Happy Happy 26th Kelsey!!
Cupcakers! They turned out really well in the end!
Topped with chia seeds, for an omega-3-fiber-protein punch and coconut!! The frosting: Raspberry Chambord! Good guesses in the last post 😉 Our wedding cake was chambord and it adds SO much of a punch to all things vanilla.
They were super flat as the icing melted a little (I definitely added like 2 extra cups of sugar to try to thicken it but the chambord liquid was too much). But after refrigeration I added a second layer of sloppy plastic bag piping
Before
After
We had just a smidge of leftovers and we each got a shot!
Despite my bursts of snacktime sugar and buttah, I was hungry deep down and made a kale + peach + chia + soy milk + ice smoothie for cocktail hour to hold me over until dinner at Kelsey‘s.
Transportation involved holding on to them for dear life in my lap while Matt drove
The party was loads of fun – a true food fiesta!
PIMENTO CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ashley made mascarpone + cream cheese dips – lemon and regular for fruit dippers. OMG – fabulous. Between this and the buttercream, I ate waaaay too much heavy, delicious cream!
I had a glass of sangria to drink, but wasn’t in the mood for much more.
I photographed my first plate – mostly veggies with dips and a goat cheese / spinach / tomato crostini and a few pita chips
But then I just couldn’t keep my hands outta the pimento cheese
Or the mascarpone dip!
Multiply those photos by 10x at least!! But while the dips were rich, at least the delivery was super healthy 😉
Finally cupcake time! Kelsey loved the chia seeds – whew!
The cake part was just OK, which could be my 4-year-old baking powder, but the frosting – OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Divine, if I do say so myself. I ate the side on the left, Matt the right.
Penny would NOT behave for a photo!
Kelsey opened gifts. I was so busy making cupcakes that I didn’t make it to the store 🙁 I gave her a coupon for drinks on me after class one night!
She got a beautiful framed photo of Penny Pens from K + N
And lots of cool things from Ashley!
Wheeeeeeee!
My stomach =
Nite!
angieinatlanta says
Those cupcakes look fantastic!
And I’m obsessed with pimento cheese, too!
Dad says
Where did you get that gorgeous blue cupcake tray — it’s a piece of art!
Kath says
Dad ,
Only the best store ever: Food Lion! Roar. (Or was it somewhere else!?)
K
Leianna says
Cupcake and food spread looks amazing!
Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) says
Those cupcakes look even better with the frosting!!!!
Deva@Voracious Vorilee says
Those cupcakes look so cute and delicious 🙂 It looks like the birthday party was a success 🙂
Biz319 says
26 – the magic number! What a great night and glad the cupcakes turned out well – I haven’t had chambord in ages!
Coupons for drinks is always a good gift! 😀
Ashley says
That frosting looks fantastic!
Shion (Shi's Eating) says
Oh my gosh, the cupcakes are SO cute! Great job! And I love the chia seed touch. I thought they were sprinkles at first — genius!
Lana says
that dress is so cute!! Where is it from?
Tammy says
The cupcakes look beautiful! There is something so soothing about making baked goods!
Jenna says
and you said you weren’t a good baker?
those cupcakes look like they were from a bakery!
Rebecca says
Your cupcakes look awesome!! I’m sure they tasted awesome too!!
Kathleen says
I have tried a million vanilla cupcake recipes and have never found a good one unfortunately. I found Amy’s to be dry…A good yellow cake is this one from smitten kitchen:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/best-birthday-cake/
I posted before that Martha’s One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes are PERFECTION. I am more of a vanilla girl myself but this cupcake with vanilla frosting is delicious.
Buttermilk is super easy to make-for half a cup of buttermilk add 1.2 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup and then fill up the rest to the 1.2 cup point with whole milk. To make a cup of buttermilk, add one tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar and then fill the glass with milk to the one cup mark.
Glad you had fun! Happy Birthday Kelsey!
Kathleen says
Sorry I must be tired-1/2 NOT 1.2 tablespoons vinegar!
AnnQ says
Okay, those cupcakes kick ass! So does that Sangria! 🙂
Shannon The Healthy Beach Bum says
Aw you two have such great style 🙂 Love those dresses. Looks like the party was a success! All that food (and your cupcakes oh my gawwwsh) looks so so good. Have a great day tomorrow!
Lizzy says
Kath the cupcakes look amazing! the frosting detail is so pretty!!!!
the food spread at the party looks soo good. i would have gone crazy over everything!
Daria (Summer of the CSAs) says
Looks like a great time! The frosting looks beautiful – there really is no treat quite like a big ol’ glob of frosting. 🙂
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
the cupcakes look great – i love that you put chia seeds on them…only a health food blogger!!!
the dress is bee-u-tee-ful as well.
Katie says
Gorgeous cupcakes, Kath! That frosting flavor is ingenious!!!
Looks like Kelsey had a great birthday 🙂
Yuk says
Chia seeds? For real? Way to ruin a cupcake. Bleh. Seriously, do you really think you are gaining any nutritional benefits from 8 seeds? Give it a rest.
holly says
holy moly…i need to get invited to one of your parties. drool, drool, and drool. yay for 26 years of kelsey!
your dress is adorable – you looked gorge dear 🙂
Brit says
The cupcakes look delicious!
I love your dress – where did you get it from!?! 🙂
gina (fitnessista) says
what a fun celebration!
your cupcakes came out beautifully!!
enjoy the rest of your night <3
Lele says
Hah, your full sign is too cute. I kind of wish our bodies had those sometimes, actually!
Caroline says
Sloppy?! Whatevs–you are an arteest:)
caronae says
The cupcakes (and your dress) look gorgeous!
