Crystallized Ginger

I need to confess that I have used crystallized ginger in two recent recipes instead of fresh or powdered.  Why, you might ask.  I can't find fresh ginger, and powered has not zing at all.  I have found that crystallized ginger has a near fresh flavor, and it's convenient to store--lasts a really long time.  Here's a picture of the ginger I've been using.  The small amount of sugar that's used to preserve it has not affected the flavor of any dish yet.  I made chicke tikka masala tonight, and the ginger flavor was perfect.  Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

Cupcakes Based on a Marching Band Show Theme--In a Dream

I created cupcakes for my son's marching band.  They are competing this weekend, and I thought they might enjoy a special dessert after dinner.  These cupcakes are chocolate and vanilla topped with a white chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream and topped with a variety of sugar sprinkles in white, gold, and lavender, and topped with a gold dusted white chocolate start.  They are pretty and yummy. 

Wedding Shower Cupcake Tower--Sophisticated Theme

This cupcake tower predates the groom's tower.  Again, I took several months to plan and puchase all materials.  The cupcakes are white cake filled with raspberry jam and brushed with almond sugar syrup.  They are frosted with an almond scented Swiss meringue buttercream.  The roses and hearts that adorn both the cupcakes and the top cake are made from candy clay (made from candy melts and corn syrup).  Making the roses involved a learning curve, but once I got the hang of it, I could make one within a few minutes.  I created around 100 roses in all.  The ribbons, gems, and damask matched the wedding invitations.  This tower was a success.

Groom's Cupcake Tower--Guitar Theme

I planned this cupcake tower for several months before the actual assembly.  The cupcakes are dark chocolate filled with Nutella (chocolate hazelnut goodness), brushed with a hazelnut syrup and topped with a brown sugar hazelnut Swiss meringue buttercream.  The notes/flats/treble clefs/bass clefs are molded from candy melts and a music mold.  I decided against molding sharps due to their uncanny resemblence to the pound/number sign.  The guitar picks are personalized with the bride's and groom's first names on one side and the wedding date on the other side.  I decorated plain boxes with brown/cream ribbon and a label to mirror the font/words on the guitar picks.  All in all, I think the cupcake tower was a success.