all kept me going this year but after sitting down and thinking long and hard ... (and this has been the hardest decision) on Christmas eve i will close my doors.

We've done so many amazing things this year and raised money for some amazing charities and had great parties and workshops.... I'll miss all these things..
I'll miss customers coming in for a natter and sometimes a cuddle and gossip. I feel this shop is more than a shop its been a meeting place for so many people and my customers have also been through so much too and we've all helped each other!

Knitting group and craft group...what can i say many of you are now my friends and i hope that still remains maybe we need to find a new venue or even my house...i promise to buy great coffee and bake cakes:)... you know who you all are and I love you all..you've been a great support to me and kept me going on days I didn't want to even get out of bed..

I'm crying writing this so I want to end on a positive note!! You see I'm closing the shop but I will not be closing my business I will bake cakes and cupcakes from home so you can all still place your orders.
Anyone with orders please do not worry I still will be making them for you just as before from my home.

There will be a huge sale in the shop and everything must be sold even down to tables and chairs, mugs, gifts, oven and yes even my beautiful red fridge!!

So that's it really, after sobbing into my laptop I wanted to not say Goodbye...Just see you soon

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and lets hope 2013 is a great one

Thank you for all your love and support every one of you

kelly xxxxxxxxxxxx

Christmas workshops

Tuesday 4th December
10-11.30 am
Make 6 Christmas cupcakes boxed and ready to take home includes coffee and cake £20

Tuesday 11th December
10-11.30
Chocolate Christmas houses
Make a very festive chocolate Christmas house learn how to put the house together and decorate using sweets and handmade icing declarations £25 includes coffee and cake ... Take your house home on a board and boxed

Monday 17th December
Decorate a Christmas fruit cake
10-11.30
Your cake will already be boarded and marzipanned ready for you to ice and then learn how to make decorations to go on your cake
£35 includes cake and coffee

For all bookings please email or drop into the shop

Kelly@thecupcakequeen.co.uk

Events In October 2012

Every Wednesday 10.30-11.30
Knitting And Crochet Group

Come and meet for coffee and cake and learn to knit or help teach others. Great fun group!!
FREE


Every other Friday 7-9 pm
5th October and 19th October

Bring along any crafts you make or come along for coffee and cake and learn a new craft.
FREE


Wednesday 3rd October 12-1.30
Scone Making Workshop
Learn to make beautifully soft scones, and enjoy coffee and cake whilst they bake.
£20. To book please email us or phone.


Wednesday 17th October 12-1.30
Scone Making Workshop
as above £20


Wednesday 24th October 12-1.30
Cupcake Decorating
Decorate 6 cupcakes, learn some great techniques and take away your cupcakes beautifully boxed.
£20 includes coffee and cake.


Saturday 27th October
Fairy Making with children
Make cute Halloween fairies... on all day but booking essential.
£8 per child.


Sunday 28th October 3-4.30
Children's Halloween Party

Come dressed up in your best Halloween costume, children will be treated to food, party games and Halloween cupcake decorating. Each child will go home with 4 boxed cupcakes.
To book please email us or phone ...
£10 per child.

Tuesday 30th and 31st October
We will be selling Halloween cupcakes and large cakes as well as other seasonal goodies... pop in for more details or to book cakes for your party.


To contact us about any of the above events you can do so here............

email ..  kelly@thecupcakequeen.co.uk

facebook: www.facebook.com/thecupcakequeen.co.uk

telephone: 01785244474

Charity Night At The Parlour: Ekisa in Uganda

Septembers charity of the month is Ekisa. Which is an amazing charity based in Uganda.
Ekisa is an orphanage based in Uganda which gives children with disabilities food, shelter and most importantly love. This charity would not exist if it wasn't for its fabulous volunteers and all the money raised by various events.
We found out about this charity through one of our lovely customer George. George is an amazing lady we are very privileged to know her, she goes to Uganda and works with the children and we know they are very much loved by her. Sadly last week one of the children passed away his name was Jo Jo..and had the most amazing smile.... that would melt anyones heart.
So this event has been thought of in his memory to help his brothers and sisters.