Kathy W. says
Those cupcakes look fantastic!
(BTW, the recipe floating around online isn’t the same as in the Amy Sedaris book. Her recipe uses regular butter, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1.5 cps. sugar. That would be fewer dry ingredients, which might make the cupcakes moister…)
Whole Body Love says
Now you have me wondering how old my baking powder really is…yikes!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Those are the cutest cupcakes ever–they remind me of the Disney World Castle back during some anniversary they had…15 years ago ish? The castle looked just like your frosting 🙂
I also love your dress!
Marissa says
Happy Birthday to Kelsey! Everything looks so good!
Sara says
Beautiful cupcakes! And they sound tasty.
Lainie says
Did you share the recipe for that frosting already? If so, I missed it…but I would love to have it!
klm says
I love love loeveeeeeeeed the cup cakes!! The chia seeds really added to them!! I LOVED the crunch!! It was similar to the sensation that I LOVE with the tiny orange roe on sushi!!
Thannnnnnk You for coming to play!!
Lara (Thinspired) says
I’m so impressed with how the cupcakes turned out, Kath! I’ll have to remember the piping trick. Normally I just slather it on and it looks sloppy.
The food from this party looks fantastic! And I really like your dress!
haya says
fun fun!
a few notes
a) 4 year old baking powder????
b) kelsey is ssoooooo cute
c) you need a cupcake carrier. i do too.
d) love birthdays and bike stands!
Stacey says
That is a cute dress you are wearing!
Lydia says
Yes, love the dress!
Christie @ Quit Your Diet says
Yay! The cupcakes turned out so pretty! And nice touch with the chia seeds!
I also agree that you were wearing a very cute dress!
Lauren says
I adore Chambord also! My first “21” drink was a chambord sour and I instantly fell in love with this decadant liquor.
What a great evening. Happy b-day to Kelsey! What a fabulous girl! 🙂
faith in food says
fun night and super cute dress kath! great use of the chia seeds 🙂 what was on top of the crostini’s, those looked great!!!
(tell kelsey i want one of the bikes on the bike stand for my bday which is in may, or christmas!) hehe 🙂
Andrea [bella eats] says
I’m glad the icing was a success! You definitely have to be careful about how much puree’ and liquid gets added because it can thin out pretty quickly. I got a little over-excited with blackberry puree this weekend and had a similar problem… 🙂
Mary (...Food & Fun) says
I love the way the frosting came out. It looks so pretty!
Ada says
Those cupcakes came out gorgeous! Great job:)
Whitney says
Those cupcakes looked so yummy. I am definitely going to try using chia seeds as sprinkles!
Colleen says
I love your dress!!! And the cupcakes looked yummy.
But really, we all need to know more details on your dress 🙂
Danielle says
All that food looks great, especially the cupcakes 🙂
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Such fun! 😀 I think a coupon for a round of drinks with a good friend would have been the perfect gift too. Great idea! 😀
The cupcakes are too cute! And I think the chia seeds on top add just the right touch of “sprinkles.” 😀 Love it!
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? says
Food looks GREAT!!
Ashley says
Love these photos!! I promise I’ll make up for my creamy dip + maple whipped cream w/my salad night next week!! 😉 I have a cupcake waiting for me in the fridge..mmm
Anne Marie@Her New Weigh says
The cupcakes look great, and I LOVE your dress!
Lee says
That looks like a very fun party. I love the frosting on the cupcakes. And your dress is super cute.
Cait (Cait's Plate) says
KATH! I am IN LOVE with your dress! Where did you get it!?!
Also – those cupcakes look amazing! (Love the chia seed addition 😉 ) – It looks like Matt might have a run for his money when it comes to who the baker in the house is now!!
Kath says
Thanks to all for the cupcake + dress compliments! Dress is from Loehmann’s, so it’s probably not track-down-able.
Lainie ,
I used Bella Eat’s Raspberry Buttercream recipe (linked to in the previous post) but added chambord and about 2 cups more sugar.
faith in food,
Goat cheese, spinach, garlic, tomato.
Kath
Meredith (Pursuing Balance) says
The cupcakes turned out beautifully!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What a fun party. Your cupcakes look amazing and I’m so glad they were a hit!!!
Seth says
When trying to watch what I eat, those appetizer parties kill me. I just keep going back and getting another cracker dipped in this or a piece of broccoli dipped in that…
Do you try to eat before going to those kinds of parties so that you won’t be as hungry, or just work on the will power?
Kate says
Your cupcakes are so cute!
Mine ALWAYS go flat (like your first draft did). And your suggestion to thicken them up with more sugar never occurred to me. I even have a “real” piping bag but still have NO idea how people get those beautiful, tall, hardened icing caps on their ‘cakes.
Evan Thomas says
You definitely win a best friend award for those cupcakes
Lauren Gohde says
Your food looks amazing and so healthy! I love that you incorporate it all even in a party atmosphere. Looks delightful!
Kath says
Seth ,
If I know there will be healthy options (veggies + hummus, fruit, etc.) then I don’t eat before, but I do try to have a snack to make sure I am not starving. I never like having to rely on finger foods to fill up. But if I don’t have a CLUE about the menu at an event, I might eat a salad or have a bigger snack, just in case.
Kath
Kath says
Kate ,
Putting them in the fridge really helped!!
K
Ali says
Those cupcakes looooook so good! You did a great job!
amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says
Can you taste the chia seeds on the cupcakes? I think they look cute! Almost like polka dots or sprinkles. Adding coconut was a good idea too!
Heather says
Kath, you look absolutely beautiful in the photo where you’re holding the pretty pretty cupcakes. Your hair looks fantastic like that!