Friday, 18 March 2011

New Arrivals

  I love the arrival of new products - it's like Christmas, birthdays and surprises rolled into one and it happens every month.  I have a beautiful box of Carol's new  Cupcake Cuddlers - they are just so adorable, beautiful and elegant all rolled into one! 
  Then yesterday I had another box arrive - more fun stuff, beautiful sugar decons, candles, airbrush for cake decorating and some sandle and beach theme picks.  Now the work begins - pricing, picture taking, weighing and measuring and finally putting each item and count on the website.  Two boxes can take a couple of days to get all the work done for the final result of seeing it on the website. 
  The other fun part of all this is meeting new people and networking to help each other in our business.  I had a great talk with Marla from Sugarbaby Aprons .   I hope that I will be able to carry some of her aprons - they look adorable!




  Kalasform - we are the Exclusive Canadian Distributor for these awesome products and they have some very cool new items - like their trays and napkins and new size of mini liners.


So now - off to work..

Thursday, 17 March 2011

Dress your cupcakes in designer fashion ! Introducing Cupcake Cuddler Couture !


Bride & Groom Cuddlers

I have been lucky enough to work with Carol Pawlik of Dressed Up Party Cups - The Original Cupcake Cuddlers and be the Canadian Distributor for these awesome designer cups.  Carol designed and created these cuddlers that are a perfect way to display your cupcake.  Perfect for parties, weddings to show off your cupcake - or use for your party favours.  Carol has over 25 years experience as a cake designer and even did a cake for Betty White's birthday this year on the set of Hot in Cleveland (yes I am tooting her horn!) Carol also made cuddlers for Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams wedding! (another toot!)
 
We are so happy and excited to carry these wonderful products!

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Anna Olson's Lemon Meringue Cheesecake in our Kalasform Liners

I love trying new recipes and this one was such a hit I have made it twice!  I used our regular size Kalasform Liners - which is a normal size cupcake liner.  It is a perfect size for after a meal - not too big and also not too sweet.  Since we all love a real lemony cheesecake I also spread a layer of lemon curd on the cheesecake before putting the meringue on it.  The cheesecake set up very nicely and the beautiful pretty paper peeled away keeping the cheesecake in one piece. 

 

 Ingredients for Anna Olson's Meringue Cheesecake - from her Fresh recipe book

Crust:

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake
    • 2 x 8-oz/225 g packages cream cheese, room temperature
    • 2/3 cup sugar
    • 2 tbsp cornstarch
    • 1 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest
    • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature

Meringue:

  • 3 large egg whites
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 180C and line 36 mini muffin tins with paper cups.
  2. To make crust, combine all ingredients until evenly blended and crumbly and press into bottom of mini muffins cups. Bake for 8 minutes, then cool.
  3. To make cheesecake, reduce oven to 325F (160C). Beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy, then gradually add sugar while beating, scraping the sides of the bowl often. Beat in cornstarch, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, scraping well after each addition. Spoon or pipe cheesecake filling into cooled mini muffin tins bake for about 18 minutes, until cheesecake still moves a little when pan is shaken gently. Let cheesecakes cool to room temperature. Meringue layer can be made once cheesecake have cooled and cheesecakes can be chilled overnight and then finished
  4. For meringue, preheat oven to 375F (190C). Whip egg whites with lemon juice until foamy. While whipping, gradually pour in sugar and whip on one speed less than highest until whites hold a stiff peak (the meringue stands upright when whisk is lifted). Whisk in cornstarch. Filling a piping bag with a large star or plain tip and pipe on top of each cheesecake. Bake pie for about 6 minutes, just until meringue browns lightly. Allow cheesecakes to chill for at least an hour and up to a day before serving.

Notes & Tips

Beating the egg white one speed less than high is key – you get fine a bubble structure and are less likely to overwhip them I use cornstarch in meringue to help prevent “weeping”.

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

First Blog

Well, this is a new experience and I hope I can keep it up and share some things that are happening for us here at SweetArt Supplies.  I will try and post pictures and recipes using our products, let you know of new things we find and interact with you.  Please be patient as I learn the ins and outs of blogging and bare with all my mistakes as the learning curve is huge!  I hope you will follow along and enjoy the ride!