Skip to main content

Cakes & Cupcakes ~ Martha Stewart Living Special Edition


I don’t review books or magazines here on the blog, because there are plenty of other sites that do that already.  However, I do want to bring to your attention the latest “Best of” from the team at Martha Stewart Living.  It’s called Cakes and Cupcakes which is currently on newsstands now, and let me just say that it is such a wonderful compilation of delicious cakes from the various magazines that have been published by MSLO.  This is meant for those of us who love to bake and create the best of the best. 

A salted-caramel chocolate cake and a set of flower cupcakes piped in pinks, yellows and chocolate icing grace the cover of this bookazine, which has over 50 of their most spectacular desserts from years past.  Yes, it’s all material many of us have seen before, but to have these little pieces of inspiration at one’s fingertips, all in one place, published in high-quality paper with step-by-step instructions, is simply perfect.  Yellow cakes, chocolate cakes, lamb & chicken cakes, cupcakes, and the detailed how-tos we’ve come to expect from the editors at Martha Stewart Living, are all packed into this special collector’s edition. 

I love to bake and I love to decorate a cake every now and then, so as I pore over the various photographs, recipes and techniques, I will be checking my pantry & gathering my ingredients to bake something wonderful very soon.  My only real problem is where to start?  Do I make a batch of cupcakes or do I make a showstopping cake for a birthday?  Well, whatever I end up making I know one thing for sure: it’s going to be delicious.  Get your copy now and bake something great to mark a celebration.  I know you’re going to love this special edition! 


The Cover

It's always nice to hear what Martha has to say. 

This is the Ruffle Cake.  Look at those yellow cake layers and the ruffled buttercream frosting in shades of pink.
The Meringue Bouquet Cupcake is adorable!  Tied with a nice ribbon and it becomes fancy enough for a wedding reception.

The Sacher Torte Heart would make anyone swoon on Valentine's Day.  Cloaked in rich chocolate and decorated with homemade truffles, the cake is any chocolate lover's dream.

Piped Pansy Cupcakes are perfect for a garden party this spring.  

Just look at this perfect basket weave in buttercream topped with marzipan strawberries.  Delicious!

This cupcake is pure art.  Buttercream is piped to resemble the delicate petals of an anemone.  If you want to learn how to create this lovely treat, get the magazine!

I love the detail and the simplicity of this Toadstool Cupcake.  Make a few dozen for a child's birthday party.

A Princess Cake!  Follow the step by step instructions to create this beauty.

Let's not forget the lessons on piping.  Different tips create different effects.

Multi-colored flowers piped onto pieces of parchment make it easy to transfer onto cupcakes or cakes.  


Get your copy wherever magazines are sold! 
Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2013 at 4:41 PM

    I will surely be looking for this edition, David. For now, my 4 year old grandson and I will be baking a batch of those lovely chocolate cookies for him to take to preschool for Valentine's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good Things by DavidFebruary 11, 2013 at 10:25 AM

    Please do look for it. It does come at a higher price point than regular MSL issues, but it's a 'collector's item'. Enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank You for Posting!

Popular posts from this blog

Antique Salt Cellars

There was a time when salt cellars played an important role on the dining table for the host or hostess.  As a result of it being such an expensive commodity several hundred years ago, salt was seen as a luxury and it was the well to do that made salt cellars quite fashionable & a status symbol for the home.  A single salt cellar usually sat at the head of the table and was passed around throughout the meal.  The closer one sat to the salt cellar, the more important one was deemed by the head of the household.  Smaller cellars that were more accessible and with an open top became a part of Victorian table settings.  Fast forward to the 20th century when salt was no longer a luxury and when anti caking agents were added to make salt free-flowing, and one begins to see salt cellars fall out of fashion.  Luckily for the collector and for those of us who like to set a table with Good Things , this can prove to be a boon. Salt cellars for the table come in silver, porcelain, cut glass
50 comments
Read more

How to Paint a Chair

If you have ever felt the need to spruce up a set of chairs or give them a new look, why not try a little bit of paint?  Our tastes in decor and color will probably alter throughout our lives, and at some point, we may find ourselves wanting to change the look of our furniture without having to spend a lot of money.  That's where a few handy tips, some tools from the hardware store, and good-quality paint come in handy.   I know I'm not alone in paying visits to local antique shops, antique fairs and flea markets, and falling in love with pieces of furniture that would be perfect if they were just a different color.  You don't have to walk away from a good purchase simply because it's the wrong color.   My dear friend, Jeffrey, is forever enhancing his home with collectibles from flea markets and tag sales.  However, certain items aren't always up to Jeffrey's tastes when he brings them home.  He is the type of person who won't hesitate to chang
6 comments
Read more

Vintage Wilton Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes have certainly evolved over the decades just as tastes and styles have in our American way of life.  There was a time when elaborate & very formal towering feats of sweetness were the standard for every bride & groom.  Growing up in a household where I witnessed several wedding cakes take shape from start to finish, I can tell you  that every single one of these was a true labor of love.  For mom, Wilton was the go-to supplier in every aspect of cake baking, including the wedding cakes which flew out of our house every single year for friends & family.   Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers It’s fun going back and looking at Wilton’s methods and styles for wedding cakes during the 1960s and 1970s.  Back then, the shapely cakes were not simply stacked and covered in perfect fondant the way they are these days, but were iced and decorated with real buttercream, along with a multitude of accessories.  There was even a working fountain available that could b
7 comments
Read more