The charity night will be held on
Friday 28th September
7-9pm
And tickets cost £3.......

We will be also selling raffle tickets in the shop for some beautiful prizes and also there will be craft stalls selling their home made products...if you would like a stall please ask by calling the shop
01785 244474
or email kelly@thecupcakequeen.co.uk
We are not charging for stalls but we do ask that you donate one of your homemade gifts for a raffle prize.

We will also be doing a cake swap as this was so popular on our Oxfam night!! So if you are coming get your mixing bowl out and bring along a cake... and bring your recipe for your baked goods ready to swap with other bakers.

If you are unable to attend but would like to help we would be very very grateful... there are many ways you can get involved...
we have a collection jar for any donations, raffle tickets to buy with amazing prizes and also if you would like to donate a prize for the raffle we would love that too...

You can also decorate a jar (collect from shop) and put in your workplace to collect everyones donations and change.

We are promising this will be a great night so come along raise money for a fab cause, eat cake and have fun!!!

for more information on the charity these are the links to use:

travelbugot.blogspot.com

georgeruns.chipin.com

ekisainternational.blogspot.com


Hope to see you all there

Kelly And Amie

XXXXX

Ride2spa

I've been meaning to write this blog post for a long time but today I finally sat down to write it.
Twitter, facebook and blogs are a great tool for advertising and raising awareness so this is my contribution to them!!
On Monday 27th August 22 of my friends will be raising money and awareness for 5 fabulous charities.

All 22 men on this charity ride have either been helped directly by these charities or have friends/ family who have... their dedication and commitment to this race is nothing short of amazing and I'm so proud to call them my friends.
From Monday 27th August the bikers will do a lap of silver stone f1 circuit and then travel 400 miles over 4 days through France and Belgium and ending on Thursday 30th August at Belgium spa. They will then spend the weekend cheering on the f1 drivers.

They have a huge task ahead of them and a huge amount to raise for the charities listed...hoping to raise a massive £20,000. Which will be split equally.

A few of you may remember or know of the Jasper Trust that we supported back in February this is My lovely friends Simon and Anya's little boy who was diagnosed with leukaemia... so happy to say hes making amazing progress, his daddy will be one of the riders.
Little Jasper truely is a little star.

My other friend Richard will also be one of the riders, Richard has been behind the whole idea and campaigning for Ride2Spa Richard has MS and his determination and positive attitude is nothing short of inspiring ... I always tell him hes my hero - he really is.

I watch all the videos and posts that are put onto their facebook page, please pop along and like this page...
www.facebook.com/ride2spa

ride2spa also has a website where you can visit and see the map of the ride, all the costings of the trip (which each rider has paid for out of their own pocket) and follow their progress.
www.ride2spa.com

The cupcake queen will be helping raise some of the money too (we hope!!!!) we will be having a collection tin in the shop... also raffle tickets to win some lovely prizes. But also after joking with Richard that I would do a lap of the F1 track on my vintage pashley I decided to actually do it!!
Surely seeing this...yes there will be photos!! hehe is worth a couple of pounds:)

I would love you to help support these amazing charities... I know that money is tight for many people at the moment but even £1 helps...I have over 2100 people on my facebook page

www.facebook.com/thecupcakequeenstafford

over 750 followers on twitter staffordcupcake


and a huge amount of people who daily read my blog if we could just turn each like, follow or view into £1 that's a huge difference you would be making to other peoples lives.... you will ever know the actually difference you have made but I see daily the difference these charities have made to my friends and I can hand on heart tell you its worth every penny of your pound.

If you would like to be so kind as to donate please visit ride2spa.com and follow the links

Many Many thanks from the bottom of my heart

Kelly xxxxx